Missouri Southern News Bureau FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 7, 2003 Contact: Harrison Kash (417) 625-9614 E-Mail: News Bureau Voice: (417) 625.9399 FAX: (417) 625.3142 |
JOPLIN, MO (SNS) - BED AND SOFA, one of the landmarks of the Russian silent cinema, is the 3rd program in the current 42nd Annual International Film Festival at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin. The film will be shown at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 14 in Matthews Hall Auditorium on the MSSU campus. This unique and remarkable film deals with individual conflicts in love and marriage during a housing shortage in Moscow in the 1920s. That it could imply an imperfection in the socialist system alone makes it unusual and the film shows surprisingly little overt concern with politics. Director Abram Room created this moving human drama which is most noted for its inventive direction, marvelous humor and naturalism in depicting its characters. Moreover, the character of the bored housewife, played by Ludmila Semyonova, and of her decision at the film's conclusion, makes this one of the few significant films of the era to deal with the liberation of women. A human document with more truth than a dozen cotemporary "adult" sex films, BED AND SOFA is still psychologically fascinating over 75 years after is original release. Jay Leyda, author of Kino: A History of the Russian and Soviet Film, has written: "The film by which Room will always be remembered is a masterpiece of intimate relations, minutely observed . . . what a delicately balanced combination of comedy and drama it is built upon. And how rarely such a combination works! Such material, and in such realistic surroundings, has no comparable sequel in Soviet films, or elsewhere, for that matter." Those requiring accommodations for a disability planning to attend the showing should contact the sponsoring party at least 72 hours in advance. Financial assistance for this project has been provided in part by the MSSU Institute of International Studies. Season tickets for the remaining six programs are on sale at $10 for adults and $7 for senior citizens or students. Single admissions at the door are $2 for adults and $1.50 for senior citizens or students. |
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