February 12, 2003

Award-Winning French Films Make U.S. Premiere at Holy Cross

WORCESTER, Mass. – Several contemporary French films that have never been commercially released in the United States will premiere at the College of the Holy Cross during its spring French Film Festival. The receipt of a "Tournées" grant from the French government makes the screenings possible. The films will be shown with English subtitles. All films begin at 8 p.m. and are open the public; a contribution of $1 -2 is kindly asked.

The tentative schedule is as follows:

March 11, 2003, Stein 102
The Adventures of Felix (Drôle De Félix) - Felix, a young, gay, HIV positive man thumbs his way from Dieppe to Marseilles in search of his father, after being laid off from his job.

March 25, 2003, Stein 102
Lumumba - The terrifying true story of political leader Patrice Lumumba's rise to power as the first prime minister of the newly independent Congo, and his assassination just six months later.

April 8, 2003, Stein 102
Murderous Maids (Les Blessures Assassines) - Based on the 1933 murder in Le Mans of a mistress and her daughter by Christine and Léa Papin, sisters working together as maids, this film explores the lives of the two killers from childhood through to their incarceration.

April 29, 2003, Kimball Theatre
Fat Girl (À Ma Sœur!) - While vacationing in the south of France with her self-absorbed parents, a chubby adolescent girl struggles with jealousy for her very attractive older sister.

The Society for French American Cultural Services and Education (FACSEA) French film grant program, Tournées, provides grants to university departments, film clubs and student organizations who wish to show five contemporary French films during a single academic year.

This program was made possible with the support of the Cultural Services of the French Embassy and the French Ministry of Culture.