McClatchy’s annual International Film Festival has had another successful year! From April 23 to April 26, foreign language classes featured international movies in their language with English subtitles. Admission was free, but German Club provided snacks for a price. Students could receive extra credit for their foreign language class. HISP students could also use the film festival as a cultural event.
Monday was the German film, Tuesday was the French film, Wednesday was the Japanese film, and Friday was the Spanish film. There were no films on Thursday because of Senior Projects.
The German film was Rubinrot (English: Ruby Red). In the movie, Gwendolyn “Gwen” Shepard learned about her family carrying the time travel gene. It started with Gwen dealing with her snobby relatives prasing Charlotte.
The French film was Au Revoir les Enfants (English: Goodbye Children) and based on the director’s childhood, Louis Malle. It followed Julien Quentin’s life during Nazi-occupied France. Then Jewish boys like Jean Bonnet came to Quentin’s school. Quentin tried to figure out Bonnet’s identity.
The Japanese film was Jiro Dreams of Sushi, documentary about sushi chef Jiro Ono. Ono ran Sukiyabashi, a three star Michelin restaurant. The documentary revealed his daily life shopping, preparing, and making sushi.
On Friday, the film was Voces Inocentes (English: Innocent Voices). Unlike the other films, the Spanish film was rated R, so students must showed permission slips from Spanish teachers. Voces Inocentes took place in 1986 El Salvador and followed Chava growing up in the civil war. Guerilla forces tried recruiting new members as the Salvadoran military tried preventing that.
Frau Rice, the former German teacher, started this tradition 15 years ago. The goal was to show a type of film teachers wouldn’t show in class. “Something a little bit more thought-provoking or controversial…or representative of the language’s culture,” according to Japanese teacher Mr. Fisher. The genre could be anything. Teachers announced their film choice to their classes. Most of the time it was a surprise to students not taking those classes.
Teachers were also excited for this film festival, “I’m excited that the new German teacher, Frau Templeton, is keeping the international film festival alive,” Mr. Fisher said. Frau explains the excitement of watching foreign films, “That’s the fun part about it, you get to see how much you understand.”
Overall, the international film festival was not to be missed! It was a perfect way to relax and destress from a long day at school.“It’s an important part of foreign language department’s contribution to McClatchy’s culture and spirit,” Mr. Fisher stated. The International Film Festival at McClatchy will continue for years to come.