The AV Language Library will be closed from Friday, 4 December 2009, and will reopen again on Monday 4 January 2010.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

In the meantime, if you need to contact me, please do so by leaving a comment in here or contact me directly through Facebook.  Don’t forget that if you want to find a suitable language exchange partner, or need to sell your textbooks, you can do so through our Discussion Board in the USyd AV Language Library page.

Enjoy the rest of your holidays, and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2010 to you!

Wow… the exams are well & truly over, and the holidays are here!

If you happen to be in Uni, and would like to view some foreign language movies, we have quite a lot in store for you.  Over the past month, documentaries and movies in various languages have been recorded from SBS & ABC channels.

These programmes are available in the Self Study room (Rm 222, Brennan MacCallum building).

Arabic

Science and Islam: The Empire of Reason

Physicist Jim al-Khalili examines the scientific method during the era of the medieval Islamic world.

(UK/English)  PG  Documentary  70 mins

Under the Bombs

A Shi’ite mother returns to Lebanon to search for her missing son and sister in the immediate aftermath of the July 2006 Israel-Hizbollah war. A gritty and visceral documentary style drama that was nominated for The Grand Jury prize at Sundance.

Nada Abou Farhat, Georges Khabbaz
(2007)  (France/Arabic)  Director: Philippe Aractingi
M  L,S  Drama  100 mins

Chinese

20:30:40

A touching, bittersweet tale about three women aged 20, 30 and 40 in their search for identity, companionship and belonging.

Sylvia Chang, Rene Liu, Angelica Lee
(2003)  (China/Mandarin)  Director: Sylvia Chang
M  S,A  Comedy  115 mins

The Biggest Chinese Restaurant in the World

Family Duties
The owner of the West Lake Restaurant, Mrs Qin, takes good care of her parents now she is a wealthy businesswoman. She also takes care of her staff. Being a pious Buddhist, she believes in doing good deeds. Similarly, a widowed mother who suffered enormous hardships is rewarded by her six children with a lavish 70th birthday party at the restaurant.
(UK/Mandarin)  PG  Documentary  35 mins  Repeat

The Biggest Chinese Restaurant in the World

Bright Future
According to Chinese tradition, when a baby is 100 days old, a big celebration should be held. In this episode, a 100-day-old baby celebrates his special day at the West Lake Restaurant and is given a special sword and mirror to fend off any monsters or evil forces in his future life. A strange ritual is also held in which a live carp is made to kiss the baby on his lips to make him articulate and eloquent when he grows up.
(UK/Mandarin)  PG  Documentary  35 mins  Repeat  Final

The Forbidden City

The Centre of the World
The Forbidden City, the largest palace complex in the world, was built in the Ming Dynasty by Emperor Yongle. This dramatised documentary traces the history of the construction of the city.
(Germany/English, Mandarin,, German)  PG  Documentary  60 mins  Repeat  *CC

The Forbidden City

The Reign of the Concubine
Traces the rise of Empress Dowager Cixi (1835 – 1908), the de facto ruler of the Qing Dynasty, ruling over China from behind the curtains for 47 years.
(Germany/English, German, Mandarin)  PG  Documentary  60 mins  Repeat  *CC*  Final

Danish

Italian For Beginners

Several lonely hearts in a semi-provincial suburb of a town in Denmark use a beginner’s course in Italian as the platform to meet the romance of their lives. Winner of FIPRESCI and Ecumenical Awards at 2001 Berlin International Film Festival and the 2001 European Film Award for Best Film.

Anders W. Berthelsen, Sara Indrio Jensen
(2000)  (Denmark/Danish)  Director: Lone Scherfig
M  A,S  Drama  100 mins  Repeat

Minor Mishaps

Voted Best European Film at the 2002 Berlin Film Festival and appearing at the 2002 Sydney Film Festival, this is the story of a family pulling together after the death of their matriarch.

Jørgen Kiil, Maria Wu
(2002)  (Denmark/Danish)  Director: Annette K. Olesen
M  L,A  Drama  115 mins  Repeat

English

A Good Woman

Set in the 1930s on the beautiful Italian Riviera, this elegant, witty, romantic comedy is based on Oscar Wilde’s Lady Windermere’s Fan. A young couple’s marriage is put in jeopardy by high-society gossip of an affair blossoming. Robert Windermere is accused with providing a secret allowance for Mrs Erlynne, a vampish older woman of ill repute, whilst his wife, Meg Windermere, courts the attention of Lord Darlington, a notorious playboy. Mrs Erlynne’s arrival on the Amalfi coast draws the attention of all men on the Riviera, in particular that of Lord Augustus “Tuppy”, who proposes to her at his first opportunity. Events boil to the surface at Meg’s 21st birthday party, forcing Meg to abandon her party with the intention of eloping with the predatory Lord Darlington. When the truth begins to emerge, it becomes apparent that the rumours of affairs were mere hearsay, but a darker secret of family ties lies beneath them. Mrs Erlynne sacrifices her chance of a happy marriage to Lord August us to allow Meg the opportunity to escape from her mistake of running away with Lord Darlington. Happily reunited with her husband, Meg confesses her sins to Tuppy, thereby clearing Mrs Erlynne’s name. He chases after her, catching up with her on her departing plane and gains forgiveness. Only Lord Darlington is left with the wind briefly knocked out of his sails.

Helen Hunt, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Umbers, Stephen Campbell Moore, Tom Wilkinson
(2005)  Spain  Director: Mike Barker
G  Drama  90 mins  *CC*

Japan in Ruins: Tokyo: The Day the War Ended

The day after the Second World War ended, nine million Japanese were homeless, and three million had been killed in the war, including 1.3 million civilians who died in the massive American bombing campaign. Through a series of flashbacks, this documentary recalls the war years beginning with the Japanese invasion of China in 1931, through to the surrender ceremony in the Bay of Tokyo on board the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945.

Documentary, PG (60 min.)

Making Samson & Delilah

Filmmaker Beck Cole takes an intimate look into the creative process of making Samson & Delilah – the film which is being hailed as a contemporary masterpiece in Australian cinema. Spanning the 18-month process of the creation and release of Warwick Thornton’s debut feature film, this documentary explores the roller-coaster experience through the eyes of Samson & Delilah’s two young stars, Rowan McNamara and Marissa Gibson – from the first casting calls to walking the red carpet at The Cannes Film Festival. Cole started filming in February 2008 and wrapped at Cannes Film Festival in May 2009 with 55 hours of footage.
(2008)  Australia  M  L  Documentary  60 mins  *CC*

Samson & Delilah

Samson and Delilah’s world is small – an isolated community in the central Australian desert. When tragedy strikes they embark on a journey of survival.

Rowan McNamara, Marissa Gibson.

(2008) (Australia/English)  Director: Warwick Thornton

M  Drama  100 mins

Farsi

Kandahar

Tonight’s Film Festival Selection gives a visually magnificent, but emotionally horrifying view of Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. An Afghani-born Canadian resident goes to Afghanistan in the midst of war in search of her sister. Winner, Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at Cannes 2001, and nominated for the Palme d’Or.

Niloufar Pazira, Hassan Tantai

(2001)  (Iran/Farsi)  Director: Mohsen

PG  Drama  90 mins

French

Chaos
Nominated for Best Film at the Cesar Awards, this is a harrowing psychological thriller about the impact of ignoring a desperate cry for help. After her husband refuses to help a young prostitute who is being attacked, Helène takes a stand.

Rachida Brakni, Vincent Lindon, Catherine Frot
(2001)  (France/French)  Director: Coline Serreau
MA  V,S,A  Crime  115 mins  Repeat

The Child

Tonight’s European Cinema was the Winner of the Golden Palm at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival. A confronting and powerful morality tale about a young man who is reluctant to abandon his wheeler-dealer lifestyle and accept his new responsibilities. Bruno and Sonia are a young couple living off the proceeds of petty thefts. When Sonia has a baby, Bruno thinks it might be a good idea to sell it.

Jérémie Rénier, Deborah Francois, Jérémie Segard
(2005)  (Belgium/French)  Director: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
M  A,L,V  Drama  100 mins  Repeat

Not for, or Against (Quite the Contrary)

A naive camerawomen gets more than she bargained for when she gets tangled up in a group of amateur crooks. From the director of The Spanish Apartment, and shot on the streets of Paris and Cannes, with a modern, jazzy soundtrack.

Zinedine Soualem, Simon Abkarian
(2003)  (France/French)  Director: Cédric Klapisch
MA  L,S,V  Action  115 mins  Repeat

German

C(r)ook

From the 2005 Festival of German Films, a black comedy of errors starring German heart-throb Moritz Bleibtreu (Run Lola Run, The Experiment). Mobster Oskar dreams of leaving behind a life of crime to devote himself to his real passion – cooking. But big boss Konstantin is not about to let Oskar go that easily…

Moritz Bleibtreu, Henry Hübchen, Corinna Harfouch
(2004)  (Germany/German)  Director: Pepe Danquart
M  L,V,D  Comedy  110 mins  Repeat

Inspector Rex (weekly series, 7.35-8.30 Wednesdays)

Lost and Found

Six young filmmakers from the first post-communist generation from Central and Eastern Europe, present their personal views on the subject of ‘generation’ and the many changes that sometimes separate them from the generation of their parents. Directed by Mait Laas, Nadejda Koseva, Cristian Mungiu, Jasmila Zbanic, Kornel Mundruczo and Stefan Arsenijevic.

Svetla Yancheva, Milena Dravic, Ana Ularu

(2005)  (Germany/Bulgarian, Croatian, Estonian, Hungarian, Romanian)

M  Drama  110 mins

Fateless

Tonight’s European Cinema is the hypnotic story of a young Jewish boy sent to a concentration camp. Life becomes a harrowing adventure, with small moments of beauty in a most unexpected environment. Based on the autobiographical novel by Nobel Prize Winner Imre Kertesz, and nominated for the 2005 Golden Bear at Berlin.

Marcell Nagy, János Bán, György Gazsó
(2005)  (Hungary/Hungarian, German)  Director: Lajos Koltai
M  L,A  Drama  145 mins  Repeat

Where Is The Wall?

This film looks at the history of the Berlin Wall, documents the voids the wall has left at many places in Berlin’s skyline and tells of the people who have devoted themselves to the Berlin Wall.
(2009)  Germany  G  Documentary  60 mins  *CC*

Greek

Like Chef, Like God

Obsessed by the quest for the perfect omelette, a young man loses sight of the important things in life.

Yorgos Karamichos, Yorgos Nakos
(2004)  (Greece/Greek)  Director: Stergios Niziris
PG  Drama  100 mins  Repeat

Hebrew

Wild

Seventeen-year-old Wild, an anarchist raised by his grandmother, has one year to experience sexual maturity before joining the Israeli military. He plans to make the most of it.

Omer Barnea, Dor Peles, Adi Ezroni
(2000)  Israel  Director: Yoram Gal
MA  A  Comedy  95 mins  Repeat

Hindi

Gandhi, My Father

Tonight’s Asia Wide film was controversial on release as it tells of the troubled life of Harilal Gandhi, son of Mahatma Gandhi. Harilal feels overpowered by the burden of being the son of a celebrated parent.

Akshaye Khanna, Darshan Jariwala, Shefali Shetty
(2007)  (India/Hindi, English)  Director: Feroz Abbas Khan
M  Drama  140 mins  *CC*

Italian

Good Morning, Night

The powerful true story of the kidnapping and eventual murder of Italy’s ex-Prime Minister in the late 1970s. Offers fascinating insight into the mindset of the terrorists and recreates the climate of terror, paranoia and fear.

Maya Sansa, Roberto Herlitzka
(2003)  (Italy/Italian)  Director: Marco Bellocchio
M  A,L  Drama  110 mins  Repeat  *CC*

I’m Not Scared

Tonight’s European Cinema, from the Oscar-winning director of Mediterraneo, is a compelling, atmospheric thriller set in late 1970s Italy. Young Michele discovers a kidnapped boy kept in a hole in the ground and realises that his family is somehow involved. Beautifully shot, with the children excellent in their acting debuts.

Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Giuseppe Cristiano
(2003)  (Italy/Italian)  Director: Gabriele Salvatores
MA  L,A,V  Thriller  105 mins  Repeat  *CC*

Korean

Arahan

An urban martial arts action film that blends The Matrix with Jackie Chan. The Masters of the Universe are looking for an ordinary person with underdeveloped chi, and find him in rookie cop Yu.

Ryu Seung-Beom, So-yi Yoon
(2004)  (South Korea/Korean)  Director: Seung-wan Ryoo
M  V,A,L  Action  125 mins  Repeat

Portuguese

City of God

Tonight’s Film on the Edge is the multi-award winning tale of two boys growing up in a violent neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro who take different paths: one becomes a photographer, the other a drug dealer. Shocking, confronting, and based on a true story, this film was nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Cinematography and Best Director.

Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Phellipe Haagensen
(2002)  (Brazil/Portuguese)  Director: Fernando Meirelles
MA  V,L,A  Drama  135 mins  Repeat

Spanish

Bad Habits

Tonight’s Film Festival Selection, set in a rain-drenched Mexico City, is the story of a number of people connected by eating disorders, religion and adultery. Winner of seven international film awards including Best First Time Director.

Ximena Ayala, Elena de Haro, Marco Antonio Treviño
(2007)  (Mexico/Spanish)  Director: Simon Bross
M  S,A,L,N  Drama  100 mins  Repeat

[REC]

As part of SBS’s Zombie Season, a television reporter and her unseen cameraman are trapped in a building with biting, blood-lusting monsters. A demonic, cinema verite horror experience film, in the vein of The Blair Witch Project. Winner of 16 international film awards.

Manuela Velasco, Pablo Rosso
(2007)  (Spain/Spanish)  Director: Jaume Balaguero, Paco Plaza
MA  V,H  Horror  80 mins

Swedish

As it is in Heaven

Tonight’s Film Focus Sweden was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year in 2005. A successful international conductor suddenly interrupts his career and returns to his childhood village in the far north of Sweden. He is asked to listen to the church choir in the parish hall – just to give some advice. From that moment nothing in the village is the same again. The choir develops and grows, and the conductor makes both friends and enemies… and finds love.

Michael Nyqvist, Frida Hallgren, Helen Sjöholm
(2004)  (Sweden/Swedish)  Director: Kay Pollak
M  L,A,V  Drama  135 mins

Thai

Bangkok Dangerous

Kong is a professional killer who has been mute since childhood. He kills as he is hired, acting with a sociopathic coldness. His redemption comes in the form of Fon, a shop assistant, who is able to provide Kong with the only tenderness and warmth he has ever known.

Pawalit Mongkolpisit, Premsinee Ratanasopha
(1999)  (Thailand/Thai)  Director: Oxide Pang Chun, Danny Pang
MA  A,L,V  Action  110 mins  Repeat

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