Download Flyer for DISCOUNT Here!
If you live in metro Chicago, don’t miss your chance to see the award-winning Israeli film EMPATHY & meet writer/director Adi Refaeli in person! Reservations are now closed but some walk-ins can be accommodated (based on space available). If you would like to come, download flyer & bring it with you to either program (Landmark Century on Sat 3/29/08 OR Landmark Renaissance on Sun 3/30/08). Click link for more information on WITASWAN & program sponsors.
Read interview with Adi Refaeli on the website HOLLYWOODCHICAGO.COM. Read reviews of EMPATHY in the Chicago Tribune & the Chicago Sun-Times.
26.Mar.08 
Events: Metro Chicago Only, Events: Khaverot v' Khaverim, Events: WITASWAN & SWAN Day 
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Download TWOZIES List
The ‘08 Oscars are history, & as everyone knows by now, it was the least-buzzed, least-watched Oscar Bowl in years. I will offer my own analysis soon, but the bottom line is this: I believe this year’s list of top candiates was atrocious! Here’s our ‘07 TWOZIES List (which also identifies numerous WITASWAN films almost all of which were excluded way before Oscar Nominations were announced in January).
29.Feb.08 Rants: Oscars & Other Awards Read more Comments (0)
ENORMOUS CHANGES is based on three stories by Grace Paley, one of the most acclaimed short story writers of the 20th Century. The film has major stars such as Ellen Barkin & Kevin Bacon, & John Sayles is one of its credited screenwriters, so why is this film almost impossible to find?!?! I tracked down a “region 4″ copy (from Australia), & watched it again. It’s not perfect, but the first “chapter” (based on the story “An Interest in Life”) is extremely well-done & definitely worth the seach.
Paley aficionados will know that ”An Interest in Life” is the story that contains the line that became the title of GP’s first collection: The Little Disturbances of Man. The story is about Virginia –Virginia’s husband Jerry decides to “join the army” one day, leaving her alone with three children in a tiny Manhattan tennament…
Barkin is excellent as “Virginia,” able to convey all the passion & pathos required for her role. David Strathairn plays “Jerry” as a boy-man who’s both ardent & cruel. He knows he bears full responsibility for the predicament he’s in, but he’s determined to escape it nonetheless. Ron McLarty is touching & just a shade creepy as “John;” he makes it easy to understand why Virginia reacts as she does to his visits. Of course, the kids are all adorable, & when the inevitable “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Johnday!” line comes, it’s perfect.
The other two chapters aren’t quite as strong, but they’re well-intentioned & definitely worth watching.
22.Feb.08 Rants: DVD Wish List, Reviews: E-G Read more Comments (0)
March 1st eVite
I’m on my way to the Quad Cities next week to do a presentation at the Moline Public Library’s Southwest Branch) co-sponsored by two local AAUW branches: Rock Island/Moline (IL) & Davenport (IA). This is a special treat for me because A Jury of Her Peers was written by Susan Glaspell, who was born & raised in Davenport.
It’s also emotional for me because Sally Heckel (pictured above) was the special guest at the very first Chicago WITASWAN program, & in many ways the whole WITASWAN intiative actually began when members of AAUW-Illinois saw her wonderful film for the first time at our 2003 Spring Convention.
So this particular trip will close a loop for me, & bring many things full circle. Should YOU be anywhere near Moline on 3/1, please join us. This is a public program & everyone is welcome! Here is a wonderful article by Laura Fraembs posted Weds (2/24/08) on QCOnline.
22.Feb.08 Events: WITASWAN & SWAN Day Read more Comments (0)
Print eVite?
YOU’RE INVITED:
CCC professor Stephanie Shonekan needs YOUR help
to complete her new film LIONESS OF LISABI.
Set in the busy Western Nigerian town of Abeokuta during the 1920s, LIONESS OF LISABI is a celebration of the life of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, a forgotten heroine best-known today as the mother & mentor of legendary afro-beat creator & political performer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Stephanie is the director of Black World Studies at Columbia College Chicago as well as one of the founders of the film company Creator’s Lamp. She is also a member of AAUW-Illinois’ Aurora Branch.
Contact Stephanie ASAP to RSVP. She will gratefully accept contributions of ANY size, so please remember to bring your checkbook!!!
Monday March 3rd from 6 to 8 PM
Hokin Auditorium
623 South Wabash–Room 109
19.Feb.08 Events: Metro Chicago Only, Events: WITASWAN & SWAN Day Read more Comments (0)
Decatur Magazine e-Calendar: Feb/Mar
“Jane Addams” will visit Decatur, IL in March to celebrate Women’s History Month with members of Decatur Branch AAUW. Presentation will include a screening of Suzanne Lacy’s documentary DINNER AT JANE’S. Everyone in central Illinois welcome 
03.Feb.08 Events: Jane Addams Day Read more Comments (0)
Reservation Form for SATURDAY (3/29/08)
Reservation Form for SUNDAY (3/30/08)
Under the banner of WITASWAN, six Illinois-based women’s organizations are co-sponsoring two screenings of Israeli Director Adi Refaeli’s award-winning film EMPATHY during Women’s History Month.
The first screening is scheduled for Saturday afternoon, March 29th in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. The second screening is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, March 30th in Highland Park.
The Saturday screening coincides with the first celebration of International SWAN Day, a collaboration between WITASWAN and the Fund for Women Artists.
WITASWAN (”wit-uh-swan”) is an Illinois-based initiative sponsored by AAUW-Illinois. Local collaborators have included AWJ (Assoc for Women Journalists), CAWHC (Chicago Area Women’s History Council), IWA (International Women Associates), IWPA (Illinois Woman’s Press Assoc), WIF/C (Women in Film/Chicago), & WIDC (Women in the Director’s Chair). In honor of Adi’s visit, two Jewish women’s organizations (Hadassah Chicago Chapter & ORT America: Metropolitan Chicago Region) have joined this year’s list of co-sponsors. The acronym WITASWAN stands for Women in the Audience Supporting Women Artists Now!
27.Jan.08 Events: Metro Chicago Only, Events: Khaverot v' Khaverim, Events: WITASWAN & SWAN Day Read more Comments (2)
Get Your Pass for the 1/15 CARAMEL Screening
If you live in metro Chicago, please come to a FREE screening of CARAMEL @ the Landmark Century Centre Cinema (Clark & Diversey) on Tuesday January 15th @ 6:45 PM. Passes are limited, so if you would like one, please follow instructions on the pdf file (attached @ the top).
First-time director Nadine Labaki, who co-wrote the screenplay & also stars as “Layale,” will be in Chicago for a post-screening Q&A. CARAMEL opens @ metro Chicago theaters on February 1st.
11.Jan.08 Events: Metro Chicago Only Read more Comments (0)
The Directors Guild of America just announced its nominees for 2008 & surprise, surprise, women directors are completely shut out yet again 
So who’s missing? Here are the names I would add if I ruled the world:
Nominating Paul Thomas Anderson for THERE WILL BE BLOOD?!? Feh!!!
08.Jan.08 Rants: Oscars & Other Awards Read more Comments (0)
