Do you attend the indy/intl theatre?
 

I've enjoyed indy/intl/art house films since I was an undergrad and go to 8-10 films a year. Last night I screened the Australian film "Look Both Ways," and thought it was excellent. In fact, it's a great intl film for someone new to the indy film scene (pun!). It's deep, interesting, well-acted, innovative, and in English (of the Aussie variety). If it's playing near you, I encourage you to take a chance on it. Some of my favorite dates with the wife have been screenings at the indy theatre followed by a sandwich and game of chess at the deli (yes, we really are like THAT!).

Those of you who like Woody's films and some of the Japanese and Chinese crossover films are really missing out.

BYU has a great intl film scene despite the mullahs. Many humanities profs and students go and RM's like to see films from the countries they served in. Anyone whose gone to a few films at BYU's International Cinema knows that the whole Rodin thing was ironic on so many levels.

Sister tooblue and I have eclectic tastes when it comes to movies and love a good indy film as much as a good romantic comedy ... unfortunately we find ourselves too occupied with kids, church, our own creative pursuits to get to ANY movie in ANY theatre.

One day the goal is to travel and discover through first hand experience the correct colour of scarf!

I'll be looking to find and rent the film you recommended.

Rodin ... lol!

...and then they began editing the intl movies at BYU.

I actually thought of you when I wrote the original post. My office is less than two blocks from our theatre here and since I'm around media studies and film studies people we sometimes just walk down and see a film as a group. The Mrs. and I both enjoy them (my wife speaks French and so we keep an eye out for those), and go to the indy theatre for our date night every other month or so.

I do enjoy a good Hollywood movie now and then too.

My wife and I both speak French. Of all the french films we have seen we most enjoyed 'Gloire de mon père' & 'Château de ma mère'.

I laugh out loud at the Rodin exhibit mention because it's just too funny. I never attended BYU. The reference reminds me of stories of BYU profs mentioning to fine arts students that there were life drawing classes at Provo high and in Springville ... lol it's just funny!

I know of a person or two who have tried to raise a stink (and that's what it would be), but BYU's International Cinema gets strong support from the College of Humanities (at least from what I can tell). Lots of faculty and students attend and I understand that even Dean Rosenberg has been known to go to Spanish films.

You got me thinking, though, so I looked up the policy. Here it is:

"In accordance with BYU and College of Humanities multimedia use standards, we do not show R-rated films, or any films–regardless of the rating–with graphic violence, harsh or abundant profanity, explicit sex or nudity, or other material judged by the BYU College of Humanities to be unacceptable. But we remind you that since the purpose of our program is to educate, not to entertain, and since we are prohibited from editing any of the films we rent, we are sometimes obliged by our educational objectives to show films not intended for small children or films that contain mild profanity or minimal amounts of other material that some viewers might find slightly offensive or disturbing."

My experience is that they do steer clear of explicitly sexual and violent films.

This is so disappointing, even though I was a frequent visitor to the international films section while at BYU for those many years.

It was a great place to take a date, especially if she didn't understand the language.

Robert's cinematography is nothing short of breathtaking in 'Gloire. Those shots in the park are some of the most gorgeous I've ever seen. They're simply mind blowing. I haven't seen 'Château de ma mère', but I'll put it on my list.

The level of prudery in Utah County is difficult to overestimate. Sometimes I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

As an art guy are you ever frustrated with the fact that some (not all) Church members' are outright hostile to art? I'm not talking so much about the preponderance of ghastly Distribution Center prints (although we could discuss that), but more about puritanical judgmentalism.

The scarlet "A" hung on Hester Prynne's neck wasn't for adultery--it was for art.

BTW, I saw "Fearless", does that count? So if I watch martial arts films, does that make me artsy?

I have taught life drawing to fine art and animation students for several years. Such knowledge always prompts a quizzical look. I see nudity and nakedness as two different things.

I've often opined *not always in jest* that the world would be a much better place if we did not wear clothing, save it be shoes to protect our feet :p

Certainly many artists become obsessed with nudity. Their art even crosses a line and therefore does not deserve protection under the guise of freedom of expression.

Yet to shun nudity in art as an unhealthy obsession with the naked body and sex is sad and frustrating.