The Shorthorn - Movies Without Borders starts semester with screening of Precious

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Movies Without Borders starts semester with screening of Precious

Written by Dustin L. Dangli, The Shorthorn news editor

Monday, 01 February 2010 10:05 PM

Film freshman Felipe Monjaras, left, and visual communications freshman Camille Salazar wait for the Excel Campus Activities presentation of the movie Precious Monday night in the Lone Star auditorium. The Golden Globe award winning film, starring Gabourey Sidibe and Mo'Nique, is the first in Excel's Spring Movies Without Borders.

EXCEL Campus Activities kicked off this semester’s run of Movies With Borders on Monday night with a screening of Precious.

Movies Without Borders, a program starting it’s fourth semester, is a series of films aimed in contrast to EXCEL’s Friday Night Movie series, which showcases blockbuster films.

John Hillas, Student Activities assistant director, said Movies Without Borders shows independent films or movies shown at theaters like the Angelika Film Center.

“My hope is that students who normally wouldn’t watch one, will, and get a taste of something different,” he said.

Precious follows the story of Claireece “Precious” Jones, who grows up illiterate and in a broken home where she is raped by her father and abused by her mother.

With the guidance of a teacher and other mentors, Precious attempts to make a better life for herself.

Theater arts freshman Stacia Gulley attended the showing. She said she saw a flier for the screening in the University Center that caught her attention, but the topics covered in the film drew her in.

“I’ve heard that there’s a lot of emotion to it and I like movies that get me emotional,” she said.

Jasmine Brown, Movies Without Borders committee member, said she saw Precious and really pushed to have it shown.

Next Showings

Pan’s Labyrinth - March 1
City of God - April 5

All films are shown at 7 p.m. in the Lone Star Auditorium for free.

“It shows the amount of abuse she goes through and how important education is,” the psychology sophomore said.

Hillas said a committee made up of members in and out of EXCEL decided this semester’s films.

He stressed that Precious is the only American film being shown. He said the committee brainstormed and watched several film trailers to come to a decision.

“We settled on the three that were most eclectic,” Hillas said.

The other movies selected for this semester are a Brazilian film City of God and Pan’s Labyrinth directed by Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro.

Each screening has no admission costs and popcorn is free. Drinks and snacks will be sold through EXCEL.

In previous Movies Without Borders screenings patrons were invited to a discussion after the showing, but Hillas said there won’t be any panels or discussions this semester.

He said the age of the films were a factor in the decision.
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