FORT KENT, Maine — As far as Dr. Nicole Boudreau is concerned, no film should ever be dubbed over in favor of its original language.
“I have an aversion to anything that is dubbed,” the University of Maine at Fort Kent assistant professor of French said. “All films should be shown with the original actors’ voices and using subtitles.”
Starting April 17 and running through April 27, UMFK is hosting the Tournees French Film Festival and, according to Boudreau, all the films are in their original French language with English subtitles.
“I’ve chosen six very different films for the ‘Tournees’ festival in the hopes that there will be something for everyone,” Boudreau, who also heads up the campus’ Haenssler Honors Program, said.
“I love film,” she said. “I love that it is a great way to explore different cultures and language [and] that it gives you a window not only into the filmmaker’s point of view but also into a culture different from our own.”
The annual Tournees Film Festival is a program of the French American Cultural Exchange — or FACE — Foundation, which partners with the French Embassy to bring French films to American colleges and universities and helps to defray costs of bringing the films to those campuses.
Boudreau said she chose the six films that pair with UMFK academic programs and plans to invite her colleagues from those programs introduce the individual films.
“For example, the film ‘Augustine’ is a period piece about a predecessor of [Sigmund] Freud who worked in a psychiatric hospital with women,” she said. “I thought that would be appropriate [because of] our nursing division.”
The film “M. Lazhar” follows an Algerian immigrant in Montreal hired as a substitute teacher for a class whose original teacher died by suicide.
“I chose that film because of UMFK’s education program,” Boudreau said.
Also running during the festival is “The King and the Mockingbird.” The animated fantasy film of a chimney sweep and a shepherdess trying escape a tyrannical king has been hailed as one France’s greatest animated films.
Screening at the same time as UMFK’s annual scholars’ symposium, “Blue is the Warmest Color” is an award-winning, critically acclaimed love story Boudreau said goes well with a planned keynote address earlier in the day focusing on diversity and LGBT issues.
The Tournees French Film Festival at UMFK is free and open to the public. All films will be shown in the campus’ Cyr Hall Nadeau Conference Room.
“The King and the Mockingbird,” 3 p.m. Sunday, April 17. Unrated in the US; rated Universal, suitable for all in the United Kingdom.
“M. Lazhar,” 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 19. PG-13, parents strongly cautioned.
“Augustine,” 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 20. Unrated in the U.S.; Unsuitable for viewers under 15 in the United Kingdom.
“The Assault,” 7 p.m. Sunday, April 24. Rated R, and anyone under 17 must come with a parent or guardian.
“Blue is the Warmest Color,” 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 26. NC 17, adults only.
“Polisse,” 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 27. Unrated in the U.S.; Unsuitable for viewers under 15 in the United Kingdom.
More information on the UMFK French Film Festival is available on the event’s Facebook page at facebook.com/french.films.at.umfk.
