Rated: NR    Runtime: 900 mins.
CROSSING THE BORDER, a series of international films presented by the Goethe-Institut of San Francisco and the Roxie Theater from August 15 to 21. The Opening Night film, WARCHILD will have director Christian Wagner in person. WARCHILD opens at the Roxie for a 1 week run beginning Aug 22.

Over the past decades, the demographic composition of Europe has changed drastically. It has become home to such an increasing number of legal and illegal immigrants that the European Union is passing controversial immigration measures at a time when the United States is widening its own crack-down.

The films in this series show people crossing borders in search for a better life in foreign countries. – from Mexico to the US (TRADE, THE SHORT LIFE OF JOSE ANTONIO GUTIERREZ, CROSSING ARIZONA) from China to England (Nick Broomfield’s GHOSTS), Poland to Germany (DISTANT LIGHTS), from Iran to Germany (UNVEILED), Bosnia to Germany (WARCHILD) – stories about immigrants that are willing to risk everything to escape poverty or persecution. Some of the films document journeys in the opposite direction (WHEN THE RIGHT ONE COMES ALONG, COMING HOME, and Fatih Akin’s IN JULY). Most of these remarkable films are either U.S. or San Francisco theatrical premieres, or are widely acclaimed yet rarely seen here in the States. See below for showtimes and film descriptions.

CROSSING THE BORDER is part of “Cultures on the Move,” a variety of programs conceived and organized by the Goethe-Institut. They offer insights into how migration continues to change the cultural landscape of where we live: be it Germany, Austria, England, Turkey, Mexico or the United States.


AT A GLANCE
Friday, August 15
Opening Night: Filmmaker in Person
7:00 WARCHILD / STILLE SEHNSUCHT

Saturday, August 16
2:00 THE SHORT LIFE OF JOSE ANTONIO GUTIERREZ /
DAS KURZE LEBEN DES JOSÉ ANTONIO GUTIERREZ
4:30 TRADE
7:00 WHEN THE RIGHT ONE COMES ALONG / WENN DER RICHTIGE KOMMT
9:00 IMPORT EXPORT

Sunday, August 17
2:00 CROSSING ARIZONA (followed by panel: Mike Wilson and Christian Wagner)
4:30 TIJUANA MAKES ME HAPPY
Followed by WELCOME TO TIJUANA
7:00 GHOSTS
9:00 SLUMMING

Monday, August 18
7:00 DISTANT LIGHTS / LICHTER
9:30 WHITE CHERRIES / GELBE KIRSCHEN

Tuesday, August 19
7:00 SLUMMING
9:00 UNVEILED /FREMDE HAUT

Wednesday, August 20
7:00 WELCOME HOME
9:00 TRADE

Thursday, August 21
Closing Night
7:00 IN JULY / IM JULI
9:00 DISTANT LIGHTS / LICHTER


Admission: general $9, seniors & students $5, pass for all films $50