French films for Ramadhan in Surabaya
The French Cultural Center (CCCL) in Surabaya is holding a French cinema program, Cine Ramadhan, from Mondays through Fridays during Ramadhan through Oct. 31, with short movies from Independent Films of Surabaya (Infis) accompanying the screenings.
Director of CCCL-Surabaya Herve Mascarau said the Ramadhan French film event in the East Java capital would be the first time it had been held.
In other countries with Muslim majorities like Morocco, however, such shows were already an established part of the agenda.
"The event aims to introduce French culture to these nations while fostering art and cultural appreciation among local communities," Herve, who was director of the French Cultural Center in Fes, Morocco from 1983 to 1985 and once secretary- general of the Cultural, Scientific and Cooperation Service in Rabat, Morocco, told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
The French films start at 8:30 p.m. in the back garden of CCCL-Surabaya on Jl. Darmokali, Surabaya, after the screening at 8:15 p.m. of Surabaya students' independent films by Infis, with which the French cultural center cooperates.
The Ramadhan movies are high-quality French productions. Some are works from what are known as maghreban countries (Tunisia and Morocco), and Tunisian-born French director Abdellatif Kechiche's L'Esquive. The film won several Cisar awards in France, including the best picture and best director in February 2005.
The other famous director is Claude Berri, presenting his drama, Jean de Florette. Produced in 1986, the 120-minute movie portrays the life of Jean de Florette in a small village in Haute Provence. The casts includes French artists Yves Montand, Gerard Depardieu and Daniel Auteuil.
Claude Berri's other film, Manon des Sources, with Yves Montand, Daniel Auteuil and Emmanuelle Biart, depicts the love story of Manon, who lives in the Baptisine cave with Ugolin, a pretty girl. But Ugolin is accused of killing Manon's father, Jean de Florette.
French Cultural Center, Jl. Darmokali 10, tel. (031) 5615246, 5678639, www.ccclsurabaya.com e-mail: budaya@ccclsurabaya.com