Now a live screening and discussion series, Films That Matter to Me began in 2020 as a video series in which members of the Ursinus community talk with Dr. Jennifer Fleeger about the movies that have influenced our careers, shaped our thoughts, and changed our lives.
Films That Matter to Me is supported in part by a grant from the Mellon Foundation and the Arts and Lectures Committee. Scroll down to see the first six videos here and visit the campus for one of our public events. All events are free. For questions about accessibility, write jfleeger@ursinus.edu.
Spring 2023 Live Event
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Twilight: Love, Greater Than Sin with Julian Barocas
February 27, 2023 7 p.m. Musser Auditorium
This semester we welcome Julian Barocas, a senior English major who occasionally invades film classes. The film that matters to him is pop culture staple Twilight, the first film adaptation of one of the bestselling book series of all time. Despite its less than perfect reputation, Twilight encapsulated an entire sub-genre of teen film that spoke to millions, and inside this blockbuster is a tangled web of religious ideology, teen naivety, and risk of severe bodily harm.
The screening of Twilight will be introduced by Julian Barocas and followed by a panel discussion of the film featuring Julian, Dr. Abby Kluchin (GWSS), Dr. Alice Leppert (MCS and instructor of Teen Film and TV), and Thomas Sorensen (BA, BYU and Lifting Hands International). Moderated by Dr. Jennifer Fleeger (Film Studies).
41536600329 Fall 2022 Live Event
My Neighbor Totoro with Dr. Matt Mizenko
November 21, 2022 7 p.m. Olin Auditorium
This semester’s guest is Dr. Matt Mizenko, Associate Professor of Modern Languages, who regularly teaches courses in Japanese language and culture. He has selected the beloved 1988 Japanese animated fantasy film directed by Hayao Miyazaki, My Neighbor Totoro which beautifully captures the emotional life of children as they deal with fear over a parent’s illness, the excitement of a new home, and the power of imagination. Don’t miss what Dr. Mizenko has to say about why this movie matters to him and his work!
