Cinema en tu Idioma: El Violin, El Bano Del Papa, XXY November 14, 2008

El Violin
Dir. Francisco Vargas (98min., Mexico)
El Violin is the most internationally awarded Mexican film in history! A crowd-pleaser at the recent 2008 San Diego Latino Film Festival, El Violin stars Don Angel Tavira. After the Military seizes his village, humble rural musicial Don Plutarco devises a plan: to play up his appearance as a harmless violin player in order to return to the village and retrieve hidden arms and ammunition.

Screening Times: Fri. 11/14, Mon.11/17, & Thurs.11/20 at 1:45pm & 8:30pm; Sat. 11/15 & Tues. 11/18 at 11:30am & 6:15pm; Sun. 11/16 & Wed. 11/19 at 4:00pm

El Bano Del Papa
Dir. Cesar Charlone & Enrique Fernandez (90mins., Uruguay).
A new film never screened in San Diego, "El Bano Del Papa" is an alternating touching, humorous, and poignant story of human dignity and solidarity from director, scriptwriters Enrique Fernandez and noted cinematographer Cesar Charlone (Oscar nominated "City of God"). The Pope's impending visit to a small Uruguayan town stimulates a flurry of activity among the poorest residents, who hope to strike it rich by catering to the needs of the 50,000 expected pilgrims. Convinced that his idea is the best, one man uses up his family's savings to build a toilet that pilgrims cam pay to use.

Screening Times: Fri.11/14 at 4:00pm & 10:45pm; Mon.11/17 & Thurs. 11/20 at 4:00pm; Sat. 11/15 & Tues. 11/18 at 11:45pm & 8:30pm; Sun. 11/16 & Wed. 11/19 at 11:30am & 6:15pm.

XXY
Dir Lucia Puenzo (91mins., Argentina)
XXY was showcased as part of the 2008 San Diego Latino Film Festivals' Cine Gay showcase and was short listed for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards. This astonishing feature explores the painful search for gender identity of a teenager who is born a hermaphordite, and upon entering adolesence is pressured by parents to "choose" an identity. Handled with grean sensitivity, this extraordinary film has won film accolades all over the world including coveted awards from last year's Cannes Film Festival.

Screening Times: Fri. 11/14, Mon. 11/17, & Thrus. 11/20 at 11:30am & 6:15pm; Sat.11/15 at 4:00pm & 10:45pm; Tues. 11/18 at 4:00pm; Sun. 11/16 & Wed. 11/19 at 1:45pm & 8:30pm

Official Website: http://www.mediaartscenter.org