Here’s a treat for all the artists, the enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys films, as The 41st N film festival is going to be held in the Rozsa Centre for the performing arts organized by Destination Cinema. This art fair which opens on Thursday, Nov. 2 will proceed until Nov. 5 and will host numerous events filled with amazing life experiences.
The first event is the Voices of Light: The Passion of Joan of Arc. It will be a performance of Richard Einhorn’s heart-rending score to be played in the company of the short film masterpiece, The Passion of Joan of Arc, which is most astutely regarded as the greatest film in the history of time by connoisseurs and general masses alike. The Voices of Light amalgamates the sheer charm of this short film with the equally elegant and award-winning score by Richard Einhorn.
Einhorn’s compositions have been described as “hauntingly beautiful” and “sensational.” This magnificent performance will be put together by the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra and conScience, where Michigan Tech Chamber Singers will exhibit their skills in front of a variety of audience. This incredible platform for solo voices, chorus and prodigious orchestra has been hailed as “a triumph” and “an overwhelming experience” by the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune respectively. Renowned film theorist and historian David Bordwell will be presenting a public lecture on Dreyer and participate in a question and answer session with the Conductor, Joel Neves and Choral director Jared Anderson after the performance. This event is scheduled to begin on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Rozsa Centre. This event’s fees are only $19.00 for adults and $6 for children. However, students who have paid the Experience Tech fees will not be charged.
The next event on Nov. 3 is known as AlphaGo which is a Korean movie where the pros of the complex game Go compete against Google’s unproven A.I. program. This 90-minute film is a touching story about loss, possibility and what makes us human. A panel of discussion with Dr. Steven Goldsmith, Dr. Scott and Josh Manela of the Ford subsidiary is set up which will follow the screening.
Nov. 4 welcomes us to a lyrical and psychologically complex drama titled Sami Blood showing at 7:30 p.m. the film portrays a 14-year old Sami girl who is subjected to racism and eugenic scrutiny. Set in the 1930s, this is a moving story of a girl separated from her family and sent to a state-run school that forcefully tries to inculcate the Swedish culture on her. Greenhorn Lene Cecilia Sparrok portrays the fierce rage and desire of a young indigenous woman who is determined to make it on her own. This Swedish film Sami Blood is followed by a similar panel of discussion after its screening.
Another film showing on Nov. 4 is The Good Postman by Tonislav Haristov starting at noon. It is about a local postman who decides to run for mayor in a tiny Bulgarian village near the Turkish border, while steadily allowing refugees to enter the town and start a living. The Migrumpies which is to be shown at 4:45 p.m. on the same day is a classic comedy from Austria, where two friends pretend to be petty criminals in order to get cast in a misguided TV documentary. The hilarious run of the script continues when the leads create a second identity full of clichés and prejudices which makes them a success.
Other movies which will be played on Nov. 4 include: ACORN and the Firestorm, Brimstone and Glory, Ogichidaa, Faces Places and The Challenge. Brimstone and Glory is widely known for its excellent cinematography which brings to life the Pyrotechnic Festival in Mexico with outstanding views of fireworks.
Films will also be screening on Sunday, Nov. 5. Donkeyote will be playing at 12:30 p.m. It is a story of Manolo, a simple man in love with his animals wandering through nature who decides to take a walk across the US, a trail of 2200 miles with his donkey. This film depicts Manolo’s bonding with nature and particularly with his animals. This film will be screened along with Dealt at 2:30 p.m, which is an award-winning documentary of Richard Turner, who lost his sight and yet is regarded as world’s greatest card magician. Buzz One Four is the story of a Cold War B-52 bomber which ended in an ill-fated crash landing and Timberline directed by Elaine McMillion Sheldon about the sale of a navy base which provides employment for all the residents. This film will be playing at 4:30 p.m.
This year, the film festival will honor one of the most longstanding and committed promoters of the cinematic arts, retired Michigan Tech film professor, Joe Kirkish. A tribute will be paid prior to the screening of Face Places on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. People interested in attending this festival, sponsoring or volunteering can find more information on the Festival page, http://hdmzweb.hu.mtu.edu/41north/2017/, or contact Erin Smith at ersmith@mtu.edu.
