The Story of the Weeping Camel and Historias Minimas

Monday 28 Jan, 8pm
The Story of the Weeping Camel
Byambasuren Davaa & Luigi Falorni; Mongolia-Germany, 2003, 87 min

In the Gobi Desert in South Mongolia, a family of nomadic shepherds assists the births of their camel herd. One camel has an excruciatingly difficult delivery but, with help from the family, eventually delivers a rare white calf. Despite the efforts of the shepherds, the mother rejects the newborn, refusing it her milk and motherly love. When any hope for the little one seems to have vanished, the nomads send their two young boys on a journey through the desert, in search of a musician and a miracle...

"One of the most enchanting and thought-provoking documentaries of all time." Daily Mail.

"Magical and touching...a genuine miracle." The Times.

Monday 4 Feb, 8pm
Historias Minimas
Carlos Sorin; Argentina, 2002, 01 min

A charming and affecting tale charting the fortunes of three small town heroes pursuing their dreams, Sorin's film offfers further evidence of the richness of modern Argentinian cinema. It's a deceptively simple, yet delightful road movie about three disparate characters heading for the city of San Julian amid the beautiful landscapes of Patagonia. Gently probing the hopes and aspirations of his characters, Sorin uses the interconnected, tripartite structure to offer astute observations both on a culture relatively unscathed by modernity and on contemporary Argentina itself.

"Touching, witty, warm and wry. Beautifully performed by a cast low on experience but high on talent." Total Film

Special Prize of the Jury, San Sebastian Int Film Festival

Gunshy (Schussangst), Malaysian Shorts

Kelab Seni Filem's first presentation for 2008 is this terrific German thriller -

Gunshy (Schussangst)
Dito Tsintsadze; Germany, 2003, 105 mins

A major hit on the European film festival circuit, Dito Tsintsadze's "poetic thriller" will keep the viewer on edge from the startling beginning to the jaw-dropping final shot. A young man, Lukas, sits alone on a bus. A beautiful young woman drops a note in his lap asking for help. But what help could she, a self-assured martial arts student, ever need? And how could he, a gentle pacifist who delivers meals to the elderly, ever help her? Yet as our hero follows after her, his bizarre journey begins. Does he become a rescuing knight falling in love? Or a psychotic killer descending into madness? And is there even a difference? Spare, lean, and laced with humour, Gunshy is truly "a film of terrible beauty" (Toronto International Film Festival).
Best Cinematography, German Film Critics Association Awards; Best Director, San Sebastian International Film Festival.

Monday 14 Jan 2008, 8.00pm
HELP Univ College Theatrette, Pusat Bandar Damansara, KL
Admission by membership, available at the door: RM60 1 year (students RM30); RM40 6 mths; RM30 4 mths
Free admission for Alliance Francaise, Goethe-Institut members & HELP students
Enquiries: 012-2255136

Coming up

Monday 21 Jan 8.00pm
Malaysian Shorts
New shorts by Ho Yuhang (As I Lay Dying), Woo Ming Jin (Blue Roof), Tan Chui Mui (Nobody's Girlfriend), Margaret Bong (Retrace), Akash (Totaa) etc. The directors will be present for the Q&A. Presented by Amir Muhammad.
Free admission.

Blue Roof by Woo Ming Jin is extracted form his much anticipated new telemovie Cinta Tiga Segi.
Catch Cinta Tiga Segi this Sunday 13 Jan on NTV7's Festival slot at 10.45pm.