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FLICS @ The Fox
Topics: bakersfield movies, bakersfield film, Bakersfield culture, Flics, Bakersfield Fox Theater, Bakersfield Fox Theatre
Posted by admin Thu Feb 21, 2008 13:27:06 PST
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0 responses 0 comments Location: 2001 H St., Bakersfield, CA

he United Nations of film returns to Bakersfield's Fox Theater on Friday, with the beginning of the second quarter-century of the FLICS International Cinema Society.

And the proud founders of the organization, Phil and Edna Neufeld, are excited.

"We've gotten a lot of compliments on the selection of films" for this season, Phil Neufeld said. "Most of the films we have are award winners and the best of their genre."

The new season's lineup of 17 films, one more than in the last several years, includes:

* This year's Oscar winner for best foreign language film, the German Cold War drama "The Lives of Others";

* The Irish film "Once," which received the audience award at both the Sundance and Dublin International film festivals;

* "Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles," by master Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou, which took the prize for best Asian film at the 2007 Hong Kong Film Awards.

Neufeld said that among them, the seven members of this season's FLICS film selection committee -- including him and his wife -- have seen all the films. He himself has seen about six, most of them on DVD, he said.

But, if a recent art film that was not released commercially in Bakersfield theaters -- which is the kind of film FLICS shows -- can be rented on DVD, why go to the movies to see it?

"Most of the people who choose to come to FLICS want to see the film in a theater with good sound," Neufeld said, "and to share the experience with a lot of people."

FLICS is for seasoned film-loving audiences, he said. And because the subject matter is usually deep and many of the films are in foreign languages with English subtitles, it is rare to see families with children at FLICS screenings.

But there are always PG-rated films in a season's lineup -- the Russian film, "The Italian," about a runaway orphan, for example -- that parents might consider their children are mature enough to enjoy.

As is customary for FLICS, a reception with light finger foods, an anniversary cake, wine and nonalcoholic punch will kick off this season's first screening: the 2006 French film "Avenue Montaigne."

Charging just $5 at the box office or $50 for a season pass that allows entrance to all of this season's screenings, FLICS can boast that it offers not just films but also prices that are usually only found overseas.

Season lineup

• Sept. 14: “Avenue Montaigne” (France, 2006)

• Sept. 21: “The Lives of Others” (Germany, 2006)

• Oct. 5: “Confetti” (United Kingdom, 2006)

• Oct. 19: “The Host” (South Korea, 2006)

• Nov. 9: “Lady Chatterly” (Belgium/France, 2007)

• Nov. 30: “La Vie en Rose” (France, 2007)

• Dec. 7: “Paprika” (Japan, 2006)

• Jan. 4: “The Namesake” (India, 2006)

• Jan. 18: “The Valet” (France, 2006)

• Feb. 1: “Away from Her” (Canada, 2007)

• Feb. 15: “Once” (Ireland, 2006)

• Feb. 29: “After the Wedding” (Denmark, 2006)

• March 14: “The Italian” (Russia, 2005)

• March 28: “The TV Set” (United States, 2006)

• April 11: “Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles” (China, 2005)

• April 25: “The House of Sand (Brazil, 2006)

• May 2: “Days of Glory” (Algeria/France, 2006)

Where: At the Fox Theater, 2001 H St. in downtown Bakersfield.

Admission: $5 at the box office. Free to FLICS subscribers with current season pass.

To purchase a $50 season pass, call 325-4815 or visit www.flics.org.

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