"Cinema, Aspirins and Vultures" - SFAI Hosts Global Lens Film Festival

In 1942 during World War II, in the desert of Northeastern Brazil, rural Brazilian Ranulpho (Joao Miguel) hitches a ride with Johan (Peter Ketnath), an aspirin salesman avoiding the German draft. Thus begins a friendship, and a lyrical and engaging road movie, in which Johan trains Ranulpho to drive his truck and to run the portable movie projector that shows aspirin commercials to fascinated audiences in remote communities. Ranulpho desires the lights of Rio, while Johan prefers to stay lost. But Brazil is about to enter the war against the Axis, and Johan’s days of freedom may be numbered. This vividly atmospheric story marks an impressive directorial debut for Marcelo Gomes, who previously collaborated on the screenplays for Madame Sata and current release Lower City.

In Portuguese with English subtitles.
Writers: Marcelo Gomes, Karim Ainouz. Director: Marcelo Gomes. (Brazil 2005) 99 min.

San Francisco Art Institute is proud to present Global Lens 2006. Now in its fourth year, Global Lens offers international feature-length films organized by The Global Film Initiative, a non-profit organization founded to promote cross-cultural understanding through cinema. Recognizing that great storytelling can influence human affairs as well as foster trust and respect between disparate cultures, The Global Film Initiative reaches out to independent filmmakers around the world and debuts their films in the US.

San Francisco Art Institute, California Film Institute, Grand Lake Theater, and the Mexican Heritage Plaza are the exclusive Northern California partners for the Global Lens tour, which includes special outreach presentations for school groups as well as the following public screenings at SFAI. Visit the SFAI website for complete film notes.