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<br><br>
Desert Film Society Brings Four Screenings to UCR Palm Desert <br>
Screenings in November and December free and open to the public<br>
(November 3, 2006)<br><br>
Palm Desert, Calif.
(<a href="http://www.palmdesert.ucr.edu/" eudora="autourl">
www.palmdesert.ucr.edu</a>) - The Desert Film Society in conjunction with
UCR Palm Desert is proud to announce a four-film series of independently
produced, foreign and American films during November and December 2007.
<br><br>
The Palm Springs-based Desert Film Society was established in 2002 to
enhance and develop appreciation for and knowledge of film. The society
provides a powerful platform for artistic expression, cultural
understanding, and opportunities for its members and others to view,
enjoy and discuss film as well as learn about the craft of filmmaking.
<br><br>
With the Camelot Theatre in Palm Springs as the society’s permanent home,
this new series is an outreach to the central Coachella Valley area
co-sponsored by UCR Palm Desert Graduate Center. <br><br>
“We are very pleased to bring this series to UCR Palm Desert,” said Beth
Fromm, president of the society. “Through this outreach we hope more
people will come to appreciate and celebrate film and its influence upon
our lives.” <br><br>
The schedule: <br><br>
Wednesday, Nov. 15, 5:30 p.m. <br>
In cooperation with Film Movement <br><br>
A Peck on the Cheek <br><br>
Amudha, adopted by Thiru and Indira and growing up with the couple’s two
sons, is blissfully unaware of her parentage until the couple decides to
inform her of it on her ninth birthday. At first shocked into disbelief,
Amudha then expresses her determination to seek out her biological
mother. The search takes the family to strife-torn Sri Lanka, where
Amudha comes face to face with reality and reconciles herself to it. With
films like Mouna Ragam, Aliapayuthe and now A Peck on the Cheek, director
Mani Ratnam proves once again that he is at his best when tackling human
emotions and relationships. <br><br>
Rating: NR (Not Rated) <br>
Language: Tamil and Sinhala <br>
Subtitles: English <br>
Runtime: 126 minutes <br><br>
________________________________________________________________
<br><br>
<br>
Wednesday, Nov. 29, 5:30 p.m. <br>
In cooperation with Meadowbrook Pictures <br>
Martin Scorsese presents a film by Kevin Jordan <br><br>
Brooklyn Lobster <br><br>
Frank Giorgio's once orderly life has been thrown into chaos since the
bank that loaned him money for a restaurant addition to his lobster
business has folded. With the threat of a public auction looming, the
very proud and stubborn Frank, played by Danny Aiello (Moonstruck, Do the
Right Thing), his family and eccentric crew attempt to save the Brooklyn
lobster shop that is the cornerstone of their identity. The movie also
stars Jane Curtin. <br><br>
Rating: Not Yet MPAA-rated <br>
Language: English <br>
Runtime: 91 minutes <br><br>
<br>
________________________________________________________________
<br><br>
<br><br>
Wednesday, Dec. 13, 5:30 p.m. <br>
In cooperation with Film Movement <br>
Israel’s 2005 Academy Award© Submission <br><br>
Campfire <br><br>
The year is 1981. Rachel Gerlik, a 42-year-old widow and mother of two
beautiful daughters, Esti and Tami, wants to join the founding group of a
new religious settlement in the West Bank. The problem is that the
acceptance committee won’t accept her unless she remarries and proves
that she and her daughters can meet the group’s religious and ideological
standards. When Tami, her youngest daughter, is accusing of seducing some
boys from her youth movement, Rachel is forced to weigh her alliances.
Only Yossi, a 50-year-old bachelor, and the new man in Rachel’s life,
show Rachel that living as an outcast is not as bad as it seems.
<br><br>
From the director of Time of Favor (winner of six Israeli Academy Awards
including Best Picture 2000) comes Campfire, a story of one woman’s
personal battle, but also a portrait of a political movement that has
forever affected millions of lives in the Middle East. <br><br>
Rating: Not rated <br>
Language: Hebrew <br>
Subtitles: English <br>
Runtime: 96 minutes <br><br>
<br>
________________________________________________________________
<br><br>
<br><br>
Wednesday, Dec. 20, 5:30 p.m. <br>
In cooperation with Film Movement <br><br>
Spare Parts <br><br>
Embittered widower Ludvik spends his nights transporting illegal refugees
in his van from Croatia, across Slovenia, and into Italy. The young and
inexperienced Rudi acts as his helpmate. Together they become a
well-trained duo who almost every night convey “spare parts” to Italy.
<br><br>
Rating: Not rated <br>
Language: Slovenian <br>
Subtitles: English <br>
Runtime: 87 minutes <br><br>
Those interested in attending screenings are asked to please register
with an e-mail to palmdesert@ucr.edu or by a call to 834-0797. <br><br>
Related Links:<br>
<a href="http://www.newsroom.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/www.palmdesert.ucr.edu">UCR
Palm Desert Graduate Center</a> <br>
Additional Contacts:<br>
<a href="mailto:joe.frederickson@ucr.edu">Joe Frederickson</a> <br>
The UCR Palm Desert Graduate Center is at the heart of the Coachella
Valley. As a graduate center of UC Riverside, UCR Palm Desert offers
graduate degrees in business administration with an emphasis on
entrepreneurship and a master of fine arts with an emphasis on creative
writing and writing for performance. Research activities include the
Desert Studies Initiative of the Center for Conservation Biology;
technology transfer and Native American studies. Visit
<a href="http://www.palmdesert.ucr.edu/" eudora="autourl">
www.palmdesert.ucr.edu</a> or call (760) 834-0300 for more information.
<br><br>
<br>
The University of California, Riverside is a doctoral research
university, a living laboratory for groundbreaking exploration of issues
critical to Inland Southern California, the state and communities around
the world. Reflecting California's diverse culture, UCR's enrollment of
about 17,000 is projected to grow to 21,000 students by 2010. The campus
is proposing a medical school and already has reached the heart of the
Coachella Valley by way of the UCR Palm Desert Graduate Center. With an
annual statewide economic impact of nearly $1 billion, UCR is actively
shaping the region's future. To learn more, visit
<a href="http://www.ucr.edu/">www.ucr.edu</a> or call (951)
UCR-NEWS.<br>
News Media Contact:<br>
Name: Celeste Durant<br>
Phone: 951.827.7847<br>
Email:
<a href="mailto:celeste.durant@ucr.edu">celeste.durant@ucr.edu</a><br><br>
<br>
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John M. Ganim<br>
President, New Chaucer Society<br>
Professor of English<br>
Department of English<br>
University of California, Riverside<br>
900 University Avenue<br>
Riverside CA 92521<br>
TEL (951) 827-1540<br>
FAX (951) 827-3967<br>
ON CAMPUS PHONE 21540<br>
EMAIL John.Ganim@UCR.EDU<br>
<a href="http://www.english.ucr.edu/people/faculty/ganim/index.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.english.ucr.edu/people/faculty/ganim/index.html<br>
</a><a href="http://artsci.wustl.edu/~chaucer/" eudora="autourl">
http://artsci.wustl.edu/~chaucer/<br><br>
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