January Cinematheque

The monthly Cinematheque series begins Friday featuring films on the theme "Bright Lights: Five Visions of Urban Living."

Each film takes place in a different city around the world and structures the story around the unique characteristics of that city, said Cinematheque program manager Chris Iacofano.

"So in a way the city is the main character in these films," said Iacofano, who is also the general manager of the Athena Cinema where the Cinematheque series is shown.

The film series is sponsored by the Arts for Ohio initiative and aims to expose the Ohio University and Athens communities to a variety of classics, documentaries and international titles.

"We try to select films for Cinematheque that will lead to discussion, either in the classroom or amongst friends," Iacofano said. "I hope that these are films that will inspire, anger or in some way move the audience. For the two hours or so that you are in a Cinematheque screening, you are in the only theater in the world playing that particular film on that particular week and oftentimes these are the very films that inspired today's contemporary directors."

This month's films are "Mala Noche," "Jubilee," "Black Orpheus," "Memories of Underdevelopment" and "The Last Metro."

Cinematheque films are free for students with a valid ID, including local high school students and those visiting from other universities. Ohio University employees and community members pay $4 per film. Visit www.finearts.ohio.edu/artsforohio/cinematheque.htm for more information.