University of Virginia Library

Mosque To Host Film Showing

A collection of short films by
several of the world's leading
directors will be presented at
Richmond's Mosque on October 26
and November 2. The films, which
will be shown in two programs,
illustrate some of the most unique
and expressionistic techniques of
modern films. Termed by such
renowned critics as Judith Crist and
Arthur Knight as "Thrilling,
stimulating, rich with creativity,"
the films have collectively won
almost every major short film
award in the world.

Efforts by such distinguished
directors as Jean-Luc-Goddard,
Roman Polanski, Francois Truffaut,
and Richard Lester will be shown as
examples of these talents
developing their individual styles
which later brought major motion
pictures such as "Repulsion,"
"Help!," and "A Hard Day's
Night."

Program One, which will be
presented on October 26, includes
nine films. "Enter Hamlet," by
Mogubgub, U.S.A., is a pop art
expression in a fusillade of images.
Each word the Shakespeare
character's famous soliloquy is
given its own picture. The film won
the Silver Lion of St. Mark at the
Venice Festival.

"Renaissance," by Valerian
Borowczyk of Poland is an exercise
in the drama of the absurd which
carries an overwhelming emotional
effect which has led critics to
describe Borowczyk as a genius.
The action is of an explosion, a
drawing-room is shattered, then
slowly, with infinite effort, the
casual objects of a life reassemble
themselves-books, a trumpet,
portraits resume their places. The
picture won the Special Jury Prize
at the Tours Festival of Short Film.

Francois Truffaut's first film
"Les Mistons '67" is a bittersweet
slice of youth which has already
taken its place in cinema history
along with his features "The 400
Blows," "Shoot the Piano Player,"
and "Jules and Jim."

Director of the two Beatles
pictures and the current hit
"Petulia," Richard Lester's entry is
a film named "The Running,
Jumping, and Standing Still Film."
It is an experimental attempt which
resolved his own mastery of
cinematic invention, later seen in
"The Knack." In the hilarious style
of silent comedy, Peter Sellers and
his "Goon Show" troupe pursue
their eccentric courses across the
British countryside.

"Two Castles" by Bruno
Bozzetto of Italy is a wry little
animated film in which a
determined knight encounters
something he did not expect. The
film has helped to emerge the
director as one of the most original
of contemporary animators.

"The Fat and the Lean," is
Roman Polanski's parable in the
manner of Brecht in which a slave
dreams of wider horizons. This film
confirms Polanski's position as the
most brilliant of the young
directors, and also demonstrates his
considerable talents as an actor.

Other films on the program are
"Corrida Interdite," from France,
"Allures," a kinetic voyage which
attempts to recreate the
hallucinogenic experience, and
another France entry, "La Jetee."

Program Two, which will be
presented on November 2, also
includes nine films and presents
works by Goddard, Borowczyk, and
Yoji Kuri of Japan among others.
The program will conclude with the
film "The Most" which is a
documentary of Playboy's Hugh
Hefner. Most of the film takes place
at a bacchanalian party at the
mansion where the Playboy
Philosophy is candidly and
ironically revealed.

Tickets may be obtained by
writing The Phoenix Society, Inc.,
P.O. Box 1752, Richmond. Prices
are $2.00, $2.50, and $3.00.