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11-11-1994 11/11/1994 - Movie Celebrates Latino Women.pdf University Marketing and Communications
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This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Press Releases at The Keep. It has been accepted for inclusion in 1994 by an authorized administrator of The Keep. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Eastern r---r-. Illinois rv7/c1\VY7~ ...... _... Universi!Y______LJ\J__ JL.:J __ W__ tt:J__ _ BoARD OF GOVERNO RS U NtVERSmES SHELLY FLOCK, Director of Information Public Affairs, Charleston, IL 61920 Office: (217) 581-5983 - Home: (217) 253-2082
94-313 November 11, 1994
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MOVIE CELEBRATES LATINO WOMEN
CHARLESTON -- The role of women in Latin American Society is the theme
of the feature film The House of the Spirits to be presented on Thursday, Nov. 17,
at 7 p.m. in Eastern Illinois University's Booth Library Lecture Hall.
The film, free and open to the public, is being sponsored by Eastern's
Women's Studies Council in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15 - Oct. 15.
The outstanding cast of this recent movie, released in the spring of 1994,
includes Meryl Streep, Jeremy Irons, Glenn Close, Winona Ryder, Antonio Band-
eras and Vanessa Redgrave.
The movie is based on the novel of the same name by the internationally
acclaimed Chilean novelist Isabel Allende, whose books have been translated into
27 languages. The focus of the film is the life of Clara del Valle, an upper-class
Chilean woman who has supernatural powers: she can foretell the future and move
objects with psychic energy.
The film follows Clara's life from childhood, through marriage and mother-
hood, until death. The point of view is distinctly feminine as the film explores
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ADO 1/ 1/ 1/ 1 LATINO
Clara's relationship with her husband, Esteban Trueba, and her rebellious daughter,
Blanca.
The politics and history of Latin America form the background to the story.
Clara and her husband represent the world of the wealthy and influential landown
ers. The aspirations of the poorer classes are represented by Pedro Tercero Garcia,
the lover of Clara's daughter.
The military coup of 1973, which brought an end to 150 years of democra
cy in Chile, brings the movie to a conclusion that is both tragic and hopeful.
Democracy was restored to Chili in 1990 after 17 years of military dictatorship.
"This visually superb film exemplifies the style of 'magic realism' that is a
characteristic of most Latin American literature today," said Karen Taylor of the
Women's Studies Council. "The supernatural and the 'real' blend t o form a haunt
ing and suggestive mixture."
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