Murray State University’s Cinema International program is pleased to announce another exciting season of acclaimed films. The selections are shown on Thursday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. in the Curris Center of Murray State’s campus. All screenings are free and open to the public.

“The purpose of Cinema International has always been to bring the world to the Murray State campus for all to enjoy free of charge,” said Dr. Therese Saint Paul, associate professor of French and the program’s director. “The selection of movies has always included movies that are not easy to find and have received awards abroad and in the United States.”

In addition to their entertainment value, the films are also an integral component of coursework for many students. “Though not all films are international or subtitled, as we show English-speaking films as well, at least five or six always reflect the cultures of the languages that we teach at Murray State, so the films are part of the language student’s curriculum.”

Students in other programs such as film studies, theatre, art and history, just to name a few, also regularly attend the screenings. Post-screening discussions are led by invited guest faculty who specialize in the culture or themes expressed in the films, and departments from across campus co-sponsor films that pertain especially to their areas of study. “The purpose is to help the public understand a different culture,” said Dr. Saint Paul, “and get a better perspective on the context of the movies as well as express their opinions and practice critical thinking.”

The series begins on Thursday, August 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the Curris Center Barkley Room with Beat the Devil, directed by John Huston of African Queen fame and written for the screen by Truman Capote. The film stars Humphrey Bogart and Gina Lollobrigida and is a loose parody of the 1941 film The Maltese Falcon. A second screening will take place on Saturday, August 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the Curris Center.