Films build on art, architecture

Advertiser Staff

Visionary cinematic works — from the sumptuous images of "The Last Emperor" to the conflict of man and environment in "Baraka" and "Koyaanisqatsi" — are the core of a new film series launching Wednesday at the University of Hawai'i's School of Architecture.

The goal of the Architecture Cinema Series is to inspire the school, the university and the community by offering films that are visually and intellectually stimulating in the realms of art, architecture, culture and society.

The series is sponsored by HonBlue, The Movie Museum and the Cinema Paradise Film Festival; its founders are Patrick Tozier of the UH School of Architecture Alumni Association and James Lynch of the American Institute of Architecture Students.

Each film screens at 6:30 p.m. at the UH-Manoa School of Architecture Auditorium (2410 Campus Road, second floor), with a reception at 5:30 p.m.

Admission is $4 per screening. Information: 550-0503.

The films:

• "Baraka," 1993, directed by Ron Fricke. A visual essay, shot in 24 countries, examining the relationship between humans and Earth. Wednesday.
• "The Spirit in Architecture," 1994, written and directed by Bette Cohen. A look at the work of John Lautner, an architect who began his career in the 1930s in Los Angeles. Oct. 1. Discussion to follow.
• "The Last Emperor," 1987, director's cut, directed by Bernardo Bertolucci. Oscar-winning drama based on the true story of China's last monarch, Pu Yi, and starring John Lone. Nov. 5.
• "Metropolis," 1927, the restored, authorized edition, directed by Fritz Lang. This classic silent film depicts a future in which humans are divided into thinkers and workers. Dec. 3.
• "Koyaanisqatsi — Life Out of Balance," 1982, directed by Godfrey Reggio. Two domains — urban life/technology and the environment — collide. Feb. 4.
• "Gattaca," 1997, directed by Andrew Niccol. A sci-fi drama about a man using the genetic identity of another; stars Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman and Jude Law. March 3.
• "North by Northwest," 1959, directed by Alfred Hitchcock. An advertising exec is mistaken for a spy, in a thriller that climaxes at Mount Rushmore. Starring Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint. April 7.
• "My Architect," 2003, directed by Nathaniel Kahn. Documentary follows the life of the filmmaker's father, Philadelphia architect Louis I. Kahn. May 5.