CU-Boulder's Children, Youth and Environments Center and the International Film Series hope to help enrich the cultural experiences of local youth and adults with a series of films featuring extraordinary tales of children from around the world.
"Black Orpheus" will be presented on the University of Colorado at Boulder campus on Oct. 30 and "Blindsight" will be shown on Nov. 13.
"Black Orpheus" is the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice set in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during Carnival. The film shows how the stories of one culture can be portrayed in a different setting and still speak to the human condition. Children play the roles of messengers in the film and are fully integrated into the fantasy community, delivering a message of hope for the future. The film also confronts the challenges of extreme poverty and shows how Brazilian culture has created an escape from the day-to-day difficulties of life with the annual celebration of Carnival.
"These films give area youth and people of all ages the opportunity to see the situations young people encounter in countries that are very different from the U.S." said Illène Pevec of the Children, Youth and Environments Center. "Black Orpheus was made in a Brazilian favela (slum) in the 1950s before the drug trade made Rio extremely dangerous, but it shows children in roles they still play in contemporary Brazil, and as all myths do, tells a timeless story."
"Blindsight," Pevec said, gives viewers insight into the extreme challenges faced by blind youth in Tibet due to prejudice.
"These youth have an infinite capacity to conquer not only a difficult undertaking, but the people who see them as less than who they are."
Daytime showings of the films, Pevec added, make it possible for schools to bring students to campus for field trips.
"Black Orpheus" shows on Oct. 30 from 10 a.m. until noon in room 102 of the ATLAS Center for high school audiences and at 7 p.m. in the Muenzinger Psychology building auditorium for the International Film Series. It is recommended that youth familiarize themselves with the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice before attending the film.
Following the 10 a.m. screening, audience members are invited to learn to play Brazilian batucada with João Junqueira, professor of Brazilian music at CU.
"Blindsight," showing on Nov. 13 at 10 a.m. in room 102 of the ATLAS Center, tells the tale of a group of blind Tibetan children who overcome their disability to climb one of Mt. Everest's companion peaks. The documentary speaks to the human ability to overcome extraordinary difficulties to achieve a dream.
Following the showing, participants are invited to take part in some of the team-building activities used to prepare the blind youth for their climb.
One of the filmmakers, Michael Brown, and Kunga Lama, a Tibetan living in Boulder, will answer questions.
The film will also be shown at 7 and 9 p.m. in the Muenzinger Psychology building auditorium. Jeff Evans, the climbing partner Coloradan Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind climber to summit Everest, will hold a discussion session after the 7 p.m. showing.
Cost for the daytime showings is $1 for students and free for the accompanying teacher. Adults are $5.
Teachers wishing to bring their classes to see either film should contact Pevec at 303-735-5199.
Funding for the film project was provided by the CU-Boulder Outreach Committee, a division of Continuing Education and Professional Studies. The committee, comprised of CU-Boulder faculty from across campus and community members, awards funding to faculty projects designed specifically for external audiences.