With the growing popularity of foreign films, it’s
becoming easier and easier to see the latest Audrey Tautou film or
the original Japanese version of “The Grudge” at the
local cineplex.
Following this trend, the International Film Club, one of the
many programs at the Dashew International Center on campus, is
making foreign films even more accessible to UCLA students by
presenting screenings on campus every quarter.
“What we try to do is find interesting international films
that the students would enjoy and have screenings that are free to
them so they don’t have to hassle with going to the movies or
going to rent them themselves,” said Dutta Hailemariam,
program coordinator at the Dashew International Center and chief
overseer of the program.
Started two years ago, the International Film Club is one of the
center’s newest programs and is just getting off the ground.
The club hosts a screening of a foreign film once or twice each
quarter. This time around, the club plans to attend an off-campus
screening of the Russian film “You I Love” on Feb. 11
and viewing a French film presented by the UCLA Film &
Television Archive.
The screenings are usually held in conjunction with another
student group. The club co-sponsored a screening of “West
Beirut” with the Lebanese Social Club and a screening of the
Persian film “Children of Heaven” with the Student
Welfare Commission during spring quarter 2004.
By co-sponsoring a film with another student group, the club can
reach a larger audience at UCLA.
“We usually (aim for) a mixed audience (of international
students and domestic students),” Hailemariam said.
“That’s one of the reasons why we try to get other
on-campus student groups involved. We’re trying to get a
50-50 ratio whenever we have events to encourage people to
communicate and talk to one another.”
Foreign films are also being presented with greater frequency by
the Campus Events Commission. This quarter’s lineup alone
includes “Hero” and “The Motorcycle
Diaries.” Campus Events film director Lisbeth Ortega
recognizes the increasing importance of international films.
“I was personally excited about showing these films
because they bring diversity to our film program,” Ortega
said. “The style is something different from American
mainstream films. Both (American and foreign films) are visually
beautiful, (but) foreign films are also simply well-made and have
great story lines.”
Foreign film aficionados are excited that the genre is gaining a
wider audience at UCLA.
“Films like “˜Hero’ or “˜Crouching Tiger,
Hidden Dragon’ appeal to an American audience because
they’re from a different culture, and different cultures
bring different elements to the screen,” said Eric Horwitz, a
second-year psychology student. “They have a unique sense of
class and art that is lacking in American mainstream
blockbusters.”
With foreign films becoming more accessible to UCLA students,
perhaps 21st-century cultural divides will be smashed through the
universal medium of film.
“Part of our mission is to build bridges between the
different communities ““ the community of international
students and scholars and the UCLA community,” Hailemariam
said. “We’re just a place where they can actually meet
after that. And it’s fairly successful in that sense because
a lot of people actually do meet at these events and end up staying
friends.”