'Global Lens'
Jan. 30-Feb. 14, Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center

FILM IS THE perfect medium to introduce us to foreign lands: customs, languages, and emotions can all be deftly offered up in striking tableaux on the silver screen. To that end, the Global Film Initiative fosters new respect and understanding between cultures through the promotion and funding of narrative film projects in developing nations. "Global Lens," a showcase for these international works, highlights the best of cinema in a collection of striking comedies and dramas. From Tunisia, director Jilani Saadi's Khorma captures the power struggle of the religious ruling elite through the eyes of a lovable lout who tries to take over his senile mentor's job announcing the marriages and deaths in his town. In Cuban director Juan Carlos Cremata Mal-berti's first stab at feature filmmaking, the delightfully whimsical and melodramatic Nothing, Carla works in the post office – an entity that serves as a hilarious stand-in for the Cuban government – while she awaits her entry visa to the United States. In order to help others, and herself, Carla begins stealing and rewriting letters to change the correspondents' relationships for the better. Another standout in the series is Margarette's Feast, a silent film from Brazil by Renato Falcao. It follows a Chaplinesque hero (Hique Gomez, also the film's composer) as he tries to give his adoring wife the ultimate birthday feast, despite his recent layoff, growing debts, and jealous in-laws. The energetic score and humorous dips into wealthy fantasies allow the thoroughly enjoyable film to maintain its social commentary without becoming too heavy-handed. Overall, "Global Lens" presents the opportunity to see some of the most daring and brilliant films being crafted the world over. See Rep Clock for this week's schedule; go to www.cafilm.org for complete information. (Melissa McCartney)