10/10/2022
film screening and discussion
East of Eden
Od–jazd Film Club meeting
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East of Eden, directed by Elia Kazan, USA 1955, 115'
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- The OD-JAZD film club is back, and with it a unique chance to see some of the most outstanding and touching works in the history of film on the big screen.
- We kick off in a powerful way, meeting with possibly the most magnetic actor in the history of cinema. A legend, a symbol, an icon: James Dean, starring in the film that made him famous, Elia Kazan’s iconic East of Eden.
- California, short before World War I. Adam Trask lives on a farm with his two sons, Aron (Richard Davalos) and Caleb (James Dean). The older Aron is daddy’s favourite, the perfect son, while the rebellious Caleb causes more trouble for their strict father. When Adam gets involved in a business that, instead of profit, leads him to the brink of bankruptcy, Caleb decides to make his own fortune to help his father. He is helped by Abra, Aron’s beautiful fiancée. But a series of unfortunate events, as well as a dark secret that Caleb has learned, lead to tragedy.
- This award-winning film adaptation of one of John Steinbeck’s most famous novels is both a morality play about the duality of human nature and a moving story about the search for one’s identity, as well as the role of family relations in this endeavour. The acting of the Oscar-nominated 24-year-old James Dean, Richard Davalos, Julie Harris and the Oscar-winning actress in a supporting role, Jo Van Fleet, make the story of the fraternal rivalry for paternal love still moving and enchanting, even decades later.
- What is James Dean’s acting method?
- Why has he become a pop culture icon?
- How does Kazan’s film reinterpret biblical archetypes?
- We will try to answer these and many other questions together with our club’s expert Kamil Kalbarczyk. We invite you to the screening and discussion, during which you will be able to ask questions and share your ideas on how to interpret the film, even – or especially – the most offbeat ones. What do you think East of Eden is about? We want to hear your opinion!
- Kamil Kalbarczyk – editor of the magazine Ekrany [Screens], film critic for the portal Filmweb and an experienced film education expert for children and young people. A graduate of art history, film studies and new media knowledge at the Jagiellonian University, a doctoral student at the Institute of Audiovisual Arts at the Jagiellonian University. His research focuses on issues related to the digital revolution and visual effects, as well as acting and stardom in cinema. Melodrama and musical enthusiast. A fan of Meryl Streep, dogs, Disney animations and classic Hollywood.
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