Arts & Entertainment
 

MFAH kicks off 'Swiss View' art film tour

By Uruj Perwaiz
The Daily Cougar

For those seeking a more cultured avenue in the film industry, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is the gateway. This winter season, MFAH is celebrating the new year with screenings at the museum and at Rice Cinema of film series from Switzerland, Russia and revivals for Black History Month.

Photo courtesy of The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

The MFAH is privileged to be the venue for the touring film series from Pro Helvetia, the Arts Council of Switzerland. This extraordinary group of films, dubbed "CinemArchitecture: Swiss Views," fits quite nicely with collaboration of the Rice Design Alliance. 

The series are absolutely not just for "architect types." It includes the radical 1930s silent short by avant-garde filmmaker Hans Richter, a glimpse at Berlin featuring Wim Wenders (on screen) and Jean-Luc Godard (off screen) and an entry by the leading contemporary Swiss director Alain Tanner.

Also in February, to commemorate Black History Month, MFAH will offer the revival of the captivating jazz documentary A Great Day in Harlem (Feb. 7 and Feb. 8 at 7 p.m.; Feb. 16 at 2 p.m.). 

The story, narrated by Quincy Jones, is about an August morning in 1958. Three generations of jazz greats are gathered on a stoop in Harlem for a photo shoot for Esquire magazineis special jazz issue. 

If you are eager to start viewing the films at MFAH immediately, then Korean cinema has a section of a new contemporary (Jan. 31 at 7 p.m.; Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.). Take Care of My Cat (Goyangileul butaghae) is a classic coming-of-age story told in the context of a group of 20-something girls who are close-knit and struggling with the changes as they enter the stages of adulthood.

As our hearts began to flutter and our faces burn red, our minds often stress about where to take that special someone on Valentineis Day. Once again, MFAH has come to the rescue. Itill bring with it the exclusive Houston premiere of Alexander Sokurovis, Russian Ark (Feb. 21 to Feb. 23 and Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.; March 1 and March 2 at 7 p.m.). It comprises the longest unbroken shot in the history of cinema and is a tour de force made on high-definition video. In this time-traveling wonder, the artist finds himself inside the Hermitage in St. Petersburg in the 1800s where he has the ability to witness three centuries of Russian art and history. The real stars of this fascinating film are Hermitage and the director of photography, Tilman Buttner (he also directed photography for Run Lola Run).

In particular, MFAH is celebrating Valentineis Day with a spectacular presentation of the 1946 French classic Beauty and the Beast (La Belle et la bete) (Feb. 14 to Feb. 15 at 7 p.m.). The director, Jean Cocteau, uses techniques he labels "almost documentary" as it is mixed with surrealistic visual effects.

Combine this romantic film with a dinner at the Café Express, located on the lower level of the Audrey Jones Beck Building.

For more information visit www.mfah.org. Tickets are $6, adult; $5, student.

CinemArchitecture: Swiss Views

Museum of Fine Arts, Rice Cinema

The verdict: an exclusively breathtaking escape to foreign fantasies.
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