Crossing the border, April 13, 2007

Film
Lost and Found in Mexico
Mon, Apr 16, 5pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
50 pesos

The illusion of the American dream is challenged in this portrait of ex-pats in San Miguel de Allende who discovered that some vital things were missing in their prior lives. While many Mexicans are leaving families behind and risking their lives to cross the border to a better life, this film focuses on the Americans who have decided to cross the border in the other direction—for a simpler life. In Caren Cross’s documentary we meet ex-pats of varying ages who have given up ‘the good life’ in the US for a home in Mexico that provides more than money can buy. Happy to live with less, among a people they respect and admire, these ex-professionals and executives explain why they have left family and friends behind to live in a country where crowded malls and BlackBerries have been replaced by books, art and casual conversations. A question and answer session with writer/director/producer, Caren Cross, follows the film. Documentary. 53 minutes.

“Cinemateca Programación para la semana 
del 16 al 22 de Abril 2006”
José Luis Pick’n’tip:

The Pick:

Nelly and Monsieur Arnaud

On the surface this movie is about a beautiful Parisian woman and the various people, mostly men, in her life. After seeing this movie twice, I’ve come to realize that the central character is not Nelly per se, but her magnetism and beauty.

Every man in this movie is drawn to her and wants to be in her orbit in some way. Every man that she comes into contact with makes either a vague or not so vague comment about her attractiveness; which she is not using in a manipulative way. She’s fairly nonchalant about her affect on men. The men in her life 1 by 1, feel rejected—either directly or indirectly, and they take a rather passive aggressive approach with her as they either leave her life or remind her that they are not available to her. It’s worth seeing just to see the beautiful Emmanuelle Beart, but watch the subtleties of the characters’ reactions to her—the looks, the small comments. Even the envious women!

The Tip:


Important:
In order to provide the best viewing experience, the show times for some movies may be adjusted to accommodate their length, be sure to check the schedule carefully. I also want to remind you of our new ticket price of 50 pesos and discount cards for 12 shows for 450 pesos.

Starting Monday, after noon, buy your tickets in advance for any movie or show of the week. If you have a discount card, collect your pass to assure you get a seat; don’t take the risk of being locked out…. Nos vemos en el Cine….

You want to receive this info by email? Write to José Luis at alephamour@hotmail.com.  

Thank you.




The Movies:

Nelly and Monsieur Arnaud (1995)
Monday, April 16 at 3pm
Wednesday, April 18 at 3pm
Director: Claude Sautet
Cast: Emmanuelle Beart, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Michel Serrault.
French Romance French with English subtitles, 103 minutes
When the aging Monsieur Arnaud (Michel Serrault), a retired judge, offers to help Nelly (Emmanuelle Beart), a beautiful young divorcée, pay her debts by hiring her to work as his secretary and type his memoirs, he stifles an obvious attraction for her that erupts when she courts his young publisher (Jean-Hugues Anglade). Claude Sautet (Un Coeur en Hiver) directs this award-winning French-language story of love, loss and unspoken feelings.

Caterina in the Big City (Caterina va in citta 2005)
(FILM cinemateca 1)
Tuesday, April 17 at 5pm
Italian Comedies, Italian with English subtitles, 106 minutes
Director: Paolo Virzi
Cast: Alice Teghil, Federica Sbrenna, Carolina Iaquaniello, Margherita Buy, Flavio Bucci
Twelve-year-old Caterina (Alice Teghil) faces new vistas when her father (Sergio Castillito) is transferred to Rome. She has new classmates to win over in an environment that’s a far cry from the bucolic existence of her small country hometown. Amidst the tumult, Caterina could easily lose her sense of self…if not for an extraordinary Australian boy (Zach Wallen) who lives in the apartment building across the way. Paolo Virzi directs.

An Affair of Love (Une Liaison D'Amour 1999)
Thursday, April 19 at 4pm
Friday, April 20 at 4pm
Director: Frederic Fonteyne
Cast: Nathalie Baye, Sergi Lopez, Jacques Viala, Paul Pavel.
French Romantic Dramas, French with English subtitles, 78 minutes.
A nameless woman places an ad searching for “a pornographic affair.” A nameless man answers. They correspond, meet and begin an affair as mysterious as their hidden desires. After the liaison ends, the two confess their feelings to an interviewer. Director Frédéric Fonteyne’s touching drama offers a fascinating look at how sex without love can still evoke powerful emotions and alter lives.

Kids Movie series: Avatar
Saturday April 21 at 2:30pm
Free entrance, theatre capacity.

Musical Saturdays: 
Jacques Offenbach’s la Belle Helene 
Saturday April 21 at 2:30pm
Sung in French, English subtitles, 124 minutes
Next week: Final show of the season:
La Traviata with Anna Netrebko

The delightful Vesselina Kasarova stars as Helene in this light-hearted Opera based on the story of Helen of Troy. Helmut Lohner’s lavish interpretation is wonderfully entertaining, highlighting the declining social mores of the Parisian upper classes under the Second Empire. Visual humor abounds in the colorful and whimsically exuberant costumes.
Conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt conjures up an unusual combination of sounds and a new listening experience with an orchestra configured to replicate that which would have been available to Offenbach.