IN PERSON: This discussion-based course explores the rich and complex identity of Sicily—an island shaped by centuries of conquest, cultural exchange, and resilience—through five acclaimed films spanning nearly 150 years of history: "Mafioso" (1962), "Cinema Paradiso" (1988), "Baaria" (2010), "Malèna" (2000), and "La Siciliana Ribelle" (2008). Together, these films reveal Sicily’s layered past, from aristocratic decline and postwar poverty to changing gender roles, migration, and the enduring influence of family and community. We will also consider the island’s landscape, traditions, and strong regional identity, and how filmmakers use them to tell stories that are both deeply local and universal. Alternating between screenings and guided discussion, the course invites participants to experience Sicily as both a cinematic setting and a cultural crossroads. | Facilitated discussion.
Max enrollment: 50.
Location: Judea Reform Congregation, 1933 W. Cornwallis Rd, Durham NC 27705
