The Volpe Library goes to France this month with a new film series called “The Seventh Art: Classics of French Cinema.”This month, the foreign languages department and the Media Center will be showcasing four public screenings of French classics. The films showcased are Center Stage events, and these films have made a substantial impact on American films to this day.
“We hope the series will enrich the cultural lives of TTU,” said Pat McGee, Media Center coordinator. “I hope the series will help people be aware that the United States isn’t the only country that makes movies. Plenty of intriguing examples of cinema are produced by non-Americans.”
McGee and Debbie Barnard of the foreign language department have been collaborating on the film series that started March 30.
The first screening of “La Bell et la Bete,” Beauty and the Beast, is the only film that’s already played in the film series, which means there is still time to catch the next three showings.
Films will be shown at 6:30 p.m. in Volpe Library, Room 110 Wednesdays April 6, 13 and 20. All films are in French with English subtitles.
Wednesday, April 6 the Media Center will feature “Les Amants” (“The Lovers”), which is a movie about a scandalous love story.
Wednesday, April 13, the Media Center will feature “La Haine” (“The Hate”), which looks at racism in the suburbs of Paris.
Wednesday, April 20, the Media Center will feature “Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amelie Poulain,” a story by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. The movie is about a young woman with little joy in her life who finds joy when she focuses on making others happy.
All of these titles, except for “La Haine” are in the library on reserves and can be viewed in the Media Center during open hours.
“We have a wonderful collection of international movies,” McGee said.
Some of the movies are on VHS, but the library viewing rooms have VCRs on which students and faculty can view them.
For the fall semester, the Media Center is tentatively planning to show a documentary series dealing with industrialization and food production.
The film series is free and open to the public.
Les Amants: April 6
La Haine: April 13
Le Fabuleux Destin D’Amelie Poulain: April 20
