ACFNY SUPPORTED | GERMAN-AUSTRIAN FILM FESTIVAL: NEULAND/NEW BEGINNINGS
The German Department at Williams College is launching its fourth German-Austrian Film Festival starting September 18. This year, the festival’s theme is Neuland/New Beginnings and the films are exploring the meaning of a fresh start in a new country, a new life, or new sexuality.
This year’s line-up features three films that focus on crisis situations that result in life-changing moves.
STEFAN ZWEIG: FAREWELL TO EUROPE
(Vor der Morgenröte – Stefan Zweig in Amerika)
September 18, 7-9pm
Stefan Zweig: Farewell To Europe tells the story of the Austrian writer and his life in exile from 1936 to 1942. Zweig was one of the most famous writers of his time, but as a Jewish intellectual he struggled to find the right stance towards the events in Nazi Germany. Driven to emigrate to South America at the peak of his worldwide fame, Zweig fell into despair at the sight of Europe’s downfall. This visually stunning and emotionally powerful film, directed by Maria Schrader and starring Josef Hader, Aenne Schwarz and Barbara Sukowa, explores what it means to be a refugee and exposes the difficult decision to speak out or remain silent in the face of tyranny.
Gail Newman, Director of Arabic Studies and Harold J. Henry Professor of German at Williams College, will introduce the film.
HAYMATLOZ
September 25, 7-8.30pm
In German and Turkish with English subtitles
During the Second World War, a considerable number of German intellectuals emigrated to Turkey at the invitation of Atatürk and went on to definitively shape teaching and instruction in Turkish universities. Turkish-born filmmaker Eren Önsöz accompanies the descendants and students of these German exiles and sheds light on a memorable piece of history whose meaning is still felt to this day, as these renowned Germans played a substantial role in the Europeanization of Turkey At the same time, the documentary explores what remains of their legacy given that the Turkey of today reflects a visible reversal of Atatürk’s reforms.
Helga Druxes, Chair of German and Russian and Professor of German at Williams College, will introduce the film.
DIE MITTE DER WELT / Center Of My World
October 2, 7-9pm
Love is at the center of Phil’s world, and it’s really screwing things up for him. Whether it’s love for his slightly loony mother Glass and his fraternal twin Diane (who suddenly aren’t speaking), love for his gorgeous new boyfriend Nicholas (who may not love him back), or love for his best friend Kat (who may have eyes for Nicholas), love is making a royal mess of everything. With such adorably dysfunctional and odd people around him to set highly questionable examples, what is a gentle and trusting young soul like Phil supposed to do when all hell breaks loose? Center of my World skips gleefully from past to present, bringing Phil up to this point in his off-kilter fairytale life. It’s a bright, colorful whirl of images that reveals both fantastic patterns and a deeply human story. Joyful, funny, and sometimes sad, this film is for everyone who has ever looked for love, who has found it, or who can’t figure out exactly what to do with it.
Christophe Kone, Assistant Professor of German at Williams College, will introduce the film.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Neuland/New Beginnings is sponsored by the Department of German and Russian at Williams College, the Center for Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures at Williams College, German Embassy Washington, Austrian Cultural Forum New York and the Dively Committee for Human Sexuality and Diversity of Williams College.
TICKETS
>>here
VENUE
Images Cinema
50 Spring Street
PO Box 283
Williamstown, MA 01267