Hero of film 'Hotel Rwanda' to speak
Manager Paul Rusesabagina, who protected 1,200 from genocide, is scheduled in February at CFCC.
By JORGE SANCHEZ
Published October 21, 2005
OCALA - The man who is credited with saving the lives of many who were being persecuted during the Rwandan genocide is scheduled to speak at Central Florida Community College in February, as part of the school's film series.
The movie Hotel Rwanda centered on Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who secretly protected 1,200 Tutsis from genocide in Rwanda in 1994. He was portrayed by actor Don Cheadle in the film.
No date has been confirmed for when Rusesabagina will speak.
The CFCC film series will show movies at three venues: the Webber Center and Building 8, Room 110 at the Ocala campus and the Appleton Museum of Art, across town at 4366 E Silver Springs Blvd.
The films at the Ocala CFCC venues are free, but paid admission is required at the Appleton, though it is free to museum members and patrons of the CFCC Film Series. Patron levels start at $15.
The film schedule:
- The Merchant of Venice, 2 p.m. at the Appleton and 7 p.m. at Building 8 on Nov. 1. The film stars Al Pacino as Shylock in this adaptation of Shakespeare's play.
- Broken Wings, 2 p.m. at Building 8 and 7 p.m. at the Webber Center on Nov. 15. The movie, filmed in Israel in 2003, is about a family struggling to cope and survive after the sudden death of their father. There will be a group discussion after the film in connection with the college's yearlong theme of "dignity."
- Hotel Rwanda, 2 p.m. at the Appleton and 7 p.m. at the Webber Center on Jan. 17.
- The Awful Truth, 2 p.m. at the Appleton and 7 p.m. at Building 8 on Jan. 31. The 1937 American film stars Cary Grant and Irene Dunne in a wacky comedy about a divorcing couple, each seeking custody of their pet dog.
- Moolade, 2 p.m. at the Appleton and 7 p.m. at the Webber Center on Feb. 7. This film is directed against the practice of female circumcision, practiced in some African nations. It won the grand prize at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival and is in Sengalese with English subtitles. There will be a discussion after the film.
- The Magdalene Sisters, 2 p.m. at the Appleton and 7 p.m. at Building 8 on Feb. 21. This drama tells of harsh conditions that some women said they experienced at the Magdalene convent, an institution in Ireland that offered "fallen women" a chance at redemption in the Catholic Church. The film won the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival and the Discover Award at the Toronto Film Festival, both in 2002.
- Mad Hot Ballroom, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Building 8 on March 7. This American film was made this year about a group of fifth-graders in New York City who are zealots of ballroom dancing.
Jorge Sanchez covers arts and entertainment in Citrus County. Call 352 860-7313 or e-mail sanchez@sptimes.com