Thursday, January 30th

Thursday, February 6th

Thursday, February 13th: Missionaries and Spanish Colonialism in the New World
THE MISSION: An excellent film set in Paraguay during the mid-18th century. It portrays the struggle between the Jesuits and the Spanish and Portuguese crowns over indigenous policy, particularly slavery. Precipitates Jesuit expulsion from the New World. Excellent musical score. Directed by Roland Joffe. Stars Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons. 1986. 125 min.

Thursday, February 20th: Beyond Columbus: Early African Exploration in the New World & The Legacy of the TransAtlantic Slave Trade
GARIFUNA JOURNEY: Shot entirely in Belize, the film presents the history, language, food, music, dance, and spirituality of the Garifuna culture. It is a celebratory documentary with engaging scenes of fishing, cooking, cassava preparation, thatching a temple, spiritual ritual, music and dance. The sound track is a mix of punta rock, original drumming, and traditional ritual music. 1999. 47 min.

PALENQUE: UN CANTO: THE AFRICAN HERITAGE OF A COLOMBIAN VILLAGE: Documents the history and daily life of Palenque de San Basilio, a town near Cartagena in northern Colombia, which was founded by rebel slaves in 1713. Through interviews with the descendants of the original settlers, this film presents their history, cultural heritage, and current economic and political conditions. Maria Bozzi. Casimba Films. 1992. 47 min.

Thursday, February 27th: Voodoo and the Haitian Revolution
IN SEARCH OF HISTORY: VOODOO SECRETS: One of the most misunderstood of belief systems, this video offers a basic explanation of some of the deities associated with various forms of voodoo like santeria and candomble, while at the same time tries to debunk the myths that Hollywood has created. A&E Television Networks. 1996. 87 min.

BLACK DAWN: An animated film that recounts the founding of Haiti, the world's first independent black republic, according to its folklore. A celebration of the strength and artistry of the Haitian people. Elementary through high school. Includes study guide. Icarus Films. 1979. 20 min.

Thursday, March 6th

Thursday, March 20th: Independence, New Empires, and Apartheid
CRY FREEDOM: An epic drama based on the true story of newspaper editor Donald Woods' investigation into the murder of nationalist leader Steven Biko. Mistrustful of each other at first, but joined in their common desire to end apartheid, the black activist and the white liberal overcome their differences to become friends. When Biko is killed by the South African police, Woods demands justice and, as a result, finds himself and his family brutally persecuted by the South African government. Kevin Kline and Denzel Washington. 1986. 155 min.

Thursday, April 3rd: The Cold War Escalates: The Cuban Missile Crisis
THIRTEEN DAYS: In October, 1962, U-2 surveillance photos reveal that the Soviet Union is in the process of placing nuclear weapons in Cuba. These weapons have the capability of wiping out most of the Eastern and Southern United States in minutes if they become operational. President John F. Kennedy and his advisors must come up with a plan of action against the Soviets. Kennedy is determined to show that he is strong enough to stand up to the threat, and the Pentagon advises U.S. military strikes against Cuba--which could lead the way to another U.S. invasion of the island. However, Kennedy is reluctant to follow through, because a U.S. invasion could cause the Soviets to retaliate in Europe. A nuclear showdown appears to be almost inevitable. Can it be prevented? Starring: Kevin Costner, Bruce Greenwood, Steven Culp, Dylan bake. 2000. 145 min.

Thursday, April 10th: The "Disappeared": Latin American Dictators and US Foreign Relations
FATHER ROY: INSIDE THE SCHOOL OF ASSASSINS: The story of the School of the Americas is told through the life and actions of Father Roy Bourgeois, a leading activist in the campaign to close the school. Father Roy has served time in Federal prison but those trained at the SOA accused of torturing their citizens, have only received amnesty. Narrated by Susan Sarandon. Richter Productions. 1997. 54 min.

LAS MADRES DE LA PLAZA DE MAYO: Moving documentary that merges the personal and political stories of the desaparecidos of Argentina. Discusses the families' perceptions of why their relatives were disappeared, and documents both the activities of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo and the response of the government. Produced by Susana Munoz and Lourdes Portillo. ca. 1985. 58 min.

Thursday, April 17th: The Effects of Globalization and Human Rights
ZONED FOR SLAVERY: THE CHILD BEHIND THE LABEL: Crowing Rooster Arts and the National Labor Committee bring us this gripping, low-budget film depicting free trade areas in Latin American. Countries are engaged in a race to the bottom to see who will accept the lowest wages and poorest working conditions to attract the most foreign investment. Companies in these free trade zones pay absurdly low wages, but the exploitation goes much further. Teenage girls often work 23 hour shifts; they are forced to take birth control pills and they must pay for abortions if they get pregnant. Unions are prohibited, and each company has armed guards. These free trade zones are supported by USAID funds, yet the US is losing out: the US loses jobs and income at home, and doesn't gain a trading partner, since the LDC workers earning $.38/ hour cannot afford to buy US goods. 1996. 23 min.

IF THE MANGO TREE COULD SPEAK: A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT CHILDREN AND WAR IN LATIN AMERICA: An intimate portrait of ten boys and girls--ages 12 to 15--growing up in the midst of war in Guatemala and El Salvador. The children talk about war and peace, justice, ethnic identity, friendship, and marriage. In a series of touching vignettes, they share their dreams and hopes as well as their pain and loss. With study guide. New Day Films. 1993. 58 min.