World Cinema Day
 World Cinema Day is a new outreach event presented by the UW-Madison in partnership with the Global Film Initiative. World Cinema Day brings quality international cinema to Wisconsin high school students and teachers to promote understanding of world cultures. On April 2, 2004 , more than 400 Wisconsin students and their teachers participated in a screening of the award-winning Palestinian film Ticket to Jerusalem at State Street 's historic Orpheum Theatre with an introduction and post-film discussion led by Mary Layoun, Professor of Comparative Literature at UW-Madison. A specially developed educational curriculum was available to high school teachers to incorporate into their classes, enriching the students' learning experience.
Ticket to Jerusalem is part of the Global Film Initiative's Global Lens series, which includes ten international films. With input from an advisory committee of high school educators, and representatives from UW-Madison College of Letters and Science, and Arts Institute, Ticket to Jerusalem was chosen from the series for UW's inaugural World Cinema Day.
High schools that participated in World Cinema Day include: Craig High School in Janesville; East, West and Edgewood high schools in Madison; Marshfield High School; Middleton Alternative High School; Rufus King International Baccalaureate High School in Milwaukee; Mukwonago High School; and Sparta Alternative Independent Learning School.
Once the credits rolled and lights once again illuminated the Orpheum's main theatre, the visiting high school students inquired about many aspects of the film. Some sought plot clarification, others were curious about cultural markers like clothing and hookah traditions. Yet others were interested in the idea of point of view. How does the portrayal of world events compare in the United States and international journalism? Is there an Israeli cinematic tradition? How are other Palestinian films similar
to or different from Ticket to Jerusalem? Catherine Reiland, event coordinator, was pleased and impressed that the students maintained a lively 45-minute question and answer period.
High school teachers or principals interested in participating may contact World Cinema Day coordinator Catherine Reiland at (608) 262-4077 or globalfilm@wifilmfest.org.
For more information about World Cinema Day, please visit http://polyglot.lss.wisc.edu/world/.
|
