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September 29, 2011

ULM Film Series continues with "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" Oct. 11

The University of Louisiana at Monroe College of Arts and Sciences and the Campus Activities Board will continue the ULM Film Series at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 11, in Room 100 of Stubbs Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

The widely praised film "The Wind That Shakes the Barley" is October's featured film and is released in conjunction with the annual Northeast Louisiana Celtic Festival whihc will be held Saturday, Oct. 15, in Forsythe Park.

Special guest Mairtin DeCogain, who acts in the film and performs on the soundtrack, will be present for a question and answer session.

As the film contains images of violence, viewer discretion is advised.

"The Wind That Shakes the Barley" was directed in 2006 by Ken Loach. The film is set during the Irish War of Independence (1919 – 1921) and the Irish Civil War (1922- 1923). It tells the story of two brothers who join the Irish Republican Army to fight for independence from the United Kingdom.

When the Anglo-Irish Treaty is announced, Ireland is only granted dominion status, leading to internal conflict within the IRA.

Revealing the brutality of war that pits brother against brother, the film offers insight into the challenges Ireland faced on its path to independence.

The film was widely praised, winning the Palme d'Or at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. Film critic Roger Ebert gave the film four stars and called it one of the best war films ever made.

More about the ULM Film Series:

The ULM Film Series typically features one film per month, offering selections from the classic cinema, art cinema, independent, foreign, and documentary repertoire.

The series is the brainchild of Assistant Professor of English Jana Giles and Instructor of English Amy Johnson.

The films are meant to be both fun and educational, the organizers say. Filmgoers should know that since the series is sponsored by a college campus, the films were chosen with a college-age audience in mind.

The series is also designed to be intellectually stimulating and may contain ideas that are challenging or unpopular for some viewers; the films shown do not necessarily represent the views of the university or any of its staff.

Concessions will not be offered, and audience members are asked to not bring food or drink.

For more information, call the English department at 318-342-1485.

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