NEWS

The Davidson Film Club board has now selected the six films that will be included in our 23rd series (Jan.-June 2024) at the Armour Street Theatre in Davidson. We will begin our twelfth year of critically acclaimed international films on Saturday, January 20, with the Mexican film Pan’s Labyrinth (2006, 1h58), with commentary and discussion after the screening led by award-winning, former Charlotte Observer film, theater, and music critic Lawrence Toppman. Short descriptions of all the films are given below (and on our up-dated website), but here are the other five films in this series in the order of their screening (barring any necessary changes):

February 10 Tanna (Australia, 2015, 1h44). Discussion Leader: Dr. Eriberto (“Fuji”) Lozada, Senior Associate Dean of the Faculty and Professor of Anthropology, Davidson College.

March 16 Downfall (Der Untergang, Germany, 2003, 2h36). Discussion Leader: Dr. Scott Denham, Dana Professor of German Studies, Davidson College.

April 13 The Insult (Lebanon, 2017, 1h53). Discussion Leader: Dr. Rebecca Joubin, Chair of Arab Studies, Davidson College.

May 18The Constant Gardener (UK, 2005, 2h09). Discussion Leader: Matt Cramer, Film critic for the on-line blog “Y’all Weekly.”

June 22 The Celebration (Denmark, 1998, 1h45). Discussion Leader: Preston Toney, Davidson Film Club member and devoted cinephile.

Again, below you will find a brief description of each of the films in the new series.

On behalf of the Davidson Film Club Board, a grateful “Happy Holidays” to all our film club members and friends!

Alan

Alan Singerman
President, Davidson Film Club
(704) 231-6736

Guillermo del Toro, Pan’s Labyrinth (Mexico, 2006, 1h58).

Pan’s Labyrinth is Alice in Wonderland for grown-ups, with the horrors of both reality and fantasy blended into an extraordinary, spellbinding fable. In 1944 Falangist Spain, a girl, fascinated with fairytales, is sent along with her pregnant mother to live with her new stepfather, a ruthless, sadistic captain of the Spanish army fighting Republican partisans operating from the surrounding forest. During the night, she meets a fairy who takes her to meet an old faun in the center of a labyrinth. . .

Martin Butler and Bentley Dean, Tanna (Australia, 2015, 1h44).

In a traditional tribal society in the South Pacific, a young girl, Wawa, falls in love with her chief’s grandson, Dain. When an inter-tribal war escalates, Wawa is unknowingly betrothed as part of a peace deal. The young lovers run away, refusing her arranged fate. They must, ultimately, choose between their hearts and the future of the tribe, while the villagers must wrestle with preserving their traditional culture and adapting it to the growing demands for individual freedom.

Oliver Hirschbiegel, Downfall (Germany, 2003, 2h36)

In 1942, young Traudl Junge lands her dream job—secretary to Adolf Hitler at the peak of his power. In April of 1945, Germany stands at the brink of defeat with the Soviet Armies closing in from the west and south. Downfall explores these final days of the Reich, where senior German leaders (such as Himmler and Goring) begin defecting from their beloved Fuhrer in an effort to save their own skins, while still others (Goebbels) pledge to die with Hitler. But what becomes of Hitler himself?

Ziad Doueiri, The Insult (Lebanon, 2017, 1h53).

In today’s Beirut, an insult blown out of proportion finds Toni, a Lebanese Christian, and Yasser, a Palestinian refugee, in court. From secret wounds to traumatic revelations, the media circus surrounding the case puts Lebanon through a social explosion, forcing Toni and Yasser to reconsider their lives and prejudices.

Fernando Meirelles, The Constant Gardener (UK, 2005, 2h09).

Assigned to a new post, reserved British diplomat Justin Quayle relocates to Kenya with his lovely young wife Tessa, an activist for social justice. Tessa is found murdered out in the wilderness. Grief-stricken and angry, Justin sets out to uncover the truth behind Tessa’s murder—and in the process unearths some disturbing revelations.  

Thomas Vinterberg, The Celebration (Denmark, 1998, 1h45).

When a father turns 60, his large family gathers at his huge mansion to celebrate him. Everybody likes and respects him deeply–or do they? The older sister has recently committed suicide, and the father asks her twin, Christian, to say a few words about her. Christian announces that this is the “Speech of Truth.” Everybody laughs, except for the father, who looks nervous. Does he realize that his oldest son is about to reveal something terrible?

*Trigger warning: references to sexual abuse of children.