Faces of Faith film series continues

The Interfaith Council and the Foreign Film Club combine to present two more movies as part of their Faces of Faith film series.

On Monday, April 16, the movie, “My Son the Fanatic,” will be shown followed on Wednesday, April 18, with “Kundun.”

Though their story locations are a half a world away, one in industrial England, the second in mountainous Tibet, both stories present dilemmas of culture clash where spiritual faiths threaten or become threatened.

“My Son the Fanatic” was made in 1999. The respected Indian actor, Om Pun, plays Parvez, a Pakistani taxi-driver seeking fares on cold English streets. His son Farid, disillusioned with Western ways, turns to fundamental Islam and friendships with like minded drifting militants. Parvez's wife takes up the anti-west rage, covering her face even in kitchen confines. Parvez befriends a prostitute he drives to various locations, momentarily escaping from the anger within his home.

Although somewhat dreary, the movie blends comedy, pathos and drama at a pleasant pace, letting it be known that problems of fundamentalism do arise, but does not offer solutions.

Alan Kite leads the after film discussion.

“Kundun” was made in 1997. Martin Scorsese's epic drama of the present Dalai Lama of Tibet begins with his childhood at age 2, through his training to be the 14th Dalai Lama, the rise of Communist China, its occupation of Tibet and the Buddhist monastic retreat to India in 1959.

The musical score by Philip Glass moves the viewer through these stages with a calm but strong dignity. The film's color photography has rich tone close-ups of sacred Tibetan reds and yellows and wide shots of the great monastic palace at Lhasa, giving the viewer a sense of being there.

It is an idyllic place, but one about to be overrun by Chinese invaders. Called to Peking the young adult Dalai Lama is firmly told by Mao Zedond that “religion is poison.” The sense of impending doom becomes apparent.

In the drama of a good chase scene, Scorsese presents this holy man and his select retinue fleeing over the iced mountain ranges to be offered sanctuary in western Himalayan India.

Margery Kimball leads the after film discussion.

April Special Events sponsored by Recreation

The following are the April Special Events sponsored by the Rossmoor Recreation Department. For more information on any of these events during the month, check the Special Events listing on the calendar page each week, look for the article in the Arts and Leisure section of the News, or call the Recreation Department at 988-7732. Events are free unless otherwise noted. This information is posted throughout the month of April on the Rossmoor News Web site at www.rossmoornews.com.

14th annual Concert at the Res set for May

The 14th annual free Concert at the Res is Saturday, May 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Lafayette Reservoir. The afternoon event showcases local school music programs.

Ashmolean Singers present eclectic concert

Lyric soprano Elizabeth Hunter will be the guest soloist at the Ashmolean Singers' spring concert on Sunday, April 30, at 4 p.m. in the Fireside Room at Gateway Clubhouse.

Ballroom Dance Club sets its April dance

The Ballroom Dance Club will dance to the music of the Casuals Band on Saturday, April 21, at 7 p.m. in the Sierra Room of Del Valle Clubhouse.

Baritone Richard Fey will perform at Fun Day

Baritone Richard Fey will perform for Fun Day in the Sierra Room at Del Valle at noon on Thursday, April 19. Fey will be accompanied on the piano by Miles Graber.

Best Actress Helen Mirren stars in “The Queen” showing Wednesday

The 2006 drama “The Queen,” starring Helen Mirren in her Academy Award-winning role as Queen Elizabeth II, will be shown in Peacock Hall on Wednesday, April 25, at 4 and 7 p.m.; Thursday, April 26, at 1, 4 and 7 p.m.; and on Friday, April 27, at 10 a.m. and 1, 4 and 7 p.m.

Big Band performs at ballroom dance Memorial Day weekend in Lafayette

The Rossmoor Big Band will perform Friday, May 25, at its third Big Band Ballroom Dance at the Veterans Memorial Building in Lafayette.

“Seussical the Musical,” “Blue Door” and “Dearly Beloved”

Music, comedy, drama offered

Cantare All-Star Choir to perform a free concert in the afternoon at Del Valle

The Cantare Youth Choir All-Star singers will perform a free concert of music from spirituals to jazz favorites in the Sierra Room at Del Valle on Friday, April 27, at 4 p.m. (not in the evening as stated in earlier News articles).

Faces of Faith film series continues

The Interfaith Council and the Foreign Film Club combine to present two more movies as part of their Faces of Faith film series.

Fine Arts Sidewalk Festival set for Walnut Creek

Downtown Walnut Creek will celebrate the arrival of spring with its 58th Semi-Annual Fine Arts Sidewalk Festival on Friday and Saturday, April 27 and 28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Free recital of musical theater to be presented by teachers Saturday in the Fireside Room

A free recital of classical, art song, opera and musical theater will be presented in the Fireside Room at Gateway Clubhouse on Saturday, April 21, at 3 p.m., presented by the National Organization of Teachers of Singing (NATS).

Fulton Street Jazz Band to entertain Dixieland Jazz Club

The Dixieland Jazz Club will be entertained by Sacramento's Fulton Street Jazz Band on Wednesday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m. in the Sierra Room at Del Valle Clubhouse.

Grace Notes perform at Lesher Center

The Grace Notes, Rossmoor's women's barbershop chorus, will perform in the show, “A Salute to Women in the Arts,” on Tuesday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m. at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek.

Lions Club's annual luau in May will feature hula performance by Dances of the Pacific

The Lions Club will present its annual luau on Saturday, May 12, at 5 p.m. at Del Valle Clubhouse.

Movie Short Takes

A love letter to Paris

Music fraternity Mu Phi Epsilon to present free concert Sunday

The Berkeley Alumni Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon, International Professional Music Fraternity, is proud to present the winners of its 2007 Young Artist Competition on Sunday, April 22, at 3 p.m. in the Fireside Room at Gateway.

Show and Tell Film Club to present “Little Miss Sunshine”

The Academy-Award winning film, “Little Miss Sunshine,” will be shown by the Show and Tell Film Club on Wednesday, May 2, at 3 p.m. in Peacock Hall. The film won 2006 Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay and for Alan Arkin for Best Supporting Actor.

Stay healthy by dancing on the fourth Sunday

Rossmoor's Fourth Sunday Dance can help residents stay healthy, energetic and maintain a positive attitude. All residents are invited to attend the next dance at Del Valle Clubhouse from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 22.

Sunday Funnies presents “The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain”

The 1995 comedy, “The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain,” starring Hugh Grant, will be shown in Peacock Hall at Gateway on Sunday, April 22, at 4 and 7 p.m. This film does not have a language captions option.

“The Departed” shows Thursday, Friday

The 2006 drama, “The Departed,” starring Jack Nicholson and Leonardo DiCaprio, will be shown in Peacock Hall at Gateway on Thursday, April 19, at 1, 4 and 7 p.m.; Friday, April 20, at 10 a.m., 1, 4 and 7 p.m.; and again on Saturday, April 21, at 1, 4 and 7 p.m. The showings at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. will feature language captions.

Three films and panel discussion featured for last week of Faces of Faith film festival

Week four of the cross-cultural film festival, “Faces of Faith,” begins on Monday, April 23, with “The Son.”

Writers Club program will run on Channel 28 starting tomorrow, features three readers

The Writers Club will present three readers on its Channel 28 program this month, to be shown Thursday, April 19 through Wednesday, April 25.