A. To Sing, To Dance, To Live!: Indian Popular Cinema Series
March 2, 9, 16, 23, 7 pm, Wang Center Theater
Free to students, $5 general admission
Replete with heartwarming songs, flamboyant dances, lush scenic design and high melodrama this series of popular films from India reveal the complexity, power, and humanity of women. All with English Subtitles. In celebration of Women’s Month.
* Mother India (Directed by Mehboob/Music by Naushad/163 minutes/1957)
Tuesday, March 2
One of India’s all time classic film tells the triumphant saga of a peasant woman’s obstinate love for her children and her land while triumphing over famine, flood, hunger, debt and sexual harassment.
* Dil Se (Directed by Mani Ratnam/Music by A.R.Rahman/156 minutes/1998)
Tuesday, March 9
Haunted by an elusive woman, a journalist follows her to distant and ravaged frontiers of war and fantasy. With terror as backdrop, love, patriotism, and survival are called into brutal question.
* Laaja (Shame) (Directed by Raj Kumar Santosh/Music by Anu Malik; 202 minutes/2001)
Tuesday, March 16
From the cosmopolitan city of New York to a remote village in India, these inspired vignettes portray how despite cultural misogyny, a wealthy wife, an independent woman, a dutiful daughter, a villager live their lives with fierce dignity.
* Devdas (Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali/Music by Ismail Darbar/184 minutes/2002)
Tuesday, March 23
In this opulent cinematic spectacle, two beautiful women, a courtesan and an innocent love a shattered man too deeply but find solace in their friendship.
B. Why Should Guys Have All the Fun?: Loida Nicolas Lewis
Wednesday, March 3, 12:45 pm, Wang Center Theater. Free Admission
Lewis, dynamic CEO of TLC Beatrice, a Billion Dollar Black Enterprise speaks on being a successful Asian American Woman. Reception to follow. Co-sponsored with Harriman School of Business and Management, Women’s Studies Department, BNL BERA APAA, Africana Studies, Black Faculty and Staff Association. In celebration of Women’s month.
C. My Heart is in the East: Celebrating Asian Jewish Cultures
Thursday, March 4, 3 pm
Experience the fusion of Asian and Jewish cultures from Iraq, India and Iran through Music, film, food, and a lecture.
* The Jewish - Asian Experience on Film
(As seen at the 8th NY International Sephardic Film Festival sponsored by the American Sephardi Federation with Sephardic House)
3:00 pm, Charles B. Wang Center Theater
followed by discussion
1. Searching for Baghdad: A Daughter’s Journey
A film by Carole Basri
2002. 48 minutes. English
In her search for the remnants of her heritage outside of Iraq, Carole Basri’s 21st century journey leads her to the Iraqi-Jewish outposts established in the 19th century in India, Hong Kong, Singapore, and other cities in the Far East. She finds not only the history of her people, but her own family in unexpected places.
2. Bombay Jews
A film by Rajesh Latkar
India, 2002. 30 min. English, Hindi, Marathi with English subtitles
This documentary explores the history of the Jews of the province of Bombay (Mumbai and Thane), their acceptance under India’s tolerant views of religion, and their own unique religious practices. A loving look at a little-known Jewish community.
* Esther’s Children: The Jews of Iran
With Dr. Houman Sarshar, author of the acclaimed book by the same title
5:30 pm, Charles B. Wang Center Theater
Dr. Houman Sarshar will speak about this unique and ancient Jewish community, its history, its customs, and its people accompanied by a multi-media presentation based on his book.
* A Taste of Jewish Asia
Sample Sephardic Jewish foods from different countries
7:00 - 8:00 pm, Wang Center Theater Lobby
In concert...
* Divahn
Performing Sephardic Jewish music of Asia and the Near East
8:00 pm in the Charles B. Wang Center Theater
Free for students, $10 General Admission
This all-female ensemble infuse traditional songs with sophisticated harmonies using tabla, cello, rabel, doumbek, and vocals in Hebrew, Judeo-Spanish, Persian, Arabic, Aramaic and Turkish creating a beautiful lyricism through an intense rhythmic drive.
Divahn, a word common to Hebrew, Persian, and Arabic, means a collection of songs or poetry. Through its music, Divahn seeks to underscore common ground shared between diverse Middle Eastern cultures and religions. The group captures the breadth and diversity of Mizrakhi and Sephardi music throughout the centuries, while simultaneously creating and redefining innovative directions for the music in the present. In celebration of women’s month.
My Heart is in the East is co-sponsored with The Hillel Foundation for Jewish Life &
SBU’s Hillel Student Club.
D. The Banality of Everyday Trauma: Globalization, Migration, and Nostalgia, a talk by Ban Wang
Tuesday, March 9, Wang Lecture Hall 1 Free, Reception to follow
In this thoughtful and thorough talk, Ban Wang seeks to dispel the mirage of globalization by revealing its traumatic consequences on the laboring body on the move. Excerpts from the film Durian Durian (Liulian piaopiao) by Hong Kong director Fruit Chan illustrate the traumatic images of the productive body in the sex trade. Cosponsored with the Humanities Institute
E. Cross-Fertilizations: Long Island String Quartet Concert
Sunday, March 21, 3 pm
Free to Students, $10.00 General Admission
Western Classical music enriched by the compositions of Tan Dun and Franges Ali-Zadeh, and Western composers Alan Hovaness and Marga Richter inspired by music and poetry from Asia comprise this refreshing repertoire by the premiere Long Island String Quartet.
F. The Spirit of the Wang Center: A Spirituality and Architecture Tour
Wednesday, March 24, 1 pm, Tour begins in the Wang Center Main Lobby
Free
Taking inspiration from teachings of feng shui and the multifaith symbolism of Asian cultures this tour is designed by Brother Clark Berge to help participants enjoy the many features of the Wang center which speak directly to the soul. Tour participants are invited to deepen their awareness of the many factors which contribute to creating a stimulating learning environment. Co-sponsored with Protestant Campus Ministries of Stony Brook University.
G. San Jose Taiko Concert
Sunday, March 28, 6pm, Wang Center Theater
Free to students, $10.00 General Admission
For the past 30 years, San Jose Taiko (SJT) has mesmerized audiences with the powerful, spellbinding and propulsive sounds of the taiko drums. San Jose Taiko has broadened and embellished the historical art form into a style that joins the traditional rhythms of Japanese drumming with the beat of world rhythms including African, Balinese, Brazilian, Latin and jazz percussion. The resulting sounds are contemporary, exciting, new and innovative, bridging many styles, while still resonant of the Asian soul in America.
H. Karvaan (Pankaj Butalia/1999/104 minutes)
Tuesday, March 30, 7pm, Wang Center Theater
Free to students, $5.00 General Admission
A Pakistani woman in her forties returns to her former parental home in India. Her brother has trouble receiving her and her youthful memories wither. The film is a poignant look at the pain of loss of community and identity as a consequence of the partition of Pakistan and India. Director Pankaj Butalia will be present. Co-Sponsored with SBU Film Club.
