Friday, November 7
911 Media Arts Center

7:00PM
AND ALONG CAME A SPIDER
with
THE TREE THAT REMEMBERS

9:00PM
JEREMY HARDY vs. THE ISRAELI ARMY

AND ALONG CAME A SPIDER

Director: Maziar Bahari
2002. Iran. 53 min. Farsi with English subtitles
7:00 PM

A shocking portrait of the world of a recently captured serial killer, who sees his killing of prostitutes as in accordance with Islamic teaching. Over the space of a year, 16 women were murdered in the Iranian city of Mashad. Because the victims were lured into the killer's traps, the press soon called these the "spider killings." All but one of the victims had previously been arrested for prostitution and drug-related crimes. When a 39-year-old contractor is arrested and confesses to the crimes, he claims divine support for the atrocities he has committed. His mother, wife, son, and many neighbors agree. AND ALONG CAME A SPIDER visits with the families of the victims, with the perpetrator and his family, and with prostitutes in this holy city. Most chillingly, the killer's son proudly reenacts a murder, and suggests that he wants to grow up to be like his father. This is a chilling film about cycles of moral vengeance.

Filmmakers/Distributors Contact Information:
Maziar Bahari
maziarbahari@yahoo.com

Plays with:

THE TREE THAT REMEMBERS

Director: Masoud Raouf
2002. Canada. 50 min. English
7:00PM

In 1992 a young Iranian student hanged himself from a tree on the outskirts of a small Ontario town. He had escaped the Ayatollahs' regime, but he could not escape his past. News of the young stranger's death hit home with filmmaker Masoud Raouf. He too is part of the generation of Iranians who rose up against the Shah's despotic rule - only to be cruelly persecuted by an equally murderous new regime. While anchored in specific history, this film reflects on the broad themes of oppression and survival, pouring light into a somber universe and finding unexpected fragments of hope.

Filmmakers/Distributors Contact Information:
John Sirabella
National Film Board of Canada
j.sirabella@nfb.ca

JEREMY HARDY vs. THE ISRAELI ARMY

Director: Leila Sansour
2003. United Kingdom. 75 min. English
9:00 PM

British comedian Jeremy Hardy decides to travel to Palestinian Territories in March 2002 to become a part of an international solidarity group struggling for the rights of Palestinians. However, he winds up getting more than he bargained for when he is caught in the crossfire during the invasion of Bethlehem by the Israeli army. At times humorous, at times harrowing, this documentary portrays both an individual's perilous but enlightening journey, and the solidarity groups who put their lives at risk in the Palestinian Territories.

Filmmakers/Distributors Contact Information:
Leila Sansour
leila@sansour.com