Fresno State’s CineCulture and Fresno Filmworks present a screening of the internationally acclaimed film “Güeros” at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14,  at the Tower Theatre.

Dr. Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, interim associate dean of the College of Arts and Humanities at Fresno State, will lead a discussion after the first showing.

“Güeros,” released in 2014, tells the story of Sombra and Santos, two college students living in a motionless limbo because of the 1999 National University student strike.

Their slacker routine is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Tomás, Sombra’s lighter-skinned kid brother (‘guero’ is slang for a fair-skinned and/or blond-haired Mexican). Tomás discovers that Mexican folk-rock icon Epigmenio Cruz has been hospitalized and he is intent on tracking him down to pay final respects. The trio is primarily motivated by the search for Cruz, but the trip develops into a larger journey of self-discovery.

The film won numerous international festival awards and five top honors at the 2015 Ariel Awards, Mexico’s equivalent of the Oscars.

Chief International Film Critic Peter Debruge of “Variety” called director Alonso Ruizpalacios’ debut “playful yet realistically grounded.” Ruizpalacios described “Güeros” as a “road movie,” one that simultaneously portrays a significant movement in Mexico and an exploration of Mexican youth who do not feel at ease in their own country.

Jiménez-Sandoval holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine, and a Certificate in Critical Theory from Cornell University.  He has published on Spanish Golden Age authors, Mexican literature and Portuguese poetry. His current research interests include Mexican youth identity.

The CineCulture Club promotes cultural awareness to Fresno State students, faculty, staff and the community through film and post-screening discussions. CineCulture is also offered as a three-unit course in the Mass Communication and Journalism Department.

As part of its community outreach program, this month Filmworks has invited members of the Fresno Boys and Men of Color and Fresno Women Empowered to attend the screening free of charge, in collaboration with Fresno Barrios Unidos, the kNOw Youth Media and the Youth Leadership Institute.

Filmworks screening sponsor is Arté Americas — Casa de la Cultura, and monthly presenting sponsors include The Fresno Bee, Jewel FM 99.3, Stella Artois and Vida en el Valle.

The black-and-white film runs 90 minutes, and is presented in Spanish with English subtitles.

Tickets are $10 for general public and $8 for students and seniors and are available in advance at the Tower Theatre (815 E. Olive Ave.) or online at Fresno Filmworks.

For more information, contact Dr. Mary Husain, instructor and club adviser, at mhusain@csufresno.edu, or club president Tom Boroujeni at farrokh@mail.fresnostate.edu.

 

(Copy by Erika Denise CastañonUniversity Communications news assistant)