Library to present series of war films

Carol Jinbo, the public relations coordinator in the library services at Cunningham Memorial Library, hopes to enrich classroom experiences through the War in Film Series presented in conjunction with ISU's history department.

"Most professors do not have time to devote in their curriculum or syllabus to show supplemental films," Jinbo said. "The visual component of the film helps students to visualize what they are unable to experience or possibly even imagine."

Christopher Fischer, assistant professor of history, is the host for the series. Fischer also selected the films in the series as well as contacted specific lecturers for each film.

Each lecturer will lead the discussion after the film, speaking of the film from their particular subject area's point of view, encouraging student participation, Jinbo said.

The first film of the series, "The Grand Illusion," is set in World War I. Two French officers are captured. Capt. de Boeldieu, an aristocrat, befriends Lt. Maréchal, a mechanic in civilian life and Rosenthal, a son of wealthy Jewish bankers, while Maréchal and Rosenthal plot their escape.

Keri Berg, assistant professor in the languages, literatures, linguistics department, will lead the discussion about the first film.

"I think films are a good way to portray powerful emotions because it's essentially a slice of life," said senior radio, television and film major Ronald Short. "With paintings, you can get the same effect, but it's not moving and you can tell it's paint. With films, you take a look into these character's lives for an hour or two and you get attached to them. You can escape your own life and live theirs for a while. That's what films are to me."

The other three films in the series are "Letters from Iwo Jima," "Europa, Europa" and "The Fog of War."

"Letters from Iwo Jima" is an Oscar-winning film about one of World War II's bloodiest Pacific battles told from the perspective of the Japanese defenders. Over 20,000 Japanese soldiers died and less than 1,000 were taken prisoner.

"Europa, Europa," an Oscar nominee about a boy in Nazi Germany who joins the Hitler Youth in attempt to conceal his Jewish blood, and "The Fog of War," a documentary about Robert S. McNamara and his experiences and lessons learned as secretary of defense during World War II and his failures in Vietnam, will also be featured during the series.

"Movies can open you to a world like you've never seen," Short said. "They can give you a look into a culture in which you would normally never have the chance to view. While you might not be able to take the information the film provides as fact, even from some biography films, it can be a learning experience while being entertained."

Monday marks the first film, "The Grand Illusion," of the War in Film Series. The movie will start at 6 p.m. in the Library Events Area. The series is free and open to the public.

"Within war films, I believe there are always a group of people we must have sympathy for," Short said. "Be it the soldiers who are fighting for what they believe, or don't believe in, or the people within the country that are dying without reason. Most of the time, there is some type of commentary behind a war film because filmmakers usually have a message in mind when they undertake such a task."