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The Orange County Center for Contemporary Art in Santa Ana, CA (www.occca.org) will be hosting a film festival with films from Mexico, Central America, South America, North America, the Iberian Peninsula, Chicanadas and others. We are excited to present these independent films, which provide dramatic contrast to the commercial film industry.
The experimental cinema of the new independent Mexican film industry, from surrealistic to Avant-garde, contrast with the "golden Age" of classic films from the early 1930's. These films were created by visual artists, photographers, activists or amateurs, and frequently ignored by the industry because of lack of advertising, promotion or big budgets. The Avant-garde rebellion provides origins of the underground cinema.
Admission is Free!
Here is a schedule of the films that will be shown:
Monday, January 3rd. 2011 at 7: 30P.M.
"Los Olvidados" (the Young and the Dammed, 1950)
Director Luis Bunuel. This is a pioneering film about the street kids of Mexico City becoming early gang members in their own environment. Bunuel's view is of an early social problem that still is with us. From this idea came other early national films looking at social problems. Later came films with an International view like: Salam, Bombay! Mira Nair, 1988, a coproduction of France- India and USA "Kids" Larry Clark, 1995, USA. "Amores Perros" Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, 2000 Mexico. "City of God" Fernando Meirelles, 2002, Brazil. "Los Olvidados" is a film that is ahead of time and is still very contemporary today. It documents the horror of social problems more than fifty years ago and is still an inspiration and a reference for future films on this subject.
Tuesday, January 4th. 2011 at 7: 30 P.M.
"Frida Natualeza Viva" 1984, Director Paul Leduc. The life of Frida Kahlo, one of the most admired Mexican painters in the world. Actress Ofelia Medina plays Frida Kahlo in a very eloquent way and in a different manner than Salma Hayek. This film provides a good picture of the intellectual and artistic life of Mexico in the late 1940's.
Wednesday, January 5th. , 2011 at 7: 30 P.M.
"La Otra Conquista" (the Other Conquest) director Salvador Carrasco 2007.Mexico 1521 - The Spanish army of Hernan Cortes has swept through the new world forcing their religious beliefs on the brave Aztec people. They would conquer their land but not their soul.
Thursday, January 6th.2011 at 7: 30P. M." La Montana Sagrada" (The Sacred Mountain) Director Alejandro Jodorowsky, 1972. Jodoroswsky is one of the most controversial directors in the world. In this film the alchemist (Jodorowsky) assembles a group of greatly diverse people, seeking to represent the solar system. The intention is to take the recruits on a journey of mystical rituals, strange and deprived of the mundane. They will reach Lotus Island, then climb to the holy mountain to throw out the immortal Gods who secretly govern the universe.
Thursday, January 6th.2011 at 7: 30P. M.
"La Montana Sagrada" (The Sacred Mountain) Director Alejandro Jodorowsky, 1972. Jodoroswsky is one of the most controversial directors in the world. In this film the alchemist (Jodorowsky) assembles a group of greatly diverse people, seeking to represent the solar system. The intention is to take the recruits on a journey of mystical rituals, strange and deprived of the mundane. They will reach Lotus Island, then climb to the holy mountain to throw out the immortal Gods who secretly govern the universe.
Friday, January 7th, 2011 at 7:30 P.M.
"El Callejon de los Milagros" (The Alley of the Miracles) director Jorge Fons. Mexico.Based on the novel by Naguib Mahfuz, winner of the Nobel Prize for literature in 1988. This multi character storyline originally took place in the center of Cairo on the Alley of Midaq, the film adaptation is set in a barrio of Mexico City.In this film, Hamida, a young woman, is very ambitious and looking for a rich businessman to rescue her from the everyday misery of her life. Abbas, the modest barber, takes a risk by courting Hamida, but is unsuccessful in conquering her greed. Kirsha and his wife own a café in the barrio. Kirsha's lustful affair with a young man becomes scandalous when he decides to disregard societal entrapments, causing turmoil within his family. Afifi, a widow, is alone and looking for a young lover that can warm her bed for the night.
Saturday, January 8th, 2011 at 7:30 P.M.
"Canoa" Director Felipe Cazals, Mexico, 1975.In 1968 a group of young workers from the University of Mexico go on a hike near the Malinche hill in San Miguel Canoa, state of Puebla when a big storm hits and causes them to look for lodgings in the village of Canoa. A priest intervenes and declares the people to be a manifestation of the student movement. Lucas, a farm worker, offers his house for them to stay overnight; but the priest tries to stir the population against the students calling them communists, thief's, rapist's of women, and enemies of their religion. Luca's house is destroyed and the villagers lynch the students.
Sunday, January 9th 2011 at 7: 30 P.M.
"Dark Habits" Director: Pedro Almodovar, Spain, 1983.Yolanda (Cristina S. Pascal) is a nightclub singer and junky. When her boyfriend accidentally dies from a drug overdose, she decides it is best to hide out from the cops who are looking for her. She winds up at a convent that specializes in saving woman from the street. However, this is not the average groups of nun. The off-beat sister's include, a heroin using superior nun who is in love with Yolanda, a soft core romance novelist, and another who is raising tigers in the convent yard. When the nuns face the possibility of their convent closing, they throw a final extravagant party starring Yolanda to try to persuade their wealthy patrons not to abandon them.
Orange County Center for Contemporary Art
117 North Sycamore
Santa Ana, CA USA, 92701
www.occca.org
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