Discovering culture through music and film
Charles Landriault
The Signal
Each fall kicks off a new season of cultural art events at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, which brings film, music, speakers and art to the campus.
With performances by musical ensemble Mercury, recent U.S releases for the Film & Speaker Series, and French foreign-language films with the Tournées Festival, there is sure to be an event for even the pickiest of viewers.
Mercury – The Orchestra Redefined
Mercury celebrates music, Baroque and beyond. Mercury has chosen Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony for this season’s opener. The ensemble enjoys sharing the passion and intimacy of Mozart’s music with audiences.
“We want to start off our season with a bang, but to celebrate perhaps one of the most loved pieces in all of classical music,” said Antoine Plante, artistic director of Mercury. “And, of course, we had to play ‘Jupiter’ for all of the NASA fans in Clear Lake.”
Mercury will also play “Schubert’s Death and the Maiden.” Originally written for a string quartet, the ensemble will transform this piece for a full string orchestra.
Additional performances by Mercury will be Mozart’s “A Little Night Music” and Beethoven’s “4th and 5th Symphonies.”
Film & Speaker Series
The Film & Speaker Series presents recently released films that lend themselves open to topics for discussion. The series not only presents box office hits but, in addition, tries to provide a range of films from documentaries to independent films.
“Our hope is to create dialogue and engage people in critical thinking,” said Andrew Reitberger, associate director of student life.
Because the age range at UHCL runs from young adults just out of high school to adults returning to further their education, the Film & Speaker Series intentionally adds in some family-friendly films that allow viewers of all ages to be entertained and, hopefully, gain a positive college experience.
A few of the films being presented this season during the Film & Speaker Series include:
“Clash of the Titans:” Perseus, born of a god but raised as a man, must save his family from Hades, the vengeful god of the Underworld.
Perseus leads a daring band of warriors on a perilous journey deep into forbidden worlds. Hosted in conjunction with The Art Gallery’s KrakenFest, David Day, lecturer in writing, will speak about the mythology of the Kraken.
“The Whistleblower:” This ripped-from-the-headlines thriller is inspired by actual events. Kathy Bolkovac (played by Rachel Weisz) takes a position working as a peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia. Her hopes of helping to rebuild a devastated country are soon ruined when the reality of corruption, cover-up and intrigue amid a world of private contractors and multinational diplomatic doubletalk is uncovered.
Katherine Bolkovac, the subject of this film, is expected to speak about her experiences, but this event is still being finalized.
The Film & Speaker Series has also teamed up with HoustonPBS and Community Cinema to present films from the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Independent Lens. Upcoming films are “As Goes Janesville,” Oct. 5. and Solar Mamas,” Nov. 2.
For more information about Community Cinema events at UHCL, visit www.uhcl.edu/movies, e-mail movies@uhcl.edu or call 281-283-2560.
The Tournées Festival
As part of the Film & Speaker Series, the Tournées Festival will feature five foreign-language films on the weekends between Sept. 21 and Oct. 12.
The Tournées Festival, made possible with the support of the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the Centre National de la Cinématographie, the Grand Marnier Foundation, the Florence Gould Foundation and Highbrow Entertainment, presents films that are relatively new in French Cinema and that provide some insight into French cultural views.
“Each film being presented presents a different question and allows the viewer to ask different questions,” said Christine Paul, director of the UHCL Foreign Language Program and Non-Credit Programs.
“This is the best festival held so far because the films are not the same, cookie-cutter type films,” Paul said.
Some of the upcoming films being presented during the Tournées Festival include:
“Les Hommes Libres” (Free Men): This film focuses primarily on the political awakening of Younes, an illiterate Algerian immigrant who makes his living selling items on the black market, yet when caught, begins serving as a spy for the police to avoid jail. This film is sponsored by UHCL’s History Club.
“Tomboy:” Portraying childhood just before pubescence, this film is about a young, fourth-grade girl named Laure. Laure and her family have moved into a suburban complex prior to the start of the school year. Laure, with the support of her family, decides this is her opportunity for re-invention and to step outside of the rule-bound world of gender codes. This film is sponsored by UHCL’s Unity Club.
Additional Events:
The UHCL Art Gallery is hosting KrakenFest, which will tie into the Film & Speaker Series’ showing of “Clash of the Titans.” KrakenFest is based around Lecturer in Art Jason Makepeace’s art car, a Ford Mustang wrapped in tentacles so that it appears as if it is being ripped apart by the Kraken.
The event will be held in the Alumni Plaza Oct. 27 between 6 and 7 p.m. Admission and parking for KrakenFest are free. For more information visit www.krakenfest.eventbrite.com.
For prices and showtimes go to www.uhcl.edu/cultural arts.
