West Newton Cinema Presents Pushback: Films of Defiance

Pushback: Films of Defiance With Professor Julie Levinson About the Series What can a single individual do to push back against oppression or abuses of power? The films in this series offer rousing answers to that question through the stories of characters who, defying the odds and the prevailing winds, refuse to resign themselves to the status quo. Although they are on the losing end of social power dynamics, characters from across the globe and across history—African village women, Mexican miners, Turkish orphans, and others—find the courage to take possession of their story and claim their own agency. Collectively, these films insist that the existential act of defying systemic injustice, however small that act may be, is preferable to throwing in the towel and conceding defeat. Schedule: 8 films, presented once monthly on Thursdays at 4:00 PM. Each film will be preceded by a brief introduction and followed by audience discussion. Thursday, September 17: The Lives of Others (Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck) Thursday, October 15: Au Revoir les Enfants (Director: Louis Malle) Thursday, November 19: Moolaadé (Director: Ousmane Sembène) Thursday, December 17: Rome, Open City (Director: Roberto Rossellini) Thursday, January 21: Salt of the Earth (Director: Herbert J. Biberman) Thursday, February 18: Ashes and Diamonds (Director: Andrzej Wajda) Thursday, March 25: Before the Rain (Director: Milcho Manchevski) Thursday, April 22: Mustang (Director: Deniz Gamze Ergüven) Subscription Pricing: Full series pass (all 8 films) — $110 Half series pass (your choice of 4 films) — $70 Single ticket (available for one session only; purchase at Box Office) — $20