Two years ago, when I listed “Global Comedy” on various grant proposals, I thought this would be one of the easier Essential Cinema series to program. Several months ago as I began to research my usual wish list of 30-40 possible titles, I made some horrible discoveries. Either the world isn’t laughing anymore (i.e., making many comedies), or, perhaps more accurately, American distributors aren’t importing many comedies from other countries. Aside from the usual “humor doesn’t translate” explanation, the comedies that do get to America are often hyper-violent and gory. Even though I am extremely happy with the titles that appear in this series, some are decidedly more witty and thoughtful than outright knee-slapping funny. But all in all, in what seems to be an increasingly disturbing year full of worries and problems, I hope that you will be able to smile, laugh, guffaw, titter, shriek, and ponder with us for nine weeks as we find out what’s funny, witty, humorous, comic, and thought-provoking in contemporary France, Germany, Hong Kong, Thailand, Mexico, Argentina, Israel, and postwar USA. -- Chale Nafus, Director of Programming, Austin Film Society
When thinking of LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD or HIROSHIMA MON AMOUR, we don't usually begin to smile. However, master filmmaker Alain Resnais has begun to explore the more humorous aspects of human life in his later years. » read more
This athletic, aerobatic comedy whirls, slashes, and flies all over the screen. You will be alternately gasping and laughing at Stephen Chow and his amazing cast of martial arts masters. WEST SIDE STORY mates with THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY to give us an unforgettable action comedy. » read more
A fat man and an accordion -- that was enough for a comedy at one time, but this German film makes Schultze so much more -- sweet, talented, surprisingly adventurous, and humorous. » read more
Wakes aren't always the somber traditions that one might expect -- especially when they stretch over seven days and the participants bring a lot of emotional baggage to the ostensible celebration of the deceased's life.
Unlike the traditional Chaplin of the shorts of the 1910s or the features of the 20s and 30s, this late film of the master actor/filmmaker explores the darker hues of the comic spectrum. » read more
Easy money can cost an arm and a leg, which is fine for Tum so long as they belong to someone else. Only when she begins to run out of hiding places do the problems mount. » read more
A recent James Bond spoof as only the French could make -- with a running critique of neo-colonialism, ethnocentrism, and "Western superiority." » read more
