International films lets students experience culture

Rhonda Naylor
Staff Writer

The Department of Modern Language’s annual International Film Series offer students the chance to gain insight into another culture. On October 20, the French film, “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” was shown with English subtitles. It told the true story of Jean-Dominic Bauby.
At 43 years old, Bauby went from playboy editor of French Elle magazine to sudden stroke victim with an inactive brain stem. This condition made it impossible for him to speak or move his body parts. The only thing he was able to move was one eye. By moving and blinking that eye, his therapist developed a code to signify the alphabet letters. Through this code he found a way not only to interact with the world, but also to write his autobiography. Though he couldn’t escape the prison his body held him in, the diving bell, his memories and imagination gave him freedom, the butterfly. Bauby died of pneumonia soon after his book was published but his experiences created a bittersweet memoir with sometimes comical insights. At several places, students were laughing out loud. To quote the Italian film director, Federico Fellini, “a different language is a different version of life.”
Dr. Marc Yang, director of the festival, is pleased that since it’s inauguration in 2003, the International Film Series have been among the most popular lyceum events. Sadly, due to budget cuts, they have had to reduce their films this academic year from seven to four. There will be three more films for the months of November, February, and March. The next film will be a Spanish film entitled, ‘The
Orphanage’ and will be shown Nov. 23. The others will be chosen from among a limited selection.
Dr. Yang cites two reasons for this Lyceum event, “to provide an opportunity for our students who are studying another language to expose themselves to the target language and culture and to help general student population at Wingate gain a global perspective. This event really opens a window for our students to see the world beyond the United States.”