The Global Lens Film Initiative brings Iranยs The Fish Fall in Love and the Philippinesย The Bet Collector to Rice Cinema. Both filmsย central characters are women in precarious situations.
More than just a love story, The Fish Fall in Love examines the consequences of groundless suspicions. When her former fiancรฉ Aziz unexpectedly shows up after years of unexplained absence, Atieh is afraid heยs there to close down her restaurant. To stall him, she and her friends cook him a delicious meal night after night. Director Ali Raffi based the film loosely on A Thousand and One Nights. The filmยs idyllic scenes on the Caspian Coast of northern Iran are captivating.
In stark contrast, The Bet Collector takes place in the dangerous slums of Manila. Amy, a proud woman who runs a makeshift convenience store out of her home, struggles to make supplemental income by collecting bets for an illegal numbers game. This is an intense character portrait directed by Jeffrey Jeturian.
The Fish Fall in Love screens 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The Bet Collector screens at 8 p.m. Sunday and Wednesday. 6100 Main. For information, call 713-348-3138 or visit www.ricecinema.rice.edu. $9.
Fri., Aug. 22, 8 p.m.; Sat., Aug. 23, 8 p.m., 2008
This article appears in Aug 21-27, 2008.