Ready for an overseas romance? Join the ASU Film Forum this spring
Who
The ASU School of Theatre and Film in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
What
Celebrate spring by falling in love with films that look at Americans abroad, as the ASU Film Forum unveils its spring line-up, “We’ll Always Have Paris.” Jason Davids Scott, ASU School of Theatre and Film lecturer and Film Forum curator has selected four screenings set in exotic landscapes and epic moments in world history. From two classic Hollywood productions that imagined Europe through stylized set design and lush cinematography, to the brilliant rendering of real-life locations featured in two more recent films, audiences are taken on a journey of love, romance, war and politics through the eyes of Americans living – and loving – overseas.
“The environments not only help to inspire romance in their American characters, but also inspire them to change the directions of their lives,” Scott says.
Film screenings are scheduled 8 p.m. on the first Wednesdays – February through May – in NEEB Hall, 920 S. Forest Mall, on the ASU Tempe campus. For more information, visit: http://theatrefilm.asu.edu/events/features/film_events/.
Spring 2011 ASU Film Forum screenings
Film descriptions and commentary by Jason Davids Scott:
Feb. 2
Casablanca
Widely acclaimed as the most romantic movie of all time, the story of cynical American Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) and his unexpected rendezvous with old flame Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) against the backdrop of World War II gives Casablanca a weight and power that make it more than just a great love story.
March 2
An American in Paris
Inspired by the music of George Gershwin and featuring Gene Kelly at the height of his career, this lush romantic musical, directed by Vincente Minnelli, features Kelly as an American expatriate painter who falls for a French woman played by Leslie Caron. The 15-minute ballet that concludes the film is considered one of cinema’s most brilliantly conceived dance numbers.
April 6
Before Sunrise
Relying on extended improvisation and characters created by actors Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, director Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused) offers a single night’s encounter between an American and French traveler who meet by chance on a train in Vienna. A thought-provoking conversation leads to a powerful romantic connection that may or may not last beyond the dawn.
May 4
Letters to Juliet
A young journalist (Amanda Seyfried) travels to Verona with her fiancé, where the backdrop of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Julietlead her to a startling romantic awakening and the possibilities of a new and more fulfilling love. The film co-stars Gael Garcia Bernal, Christopher Egan, and Vanessa Redgrave.
Where
NEEB Hall, 920 S. Forest Mall on the ASU Tempe campus
http://www.asu.edu/tour/tempe/neeb.html
When
Feb. 2, March 2, April 6, May 4 at 8 p.m.
Cost
The ASU Film Forum is free and open to the public.
Public Contact
School of Theatre and Film, 480.965.5337
http://mainstage.asu.edu
The School of Theatre and Film in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University provides a comprehensive range of courses in performance and directing; design and production; new work development; theatre and performance studies; film; and theatre for youth. Its Theatre for Youth program is nationally ranked in the top three and the dramatic writing/playwriting program is ranked 15th among public institutions by U.S.News & World Report. To learn more about the School of Theatre and Film, visit theatrefilm.asu.edu.
Media Contact:
Laurie A. Trotta Valenti
ASU School of Theatre and Film
480.965.3381
laurie.trotta@asu.edu