Film Series for Adults

January 17

The Piano in a Factory (China) When Chen’s estranged wife reappears asking for a divorce and custody of their daughter, the musician girl decides she will live with whoever can provide her with a piano. Chen’s struggle thus begins. When efforts to borrow money and even steal a piano fail, Chen concocts a preposterous plan – he’ll make a piano from scratch! He persuades a bunch of reluctant, but loyal, misfit friends to help him forge the instrument in a derelict factory from a heap of scrap steel. Though crude in design and tune, the factory piano awaits its first and final performance from his little girl. (2010; 105 min; comedy/drama; Mandarin with English subtitles)

The Necktie (Canada) A man leads a drab existence in a dead-end job, until one day he discovers a forgotten birthday gift that magically reignites his long lost joy of life. (2008; 12 min; animated; no dialogue)

February 21

Queen of Hearts (France) Thirty-something Adele is devastated after a painful breakup. With no close friends or family, her distant cousin, Rachel, reluctantly takes her in and graciously attempts to salvage Adele’s personal and professional lives. Rachel finds her a job and suggests that Adele sleep with other men to get over her heartbreak. Adele bounces from one lover to the next in search of her perfect companion but can’t escape the visage of her ex. Finally, she recognizes the man who may just hold the answer to her broken heart. (2010; 82 min; comedy/drama; French with English subtitles)

Luis and Marta Work Together (U. K.) Luis and Marta work together in London. They are attracted to each other, but are both already in relationships. However, Marta has an unusual suggestion on how to solve their predicament. (2011; 11 min.; comedy; Portuguese with English subtitles)

March 21

Vasermil (Israel) Named after the local soccer stadium in the Southern Israeli town of Beer Sheba, this is the story of three teenagers from separate marginalized communities, who pin their hopes on soccer as a way out. Shlomi, Adiel and Dima are recruited by the coach of the local soccer team to take part in the Beersheba Youth Championship, held on Independence Day at the Vasermil Stadium. Success at the tournament means getting noticed by the scouts of the local soccer empire, Hapoel Beersheba. In order to win, Shlomi, Adiel and Dima, each with their own set of adversities, will have to learn to play as a team and overcome their differences. (2007; 95 min; drama; Russian, Amharic and Hebrew with English subtitles)

Transparent Black (Israel) African refugees attending a Hebrew class receive lessons in what it means to be Israeli, as well as what it takes to keep your dreams alive. (2010; 20 min; drama; various languages with English subtitles)

April 18

Before Your Eyes (Turkey) Ten year old Gulistan and her brother Firat live in the heart of Turkish Kurdistan. Tragedy strikes when their parents are shot down by paramilitary gunmen before their very eyes. Traumatized and orphaned, Gulistan and Firat try to care for their infant sister, but their money soon runs out and they’re forced onto the street. It is there that Gulistan meets the part-time escort Dilara. Accompanying her on a hotel call one day, Gulistan is shocked to discover Dilara’s client is the murderer of her parents, and quickly devises a plan for revenge (2009; 102 min; thriller; Turkish and Kurdish with English subtitles)

It’s My Turn (Turkey) A group of boys play a rhyming game to decide whose turn it is go to the movies, since they can only afford one ticket at a time. The rhythmic dialogue is intentionally left unsubtitled, allowing a universal story to spring forth naturally from the children’s lively actions. (10 min; live action)

May 16

Prairie Love (United States) As a high plains drifter travels across the wintry North Dakota prairie, he finds a man lying unconscious in the middle of the road. After defrosting, the man explains that he’s on his way to meet his pen pal girlfriend for the first time as she’s being released from prison. Desperate for a girlfriend of his own, the drifter hatches a plan to steal his new companion’s identity. (2011; 81 min; comedy)

A Family Portrait (U. K.) A family portrait goes horribly wrong as jealousy and suspicion bubble to the surface under the photographer’s relentless gaze. As the session reaches a disturbing conclusion, it’s clear that this truly will be a day to remember. (5 min; animated)

June 20

Seven Minutes in Heaven (Israel) Galia, a young woman from Jerusalem, and her boyfriend Oren board a local bus. The bus explodes, leaving Oren in a coma and Galia with severe burns and memory loss; she lacks memory of the day of the terrorist attack and the days leading up to it. The film begins one year after the attack, upon Oren’s death. As Galia undergoes physical and mental therapy, she attempts to stitch together the shattered fragments of her life and soul. A necklace sent to her from an unidentified source sets her off on a journey to find the missing pieces of the puzzle from that fateful day. (98 min; thriller; Hebrew with English subtitles)

Grandmothers (Brazil) Leo’s grandfather gives him an old Super-8 camera for his tenth birthday, through which he discovers his heritage. (12 min; drama; Portuguese with English subtitles)

Library Contact: Georgine Olson – 459-1063 or golson@fnsblibrary.us

updated January 3, 2013