Happy Holidays from the library staff. We have some wonderful programming coming up this winter. I am extremely pleased to welcome back Jerry Barlow, Celtic fingerstyle guitarist. His repertoire is the traditional music of the British Isles and his own Celtic-inspired compositions. He is also a wonderful storyteller and all around nice guy. Jerry performed an exquisite concert for us in October 2010. If you were there, Im sure youll come back. If you werent there, dont miss it, Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m.
Our Independent Film Series will continue through March. On Tuesday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. we will show the Australian film Little Sparrows, directed by Yu-Hsiu Camille Chen. The summary from Film Movement reads, In the middle of an Australian summer, we meet three sisters. Nina is widowed with two young children. Anna is an aspiring actress unhappily married to a filmmaker. Christine is a med student who has yet to fully come to terms with her sexuality. When their mother Susans breast cancer returns, the family is faced with the reality of their last Christmas together. As each daughter confronts personal change and growth, Susan guides them by revealing a secret of her own.
Karen Cries on the Bus will be featured on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. This Colombian film is directed by Gabriel Rojas Vera. The summary reads, Karen has left her slimy but successful husband Mario after 10 years of marriage. She needs a fresh start to find out who she is and who she could be, despite her husbands proclamation that she can do absolutely nothing. She walks out into Bogata with no job, no friends, and hardly any money, but catches a break when she meets a hairdresser named Patricia at a cheap flophouse. With her younger and seemingly stronger friend by her side, Karen takes her first steps toward independence and self discovery.
A Czech film, Protektor will be shown Tuesday, March 6, at 7 p.m. It was directed by Marek Najbrt. The summary goes, 1938, Prague. Emil, a radio reporter, is married to the beautiful Hana, an actress whose film has catapulted her into fame. As the Nazis come to power, however, Hanas Jewish heritage precipitates her fall from stardom to the bottom of the social ladder. In order to protect her, Emil compromises himself collaborating with the new Nazi-controlled state radio station. But as Emil starts enjoying the attention and respect that had previously evaded him, his fidelity and loyalty towards his wife begin to falter. The assassination of the Third Reich Deputy Protector and a chance encounter on a bicycle bring their lingering marriage to a crisis, possibly sealing Hanas fate. This film won Best Film at the Denver Film Festival.
The movies of the Independent Film Series contain adult content and adult themes. All the films from the Independent Film Series will be available to check out of the library within a few days after they have been shown.
Joanie Howland is director of the Cortez Public Library, 202 N. Park St. She can be reached at 565-8117.