Film & Opera

Thursday February 25:

The Ring Family Israeli Film Series at Wesleyan continues tonight at 8 p.m. with "Eli and Ben", the 2008 debut of director Ori Ravid. The film, describes "the life of the Yassif family turns upside down when the father, Ben, who is the city architect of Herzelya, is charged with taking bribes. At stake is also the relationship between the father, Ben, and his son Eli who adores his father. The film examines their chaotic relations in light of those stormy days."  Starring Lior Ashkenazi as "Ben" and Yuval Shevah as "Eli", the bittersweet comedy has won numerous awards at festivals around the world.  The screening is free and open to the public, taking placed in the Goldsmith Family Cinema, Washington Terrace.  Afterwards, film critic Laura Blum will deliver a talk titled "The End of Innocence: Unmasking Identities in "Eli and Ben." 

Friday February 26:

Wesleyan student Ben Bernstein has created an original opera for his "Senior Recital", an event called "Bad Island."   Based on "The Bad Island", a 1969 book by author/illustrator William Steig, the production uses a chorus of 16 voices, four guitars, a string quartet, a horn section, dance, and colorful costumes, and is stylistically grounded in Baroque, Indonesian, and R&B traditions. The production takes place Friday at 8 p.m. in the Patricelli '92 Theater.  There are 2 shows on Saturday, a 1 p.m. matinee and 8 p.m. benefit for the Matenwa Community Learning Center in Haiti - there is a $5 admission fee for the Saturday evening performance while the other shows are free.  For more information and reservations, call the University Box Office at 860-685-3355.