CULTURAL FILM SERIES

September 20 – 21

Metropolis

Directed by Fritz Lang

Germany 1927 | 124 minutes

This, “landmark of global cinema,” (Brian Susbielles, InSession Film) tells the story of a futuristic city sharply divided between the working class and the city planners.

Speaker: Rick Worland

 

September 27 – 28

Ugetsu

Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi

Japan, 1953 | 96 minutes

This tale of ambition, family, love, and war set in the midst of the Japanese Civil Wars is, “entrancing, affecting, and unforgettable” (Brian Eggert, Deep Focus Review).

Speakers: Dan Jefferson and Suan Marcosson

 

October 4 – 5

Kiki’s Delivery Service

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki

Japan, 1989 | 102 minutes

Kiki settles in a seaside town and starts a high-flying delivery service in this, “heartwarming, gorgeously-rendered tale of a young witch discovering her place in the world” (Rotten Tomatoes).

Speaker: Derek Arnold

 

October 25 – 26

Arrival

Directed by Denis Villeneuve

USA, 2016 | 116 minutes 

Described as, “one of the most beautiful, emotional and original science-fiction films of the last decade,” (Alex Behan, The Post NZ) this film follows a linguist and her team as they find a way to communicate with extraterrestrial visitors.

Speaker: Tania Romero

 

November 1 – 2

Song of the Sea

Directed by Tomm Moore

Ireland, 2014 | 94 minutes

Ben and his sister Saoirse, who can turn into a seal, go on an adventure to save the spirit world in this “magnificent journey into Irish folklore, beautifully illustrated and full of wonder (Alex Zane, The Sun UK).”

Speaker: Jonathan O’Neill

 

November 8 – 9

Get Out

Directed by Jordan Peele

USA, 2017 | 104 minutes

This horror film following a young African-American man visiting his white girlfriend's parents for the weekend is, “essential viewing for the socially conscious horror fan” (Brian Eggert, Deep Focus Review).

Speaker: Hezekiah Lewis

 

December 6 – 7

It’s a Wonderful Life

Directed by Frank Capra

USA, 1946 | 131 minutes

An angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman see the value of his own life in this, “holiday classic to define all holiday classics” (Rotten Tomatoes).

Speaker: John O’Leary

February 14 – 15

Heart of a Dog

Directed by Mikhail Bulgakov

USSR, 1988 | 130 minutes

In the wake of the Russian revolution, Professor Preobrazhensky rescues a starving dog and attempts to transform him into a man in this film based off Mikhail Bulgakov’s novel.

Speaker: Boris Briker

 

February 21 – 22

Edward Scissorhands

Directed by Tim Burton

USA, 1990 | 105 minutes

Following the story of an unfinished creation who leaves his isolated castle, “Tim Burton's engaging modern-day fairy tale is an imaginative bit of whimsy… both funny and bittersweet” (Jack Wilkinson, United Press International).

Speaker: Alexis Monroe

 

March 14 – 15

A.I.: Artificial Intelligence

Directed by Steven Spielberg

USA, 2001 | 145 minutes

A highly advanced robotic boy longs to become "real" so that he can regain the love of his human mother in this, “dark, visionary fairy tale… a cyberpunk ‘Pinocchio’” (Sean Axmaker, Stream on Demand).

Speaker: John-Paul Spiro

 

March 21 – 22

2001: A Space Odyssey

Directed by Stanley Kubrick

U.K and USA, 1968 | 139 minutes

This, “visionary tale that continues to be controversial, influential, and open to multiple interpretations,” (Matt Brunson, Film Frenzy) tells the story of two scientists and one supercomputer dispatched to Jupiter to find the origins of a mysterious artifact.

Speaker: Saladin Ambar

 

April 4 – 5

The Bride of Frankenstein

Directed by James Whale

USA, 1935 | 75 minutes

Baron Henry Frankenstein, goaded by an even madder scientist, builds his monster a mate in this, “eccentric, campy, technically impressive, and frightening picture” (Rotten Tomatoes).

Speaker: Ruth Anolik

 

April 11 – 12

Young Frankenstein

Directed by Mel Brooks

USA, 1974 | 105 minutes

An American grandson of the infamous scientist discovers the process to reanimate a dead body in this “homage to black and white gothic horror” (Bryce Hanson, Horror Movie Talk).

Speaker: Elana Starr

 

April 18 – 19

Sixties TV:  The Twilight Zone - "I Sing the Body Electric” (produced by Rod Serling, script by Ray Bradbury, USA, 1962, 25 minutes)

and

Star Trek - "Requiem for Methuselah” (produced by Gene Rodenberry, script by Jerome Bixby, USA, 51 minutes)

Join us for a special screening of two episodes from enduring sixties sci-fi TV classics: The Twilight Zone and Star Trek.

Speaker: Rick Worland

 

April 25 – 26

Blade Runner

Directed by Ridley Scott

USA and Hong Kong | 117 minutes

This, “massive and formative illustration of world building” (Allen Almachar, The MacGuffin), tells the story of a blade runner who must terminate four replicants trying to find their creator.

Speaker: TBA

Saladin Ambar is a Professor of Political Science and senior scholar at the Center on the American Governor at the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. He is the author of six books and is a scholarly adviser to the Lincoln Presidential Foundation and Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum.

Ruth Bienstock Anolik teaches one course on horror literature and one on biblical literature at Villanova.  She is also the facilitator for the Kaiserman JCC Gems Program Film Series.

Derek Arnold has been a member of the Villanova Communication Department for over 15 years.  He studied and made films as part of his Communication degree from LaSalle University.  He studies the connections between persuasion and politics, and media and rhetoric.  

Boris Briker is a Teaching Professor of Russian literature, language and film at Villanova in the Department of Global Interdisciplinary Studies.  He has written and published extensively on Russian literature and culture of the twentieth century.  

Dan Jefferson is a graduate of Haverford College and a lifelong cineaste. His love of film was nurtured by David Grossman, who headed Temple University’s Center City Campus movie house and Philadelphia Film Forum. 

Hezekiah Lewis, a native Californian, has an MFA in directing from UCLA’s film school. Lewis has directed and produced films that have been recognized with both domestic and international awards.  He is a Professor in the Communication Department at Villanova. 

Susan Marcosson works in education and is a self-taught film enthusiast. Her cameo in M. Night Shyamalan’s Unbreakable was cut from the film but appears in the DVD version. 

John O’Leary is the director of The Cultural Film and Lecture Series at Villanova University. He has co- written two chapters for books about situation comedies. He is also the co-founder of The Social Justice Documentary Program.

John-Paul Spiro is a Teaching Professor in the Augustine and Culture Seminar Program. He also teaches courses on Shakespeare, political philosophy, and stand-up comedy.

Tania Romero is a Nicaraguan writer-director, editor, and cinematographer, who teaches at Villanova University. Her work has been screened at several national and international festivals.

Elana Starr, who was Publicity Director of the CFS for more than 21 years, has taught a variety of courses film form and film theory at Villanova, Rosemont College, and The University of the Arts.  Her area of interest is the representations of outsiders, especially in mainstream literature.

Rick Worland is Professor in the Department of Electronic Media and Film at Southern Methodist University. He has published many articles dealing with American popular culture in books and scholarly journals.