2017 World Cinema Festival Promotes Intercultural Appreciation

January 16, 2017 (Notre Dame, Ind.) — Saint Mary’s College will hold its annual World Cinema Festival Monday, February 6 through Thursday, February 9. This event is hosted by the College’s Center for Women’s Intercultural Leadership (CWIL). The festival will feature four international films over the course of the week. All showings will be at 7 p.m. in the Vander Vennet Theatre in the Student Center. Click for a campus map. Admission is free of charge and the event is open to the public.

“Saint Mary’s World Cinema Festival continues to support the ongoing internationalization of the curriculum and the College community. In addition, the festival brings to light the rich cinematic body of work that is being produced outside of the United States,” said Mana Derakshani, director of CWIL.

“As a women’s college, Saint Mary’s strives to showcase films directed by women or films with strong female characters. We hope the Michiana community will appreciate the variety and quality of this year’s festival offerings,” she added.

World Cinema Festival February 6-9, 2017

Monday, February 6
Nora’s Will
This tragic comedy, set in Mexico in 1967, begins with Jose learning his former wife, Nora, has committed suicide. As he handles Nora’s funeral arrangements, a mysterious photograph surfaces that takes the plot in an unexpected direction. (2008)

Tuesday, February 7
Hannah Arendt
This biopic examines the life of the influential German-Jewish philosopher and political theorist Hannah Arendt, who reported for The New Yorker on the 1961 war crimes trial of Nazi Adolf Eichmann. (2012)

Wednesday, February 8
Desert Flower
This film tells the incredible story of Waris Dirie, a Somalian nomad who experiences female genital mutilation (FGM) at age 3, is sold into marriage at 13, becomes an American supermodel, and at age 38 becomes a UN spokesperson against FGM. (2009)

Thursday, February 9
Wolf Totem
This drama is set in Inner Mongolia in 1967 during China’s Cultural Revolution when the Communist government dispatched millions of urban students to the countryside to educate the isolated rural populace. Beijing student Chen Zhen is to teach shepherds. (2015)

About Saint Mary's College: Celebrating over 175 years of empowering women to make a difference in the world, Saint Mary’s College is recognized as a pioneer and continued force in the education of women. A Catholic, liberal arts institution in Notre Dame, Indiana, the College offers more than 50 undergraduate academic programs and also offers co-educational master’s degrees.