World Film Fest at Skokie Public Library
Spring/Summer 2008
This spring and summer the Library will present another series of critically acclaimed world films, reflective of the diverse culture of Skokie. A short discussion will follow each movie, unless otherwise noted.
| Monday, May 5 | Ginger and Cinnamon |
| Monday, June 2 | Arranged |
| Monday, July 7 | Le Grand Chef |
| Friday, July 11 | The Kite Runner |
| Monday, August 4 | The Diving Bell and the Butterfly |
Monday, May 5 at 7:00pm in the Petty Auditorium
Ginger and Cinnamon (Dillo Con Parole Mie) (Italy)
Released 2003 – 109 minutes – not rated
In Italian with English subtitles
Meggy is about to turn fifteen. She is eager to experience life, actually a little too enthusiastic. Her Aunt Stefania is almost thirty. She has just split from her boyfriend of eight years. Stefania is going in the opposite direction of her young niece. She is cautious and settling into routines, while Meggy is trailblazing through adolescence. Meggy talks her aunt into vacationing on the Greek island Ios - the isle of love. Meggy plans to lose her virginity over the summer. Stefania thinks this is a crazy teenager idea. She does her best to watch over her determined niece, all the time obsessing about her own love life. When a couple of guys enter the picture, romantic confusion ensues!
| Acclaim: | |
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Cannes Film Festival – Official Selection |
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Italian Film Festival UK – Official Selection |
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Lincoln Center Film Society Open Roads Film Festival – Official Selection |
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MedFilm Festival – Official Selection |
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New Zealand Italian Film Festival – Official Selection |
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European Union Film Festival – Official Selection |
Monday, June 2 at 7:00pm in the Petty Auditorium
Arranged (USA)
Released 2007 – 89 minutes – not rated
Mostly in English, with some Hebrew and Arabic
"Friendship has no religion.” Both new teachers at a Brooklyn public school, Rochel is from an Orthodox family and Nasira is a Muslim woman of Syrian descent. As they begin to work together, Rochel and Nasira learn that they have much in common– for example, experiencing the process of an arranged marriage.
| Acclaim: | |
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Brooklyn International Film Festival – winner Grand Chameleon, Best Film; Chameleon, Best Narrative Feature |
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SXSW Film Festival – Official Selection |
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Washington Jewish Film Festival – winner Audience Award, Feature Film |
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Berkshire International Film Festival – winner Audience Award |
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New Zealand Italian Film Festival – Official Selection |
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Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival – winner Audience Award |
Monday, July 7 at 6:30pm in the Petty Auditorium (note early start time)
Le Grand Chef (Korea)
Released 2007 – 113 minutes – Not rated
In Korean with English subtitles
Two young chefs compete in an Iron Chef-style cooking contest to determine the true heir to the last Korean Royal Chef of the Chosun Dynasty. The prize is a legendary cooking knife once used by the prestigious chef. Based on the popular comic book series, this romantic, action-packed comedy is sure to make some taste buds tingle. It received a standing ovation at the 2007 Pusan International Film Festival. Reception to follow, sponsored by the Korean Cultural Center of Chicago.
| Acclaim: | |
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“…delivers a winning mixture of drama, good natured humour and of course, delicious looking Korean food.” – Beyondhollywood.com |
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“With good food photographed so beautifully, there's nothing not to like about the movie, despite its very familiar storyline…” – A Nutshell Review |
Friday, July 11 at 1:30pm in the Petty Auditorium
The Kite Runner (USA)
Released 2007 – 128 minutes – PG-13 for strong thematic material including the rape of a child, violence, and brief strong language
In English, with some Dari, Pashtu, Urdu, and Russian with English subtitles
Before the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Amir and his servant Hassan were best friends. An act of violence leads to tragic betrayal, and the boys go their separate ways. Several years later Amir lives in the United States, yet he is haunted by his disloyalty toward Hassan. When Amir is asked to return to Kabul (now under Taliban control) to find Hassan’s orphaned son, Amir feels that he must take on this highly dangerous task. Based on the book by Khaled Hosseini. There will be no discussion following this film.
| Acclaim: | |
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Academy Award – nominated Best Original Score |
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BAFTA Awards – nominated Best Film Not in the English Language, Best Music, Best Adapted Screenplay |
| Golden Globes – nominated Best Foreign Language Movie, Best Original Score |
Monday, August 4 at 7:00pm in the Petty Auditorium
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (France)
Released 2007 – 112 minutes – PG-13 for nudity, sexual content, and some language
In French with English subtitles
Adapted from the memoir by Jean-Dominique Bauby, who was the editor of popular French fashion magazine Elle. Bauby suffered a massive heart stroke that resulted in a rare condition called Locked-in Syndrome. Bauby’s mental faculties were undamaged; however, he was entirely paralyzed except for his left eyelid. With his therapist, Bauby worked out a system of communication by blinking his eye when the correct letter of the alphabet was spoken.
| Acclaim: | |
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AFI Fest – winner Audience Award, Best Feature |
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Academy Awards – nominated Best Cinematography, Best Directing, Best Editing, Best Adapted Screenplay |
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BAFTA Awards – winner Best Adapted Screenplay; nominated Best Film Not in the English Language |
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Boston Society of Film Critics Awards – winner Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Foreign Language Film |
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Cannes Film Festival – winner Best Director, Best Technical Grand Prize; nominated Golden Palm |
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Chicago Film Critics Association Awards – nominated Best Cinematography, Best Foreign Language Film |
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César Awards – winner Best Actor, Best Editing; nominated Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Film, Best Sound, Best Writing Adaptation |
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Directors Guild of America – nominated Outstanding Directorial Achievement |
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Golden Globes – winner Best Director, Best Foreign Language Film; nominated Best Screenplay |
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Independent Spirit Awards – winner Best Cinematography, Best Director; nominated Best Feature, Best Screenplay |
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National Board of Review – winner Best Foreign Language Film |
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Writers Guild of American – nominated Best Adapted Screenplay |