Cinéma Français, Printemps 2015 (Spring 2015)

The Franco-American Centre is pleased to announce its Cinéma Français course being offered during Spring Semester 2015. The theme this semester is “Extraordinary Personal Strength.”

Format:
Each film is preceded by a brief presentation of key concepts and followed by group discussion of how the film relates to the theme.  All films are in French with English subtitles.  Presentations and discussions are in English.

Key Details:
DATES: Wednesdays, February 18, March 18, April 15
TIMES: 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Dana Center Lecture Hall, Saint Anselm College

REGISTRATION: May be done at door of first class (cash or check, please)
CLASS TUITION (which includes all three films and class discussions) is $15/non-members and $10/FAC members.  Saint Anselm College and FAC French students may enroll at no cost.

For more details, call the FAC office at 603-641-7114.

February 18
Louis Cyr: L’homme le plus fort du monde (“Louis Cyr: The Strongest Man in the World”)
This moving biopic is the story of Louis Cyr, who at one time was the strongest man in the world.  The movie brings Cyr from his early life as a shy French Canadian working in a textile mill to the fame and glory of being renowned as the strongest man in the world.  Guest lecturer Robert Perreault will add unique insights to Cyr’s journey.

March 18
Le métis de Dieu (“The Jewish Cardinal”)
The Jewish Cardinal tells the amazing true story of Jean-Marie Lustiger, the son of Polish-Jewish immigrants, who maintained his cultural identity as a Jew even after converting to Catholicism at a young age, and later joining the priesthood. Quickly rising within the ranks of the Church, Lustiger was appointed Archbishop of Paris by Pope John Paul II – and found a new platform to celebrate his dual identity as a Catholic Jew, earning him both friends and enemies from either group.  Guest lecturer Msgr Charles Desruisseaux will provide cultural background.

April 15
Un long dimanche de fiançailles (“A Very Long Engagement”)
Mathilde (Audrey Tautou) is told that her fiancé (Gaspard Ulliel) has been killed in World War I. She refuses to believe this, however, and begins trying to find out what actually happened on the battlefield the night he was supposedly killed, enlisting the help of a private investigator. During her search, she stumbles across evidence of the inhumane and morally bankrupt system used by the French to deal with deserters, and hears from other men who were sentenced to extreme punishment.