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News Release

January 16, 2006

International Films, Documentaries Return for Winter Semester

The University of Guelph’s documentary and international film series, which both began in the fall, continue into the winter semester. All screenings are free and open to the public.

The documentary series “Docurama” will begin screening films Thursday nights at 7 p.m. in Room 1200 of the Thornbrough Building, beginning Jan. 19 with Grizzly Man. Directed by Werner Herzog, the film is based on of more than 100 hours of footage shot by Timothy Treadwell, as well as interviews with people who knew him. Treadwell lived with Alaskan grizzlies for 13 years, and in 2003, he and his girlfriend were killed by one. The film has won awards at both the Sundance Film Festival and the Mountain Film Festival.

On Jan. 26, the series presents Power Trip, a film about the purchase of a privitized electricity distribution company in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia by an American power company. Georgian citizens must now pay for electricity — something they’ve never had to do — and devise some clever ways to continue to get it free.

For more information, send e-mail to Krys Mooney, media specialist at the McLaughlin Library.

The “Beyond Hollywood” international film series presents Ulysses Jan. 29. Directed by Joseph Strick and released in 1967, the film is based on the classic novel by James Joyce and follows the thoughts and fantasies of an impotent married Jewish man, his wife and a student/poet. Filmed in Ireland with a largely Irish cast, Ulysses was nominated for an Academy Award for best screenplay. It will be introduced by Prof. Padraig O’Cleirigh of the School of Languages and Literatures.

On Feb. 12, political science professor Fred Eidlin will introduce Daisies, a 1966 film directed by Vera Chytilová of Czechoslovakia. Touted as a film representative of the “Czech New Wave,” Daisies follows the experiences of two young women who rebel against the repressive structure of their society.

Alexandr Askoldov’s film Commissar will complete the series March 12. The film was first released in 1968 and was promptly banned after being reviewed by Soviet government officials. It wasn’t released again until 1988. Set in 1922, the film examines the plight of a female Red Army commissar who becomes pregnant and is then forced into confinement with a poor Jewish family. An introduction will be given by English professor and series organizer Paul Salmon.

Films will be shown in the Florence Partridge Room, Room 384 of the McLaughlin Library. Doors will open each evening at 6:30 p.m. Guest introductions will be delivered at 6:45 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. screening. Free snacks will be provided, and viewers are encouraged to stay after the films for informal discussion.

For more information, send e-mail to Salmon.