International Film Series Continues March 23

The Jake Erhardt International Film Series will show the film The Stoning of Soraya M. Tuesday, March 23, at 7 p.m. in the Sebastian Mueller Theater in the McKelvey Campus Center.

The event is free and open to the public. Westminster film studies students will introduce the film and lead a discussion following the showing.

The 2008 film won the Canvas Audience Award at the Flanders International Film Festival; the Audience Award for Best Feature at the Los Angeles Film Festival; and the Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama.

The drama is set in 1986 Iran and centers on Sahebjam, whose car breaks down in a remote village. He enters into a conversation with Zahra and learns the story of her niece, Soraya, whose arranged marriage to an abusive tyrant had a tragic ending.

This is the second film in the series for this semester. Chi bi (Red Cliff) is scheduled for April 20.

The International Film Series is named in honor of its founder, Dr. Jacob Erhardt, professor of German emeritus at Westminster College. Erhardt, who taught at Westminster from 1968 until his retirement in 2004, served as chair of his department from 1970-1986, was named the Language Educator of the Year by the Pennsylvania State Modern Languages Association, translated into English Robert Reitzel's Adventures of a Greenhorn, and was recognized by the National Endowment for the Humanities as an outstanding member.

Contact Dr. Deborah Mitchell, Westminster associate professor of English and coordinator of the film series, at (724) 946-7030 or e-mail dmitchel@westminster.edu for more information.

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