Experience the wonder of global cinema

College of Lake County’s (CLC) international film series continues this spring, with movies for foreign film lovers and those who are new to non-American cinema. Each movie in the series showcases a unique story from a different country.
"We're excited to bring this batch of foreign films to the community, now with more comfortable seats, and a switch to Thursday nights,” said Communication Instructor Chris Cooling. “We love our loyal fans but are mixing things up this semester with an eye toward growing our audience. Our screening in May won two Oscars last year, and we're especially excited to show some Japanese animation for the first time in over fifteen years."
This semester’s films include:
“La Chimera” (Italy 2023), Thursday, Feb. 6
Returning to 1980s Italy after a stretch in prison, Arthur is quickly pulled back into a life among the rowdy “tombaroli”–tomb raiders–who loved him and used him for his supernatural ability to find precious buried objects. For them, the party must go on, but Arthur prefers to reconnect with the family of an ex-girlfriend who has disappeared. For a film so much about death, ghosts and absences, the results are lively, amiable and deeply engaging.
“Perfect Blue” (Japan 1997), Thursday, March 6
The short but brilliant (and influential) career of Satoshi Kon, who died at 46 from pancreatic cancer, is the stuff of legend among aficionados of Anime filmmaking. “Perfect Blue” establishes his interest in blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, media and private life, across his four finished films. When Mina leaves her pop music career to star in a TV crime drama, she has to navigate her frustrated fans, producers hungry for edgier content and a newly acquired stalker who may be capable of murder.
“Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World” (Romania 2023), Thursday, April 3
The Romanian New Wave continues its streak of bold, incisive satires with this explosion of 21st century economies, politics and sexuality. Angela is a large corporation’s videographer, interviewing subjects across Bucharest for a work-safety video. In her spare time, she’s a social media influencer, adopting a digital disguise to freely vent without care for whom she offends. Footage from a Ceaușescu-era film about a female taxi driver recurs as ironic counterpoint.
“The Zone of Interest” (UK/Poland 2023), Thursday, May 1
Rudolf Höss is a loving family man with a beautiful riverside home out in the country. He also is devoted to his career with the Nazis, which currently involves operating Auschwitz. Home and camp are next to each other but separated by a wall; events inside the latter are heard but not seen. Released to great acclaim, but still worthy of debate, the film by Jonathan Glazer (Under the Skin, Birth) is an essential case study in how to depict the horrors we do to ourselves. Nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, the film won Best International Feature Film and Best Sound.
All screenings are free and take place at 7 p.m. Grayslake Campus in Room A011. Films have adult content and are not suitable for children. Films are subtitled when necessary. For more information, contact Chris Cooling at ccooling@clcillinois.edu or (847) 543-2623.