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City of Monona

Home > Adult Programs and Events > Film Series

Foreign & Art Film Series - Spring 2010

Films screen at 6:30 PM with a discussion following.

 

March 12 - Troubled Water (Norway)
Jan, recently released from prison after serving time for the murder of a child, has always maintained his innocence and is ready to put the past behind him. A gifted organist, he takes a job at an Oslo church under his middle name, Thomas. His talent and gentle manner quickly earn him the respect of his superiors, as well as the love of the pastor, Anna. Thomas even overcomes his initial panic to return the affection of Anna's young son, Jens. But his past catches up with him when Agnes, a local teacher, comes to the church on a school visit and recognizes the organist as Jan, the young man who was convicted for the murder of her son.

 

March 26 - Somers Town (UK)
Two teenagers, both newcomers to London, forge an unlikely friendship over the course of a hot summer. Tomo (Thomas Turgoose) is a runaway from Nottingham; Marek (Piotr Jagiello), a Polish immigrant, lives in the district of Somers Town, between King's Cross and Euston stations, where his dad is working on a new rail link. When Marke agrees to let homeless Tomo move into his room, unbeknownst to his father, the pair forms a strong bond, as they work odd jobs for an eccentric neighbor and compete for the attention of Maria, a beautiful young French waitress whom they are both infatuated with. But it's only a matter of time before Marek's dad discovers what's going on...

 

April 9 - Mine (USA)
Hailed as "absorbing," "a must see," "Oscar material" and "the best movie at SXSW," MINE is a documentary about the essential bond between humans and animals, set against the backdrop of one of the worst natural disasters in modern U.S. history: Hurricane Katrina. This gripping, character-driven story follows New Orleans residents as they attempt the daunting task of trying to reunite with their pets who have been adopted by families all over the country, and chronicles the custody battles that arise when two families love the same pet. Who determines the fate of the animals—and the people—involved? A compelling meditation on race, class and the power of compassion, MINE examines how we treat animals as an extension of how we view and treat each other.

 

April 23 - For My Father (Israel)
Tarek, a Palestinian forced on a suicide mission in Tel Aviv to redeem his father's honor, is given a second chance when the fuse on his explosive vest fails to detonate.  Forced to spend the weekend in Tel Aviv awaiting its repair, Tarek must live amongst the people he was planning to kill.  To his surprise he connects with several Israelis on the outskirts of society, including the beautiful Keren, who has cut off contact with her Orthodox family and upbringing.  With nothing to lose, Tarek and Keren open up to one another, and an unlikely love blooms between two isolated and damaged individuals, raised to be enemies.

However, with the deadly load of explosives still strapped to him, he must spend 48 hours in the city, caught between the men that sent him—who can blow up his bomb remotely, the Israeli police patrolling the streets and his new-found companions.  Spending this time with Keren and his new friends, Tarek discovers the spark of life returning to fill his soul, but when the weekend ends, Tarek must make the decision of his life.

 

May 7 - Storm (Germany)
Hannah Maynard, prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague, is leading a trial against a former commander of the Yugoslavian National Army who is accused of the deportation and later killing of dozens of Bosnian-Muslim civilians. When a key witness commits suicide, it looks like the case will unravel, however Hannah refuses to give in.

Hoping to uncover new findings, she travels to the witness' burial in Sarajevo and meets his sister Mira who she senses has much more to say than she is willing to admit.  Despite threats of violence, Mira reluctantly agrees to testify at The Hague. However, she and Hannah must both risk life and limb to make it to the court, only to discover that there are traitors among their own ranks.

 

All Films are intended for a mature audience.

The Library's film series is sponsored by the Friends of the Monona Public Library.

Each month, the Library will screen a foreign or art film that will likely not be seen anywhere else.  Through the Library’s subscription to the Film Movement Series, courtesy of the Friends of the Library, the Library obtains a new award-winning film each month. Film Movement scours the world’s top film festivals including Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, and New York to select the best films from thousands of entries.  These are great films (for grown-ups) that you likely won’t find at Blockbuster.  Imagine seeing a Sundance Theater-type film without leaving town and without paying admission.

Miss a film? All Film Series titles are available for checkout following the show!

Click the film's title to go to the catalog!