Rubi Martinez
The kickoff of the Foreign Film Lecture Series was presented by the collaboration of the Pierce College sociology and modern language departments two weeks ago from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Student Community Center, under a full moon and stars. Professor Fernando Oleas, a Spanish professor of the modern language department and Mitra Hoshiar of the sociology department presented a lecture based on the shown film, “City of God”, followed by a panel discussion.
The film talks about social issues in Brazil such as crime, violence, corruption, drugs and the negligence of the government to its people.
“This film is very controversial but it’ll make us aware and it gives a different perspective of the world,” Oleas said. “It’s a different social reflection of reality.”
The film is based on the everyday lifestyles of young kids living in the Brazilian ghettoes, and how they are forced to eat, sleep and breathe crime in order to survive. The purpose of the film is to raise awareness of other societies around the world and their issues.
The film quotes, “City of God – we have been abandon by God.”
Following the film was a panel discussion, where the audience was able to express their feelings and thoughts about the movie.
Christian Marfil-Amatulli, Associated Students Organization president and member of the panel, made a point when he compared our current society to the society of those kids on the film.
“While we are worrying about gas prices here, these people in Brazil are forced into crime in order to survive – it’s survival of the fittest,” Marfil-Amatulli said. “We live in this life where we work 9 to 5; we are trapped in a routine where it makes us impossible to be aware of what really goes on in the world. I think that instead of blaming these young criminals, we should look at the root cause of the problem.”
Freshman Brandon Chavez compared two elements of the film that go hand in hand.
“I thought it was interesting how in the movie the characters talked about peace and love but in reality it was the opposite,” he said.
Oleas, who has been an instructor at Pierce since the year 2000, has been creating different ways to get students involved with the community and show their talents, including poetry readings, a project that he has worked on and will continue to promote.
“Being a student is not just about being in a classroom – learning, that’s just 10 percent,” he said. “The other 90 percent is learning and mastering the materials, and what better way to practice than the community? Because the community is a playground to learn.”
The remaining two installments of the lecture series, open and free for anyone, will take place Oct. 22 and Nov. 19 at the Student Community Center.
Professor Fernando Oleas greets his Spanish 4 class students Jesse Rodriguez (left), a 19-year-old mathematics major and Geraldo Moran (center), a 20-year-old music major, before the presentation of the first film, “City of God,” Sept. 17 in the Student Community Center. (Alina Popov)