Pulse
Oregon Daily Emerald
Thursday, February 17, 2005
“A heretic is a man who sees
with his own eyes. ”
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing | Dramatist
The 28th annual Portland International Film Festival
celebrates more than 75 films from around the world
BY AMY LICHTY
PULSE REPORTER
I ilms such as "Amelie" from France, "Hero" from Chi
na and "Whale Rider" from New Zealand are just a few ex
amples of the amazing cinema from around the world that
are celebrated in America. This year at the 28th annual Port
land International Film Festival, presented by The Northwest
Film Center, outstanding films from Japan, Spain,
Turkey, Italy, Argentina, Iran and Angora, among
others, can be seen through Feb. 26.
From Swedish comedies to documentaries
from Croatia, and even an Academy Award
nominee from Germany, the Film Festival has
more than 75 films for viewers to enjoy.
Most of these movies come to America for festivals
but don't get released into mainstream theaters, North
west Film Center spokesman Thomas Phillipson said.
"(You might see) the films that have bigger distribu
tion companies get put into nation-wide theaters, but a
lot of them probably never will be able to be seen out
side of the festivals," he said.
Each year, the audience has grown along with the
amount of movies shown.
"It started small and grew into about a 30,000-peo
ple audience in the past few years," Phillipson
said. "We have 160 screenings, which is
more than we've ever had. That's about 80
feature films — not counting shorts—from
over 30 countries."
Phillipson said it would be physically impossible to see all
of the movies, but that doesn't stop many from trying.
"Our hard-core group of audience members, who are members
of the Silver Screen Club, will see around 60 films," he said.
FESTIVAL, page 12
For the first time, electronic media students from the
journalism school will screen their documentaries on campus
BY NATASHA CHILiNGERIAN
SENIOR PULSE REPORTER
I he compelling journey of a Holocaust survivor and the struggle ofthe Uni
versity's first two African-American football players are some ofthe stories that will
be showcased tonight at the Oregon Documentary Project
/j screer,in9 'n room 182 ofthe Lillis Business Complex.
M Jgk The Oregon Documentary Project, which consists of
^ the work of electronic media students in the School of
Journalism and Communication, has been running for
eight years, but this is the first time the doc
umentaries will be screened on campus
forthe public.
Associate journalism professor Dan
Miller said a formal screening has always
been a goal for journalism students and faculty,
and they made it happen this year because of
the high quality ofthe films and the relevance of
the projects' topics to current events.
Zanne Miller, assistant director of communications at
■ the journalism school, said every film tells a story of a for
gotten piece of Oregon history.
"They all highlight an interesting facet of Oregon histo
ry or culture," she said.
One documentary, "Crossing the Abyss: Miriam’s
Journey," traces the experience of Holocaust
survivor Miriam Greenstein from Auschwitz
to Oregon, and recently aired on Oregon
Public Broadcasting. Journalism student
Tahira Hayes said it was difficult to schedule
interviews with Greenstein and locate photos from
her childhood. She also said it was emotionally chal
lenging but very rewarding.
"We had to take this woman's traumatic life and put 50 to 60 years into eight
Bret Furtwangler I Graphic artist
DOCUMENTARY, page 12
■ In my opinion
RYAN NYBURG
BUDGET RACK
Time for another jaunt
through pop culture
So once again the Eugene Record Conven
tion has come and gone, as has my paycheck.
Record buying is akin to heroin addiction, but
easierto brag about. But since I'll be living off
beans and riceforthe next month, I don'tfeel it
would be appropriate to brag about all the
goodies I picked up, which is what I usually
spend my post-convention time doing. Instead,
I think I'll do the generic entertainment re
porter job and give a run-down of the latest
celeb gossip, movie releases and othervari
ous forms of cultural detritus.
Let's see, drug abuse is a good start.
Matthew Perry has been hospitalized for drug
induced seizures stemming from barbiturate
NYBURG, page 10
PULSEMUSIC PULSEMUSIC
Missy Higgins, "All for Believing": Soulful, captivating and harmonious are just three adjectives that come to
mind when listening to Missy Higgins' latest EP, "All for Believing."
The first track, the namesake of the 5-track EP, is incredibly rich with enchanting harmonies, a beautiful blend of
piano and cello, and a voice that seizes your ears and demands your attention. As the short and sweet EP continues,
each song is a standout. "Scar" is an upbeat and clever Michelle Branch-like tune, and the beautifully written bal
lad "Night Minds" showcases Higgins' clear, pure voice over a simple piano and drum beat.
Higgins' voice has an incredibly clean sound with wide vowels and a slight accent—stemming from her Mel
bourne, Australia, upbringing—which only adds to her appeal. While still in high school, she wrote "All for Believ
ing" in half an hour for a music class, and Australia soon found the latest girl to join the pop-music scene.
But Higgins is different than other pop princesses such as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera or even the more
original Branch. With obvious influences from jazz and rock, Higgins has put her own twist on the music industry for
young women. She not only writes her own music and lyrics, she even plays her own instruments, from piano to gui
tar. Higgins is a refreshing breath of fresh air in an industry where young women are easily molded into a certain
form that usually results in uncreative and repetitive crap.
— Amy Lichty
INSIDE PULSE
i
Joggers offers a friendly
atmosphere and some nice
drink specials for guests.
The Asian Celebration will
take place at the Lane County
Fairgrounds this weekend.
11
Check out the latest
installment of Cat Baldwin's
"Heads up Penny."
Thursday
Jason Webley
Sam Bond's Garage
9 p.m., $6 to $8
Modern folk with
1 accordions
Friday
Mikey Dread
WOW Hall
9:30 p.m., $15
Reggae
Saturday
Richard Crandell
Cafe Paradiso
8 p.m., $8
Mbira music
Sunday
UO Mah Jongg Mavens
Skylight, EMU
5 p.m. to 7 p.m., free
Mah Jongg competitions
TOP 5 MOVIES
1: "Hitch"
2: "Boogeyman"
3: "Are We There Yet?"
4: "Million Dollar Baby"
5:"Pooh'sHeffalump
Movie”
NEWYORKTIMES
BEST-SELLERS
1: John Grisham,
"The Broker"
2: Dan Brown,
“The DaVinci Code”
I 3: J.D. Robb,
"Survivor in Death"
4: Mitch Albom,
"The Five People You
Meet in Heaven"
5: Michael Crichton,
"State of Fear"
BILLBOARDTOP 5
1:TheGame,
"The Documentary"
2: Tina Turner,
“All the Best"
3: Green Day,
"American Idiot”
4: Kenny Chesney,
"Be As You Are"
5: John Legend,
"Get Lifted"