(2005) Directed by Aleksei German October 8 - Tuesday - 7:00 p.m. Garpastum on Russian director Alexei German, Jr. excels in the depiction of “ordinary people trying to live their private lives in times of historical calamities that are far beyond their comprehension and control” (Tony Anemone, College of William and Mary). A stunning recreation of the look and atmosphere of pre-revolutionary Saint Petersburg, his Garpastum takes place during a critical phase in Russia’s history, the period between the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (the catalyst for the outbreak of World War I) and the revolutions of 1917. Indifferent to the tumultuous events at home and abroad, two middle-class brothers pursue their obsession with football and girls. In Russian language with English subtitles. (2K DCP. 116 min. Not Rated.) The Miracle of Bern (Das Wunder von Bern) (2003) Directed by Sönke Wortmann September 3 - Tuesday - 7:00 p.m. Series sponsors include IU’s Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center, Institute for European Studies, Russian and East European Institute, Center for the Study of the Middle East, Center for the Study of Global Change, Islamic Studies Program and IU Cinema. Screenings are free, but ticketed. German filmmaker and former professional footballer Sönke Wortmann directs the family sports drama The Miracle of Bern. As former World War II prisoner of war Richard Lubanski returns home from Russia and struggles to reassimilate to life in post-WWII Germany, his 11-year-old son Matthias follows the miraculous success of the West German soccer team at the World Cup in Bern, Switzerland in 1954. This film charts both the family’s story and the story of an unexpected victory in the context of the post-war struggle for German identity and recovery. 35mm print was provided courtesy of the Goethe-Institut Chicago. In German language with English subtitles. (35mm. 118 min. Not Rated.) Offside (2006) Directed by Jafar Panahi November 12 - Tuesday - 7:00 p.m. A winner of the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, this Iranian film explores gender politics in a Muslim world. A group of girls tries to make their way into the men's world of an Iranian soccer stadium in order to watch the Iranian team play against Bahrain in a qualifying match for the World Cup. Writer/Director Jafar Panahi drew inspiration from his daughter, who broke the law to attend a game. Though shot in Iran, the film, like others by Panahi, has been banned there. In 2010 the director was charged with propaganda against the Iranian government and, despite protests from human rights organizations from around the world, is currently serving a 6 year prison sentence. In Persian language with English subtitles. (35mm. 93 min. Rated PG.) The film will be introduced by Paul Losensky, a professor in Central Eurasian Studies and Comparative Literature. cinema.indiana.edu Soccer on Screen 15