Tonight at 7 in the International Resource Center, the IRC and the African Students Association are showing “Bye Bye Africa as part of their ongoing Spring Film Festival.
The story is that of an exiled film maker who returns to his country to find that as a result of wars, his homeland is changed forever.
This docu-drama takes place in Chad and is the first feature film from the African country.
IRC coordinator Sonja Rasmussen said the organization puts on an international film series with a different subject every term, and that Spring 2007 takes a geographical theme.
This term’s films include African countries, languages, actors, and issues related to the country.
“It’s a great way to help us go beyond the familiar and extend our borders. The film night is just one of the ways we try to do this,” Rasmussen said. “It allows us to experience things that many of us have no exposure to.”
The International Film Series began in the fall of 2001 and has included themes such as food films, action films from various foreign countries, and a Kaleidoscope theme that included the colors of the rainbow within the titles. Several movies are award winners including Oscar winner “Tsotsi.”
Kellen Wertz, a senior majoring in Japanese and Asian Studies, works in the IRC as Rasmussen’s assistant and has been attending these Thursday night events for a couple years.
“It’s a really good chance to take a look at new places and people,” Wertz said. “(It’s) a chance to expand knowledge and enjoy films.”
There are only three more chances to see these films from Africa. All showings are free and open to the public, and take place at 7 p.m. every Thursday.
– Emily Gillespie