Classic cinema at the Luis Vives University Residence

In May L'Aula de Cinema in the UV presents the cycle El major espectacle del món: Visions del circ al cinema, Wednesdays at 18.00h at C.M. Lluís Vives. Shows on 5, 12, 19 i 26 of The greatest show on Earth, Cecil B. De Mille, Gycklarnas Afton, Ingmar Bergman, 1953) and La strada (Federico Fellini, 1954). Also, with l'Institut d'Història de la Medicina i de la Ciència López Piñero, l'Aula de Cinema in the UV at Palau de Cerveró will show the cycle Medicine: science for health?, shows Thursdays 6, 13, 20 i 27. The Constant Gardener, Fernando Meirelles, 2005, Awakenings, Penny Marshall, 1990, The Third Man, Carol Reed, 1949 and Crimes of the Future (David Cronenberg, 1970).


More info
www.uv.es/cultura
auladecinema@uv.es

Let's go to the cinema!

Ken Loach's las film "Looking for Eric" is one of the best of his long career.

First, it is entertaining. The plot evolves around a Manchester United football fanatic, Eric Bishop, who is living with two youngsters from his former marriage, his stepsons. Eric is fragile and unhappy with his life so he wants to commit suicide, but he finds support in his friends (football supporters like him) and workmates (in the post office) to overcome the difficulties he finds, specially when dealing with his eldest son's criminal environment. Fighting to overcome problems makes him a better man and more couragous, too.

Memorable is the scene with his grandson as he meets his first ex-wife whom he still loves. Interesting is the way the director Ken Loach emulates Woody Allen's technique in merging reality and imagination in a sort of magical realism series of scenes between the protagonist's  hero (the footballer Eric Cantona) and himself in a mock psychonalityic relationship between shrink and patient, which brings about most of his confidence to face a new and better life.

Secondly, the narrative is full of surprises as Eric moves from depression to heroism once he is able to face love and responsibility towards his sons. Therefore, there is at the same time a story about personal growth, a love story, a story about parenthood and adolescents, a story about friendship and the power of the group against the weakness of the individual, and, last but not least, a story of gangsters and crime which evidences that the British police do not play with dolls when fighting crime.

Finally, Paul Laverty, the scriptwriter, and the actors Steve Evets, Eric Cantona, Stephanie Bishop, etc. do a wonderful job. The film is appropriate for the many clues to British cultuture that is brings to us in OV (UGC and Albatros): the accent, the types, the popular culture around football matches, the police, the low-class youth, etc. A highly recommended funny film and a great comedy whose values are progressive to the root!

"He who is afraid to throw the dice will never throw a six" says Cantona when he is teaching Eric. That is the moral behind the film: he who does not take risks is already dead.

Not in English!

This week the programme at The film institute in Valencia does not include any films in English, but for film fans this is always an opportunity to get to know work from Argentina, France or Italy. If you see any of these films don't hesitate to tell us about it and recomend the best choices to our readers.

Start the year watching films in English

New DVDs in English at the School Library: