The Metuchen Public Library will begin its annual summer foreign film series, the Edna Newby International Film Festival, on Monday, July 14, with the Russian film “The Italian.” The festival will continue for the next five weeks. Each film will be shown twice, at 2 and 7:30 p.m., on the indicated date. Admission is free to all. Each film will be shown in its original language with English subtitles. The festival is sponsored by the Friends of the Metuchen Public Library.
“My Best Friend” (French, 2006) follows on Monday, July 21. A coldblooded antiques dealer, challenged by his colleagues to produce a best friend in 10 days, finds an unlikely buddy in this odd-couple comedy. It stars popular French actors Daniel Anteuil and Dany Boon.
Monday, July 28, brings “After the Wedding” (Danish, 2006). The manager of an Indian orphanage is offered a huge donation from a mysterious businessman on the condition that he come back to Denmark and attend a wedding. This emotional drama, starring Mads Mikkelsen from the James Bond film “Casino Royale,” was nominated for an Academy Award in 2007.
The festival continues on Monday, Aug. 4, with the Iranian film “Offside” (Farsi, 2006). A group of schoolgirls break the law by sneaking into a Tehran stadium to see a soccer game in this dark comedy. This film won the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.
The film for Monday, Aug. 11, is “Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles” (Chinese, 2005). A Japanese fisherman, played by Ken Takakura, hopes to reconcile with his ailing son by traveling to China to film a famous folk opera. This intimate drama was filmed in China’s remote Yunnan province.
The festival concludes on Monday, Aug. 18, with the Israeli film “The Band’s Visit” (Arabic, English and Hebrew, 2007). An Egyptian police orchestra is stranded in a small Israeli town in this touching comedy. This is director Eran Kolirin’s first effort and received eight Ophir Awards from the Israeli Film Academy.
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he Edna Newby International
Film Festival is sponsored by the Friends of the Metuchen Public Library. For more information, contact John McBride (732-632-8526), Adult Services librarian, at the Metuchen Public Library.