More than entertaining stories to be viewed from a sofa and then benignly forgotten, cinema is an art form rich in expression and worthy of our time and attention.
Join Brandon for a fun discussion of a variety of films from John Wayne to Shirley Temple. Each month, we'll discuss two thematically-paired films and look "behind the scenes" to unpack each their historical significance, stylistic choices, and meanings.
You may laugh, you may cry, you may even raise an eyebrow and wonder "What was that?", but you'll certainly be affected. They don't call 'em moving pictures for nothing!
This month's selections: The Taking of Pelham 123 (1974) and Kontroll (2003)
The Taking of Pelham 123:
In New York City, a criminal gang led by the ruthless "Mr. Blue" (Robert Shaw) hijacks a subway car and threatens to start shooting one passenger per minute unless they receive a million dollars in cash from the city within an hour. On the other end of the line, crusty veteran transit policeman Zachary Garber (Walter Matthau) has his hands full dealing with the mayor's office and his hotheaded fellow cops, while also trying to deliver the ransom before the deadline expires.
Kontroll:
Bulcsú (Sándor Csányi) is a subway enforcement officer working in the oppressively gray underground transit system in Hungary, whose job consists of ensuring commuters have paid to ride the train. A quirky young woman (Eszter Balla) catches his eye, and their relationship suggests that Bulcsú might escape from the drudgery of his subterranean life and finally see sunlight again. But first he needs to find out why passengers are jumping -- or being pushed -- to their deaths onto the tracks.
Copies available at the library! Reserve yours by calling 412-882-6622 or e-mailing Brandon at taperb2@whitehallpubliclibrary.org