'Magicians' and 'Red': outstanding films at UNE

August 28, 2007

Travellers and Magicians
The outstanding Bhutanese film Travellers and Magicians will be screened at the University of New England on Saturday night (September the 1st) as part of an Armidale fund-raising drive to raise money to build a school residence in a remote part of Bhutan.

The screening of this recently-released, award-winning film will be at 7.30 pm in UNE's Arts Theatre.

Khyentse Norbu, the renowned Bhutanese director of Travellers and Magicians, burst into prominence when his first major feature film, The Cup, achieved international acclaim in 1999.

Travellers and Magicians weaves parallel fable-like tales about two men who seek to escape their mundane lives. It is a mixture of rustic road movie and mystical fable, set in a breathtaking landscape. Young government official Dondup (Tshewang Dendup) dreams of escaping to America while stuck in a beautiful but isolated village. When the first chance arrives, he immediately heads for town and an awaiting visa, but things don't go quite as planned. Missing the bus, he hitchhikes with an elderly apple seller, a sage young monk, and an old man travelling with his beautiful daughter Sonam (Sonam Lhemo). Along the way, the monk tells Dondup a story about another young man who sought a land far away: a tale of lust, jealousy and murder that holds up a mirror to the restless Dondup and his blossoming attraction to Sonam.

David Gee, co-Chair of the Bhutan School Residence Appeal Committee and an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at UNE, said that proceeds from the screening would be used to build a school residence for female teachers in a remote part of Bhutan. "Having female teachers in remote communities will encourage girls to become educated," Mr Gee explained. "Research shows that if mothers are educated it is more likely they will have a positive impact on the education of their children. In Bhutan, women teachers are more likely to go to remote villages if housing is provided. This project, therefore, addresses targets to achieve universal primary education and promote gender equality and empower women."

Tickets, which include admission to the film, and wine, juice and cheese before the screening, cost $12.50 (adults) and $10 (students). They may be obtained from David and Helen Gee (on 02 67711960 or e-mail david@gee.net.au or helen@gee.net.au ), from Ross Burnet of Burnet’s Books in Uralla (on 02 67784682 or e-mail burnet@burnetsbooks.com.au), or on the night.

Three Colours: Red
UNE's French Cine-club concludes its presentation of Krzysztof Kieslowski's acclaimed Three Colours trilogy with the screening of Red tomorrow night (Wednesday 29 August) – a day earlier than the previously-advertised date of Thursday 30 August.

Red, subtitled in English, will be shown in the Marnie Yeates Room in UNE's Mary White College at 7.30 pm, following a brief introduction at 7.25. The screening is free and open to the public. Woven around the themes of solitude and the difficulties of human communication, the film tells the story of a retired judge (Jean-Louis Trintignant), whose favorite pastime is spying on his neighbours, and of his relationship with a woman named Valentine (Irène Jacob).

For more information please contact Dr Jane Southwood on 6773 2741 (e-mail: jsouthw5@une.edu.au) or Dr Helena Duffy on 6773 2415 (helena.duffy@une.edu.au).

Posted by Jim Scanlan at August 28, 2007 03:03 PM