Nesmith Library

Arranged, Cicala Filmworks presents ; story by Stefan Schaefer, Yuta Silverman ; written by Stefan Schaefer ; produced and directed by Diane Crespo, Stefan Schaefer

eng

videorecording

Not rated

Arranged

videorecording

Cicala Filmworks presents ; story by Stefan Schaefer, Yuta Silverman ; written by Stefan Schaefer ; produced and directed by Diane Crespo, Stefan Schaefer

89

Film Movement series, v. 5, film 12

Arranged: Ditmas Park, Brooklyn. A young Orthodox woman, Rochel Meshenberg, is about to begin her first year as a special education teacher at the local public school. She is also about to begin the process of finding a husband via the time-tested method of using a "shadchen," or matchmaker. As the school year gets underway, Rochel meets Nasira Khaldi, a Muslim woman of Syrian descent. Nasira is also a first-year teacher. The two young women - Rochel in long skirt and conservative blouse, Nasira in headscarf - stand out in this public school context. The principal is forever reminding them that although they are some of her smartest, most gifted teachers, they are also stunted by their outmoded customs, religions, and by their patriarchal worldviews. As the school year progresses, Rochel and Nasira realize they share much in common, not least of which is that they are both going through what the outside world calls "arranged marriages." They develop a friendship that transcends their insular Brooklyn communities and the religions that seem so at odds and, as their friendship deepens, they are exposed to each other's worldsDas Floß (The raft): An animated film about two starving and exhausted castaways who are lost at sea. When a seagull drops a fish onto their raft, their friendship is put to the ultimate test. Produced by the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg in 2004

Special features include: Widescreen version -- Language: English -- This month's short film: The raft / dir. Jan Thüring

live action