I wrapped my scarf around my turtleneck yesterday evening and headed over to Cinema Paradiso for the Haitian film "Cousines," the first in the "Around the World in 80 Nights" series.
CiPa has been my go-to place for foreign films for years. ("Broward - The County Scared of Subtitles.") But this year, thanks to a Knight Foundation grant, the art movie house and local treasure is "showcasing" the movies of other lands, often ones not automatically associated with cinema. (Next Tuesday will be Bangladesh night.)
The lobby was crowded when I arrived, as the pre-movie meal had been moved inside because of the cold. (The meal was $3; the film, like all in the series, was free.)
Inside the theater, posters, paintings and books decorated the stage. Before the film, a Haitian woman gave a brief talk, stressing the richness of a country that is usually described as the poorest in its hemisphere. (I visited Haiti a number of years ago and, had it not been for the wrenching poverty, its vitality and creativity would have made it my favorite Caribbean country.)
The film depicted the difficult life of a young woman in Port-au-Prince. Part of my love of foreign films is their transportive quality, the gift they give of armchair travel. (The seats at CiPa are as comfortable as armchairs.) Last night, sitting in my turtleneck, I not only felt transported, I developed a rare longing for balmy climes.
