FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


AMHERST CINEMA TO RUN SERIES “FILM AND ’68 – HOT AND COOL”

Marks 40th Anniversary of 1968 with Films and Audience Discussions


Amherst, September 15 -- Starting on
Monday, Sept. 29, the Amherst Cinema Arts Center
will be presenting an eight-week retrospective of
films that capture the essence of 1968, one of
the most turbulent years in western history since World War II.
“This retrospective, which we’ve
named “Film and ’68 – Hot and Cool,” presents a
sampling of films that mark the legacy of 1968,”
said Carol M. Johnson, Executive Director of the
Amherst Cinema. “From Paris to Chicago to
Vietnam, 1968 was a year of tremendous hope and
violent dashing of hopes. The upheavals of 40
years ago radically transformed the social and
political landscape and changed film culture, too.”
Johnson said the eight films
selected (see list below) were chosen from a list
of over 100 films because they were
representative of the era. “The films invite
audiences to consider lessons learned from
movements for radical change,” she said.
“Collectively, the films also mark a major
departure from the classic Hollywood film genres that preceded them.”
All but the final screening will be
shown in 35mm. “Seeing these films in 35mm on the
big screen is not to be missed,” Johnson added.
The film series will run on
consecutive Mondays from Sept. 29 through Nov. 10
at 7 p.m. Monday evening screenings will include
introductions by Five College film faculty and
post-film discussions led by these film experts.
Second showings of each film are scheduled for
consecutive Wednesdays at 2 p.m.
The final show of the series is a
one-time DVD showing of the latest work by
contemporary filmmaker John Gianvito, who will be
present for the screening. This show is scheduled
at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 19.
In terms of style, the films range
from the surreal science fiction favorite, “2001:
A Space Odyssey,” to the intensely controversial
“Hearts and Minds,” a critique of the Vietnam
war. Michael Antonioni's loose narrative
"Zabriskie Point" features the music of Pink
Floyd and the Grateful Dead. “Medium Cool” mixes
love and the relevance of protest at the 1968
Democratic Convention. Jean-Luc Godard's "La
Chinoise," was eerily prescient about the student
uprisings which followed the film’s release.
The series helps fulfill the mission
of the Amherst Cinema to serve as a “cultural
crossroads” for the region. “This is a place
where all generations can meet. Whether you are a
film lover, academic or student, our
state-of-the-art cinema is an ideal location to
see film as it was meant to be seen, and to
exchange ideas, Johnson said. “And to be entertained in the bargain.”
Film and ’68 – Hot and Cool is
presented in cooperation with the film studies
seminar on 1968 and the Social Change
Colloquium: 1968 at UMass Amherst, along with
other events in the Five College area.

FILMS AND TIMES:

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968), directed by Stanley Kubrick.
Monday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 2 p.m.
Speaker (Monday Sept 29): Marisa Parham, Amherst College

LA CHINOISE (1967), directed by Jean-Luc Godard.
Monday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 8 at 2 p.m.
Speaker (Mon, Oct 6): John E. Drabinski, Hampshire College

PERFORMANCE – Donald Cammell and Nicolas Roeg, 1970
Mon Oct 13 @ 7PM & Wed Oct 15 @ 2PM
Speaker (Mon Oct 13): Anne T. Ciecko, UMass -- Amherst

ZABRISKIE POINT – Michelangelo Antonioni, 1970
Mon Oct 20 @ 7PM & Wed Oct 22 @ 2PM
Speaker (Mon Oct 20): Robin Blaetz, Mount Holyoke College

HEARTS AND MINDS – Peter Davis, 1975
Mon Oct. 27 @ 7 PM & Wed Oct 29 @ 2 PM
Speaker (Mon Oct 27): Robert S. Cox, UMass – Amherst

MEDIUM COOL – Haskell Wexler, 1969
Mon Nov 3 @ 7 PM & Wed Nov 5 @ 2PM
Speaker (Mon Nov 3): Carolyn Anderson, UMass – Amherst

SYMBIOPSYCHOTAXIPLASM: TAKE ONE – William Greaves, 1968
Mon Nov 10 @ 7PM & Wed Nov 12 @ 2 PM
Speaker (Mon Nov 10): Barton Byg, UMass -- Amherst

PROFIT MOTIVE AND THE WHISPERING WIND – John Gianvito, 2007
One show only – Wed Nov. 19 @ 7PM (DVD) – Filmmaker Present!

Blurbs and photos are posted at: www.AmherstCinema.org

For more information contact:

Carol M. Johnson, Executive Director
Amherst Cinema Arts Center
28 Amity Street
Amherst MA 01002

Tel. 413-253-2547, Ext.
6 <mailto:cjohnson@...>cjohnson@...