The Global Visions Film Series continues at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Memorial Union Lecture Bowl.  This spring marks its 10th year.

Films are:

The Namesake, Tuesday, April 2, tells the story of American-born Gogol, the son of Indian immigrants, who wants to fit in among his fellow New Yorkers despite his family's unwillingness to let go of their traditional ways.  Directed by Mira Nair, the story unfolds the journey of the Ganguli family as they move from Calcutta to New York, portraying the balancing act of both culture shock that occurs upon entering a new country and cultural assimilation as the family attempts to become American without losing the great pride they carry within for India and their cultural values.  The film was honored at both the Toronto and Telluride Film Festivals.

Civil Action, Tuesday, April 30.  Directed by Schindler's List screenwriter Steve Zaillian, this film  portrays a courtroom drama based on a true story and non-fiction book by Jonathan Harr. The case revolves around an incident in 1979 in East Woburn, Mass. where two drinking wells supplying water to the town were found to be contaminated with industrial solvents. When toxic waste was discovered later that year, suspicions arose that the local factories caused the pollution, and unusually high rate of leukemia deaths amongst the town's children.  The film is particularly poignant to North Dakota where ag toxins can be a controversial topic.  The film is an hour and 52 minutes.

All films in the Global Visions Film Series are award winning national and international films, whose cinematic acuity and artistic perspectives reveal the realities of daily life from cross-cultural perspectives, exposing the unity and disparity of the human condition around the world.

The series is free and open to the public.  Suggested goodwill donations of $1 are encouraged, but not required.  Film-goers are encouraged to come early to ensure a seat.  Below is the spring film screening dates:

Global Visions Film Series is directed by Marcia Mikulak, associate professor in the Department of Anthropology and sponsored by the Black Student Association, the Era Bell Thompson Multicultural Center, and the Office of International Studies will bring an exciting array of films to the community of Grand Forks for the 10th consecutive year. The series is currently the only venue in Grand Forks to view award-winning, nationally recognized independent films from a wide variety of contemporary film makers around the world.