Semester 2 2016-17

 

28 January 2017 – Soccer my Saviour: screening and Q&A

A screening of the documentary film ‘Soccer My Saviour’ is taking place at the Byre theatre on 28 January. The film tells the story of former international Rwandan footballer, Eric Murangwa, who was protected from being killed during the 1994 Rwanda genocide by his teammates. Eric has since founded the association, ‘Football for Hope, Peace and Unity’ which aims to promote peace and reconciliation through sport. Eric will be attending the screening along with the director, Kyri Evangelou, and there will be a Q&A after the screening.

The event is connected to the AHRC Project, Rwandan Stories of Change: www.rwandan.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk


1 February 2017 – L’Illusioniste (2010)

A screening of Jacques Chomet’s modern classic, L’Illusionniste. The French-Scottish animation, which is based on an unproduced script written by Jacques Tati in 1956, tells the story of a struggling illusionist who journeys from Paris to the Western Isles to Edinburgh in search of a paying gig.The film is the product of 5 years of work at an animation studio in the Scottish capital and is a glorious visual tribute to the city’s unique geography and architecture. Introduced by Paul Malgrati from the Institute of Scottish Historical Research, St Andrews.


1 March 2017 – Byre World Film: The Tin Drum / Die Blechtrommel (1979)

A screening of Volker Schlöndorff’s 1979 classic, Die Blechtrommel. Against the backdrop of Nazi Germany, three-year old Oskar looks with skepticism on the adult world he sees around him. In response, he withdraws from time and from history by refusing to grow up. Based on Günter Grass’s novel of the same name, this Academy Award winner offers a seminal representation of German and European identities in the second half of the twentieth century.

Introduced by Professor Seán Allan (School of Modern Languages, Department of German)


 

5 April 2017 – The Wonders / Le Meraviglie (2014)

A screening of Alice Rohrwacher’s Le Meraviglie / The Wonders (2014). The film tells the story of teenage Gelsomina who is growing uncomfortable with her assumed position as heir to the family bee-keeping business. Set in the Tuscan countryside, the film is shot in natural light on 16mm film to capture the beautiful textures of this landscape. The film also pays homage to earlier Italian cinematic trends including neorealism and the work of Federico Fellini.

Introduced by Dr Rossella Riccobono (School of Modern Languages, Department of Italian)           


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 April 2017 – An afternoon of Ukrainian and Russian writing

Andrei Kurkov ‘In Conversation With’ Victoria Donovan, 4.30-5.30pm

The Centre for Russian, Soviet, Central and East European Studies together the Byre World series at Modern Languages, St Andrews, is delighted to welcome Andrei Kurkov, one of Ukraine’s foremost novelists, journalists and public commentators to talk about art and revolution in today’s Ukraine. Andrei discusses politics, identity, violence and art in Ukraine with the Russian Department’s Victoria Donovan.

Book signing with Andrei Kurkov, 5.30-6pm

Byre World Literary Café with Stanislav Lvovskii, 6-7.30pm

One of Russia’s leading contemporary poets, Stanislav Lvovskii, will join us at the Byre’s Literary Café. There will be an informal reading of contemporary Russian poetry and screening of poetic video art.

Stanislav is a Russian poet, journalist and researcher, who has published highly acclaimed collections of poems and short stories. Currently pursuing a PhD in Russian studies at the University of Oxford, he was until recently a contributing editor of a literary section ofwww.colta.ru, the only Russian internet media platform focused solely on culture. He was shortlisted three times for Russia’s most prestigious independent literary award, the Andrei Belyi prize (2005, 2009 and 2013). His poetry has been translated into and published in English, French, Chinese, Italian, Georgian among other languages.


             

19 April 2017 – Byre World Literary Cafe: Veronique Tadjo

Rwandan stories of change presents Véronique Tadjo from Côte d’Ivoire, the award-winning author of:

As the Crow Flies (2001)
The Shadow of Imana, Travels in the heart of Rwanda (2002)
The Blind Kingdom (2008)
Queen Pokou (2009)
Far From My Father (2014)

This is a Literary Café which includes readings and a Q&A with the author. She will be speaking in English and reading from the English translations of her books (originally in French).


3 May 2017 – Byre World Film: Wild Tales / Relatos salvajes (2014)

Byre World brings to you Relatos Salvajes, an Argentinian film directed by Damián Szifron and produced by the Almodóvar brothers. It is a beautifully shot black comedy comprising of six stories which explore the themes of violence and vengeance. Starring an ensemble cast of Ricardo Darín, Oscar Martínez, Leonardo Sbaraglia, amongst others, it was not only nominated for Best Foreign language film at the Oscars but also won the Palm d’Or at Cannes Film Festival. Introduced by Dr Brigid Cruzado (School of Modern Languages, Dept of Spanish).


 

 

10 May 2017 – Eurovision: a Byre World Conversation with Eurovision contestants Joe and Jake

British music duo Joe and Jake come to us for a discussion, followed by a Q&A about music and the duo’s experience of the Eurovision song contest. The event will be co-hosted by Dr Dave Evans and Honours student Mairi Chittleburgh.

Joe and Jake both participated in the fourth series of the talent show The Voice UK, and represented the United Kingdom in the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm with the song You’re Not Alone.