By Morgan Annable
Every year, Western’s Institute for Global Engagement hosts a film series with the goal of raising awareness about world issues. This quarter, they are starting the once-a-month film showing with a movie called “Still Life” on October 5 at 6 p.m. in Miller Hall 138.
“Still Life” depicts the story of Fengjie, a town gradually surrendering to destruction caused by the creation of the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River. In the film, Han Sanming, a coal miner, returns to the village in search of his estranged wife. He speaks with many of the townspeople about the whereabouts of his wife, to no avail, before finding a job on a demolition crew.
The second story, told simultaneously, follows Shen Hong, a nurse. She visits the town in search of her husband and enlists help from her husband’s friend.
The final third of the film cuts back to Sanming’s quest.
“Still Life” premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2006, where it was awarded the festival’s most coveted prize, the Golden Lion award. The film is in Mandarin with English subtitles.
The faculty of the Institute for Global Engagement aim less to entertain their audiences than to spark a dialogue. Their monthly films are always free and open to anyone who wishes to engage in meaningful discussion of the issues raised in the film.
