2008 Woodie Awards
Geography course offers weekly film series open to public
Mike Bell
Issue date: 9/5/08 Section: Arts & Leisure
For the second year, professor Michael Peterson of the UNO Geography Department is teaching a class called Geography in Film (Geography 3050) that engages the students to look at the physical and human characteristics of a nation.
"I find that when you try to just describe these places to the class that its difficult to convey the way the people go about their lives and live off the land they inhabit, so I chose to try and show them through film," Peterson said. "The movies show the physical landscape and the lives of the people."
He chooses local films, not documentaries, made from the countries they represent. This means no Hollywood movies.
"These countries try to make their own movies and face opposition from Hollywood, because American movies make more money showing abroad then at home in the states," Peterson said.
Another requirement is that all the films selected have been made within the last 10 years, so they show an up-to-date view of the countries they represent.
Last week's movie was "La Grande Séduction," from Quebec. The film takes place in St. Marie-La-Mauderne, a small, middle-of-nowhere village on the Saint Lawrence seaway that has seen better days.
In fact the only thing the village has going for it is its fishing business. So, of course, the fish are all, well, fished until there are none left. The only hope for the continued survival of the town is the opportunity of a factory being built.
The catch? The company will only build the factory if a full-time doctor lives in St. Marie. But how do you get a doctor to come and live in such a desolate little place?
"I chose this film to demonstrate very real aspects of that kind of life," Peterson said. "The fishing area is decimated by overuse of resources and environmental disasters. The government sometimes tries to help by stopping the fishing, but it usually doesn't solve anything. It's a real problem French Canada faces."
Though it sounds rather depressing, the movie is a comedy. Peterson usually tries to pick the funnier films to represent life in other countries.
"I find that when you try to just describe these places to the class that its difficult to convey the way the people go about their lives and live off the land they inhabit, so I chose to try and show them through film," Peterson said. "The movies show the physical landscape and the lives of the people."
He chooses local films, not documentaries, made from the countries they represent. This means no Hollywood movies.
"These countries try to make their own movies and face opposition from Hollywood, because American movies make more money showing abroad then at home in the states," Peterson said.
Another requirement is that all the films selected have been made within the last 10 years, so they show an up-to-date view of the countries they represent.
Last week's movie was "La Grande Séduction," from Quebec. The film takes place in St. Marie-La-Mauderne, a small, middle-of-nowhere village on the Saint Lawrence seaway that has seen better days.
In fact the only thing the village has going for it is its fishing business. So, of course, the fish are all, well, fished until there are none left. The only hope for the continued survival of the town is the opportunity of a factory being built.
The catch? The company will only build the factory if a full-time doctor lives in St. Marie. But how do you get a doctor to come and live in such a desolate little place?
"I chose this film to demonstrate very real aspects of that kind of life," Peterson said. "The fishing area is decimated by overuse of resources and environmental disasters. The government sometimes tries to help by stopping the fishing, but it usually doesn't solve anything. It's a real problem French Canada faces."
Though it sounds rather depressing, the movie is a comedy. Peterson usually tries to pick the funnier films to represent life in other countries.
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