Category: Films Worth Talking About, Even If Difficult

Paris Is Burning ?>

Paris Is Burning

Upcoming: This fall at Lincoln Center: Films Worth Talking About, Even If Difficult presents:

Paris Is Burning, 1991, directed by Jennie Livingston

Tuesday, November 10, 6 pm, Lincoln Center, Visual Arts Complex, RM SL24L

Panelists: Associate Professor of Anthropology and the Co-Program Director of Urban Studies, Aseel Sawalha, and Clinical Professor of Visual Art, Joseph Lawton, moderated by Stephan Apicella-Hitchcock, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, Arts & Sciences

Open to all. With pizza and prizes.

Directed by Jennie Livingston, Paris Is Burning is a seminal documentary that chronicles the vibrant ball culture of New York City in the late 1980s. The film celebrates the joy and sense of family within Black and Latino LGBTQ+ communities, capturing drag balls as extraordinary spaces of liberation, self-expression, and empowerment.

By highlighting ballroom subculture, voguing, and the house system, the film brought national attention to the creative and resilient support networks of queer and trans performers of color and established ballroom culture as a foundational influence on modern fashion, dance, and pop culture.

The documentary also addresses issues of racism, poverty, and the 1980s HIV/AIDS crisis, and sparked important debates surrounding self-determination and representation. Ultimately, Paris Is Burning, in all its complexity, honors the legacy, strength, and pride of its icons.

About the 2026-2027 Film Series:

This season, Films Worth Talking About, Even If Difficult, has expanded its programming into a broader interpretive territory. “Difficult Films” are not limited to movies that are emotionally challenging or politically provocative; they can also refer to visually experimental, sonically demanding, historically complex, or temporally shifting films. Ultimately, the series is a pretext for gathering, ​watching films, eating, and talking—a communal exercise in which we discuss, discover, and sometimes disagree—all of which are part of the experience.

The Office of the Arts & Sciences Dean invites you to step outside your regular streaming queue, experience something different, and join a community of curious film lovers. The series alternates between campuses twice per semester, so please bring your friends, an open mind, and have a question ready. We also offer raffle items connected to the film. By participating, you could walk away with a special prize AND a different perspective.

Films Worth Talking About, Even If Difficult: All About Lily Chou-Chou Raffle Prize ?>

Films Worth Talking About, Even If Difficult: All About Lily Chou-Chou Raffle Prize

The Fordham University Office of the Dean’s series, Films Worth Talking About, Even If Difficult, strives to make film viewings communal, stimulating, and rewarding experiences. Accordingly, two lucky cinephiles who attended the 9/28 screening at Rose Hill of Shunji Iwai’s All About Lily Chou-Chou won the raffle and will soon receive the much-coveted circa-2000 Sony Walkman D-EJ611 in Purple/Blue that Yūichi uses in the movie. Inside the player is, of course, the ethereal Ayako Mori/Takeshi Kobayashi soundtrack for the film. This moody J-Dreampop should take them right back to when they were 14 and felt life so intensely, as the film’s characters did.

The discussion after the screening was wonderfully spirited, with opinions backed by specific observations about the cinematography, sound, character development, and the historical time frame. Students intuitively understood the protagonist’s dual lives on Internet 1.0 chat boards in the 2000s and connected that element to their junior high school years during COVID. As you would imagine, everyone understood the harmful effects of bullying depicted in the film and the importance of being an active upstander for oneself and others in the face of persecution.

Hearing our students reflect on complex films, substantiate their observations, and disagree politely is always impressive. If this sounds intriguing to you, please join us on November 10 at 6 pm for the next film in the series, the extraordinary Paris Is Burning, at the Lincoln Center campus in the Visual Arts Complex Screening Room SL24L.

And remember:

—Stephan Apicella-Hitchcock

Films Worth Talking About, Even If Difficult presents: All About Lily Chou-Chou ?>

Films Worth Talking About, Even If Difficult presents: All About Lily Chou-Chou

This fall at Rose Hill: Films Worth Talking About, Even If Difficult presents:

All About Lily Chou-Chou, 2002, directed by Shunji Iwai

Monday, September 28, 6 pm, Rose Hill, Walsh Library Flom Auditorium (lower level)

Panelists: Associate Professor of Psychology Haruka Minami, Adjunct Professor of Visual Art, Vincent Stracquadanio, moderated by Stephan Apicella-Hitchcock, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, Arts & Sciences

Open to all. With snacks and a raffle prize.

First up this fall is the very beautiful and challenging 2002 film by Shunji Iwai, All About Lily Chou-Chou. It’s an emotionally demanding film about 14-year-olds in Japan during the post-bubble years that understands and does not simplify the challenges of bullying and growing up, regardless of nationality. How can a movie about such tough topics look and sound so gorgeous? For kids around the world, music is often a saving grace when the anxiety of teenage life becomes too much to bear. The young adults in this film find refuge in the music of Lily Chou-Chou, a Björk-like chanteuse whose music provides respite from the harsh challenges of growing up. (A fake band, comprising Salyu and Kobayashi from Mr. Children, was created to compose the film’s music under the name “Lily Chou-Chou”).

About the 2026-2027 Film Series:

This season, Films Worth Talking About, Even If Difficult, has expanded its programming into a broader interpretive territory. “Difficult Films” is not limited to films that are emotionally challenging or politically provocative; it can also refer to visually experimental, sonically demanding, historically complex, or temporally shifting films. Ultimately, the series is a cinematic pretext for gathering, eating, and talking—a communal exercise in which we discuss, discover, and sometimes disagree—all of which are part of the experience.

The Office of the Arts & Sciences Dean invites you to step outside your regular streaming queue, experience something different, and join a community of curious film lovers throughout the year. Please bring your friends, an open mind, and have a question ready. Additionally, to sweeten the deal, we offer raffle items connected to the film. By participating, you could walk away with a special prize AND a different perspective.

Pictures of Ghosts, by Kleber Mendonça Filho ?>

Pictures of Ghosts, by Kleber Mendonça Filho

Pictures of Ghosts, 2023, directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho

Tuesday, April 14, 6 pm, Lincoln Center, Visual Arts Complex, RM SL24L
Panelists: Associate Professor of French Audrey Evrard, Department Chair, Languages & Cultures, and Professor Carl Fischer, Professor of Spanish, Department of Languages & Cultures. Moderated by Professor Apicella-Hitchcock, Head of the Visual Arts Program. Open to all. There will be pizza and a raffle prize.

Pictures of Ghosts, from acclaimed Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho, “Is a multidimensional journey across time, sound, architecture, and filmmaking that explores the rich, complicated history of the filmmaker’s home city of Recife—the coastal capital of the state of Pernambuco—through the great movie theaters that served as spaces of conviviality during the twentieth century. Paeans to dreams and progress, these temples of cinema have also come to reflect major shifts in Brazilian society and politics. Combining archival documentary, mystery, film clips, and personal memories, Pictures of Ghosts is a map of a city through the lens of cinema, offering a delightful tour…”

About season two:
This spring, Films Worth Talking About, Even If Difficult, expands its programming into a broader interpretive territory. “Difficult Films” is not limited to films that are emotionally challenging or politically provocative; it can also refer to films that are visually experimental, sonically demanding, historically complex, or with multi-threaded or temporally shifting narratives. Ultimately, the series is a cinematic pretext for hanging out, eating, and talking—a communal exercise where we discuss, discover, and sometimes disagree, which is all part of the experience.

The Office of the Arts & Sciences Dean invites you to step outside your regular streaming queue, experience something different, and join a community of curious film lovers throughout the year. Please bring your friends, an open mind, and have a question ready. Additionally, to sweeten the deal, we offer raffle items connected to the film. By participating, you could walk away with a special prize AND a different perspective.

Films Worth Talking About, Even If Difficult: Halloween Edition: The Exorcist ?>

Films Worth Talking About, Even If Difficult: Halloween Edition: The Exorcist

The Office of the Arts & Sciences Dean and the Visual Arts Program present:
Films Worth Talking About, Even If Difficult: Halloween Edition: The Exorcist

The Exorcist

Directed in 1973 by William Friedkin, based on the 1971 novel by William Peter Blatty.
Thursday, October 30th, 6 pm, Rose Hill Keating 1st. All are welcome, so invite your friends. Pizza will be served on the early side.

Featuring:

Dr. Rachel Annunziato, Professor of Psychology, Vice Dean for Arts & Sciences; Father David Marcotte, S.J., Associate Professor of Psychology. Stephan Apicella-Hitchcock, Clinical Professor, Head of the Visual Arts Program, Dean Fellow, will moderate if things heat up. Two randomly chosen lucky winners will take home a terrifying prize.

About the film:
The Exorcist is a horror film released in 1973, directed by William Friedkin and written by William Peter Blatty, who adapted the screenplay from his 1971 novel of the same name. The story chronicles a single mother’s struggle to save her daughter from a mysterious ailment later revealed to be…

Spoiler alert—read no further!

…demonic possession. She enlists the help of two Roman Catholic priests, who attempt to perform an exorcism. The Exorcist was a massive commercial success, bringing in $428 million in its box-office run. It also earned 10 Academy Award nominations, including for best picture and director (the film would win two Oscars, for sound design and adapted screenplay). The Exorcist is a stylistic landmark for the supernatural horror genre and widely considered one of the greatest—and most unsettling—horror movies ever made.

Beyond the highly viceral and disturbing nature of the film, it is also a story about the challenges of modern medicine, the power of faith, doubt, sacrifice, redemption, love, and—of course, it is also about adult anxiety regarding teenage sexuality, loss of identity, motherhood, and the disintegration of the American family—you know, scary stuff—oh, and pea soup (you will know what I mean later).About the series:

For the Films Worth Talking About, Even If Difficult film series, we ask professors, administrators, and staff from across the university to present significant films to the Fordham community that might be unfamiliar or challenging. At screenings, we enjoy pizza together, watch a film, and then discuss it afterward.

As the series title suggests, the films selected, both old and new, are not always easy to digest or understand, and would benefit from thoughtful unpacking by people familiar with the film’s content. Our guest leaders guide attendees in exploring the film’s themes, characters, context, social impact, and stylistic choices. Ultimately, this is a communal exercise where we discuss, discover, and disagree sometimes—which is all part of the experience.

The Office of the Arts & Sciences Dean invites you to step outside your regular streaming queue, experience something different, and join a community of curious cinephiles throughout the year. Please bring your friends, an open mind, and be ready with a question. Additionally, to sweeten the deal, we offer raffle items connected to the film. You could walk away with a special prize AND a different point of view.

Up Next:

Coming in November is Mati Diop’s film, Dahomey, with special guests Associate Professor of African & African American Studies Professor Laurie Lambert and Associate Professor of Art History Maria Ruvoldt.

Previously:

Akira, directed in 1988 by Katsuhiro Otomo, and based on his 1982 manga Akira.
Sponsored by the FitzSimons Civics and Civility Initiative in collaboration with the Office of the Arts & Sciences Dean and the Visual Arts Program
Faculty panelists: Nushelle de Silva, Assistant Professor of Art History; Terrence Mosley, Adjunct Professor, Theatre Program; Anthony A. Berry, FitzSimons Fellow; and Stephan Apicella-Hitchcock, Clinical Professor, Head of the Visual Arts Program

AKIRA ?>

AKIRA

The FitzSimons Civics and Civility Initiative presents: Films Worth Talking About Even If Difficult: Akira. Directed in 1988 by Katsuhiro Otomo, based on his 1982 manga Akira.

Thursday, April 3, 6 pm, LC Visual Arts Complex Screening Room SL 24L. All are welcome. Pizza!Sponsored by the FitzSimons Civics and Civility Initiative in collaboration with the Visual Arts Program

Faculty panelists: Nushelle de Silva, Assistant Professor of Art History; Terrence Mosley, Adjunct Professor, Theatre Program; Anthony A. Berry, FitzSimons Fellow; Rachel Annunziato, Professor of Psychology, Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives; and Stephan Apicella-Hitchcock, Clinical Professor, Head of the Visual Arts Program

One randomly chosen lucky winner will take home Volume 1 of Otomo’s AKIRA manga.

The following faculty will lead an open discussion about the film with attendees:

Nushelle de Silva, Assistant Professor of Art History. A historian of the built environment; her research is broadly concerned with the relationships between architecture and mobility from the mid-nineteenth century to the present.Terrence Mosley, Adjunct Professor, Theatre Program.

Terrence I. Mosley is a narrative-based director, writer, and performer. He is committed to exploring how collective and personal traumas shape our world. Through that exploration, he aims to build healthier, more equitable social systems.

Anthony A. Berry, FitzSimons Fellow. In this role, he helps coordinate events, programs, and other opportunities across Fordham’s various campuses, engaging the community in how to approach difficult topics with civility and how to engage the different levers of democracy.

Rachel Annunziato, Professor of Psychology, Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives, Fordham College at Rose Hill, upcoming Vice Dean for Undergraduate Education. Dr. Annuziato is concerned with the transition to adulthood for medically ill adolescents/young adults, healthcare care management in adolescents with a medical illness, and Interactions between medical and psychiatric symptoms.

Stephan Apicella-Hitchcock, Clinical Professor, Head of the Visual Arts Program. He leads a study abroad course in Tokyo and is a bit of an Akira nerd.

Considered the most influential feature-length anime film ever made, groundbreaking in the cyberpunk genre, Akira has had an extraordinary impact on popular culture and effectively advanced anime and Japanese popular culture worldwide. The film unflinchingly takes on challenging topics, and societal messages abound pertaining to nuclear holocaust, political corruption, social unrest, the dangers of unchecked power, and the misuse of technology, as well as themes of individuals exploring identity, power, friendship, and the effects of their decisions. Akira powerfully demonstrated the potential of animation to address complicated and mature themes and became a cultural phenomenon, inspiring countless films and anime for almost four decades after its release.

Synopsis: “In 1988, the Japanese government dropped an atomic bomb on Tokyo after ESP experiments on children went awry. In 2019, 31 years after nuking the city, Kaneda, a bike gang leader, tries to save his friend Tetsuo from a secret government project. He battles against anti-government activists, greedy politicians, irresponsible scientists, and a powerful military leader until Tetsuo’s supernatural power suddenly manifests. A final battle is fought in the Tokyo Olympiad, exposing the experiment’s secrets.” —Rotten Tomatoes (91% rating).