CULTURAL FILM SERIES
The Cultural Film Series is proud to announce a partnership with the Augustine and Culture Seminar Program. This year’s film series explores two themes: representations of the ancient world and portrayals of American identity.
Films are screened in the Cinema of the Connelly Center on Villanova’s campus on Sundays at 3:30 and 7 p.m. and Monday evenings at 7 p.m.
The speakers, who introduce the film and lead a discussion after the screening, are only present for the Monday evening screenings.As always, all screenings are free and open to the public.
For more information, emailDr. John O’Learyor call (610) 519-4454.
SEPTEMBER 21-22
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW
Italy, 1964 | 137 minutes
DIRECTED BY Pier Paolo Pasolini
This, “highly political interpretation of the passion,” (Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader) follows the life of Jesus Christ according to the Gospel of Matthew.
SPEAKERS: Dan Jefferson and Susan Marcosson
SEPTEMBER 28-29
JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS
UK/US, 1963 | 104 minutes
DIRECTED BY Don Chaffey
Jason embarks on a mythic quest for the Golden Fleece in this, “stop-motion animation masterwork” (Soctt G. Mignola, Common Sense Media).
SPEAKER: Rick Worland
OCTOBER 5-6
THE PRINCE OF EGYPT
USA, 1998 | 99 minutes
DIRECTED BY Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner & Simon Wells
This animated retelling follows Moses from palace to prophet in vibrant storytelling which Roger Ebert praised as, “one of the best‑looking animated films ever made” (Chicago Sun‑Times).
SPEAKER: Derek Arnold
OCTOBER 26-27
MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN
UK, 1979 | 94 minutes
DIRECTED BY Terry Jones
Monty Python’s irreverent satire follows a hapless man mistaken for a messiah which Kevin Maher calls, “a relentless onslaught of consummate comedy” (The Times (UK)).
SPEAKER: John O’Leary
NOVEMBER 16-17
ANTIGONE
Canada, 2019 | 95 minutes
DIRECTED BY Sophie Deraspe
Set in modern Quebec, this retelling of Antigone explores racial and social division was described as, “a raw, electrifying study of race, poverty and indifference” (Richard Crouse, CTV News).
SPEAKER: Ruth Anolik
NOVEMBER 23-24
ELECTRA
Greece, 1962 | 110 minutes
DIRECTED BY Michael Cacoyannis
This depiction of Euripides’ classic Greek drama of family and revenge was described as, “a brilliant utilization of the cinematic device,” by Bosley Crowther of the New York Times.
SPEAKER: Brian Satterfield
DECEMBER 7-8
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM
USA/UK, 1966 | 98 minutes
Directed by Richard Lester
This “flip, glib and sophisticated, yet rump-slappingly bawdy and fast-paced,” (Variety) Roman farce follows a cunning slave’s comic schemes for freedom and romance.
SPEAKER: Valentina DeNardis
JANUARY 25-26
MEET JOHN DOE
USA, 1941 | 122 minutes
Directed by Frank Capra
A down-on-his-luck man becomes a political symbol in thispopulist drama which Roger Ebert called, “a stirring tribute to the power of the common man” (Chicago Sun-Times).
SPEAKER: Michael Bradley
FEBRUARY 1-2
NOPE
USA, 2022 | 130 minutes
Directed by Jordan Peele
This film, following siblings who discover something sinister in the skies is, “an almost perfect spectacle that dives into our obsessions with spectacles in our real life” (Zach Pope Reviews).
SPEAKER: Hezekiah Lewis
FEBRUARY 15-16
LINCOLN
USA, 2012 | 150 minutes
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Daniel Day-Lewis brings gravitas to a critical moment in U.S. history which Moira MacDonald of the Seattle Times described as “history coming to life, before our eyes.”
SPEAKER: Colleen Mitchell
MARCH 15-16
SMILE
USA, 1975 | 117 minutes
Directed by Michael Ritchie
This dark comedy explores small-town America through a teenage beauty pageant is, “a biting satire of American values” (Vincent Canby, New York Times).
SPEAKER: John-Paul Spiro
MARCH 22-23
PARIS IS BURNING
USA, 1990 | 78 minutes
Directed by Jennie Livingston
This landmark documentary on New York’s drag culture is “explosive, raucous, moving and fiercely alive” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone).
SPEAKER: Travis Foster
MARCH 29-30
GLORY
USA, 1989 | 122 minutes
Directed by Edward Zwick
Following the first all-Black volunteer Civil War regiment, Roger Ebert praised this film as “an unforgettable lesson in courage” (Chicago Sun-Times).
SPEAKERS: Saladin Ambar
APRIL 12-13
BREAD AND ROSES
UK, 2000 | 110 minutes
Directed by Ken Loach
This “urgent and clear-eyed,” (Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle) film follows two immigrant sisters as they fight for workers’ rights in Los Angeles.
SPEAKER: Susan Mackey-Kallis
APRIL 19-20
THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE
USA, 1962 | 123 minutes
Directed by John Ford
This political Western, described by Richard Brody as “the most romantic of Westerns and the greatest American political movie,”(The New Yorker) questions the myth of heroism.
SPEAKER: Rick Worland
All films are screened at the Connelly Center Cinema. Parking available in the St. Augustine (M2) lot behind the Connelly Center.
CULTURAL FILM SERIES COMMITTEE
JOHN O’LEARY,Director
JARRYD KAINZ,Assistant Director
J.J. BROWN,Treasurer
TONY ALFANO,Associate Vice President of Auxiliary Services
ADVISORS
DAN JEFFERSON
SUSAN MARCOSSON
JOHN PAUL SPIRO
ELANA ROSE STARR
INFORMATION
CALL (610) 519-4454
EMAILJOHN.OLEARY@VILLANOVA.EDU