Cinema International is ready for another screening season

MURRAY, Ky. – Murray State University’s Cinema International program is pleased to announce another exciting season of acclaimed films for the campus community and the public to view. Films are shown on Thursday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. in the Curris Center on Murray State’s campus. All screenings are free and open to the public.

Cinema International is a longstanding tradition at Murray State, having begun when the Curris Center opened 40 years ago.

“The purpose of Cinema International has always been to bring the world to the Murray State campus for all to enjoy free of charge,” said Dr. Therese Saint Paul, associate professor of French and the program’s director. “The selection of movies has always included movies that are not easy to find and have received awards abroad and in the United States.”

In addition to their entertainment value, the films are also an integral component of coursework for many students.

“Though not all films are international or subtitled, as we show English-speaking films as well, at least five or six always reflect the cultures of the languages that we teach at Murray State, so the films are part of the language student’s curriculum,” added Dr. Saint Paul.

Students in other programs, such as film studies, theatre, art and history, among others, also regularly attend the screenings. Post-screening discussions are led by invited guest faculty who specialize in the culture or themes expressed in the films, and departments from across campus co-sponsor films that pertain especially to their areas of study.

“The purpose is to help the public understand a different culture and to get a better perspective on the context of the movies, as well as express their opinions and practice critical thinking,” said Dr. Saint Paul.

Although she looks forward to all of the films in this semester’s series, Dr. Saint Paul does have a few she’s particularly excited about. “Of course, I teach French, so I look forward to the one titled France, which looks at identity, the present day media and the difficult position of reporters and journalists.”

Dr. Saint Paul also recommends Network, the 1976 American classic directed by Sydney Lumet, as well as Long Day’s Journey Until Night, which has been described as “China’s biggest Art-House movie of all time.”

The series begins on Thursday, Aug. 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the Curris Center Barkley Room with Beat the Devil, directed by John Huston of African Queen fame and written for the screen by Truman Capote. The film stars Humphrey Bogart and Gina Lollobrigida and is a loose parody of the 1941 film The Maltese Falcon. A second screening will take place on Saturday, Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the Curris Center Theater.

To view the full schedule please visit the Cinema International website at bit.ly/3R1pFGz and for more information contact Dr. Therese Saint Paul at tsaintpaul@murraystate.edu.