Program Details

Laughter in the Dark

Instructor
Shelly Isaacs
SM243C
Video Catch-up
Available

Course Description

In this session, the "F" in Film stands for funny. These four choices encompass various forms of comedy, each proving that humor transcends all borders.

Lectures

  1. "What’s in a Name" - France, 2012: Vincent is about to become a father. At a meeting with childhood friends, he announces the name for his future son. The scandalous name ignites a discussion that surfaces unpleasant matters from the past of the group.
  2. "The Man Without a Past" - Finland, 2002: A man arrives in Helsinki only to be viciously attacked by thugs and pronounced dead by medics. He revives but with no memory of his past or his identity. He rebuilds his life from scratch, but the past inevitably catches up with him.
  3. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" - Spain, 1988: In the film that brought Pedro Almodóvar international prominence, a television actress encounters a variety of eccentric characters after embarking on a journey to discover why her lover abruptly left her.
  4. Perfumes - France, 2018: A celebrity in the creation of world-famous perfumes knows it takes a combination of sensitivity and chemistry to create the perfect scent. But when she encounters a chauffeur in need of work and desperate to retain custody of his daughter, where it will lead could change the mix.

About the Instructor

  • Shelly Isaacs, M.A. is founder and host for Café Cinematheque International, a foreign language film program presented in venues throughout South Florida. As a creative director/writer/producer and director in advertising, Isaacs specialized in promoting movies & entertainment. He earned a master's degree in media ecology studies from New York University, and taught graduate-level courses in cultural studies. In 2009 he launched Cinematheque at Sea, a film program available on luxury cruises throughout the world.