'Films for Reflection' series begins with documentary on war-torn Afghanistan

This month Cornell Cinema begins an ongoing series of films, "Toward Peace, Justice and Understanding: Films for Reflection," addressing issues raised by the events of Sept. 11, U.S. foreign policy and the war in Afghanistan.

One or two relevant films will be programmed as part of each upcoming calendar, to contribute to the campus/community dialogue on current events. Each screening will be followed by a discussion that will be led by a professor, filmmaker or both. The films will be shown Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in Willard Straight Theatre. Admission is $4.50 general/$4 students and seniors unless otherwise noted.

Cornell Cinema offers a free screening of "Jung (War): In the Land of the Mujaheddin" Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. in Willard Straight Theatre.

The series kicks off Nov. 7 with a free screening of "Jung (War): In the Land of the Mujaheddin," made possible by the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, at which this heartrending documentary screened this past summer. Following the work of an Italian surgeon as he struggles to establish the first modern hospital in war-torn Afghanistan, the film also provides a chilling look at life on the ground in this little-known country and captures frontline skirmishes between the Taliban and the mujaheddin soldiers of the Northern Alliance.

The lineup of films includes two addressing the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War: "Paying the Price: Killing the Children of Iraq," to be shown Nov. 14, and "The Mad Songs of Fernanda Hussein," to be shown Nov. 28.

The fourth film in the series is "Promises," showing Dec. 5. This award-winning film looks at the Israel-Palestinian conflict and prospects for peace by drawing viewers into the hearts and minds of Jerusalem's children.

The series is co-sponsored with the Department of Near Eastern Studies, the Peace Studies Program and the Einaudi Center for International Studies.