Cheney’s law
January 9, 2009 San Miguel de Allende
Film
Cheney’s Law
Mon, Jan 12, 5pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
50 pesos
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The Bush–Cheney administration will soon be history, but will the vast expansion of unchecked executive power that Vice President Dick Cheney fashioned fade into the past? For the last eight years he waged a secretive and often bitter battle to expand the power of the presidency under a dubious reading of the Constitution called The Unitary Executive Theory. Others call it The Imperial Presidency. |
Over the last 70 years of wars, both hot and cold, there has been a gradual expansion of presidential power—but nothing like what occurred after 9/11 and the war on terror. Cheney’s special position as co-president with George W. Bush gave him the opportunity to claim unprecedented powers for the White House: the power to imprison indefinitely and to torture, to wiretap, to render and assassinate, to select which laws to enforce and which to ignore…and who knows what more? The ways in which this was done are meticulously traced in PBS’s Frontline documentary Cheney’s Law. This look into the behind-closed-doors battle within the administration over the power of the presidency and the rule of law would make the Founding Fathers turn over in their graves.
The film is part of the Center for Global Justice’s Challenges for Obama series. A discussion follows the screening.
The green screen: Bioneers film series opens
Bioneers Winter Film Series
Tue, Jan 21, 3–4pm
Teatro Santa Ana
50 pesos
After sweeping out the old, a new year is usually a harbinger of hope. Unfortunately, the economic crisis is still tumbling down the canyons of Wall Street and the remains will not be easy to sweep away.
The good news is that there are, and have been, a lot of visionaries out there working on the nuts and bolts of a sustainable future. A lot of those visionaries gather under the big tent of Bioneers every October in San Rafael, California. Just as the geese flying south gather on the lake outside the conference center, the elder and fledgling Bioneers also return: professors, green entrepreneurs, visionary businessmen, grandmothers, political activists, Google guys and gals, aging hippies, farmers, bloggers, artists, musicians and activists of all stripes. Also present will be cutting-edge scientists such as Janine Benyus, with innovations direct from nature; Paul Anastas, the “green chemist” from Yale who has divined how to combine carbon dioxide with other chemical compounds to make biodegradable plastic; and Paul Stamets with his mushrooms that clean up toxic waste, oil spills, and more.
As Kenny Ausubel, co-founder of the conference, says, “We have 90 percent of the nuts-and-bolts solutions for a sustainable future. What is lacking is the awareness of the solutions and the political will to do it.” If you are seeking hope, practical solutions, knowledge, connections, green investment opportunities and more, come and check out Bioneers in the Winter Film Series. This diverse series will feature two speakers every Tuesday through March.
Video cantata
By Murray Kamelhar
Film
The History of Mexico
Thu, Jan 15, 5:30pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Insurgentes 25
50 pesos
When you take 336 color slides, the voices of four professional actors and give them the poetry and prose of the people of Mexico and present it for 12 years to full houses, the audience tells you that, “The viewing of this document should be required by all who come to Mexico.” The Biblioteca art director says, “This poetic and accurate documentary gives a beautiful and deep overview of Mexico’s history.” When vacationing teachers insist that, “this needs to be seen by our students, high school and college,” the making of the DVD was inevitable. They are now available at the Biblioteca’s La Tienda and Teatro Santa Ana.
Cinemateca, January 12–18, 2009
José Luis Pick’n’tip
Beyond Silence
You will love this movie. It is the story of a girl whose deaf parents cannot understand or share her love of music. But to me, it’s a metaphor for all parent-child relationships. In some ways, Lara chooses music to rebel against her parents, who drag her into their world, often against her will (like the scene at the bank). In choosing to play the clarinet, she sides with her aunt, Clarissa, who has always been the antithesis of her father. The interesting thing here is that, when she grows up, her rebellion is mediated rather than amplified. She learns that Aunt Clarissa is not perfect. She realizes that she longs for the world of her parents (which is why she follows a complete stranger who is using sign language to communicate with a child). This is what makes me think her relationship with Tom is not simply gratuitous—the fact is, she selects for her first romantic relationship a man who is hearing, but like her, has deaf parents. She is selecting a mediated position—not a complete rejection of her paren
ts’ world, but not a total acceptance of it, either. I think this is a beautiful movie about growing up and growing into a more moderate position.
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: 50 pesos and discount cards buy 12 shows for 450 pesos. Starting Monday, after 11am, buy your tickets in advance for any movie or show of the week. If you have a discount card, collect your pass to secure a seat; don’t take the risk of being locked out. Would you like to receive this info by email? Write to José Luis at
alephamour@hotmail.com. Thank you.
The Movies
Video Opera and Ballet series continues:
Donizetti’s La Fille du Regiment
Monday, January at 2pm
Opera, 132 minutes, English
Cast: Natalie Dessay
An opera in two acts by Donizetti with words by Bayard and Jules H. Vernoy (Marquis St. Georges) first produced at Opéra Comique in Paris, as La Fille du Régiment, February 11, 1840, then in Milan, October 30, 1840, and in English at London’s Surrey Theatre, December 21, 1847. Jenny Lind appeared that same season in Italian. The first American performance was in New Orleans, March 7, 1843. Marie was a favorite role with Jenny Lind, Sontag, Lucca and Patti, all of whom appeared in it in New York; also Sembrich, with Charles Gilibert as Sulpice, Metropolitan Opera House, 1902–03; and Hempel, with Scotti as Sulpice, same house, December 17, 1917. Tetrazzimi, McCormack and Gilibert, Manhattan Opera House, 1909. An opera with a slight hold on the repertoire, but liable to occasional revival for coloratura sopranos.
Next Week: La Boheme with Pavarotti
The History of Mexico
Thursday, January 15 at 5:30pm
Visual-chronological narration, English, 60 minutes
Director-producer: Murray Kamelhar
Cast: Cleo Stevens, Gary Whare, Lilia Trapaga, José Luis Mendoza
For the past 10 years, this final version has been presented to full houses at Teatro Santa Ana in the Bilioteca Pública. Through the voices of the actors and the beautiful visuals, The History of Mexico brings to life the struggles, defeats and victories of its people. The poetry, the art, the color and craft of their culture are also part of their story. A reporter for The New York Times said, “This story should be required viewing by all who enter Mexico.”
Niger: Magic and Ecstasy in the Sahel (2005)
Wednesday, January at 1:30pm
Musical documentary, English, 60 minutes
Director: Mayet
Shot on location in Niger, this musical exploration by filmmaker Hisham Mayet captures rare sounds from Africa’s Sahel region. Mayet’s film documents the amazing musical diversity of the region and features artists performing traditional and modern sounds, including psychedelic guitar trance rock from the Tuareg, Bori cult dance ceremonies, Fulani folk, roadhouse gospel rave-ups and other obscurities from the African desert.
The Year My Parents Went on Vacation
(Ano em Que Meus Pais Saíram de Férias, 2006)
Wednesday, January 14 at 5pm
Brazilian film, Portuguese with English subtitles, 104 minutes
Starring: Michel Joelsas, Germano Haiut
Director: Cao Hamburguer
When his parents’ political leanings force them to flee Brazil in haste, 12-year-old Mauro (Michel Joelsas) is left behind to live with his grandfather on the outskirts of São Paulo in the city’s Jewish community. But what his parents didn’t realize is that Mauro’s grandfather has recently died and the only person left to care for the boy is his grandfather’s next-door neighbor, Shlomo (Germano Haiut).
Beyond Silence
(Jenseits der Stille, 1996)
Friday, January 16 at 5pm
German drama, German with English subtitles, 109 minutes
Starring: Sylvie Tesud, Tatjana Tries
Director: Caroline Link
Laura (Tatjana Trieb) is a dutiful daughter to her hearing-impaired parents, Martin (Howie Seago) and Kai (Emmanuelle Laborit), sometimes to the detriment of her own needs. When an aunt (Sibylle Canonica) gives the young girl a clarinet, Laura discovers a hidden talent and as a teen (Sylvie Testud) she attends a Berlin music school on scholarship against Martin’s wishes and falls in love. But tragedy calls her back home.
Kids Movies: Cartoons
Saturday, January 17
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