Thursday, A.M. ~ 10 - 11:30

Coordinator: David Draves

Contact:  (603) 659-3390

Location: Durham Community Church

September 19 – The Syrian Bride, Israel (2004, 97 min). the daughter of a Muslim Druse living in a Golan Israeli occupied town is that day to marry a Syrian TV actor she knows only from his show.  Her father is a staunch Syrian loyalist, her older sister a frustrated liberation seeker, brother seven years in Russia to earn a law degree, negotiate with two governments who do not acknowledge the other's existence to bring off the wedding.  Fine views of the Golan Heights area.

September 26 – Burnt by the Sun, Russia, (1995, 133 min). revolutionary war hero, Col. Kotov, still has Stalin's personal phone number in the early 1930s.  It is his week's one day off to spend time with his young wife, daughter, friends and visitors to his rural multiuse dacha.  A young friend of both Kotov and his wife from whom and about whom they have had no information for ten years joins the group.  It is the day to mark the sixth anniversary of Stalin's aireoplane and balloon success as well as to carry on everyday state activities.  Lovely setting!

October 3 – The House of Sand, Brazil, (2005, 115 min). Into the vast sand dunes of Brazil a man brings his pregnant wife, mother-in-law and followers to settle a plot whose title he had acquired.  The group survives through occasional trade with a distant seaside community of runaways.  Ater the man's death (by sand) the women survive over two generations with the assistance of the runaways.  The mother of the second generation wants her daughter to escape to a civilized community.  Gorgeous stark setting.

October 10 – Zou Zou, France (1934, 93 min.). "Miracle" multiracial twins are raised as a carnival oddity by their uncle.  As adults she (black) works in a laundry while he (white) serves in the navy and keeps in touch with her by mail and gifts.  She is devoted to him.  Out of the navy he works as an electrician in a theater where she, at times, delivers laundry and becomes familiar with performers.  By a fluke she has the opportunity to perform -- and rise to stardom.  Typical movie fare, but well done.