Films to show at the International House (options to choose from)
Before Sunrise (1995) This is one of my favorite movies and probably the best argument for young
people to venture abroad that has ever been made. The plot is very simple, but the dialog is peerless and
the setting—Vienna on a summer night—is enchanting. Ethan Hawke stars as Jesse, a young American
on the loose in Europe, and Julie Delpy stars as Céline, a young French woman. They meet on a train and
then spend the whole day and night wandering the streets of Vienna while weaving one of the best
conversations in film history. This became the basis for 2 other great films by Richard Linklater with the
same stars: Before Sunset and Before Midnight, but this is the best to start with.
L’Auberge Espangnole (2002) This is another good film about young people having adventures in
Europe, this one also launched a trilogy. It focuses on Xavier, a French student who takes a room in an
apartment in Barcelona with roommates from all over: England, Spain, Germany, Italy, Denmark, and
Belgium. They all learn about the limits of national stereotypes, and Xavier in particular learns a lot about
love and how stupidity can lead to wisdom.
Swades: We the People (2004) an Indian film that “received widespread critical acclaim and a cult
following from Indian and other South Asian audiences around the world. It is widely regarded as one of
the best Bollywood films of the decade.” (Wikipedia) A successful Indian scientist leaves his NASA job
for a visit to his hometown, where he gets caught up in the concerns of the village while both falling for
and sparring with the beautiful, progressive-minded village schoolteacher.
Sweet Land 2005PG “Norwegian-American farmer Olaf Torvik and his rural Minnesota community
must struggle to overcome years of anti-German propaganda and prejudice when he discovers that his
mail-order bride, Inge, is not only a German but also an accidental Socialist” (Netflix). This is both an
engaging love story and an interesting look back at a time when discrimination against immigrants had
nothing to do with race.
Ondine (2009) An Irish fisherman's life is upended when he catches a beautiful and mysterious woman in
his net. While his daughter starts to believe the enigmatic newcomer is a selkie (a sort of mermaid found
in Celtic myth), the fisherman starts to believe she might be a new beginning. Don’t worry: it is not as
Hollywood as it sounds. Plus, Colin Farrell plays the fisherman.
The Boxer The great Daniel Day-Lewis stars as a former IRA man who returns to his rough, inner-city
neighborhood to rebuild his life as a boxer, reconnecting with the love of his life (Emily Watson), who is
now married to someone else. Set in the last days of the Troubles, with the remaining conflict between
those who wanted to make peace and those who wanted to keep killing.
Michael Collins Liam Neeson stars as Michael Collins, one of the great leaders in the Irish revolution
and Civil War. Also stars Aidin Quinn, Alan Rickman, and Julia Roberts.