International Women's Day at URI

URI celebrates International Women’s Day with two French films

By Sylvia Bogusz, URI

KINGSTON, R.I. –Two French films that focus on African immigrants and hackers will be shown at the University of Rhode Island this month to celebrate International Women’s Day.

The award-winning “Le Havre’’ will be screened Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. in the Agnes Doody Auditorium at Swan Hall.

The movie is about an African boy who arrives by cargo ship in the port city of Le Havre and befriends an aging shoe shiner who feels sorry for him and welcomes him into his home. The drama unfolds as the man’s wife is hospitalized with a terminal illness and he struggles to cope with her decline.

The second film, “Bedwin Hacker,” directed by Nadia El Fani, will be shown Feb. 27 at 5 p.m. in Hardge Forum at the MultiCultural Center. 

In this film, a woman from a Tunisian village hacks into airwaves in North Africa and France to publicize political messages, prompting action from French intelligence officers. The film strives to challenge stereotypes about Arab women and show the modernity and beauty of Tunisia.

“The screening of these films will kick off URI’s International Women’s Day events,’’ said Leslie Kealhofer-Kemp, professor of French. “The movies are an excellent way to celebrate the work of innovative women filmmakers like Nadia El Fani.” 

Both films are free and open to the public. Refreshments and discussion will follow.

Sponsors are: the Film/Media Program at Harrington School of Communication & Media; the College of Arts and Sciences; the Dean’s Office; the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures; and Gender and Women’s Studies.

For more information, please contact Kealhofer-Kemp, professor of French, at lkealhofer@uri.edu.