Hirschfield International Film Series

“Love”
Norway, 2024

In defiance of societal norms, a pragmatic doctor and a compassionate nurse seek intimacy beyond the bounds of conventional relationships.
Written and directed by Dag Johan Haugerud.

Sponsored by the Hirschfield Film Endowment and the Film and Media Culture Department.

Betania
Brazil, 2024
Written and directed by Marcelo Botta
 
This remarkable debut film is set in the north-east of Brazil, in a breathtaking scenery defined by endless sand dunes, and features mostly non-professional actors. The protagonist, Betania, has to move away from her community upon the death of her husband - and this disruption brings up all flavors of conflict, from the intra-familial struggles to the global issues of overtourism and ecological sustainability.

No Other Land, 2024. Written, directed, produced and edited by Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Rachel Szor.
For half a decade, Basel Adra, a Palestinian activist, films his community of Masafer Yatta being destroyed by Israeli occupation, as he builds an unlikely alliance with an Israeli journalist who wants to join his fight.  Together, as part of a Palestinian-Israeli filmmaking collective, they created one of the most intense films of last year.

Pelikan Blue  Hungary, 2023 Directed by: László Csáki 

1990s Hungary. The iron curtain has fallen, and Hungarians are free to travel Europe. But travel is expensive. A taste of freedom, but not enough to truly revel in it. 

So, three Hungarian teens beat the system. Wild, fluid, and surreal animation tells the true story of Ákos, Laci and Petya as they begin to forge international train tickets that are easily manipulated due to an easy-to-remove ink: Pelican Blue. Matters turn dangerous for the youngsters when they unwittingly establish an underground crime syndicate and outrun the slow churn of the Hungarian Police. Watch an unforgettable tale of the battle between the law and the spirit of youth. 

Come join us in Dana Auditorium @ 7 PM for an unforgettable experience, pizza, and the chance to win a prize! (Pizza served at 6:30). 

“Pelikan Blue is the type of film that leaves a permanent smile on the viewer’s face” - Cineeuropa

“Transcends the medium of documentary” - Max Gibson ’25

“Had an absolute ball watching this” - Mu Paw ‘25

“One of the most engaging and interesting movies Hirschfield has seen” - Kalani Martial ‘25

“Visually inventive and completely immersive” - Graydon Hanson ‘25

“I am going to name my first-born child Pelikan Blue” - Ross Davis ‘27

Director Philippe Lesage in attendance, Q and A to follow the screening.
 
Who by Fire
Canada, 2024
Directed by Philippe Lesage
 
A “beautiful, unusual coming of age story” (Guy Lodge, Variety) this ensemble character drama is both subtle and shocking in a most understated way.

Directed by Mohammad Rasoulof

 Germany, 2024

 Investigating judge Iman grapples with paranoia amid political unrest in Tehran. When his gun vanishes, he suspects his wife and daughters, imposing draconian measures that strain family ties as societal rules crumble.

“There is no other movie like Emilia Perez.”

-Vanity Fair

The October screening of the Hirschfield series features a Chinese film that premiered in the Official Selection of the Cannes Film Festival. Only the River Flows is an atmospheric thriller set in rural China, following a murder investigation that quickly leads to an obvious arrest and to many unanswered questions. Professor Chialan Sharon Wang will introduce the film, and the screening will be followed by a brief discussion led by Professor Nikolina Dobreva. Join us outside Dana to celebrate with pizza and popcorn at 6:30 PM

The Hirschfield International Film Series opens with a selection of shorts from this year’s Sundance Film Festival. For details about each of the 7 films visit here. Free Admission.

HIRSCHFIELD THURSDAYS PRESENTS:

MAMBAR PIERRETTE, a free-spirited seamstress navigates poverty and patriarchy in the Cameroonian city of Douala.

Cameroon/Belgium - 2023 - 93 minutes - A Film by Rosine Mbakam.

Join us outside Dana to celebrate with pizza and popcorn at 6:30 PM.

Watch the trailer HERE
Co-Sponsored by the Hirschfield Film Endowment

Teenager Owen is just trying to make it through life in the suburbs when his classmate introduces him to a mysterious late-night TV show — a vision of a supernatural world beneath their own. In the pale glow of the television, Owen’s view of reality begins to crack.

USA - 2024 - 100 minutes - Written and Directed by Jane Schoenbrun

Join us outside Dana to celebrate with pizza and popcorn at 6:30 PM.

Watch the trailer here.

HIRSCHFIELD THURSDAYS PRESENTS: A WOLFPACK CALLED ERNESTO.

Mexican filmmaker Everardo González brings us inside the chilling world of Ernesto, an amalgam of various teenage boys, who, in choosing a gun and a life of organized crime, becomes both victim and perpetrator.

Mexico, France - 2023 - 81 minutes.

DIRECTOR EVERARDO GONZALEZ will be with us for a Q&A after the screening.

Our unique once-a-month event. Join us outside Dana to celebrate with pizza and popcorn at 6:30 PM

OFFICIAL TRAILER

Come join us watch Julio Torres’ genius film Problemista.

Alejandro is an aspiring toy designer who’s struggling to bring his unusual ideas to life in New York City. As time on his work visa runs out, a job assisting an art world outcast becomes his only hope to stay in the country and realize his dream.

Hirschfield Thursdays presents: The Zone of Interest.

The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp.

Directed by Jonathan Glazer - US, UK, Poland - 105 minutes.

Our unique once-a-month event. Join us outside Dana to celebrate with pizza and popcorn at 6:30 PM

OFFICIAL TRAILER

Hirschfield Thursdays presents: Stonewalling.

20 year-old Lynn is told she needs English classes, flight attendant school, and a go-getter attitude. She perseveres along this path of upward mobility until she finds out she’s pregnant. Indecisive and running out of time, she tells her boyfriend she’s had an abortion and instead returns to her feuding parents and their failing clinic to try and figure out (if she can) what’s next.

HUANG Ji, OTSUKA Ryuji - Japan, China - 147 minutes

When their son Ilya stops talking, Haleh and her husband Amir start searching for the reason and the remedy for his mutism. The more they try to talk to the boy or consults experts, the worst things become.

WRITER DIRECTOR DORNAZ HAJIHA will be in attendance for a Q&A after the screening.

Our unique once-a-month Thursday. Join us outside Dana to celebrate with pizza and popcorn at 6:30 PM.

IRAN, 78 minutes, 2022.

Sponsored by the Film and Media Culture Department and the Hirschfield Film Endowment.