Oakton to host international film festival

Travel the globe without leaving your seat by watching highly-rated movies showcasing the wide range of languages offered at Oakton Community College at its 32nd Modern Language Film Fest. The free public screenings run March 25-28 at Oakton's Des Plaines campus, 1600 E. Golf Road, and Skokie, 7701 N. Lincoln Ave.

"The 11 movies that are being shown represent almost all of the 13 languages that are taught at Oakton," says Modern Languages Chairwoman Marguerite Solari. "This year, the films also explore themes common to all humanity - poverty and privilege."

Sponsored by the Oakton Department of Modern Languages and Office of Access, Equity and Diversity, the following selections are included in this year's festival:

"Avia, My Love": (2006, Hebrew). Avia keeps secret that she is a talented writer until she is introduced to a famous novelist who uses her talents to his advantage (107 minutes).

• 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, Skokie, Room P103

• 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, Des Plaines, Room 1604

"Cezane and I": (2016, French). This biographical drama is based on the friendship between 19th century novelist Émile Zola and painter Paul Cézanne (116 minutes).

• 12:30 p.m. Monday, March 25, Des Plaines, Room 1610

• 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, Skokie, Room P103

"Coco": (2017, Spanish). Despite his family's ban on music, young Miguel strives to become a famous musician and becomes trapped in the land of the dead with the wily Hector. The two embark on an odyssey to unlock the real story of Miguel's family (109 minutes).

• 9:30 a.m. Monday, March 25, Des Plaines, Room 1608

• 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, Skokie, Room A145

• 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 27, Skokie, Room P103

• 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 28, Des Plaines, Room 1608

"Don Bosco - The True Story of the Apostle of Youth": (2004, Italian). The inspiring true story features a brave and holy priest whose single-handed battle to save children of the streets inspired a worldwide religious order that carries on his work with youth (113 minutes).

• 6 p.m. Monday, March 25, Des Plaines, Room 1604

• 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, Skokie, Room P104

"English Vinglish": (2012, Hindi and Urdu). A tradition-minded Indian housewife enrolls in an accelerated English-language course after she is unable to place a simple order at an American restaurant (134 minutes).

• 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, Skokie Room P104

• 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, Des Plaines, Room 1608

"The Golden Era": (2014, Chinese). The life story of Xiao Hong, one of China's most famous essayists and novelists during the 1930s, is chronicled (177 minutes).

• 6 p.m. Monday, March 25, Skokie, Room A145

• 5 p.m. Thursday, March 28, Des Plaines, Room 1604

"Ida": (2013, Polish). Before taking her vow as a nun, Anna learns from her only relative she is Jewish. The two women embark on a journey to learn their family story and where they belong (82 minutes).

• 6 p.m. Monday, March 25, Des Plaines, Room 1608

• 7 p.m. Thursday, March 28, Skokie, Room A152

"Loveless": (2017, Russian). An estranged Russian couple going through a brutal divorce wants to start over until their young son disappears after witnessing one of their fights (127 minutes).

• 6 p.m. Monday, March 25, Skokie, Room P103

• 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, Des Plaines, Room 1604

"Our Little Sister": (2015, Japanese). After the passing of their estranged father, three siblings invite their half-sister to live with them (128 minutes).

• 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, Des Plaines, Room 1608

• 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, Skokie, Room P104

"Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter": (2003, Korean). A Buddhist monk passes through the seasons of his life in a monastery that floats on a lake (103 minutes).

• 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, Des Plaines, Room 1606

• 6 p.m. Thursday, March 28, Skokie, Room A145

"Vincent Wants to Sea": (2010, German). A young man with Tourette syndrome escapes from a mental institution along with two other patients in order to travel to Italy to fulfill his late mother's final wish (156 minutes).

• 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 26, Des Plaines, Room 1604

• 4 p.m. Thursday, March 28, Skokie, Room A145

Solari adds, "Films are presented in their original languages with English subtitles. Our aim is to have the movies inspire a love of language."

For a complete list of films, show times and locations, visit www.oakton.edu/academics/academic_departments/modern_language/events/film_fest.php.

For information about the festival or Oakton's Modern Language Program, contact Solari at (847) 376-7012 or msolari@oakton.edu.