Award-winning foreign cinema from around the world is coming to Baldwin Wallace for students, faculty, and the broader Berea community to enjoy.
Feb. 8 officially kicked off BW’s annual International Film Series, which features multiple showings of foreign films over the course of two weekends. Each of the showings is accompanied by a reception hosted by the BW foreign language department.
Kicking off the festival was the reception for the first film, hosted by the BW French Club.
The first film featured at the festival was “L’Atelier” (The Workshop). The French film details the relationship between a novelist and one of her students at a writing workshop, and their relationship takes interesting and disturbing turns as the movie progresses.
Professors and students who attended were treated to French-themed food, including quiche, eclairs, and brie, all hosted by Dining Services.
One of the most anticipated movies of the weekend was shown on Feb. 10.
“120 Battements Par Minute” (120 Beats Per Minute) won the grand prix at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival as well as multiple other awards internationally. According to the BW website, it follows a group of activists who go to “battle for those stricken with HIV/AIDS, taking on sluggish government agencies and major pharmaceutical companies in bold, invasive actions”.
In attendance at both the reception and films was BW junior April Walter, an international studies and French double major, who helps out with the series every year. Walter said that she thinks the series is a really interesting event offered by the University.
“I think the International Film Series is a really over-looked event at BW,” said Walter. “It’s a great opportunity to meet interesting people and become a little more cultured. The films being shown are the ones that have won awards for the messages in them, and I think they serve as a great way for Americans especially to get a fresh perspective.”
Next weekend is set to continue the series with four more French films as well as films in German and Chinese.
“Aus Dem Nichts” (In The Fade) will play at 5 p.m. on Feb. 15, followed by a reception and another movie, “Ni Hao, Zhihua” (Last Letter), at 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 16 will feature the showing of “L’Insulte” (The Insult) and “Tazzeka”, with another reception between the two.
Films are being shown in Marting Hall, room 114, with all receptions being held in the Marting Lounge.