BRATTLEBORO — The Windham World Affairs Council kicks of its 2016-17 season with its “Understanding Cuba Through Film” series, which premieres Friday, Sept. 23.
A Cuban dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. (donations appreciated), with films at 7 and discussion afterward, according to a news release. The event is at 118 Elliot St. in downtown Brattleboro.
The “Understanding Cuba Through Film” series pairs film and food with speakers and cultural events one Friday a month. This fall's focus on Communist Cuba compares these “so close but so far” neighbors with ourselves. The series is supported in part by The Vermont Humanities Council and The National Endowment of the Humanities.
The first film is “Conducta (Behavior).” This 2014 Cuban drama follows the relationship between a teacher nearing retirement and a troubled but spirited student dealing with a drug-addicted mother. Directed by Ernesto Daranas, the film runs 100 minutes, in Spanish with English subtitles.
“Conducta” co-star Cuban actress Idalmis Garcia will discuss how the film reflects Cuban society today as compared to the ideals of the Cuban Revolution including its much-lauded, but now threatened, educational system.
RSVP to windhamworldaffairscouncil@gmail.com.
The film series will continue this fall with three more movies, and speakers and events, one Friday a month.
In addition to the Cuban film series, Windham World Affairs Council has scheduled two more events this fall at the Marlboro College Graduate Center, 28 Vernon St., Brattleboro.
On Thursday, Oct.13, Professor James Galbraith will present “Inequality: What Everyone Needs to Know.”
His talk will discuss causes and effects of economic inequality in the U.S. and the world and the range of policy measures that can combat it.
On Friday, Nov. 4, Rai d'Honoré, Ph.D., will give a talk on “Occitania: The Forgotten Brilliance.” This talk represents a departure for the Council, for it looks at past culture. Occitania, today's southern France, had a radically different culture than the rest of Europe in the 12th century.
D'Honoré will look at Occitania's origins, the influences that shaped it, and why it is almost forgotten today.
For more information about these talks, visit www.windhamworldaffairscouncil.org/future-events.