Film Group November 23

After a COVID-19 imposed hiatus, we will re-activate the Film Group by taking advantage of the European Film Festival. 

The films (with links to each film description and information on how to purchase each movie, viewing dates and the time of the planned Zoom discussion also indicated):

Angelo (Austria – directed by Markus Schleinzer, 111 minutes): Nov 21-22 – Zoom: Monday, November 23 at 4pm

Helene (Finland – directed by Antti Jokinen, 122 minutes): Nov 29-30 – Zoom: Monday, November 30 at 4pm

You will need to purchase the film yourself for $12 and watch the film within the indicated 48 hour window. Click on the link of the movie and you will find more information on how to purchase the movie. You can also buy a pass. More information is available on the EU website.

When: November 19, 23 and 30 at 4pm
Where: Zoom – Please register by email at manager@emerituscollege.ubc.ca 

November 23 –  Angelo

Based on the extraordinary true story of Angelo Soliman (1721-1796), a Nigerian born into slavery, the sophomore feature of Markus Schleinzer (whose acclaimed debut, Michael, arrived in 2011), Angelo is a stylish, quietly incendiary drama about power and race.

At the age of 10, Angelo is taken by force from his homeland. Surviving the arduous journey across the Atlantic, Angelo is purchased by a European countess in Vienna, who decides to turn him into the subject of an educational experiment. As time passes, Angelo grows closer to the Hapsburg society elites, becoming their costumed court curio and storyteller, telling exotic tales of faraway Africa to entertain this 18th century ‘enlightened’ Viennese high-society. To the shock of his ‘owners,’ he also secretly (and scandalously) marries a white woman, which will test not only the limits of Angelo’s social mobility, but Viennese society’s notions of itself as progressive.

For its limpid, austere visual style, Angelo has drawn favourable comparisons to the work of both Stanley Kubrick and Michael Haneke (Schleinzer worked with Haneke as a casting director). Despite its 18th century setting, this impressive, daring film is as timely and relevant as ever in its dramatic depiction and critique of race relations.  

When:  Monday, November  23 at 4:00 pm
Where: Zoom link by request to manager@emerituscollege.ubc.ca