By: Quisan Taylor-Lawhon | Photography Editor
An inside look at this year’s SRU French Film Festival
‘Populaire’ opening film at the 9th Annual French Film Festival
As the season turns to Spring Salve’s campus opening its doors to the Francophone lovers in Newport. Sunday March 23, 2014 French Film Festival was launched with an opening reception in McAuley. Sounds of a Parisian café engulfed the room above the buzzing chatter of the highly anticipated audience. Enjoying the iconic sounds of the accordéon everyone in the room gathered to have a taste of France. Enjoying the Alphonse Dolly Sauvignon harvested in Loire Valley France, the night was about embracing French culture.
With initial grant funding from the Tournées Festival, Salve faculty was able to begin bridging the cultures – French and American – to Salve’s students, faculty and the local Newport community.
Since the Tournée’s grant loyal supporters of the festival’s message and films the Newport community has stepped up by raising the funds needed for the been able to successful host the annual film festival with the goal of bring awareness and appreciation of the French culture and traditions.
Dr. Kevin Esch, French Film Festival Cordinator and Film Studies Adjunct
During an interview with Dr. Kevin Esch, French Film Festival coordinator and Salve Adjunct professor in the Film Studies Department, “I think that initial impetus of promoting an awareness of French culture and bridging that gap between French and American culture is the foundation of the enterprise.” The message and goal Dr. Esch highlights in this quote continues as Salve students share their reasons and results for attending the festival’s films.
Mary Pawlusiak 17′, French Studies major
Mary Pawlusiak (17’), a French major, shares how her study aboard to Paris last semester sparked her love of French culture and directly influenced her choice to join the French department and attend this semesters annual French Film Festival.
Along with Mary, sophomore, Tannis Neal, a Psychology major, reflected on her experience after watching ‘Populaire’ saying, “I personally gained insight into French society. It was funny to see how they [Populaire’s director/ writers] mocked Americans… towards the end of the film.” Both Tannis and Mary’s enthusiasm for the French Film Festival, in regards to the festival’s overall goal described by Dr. Esch, as well as the films featured this year is a significant reason why this annual culture shattering event thrives here on Salve’s campus.
Tannis Neal 16′, Psychology Major
So far the festival has screened three films: ‘Populaire’, ‘Dans la Maison’ [In the House], and ‘Rebelle’ [War Witch]. Showing on Marc 30th in O’Hare’s Bazarsky theatre is the historical drama entitled, ‘Renior‘. Gain a peak into French cinema and gain so much more about yourself and the French culture. For more information on tickets, times and films for this year’s French Film Festival visit the festival’s homepage, www.salve.edu/frenchfilm/.
