Film Screenings Give Library International Flavor

One day in August, more than 80 people filed through the doors of the Cranford Public Library to see a little-known Chinese film titled "Together." In September, Library Director John Malar is hoping that a showing of the Cuban piece, "Waiting List" is just as successful.

The films are just two entries in the library's international film series, which presents a different film once a month and has been going strong since 1994. 

"I guess I'm a film buff," Malar says, who selects the films for the library. "Mostly I get ideas from the New York Times, they review foreign films fairly often. We show them, then immediately after the show we add them to the collection so they can be borrowed as well."

While libraries have been showing international and popular movies for years, Cranford has taken its role as community meeting place to a new level by hosting several series of free films; effectively ensuring that there is something for everyone. In addition to a monthly international film, every Thursday visitors can enjoy a "classic" flick. Young adults are also treated to a once-a-month movie marathon, which typically lasts well past closing.

"It's more of a shared experience," Malar says. "It's an afternoon out or an evening out for people that doesn't cost them anything, and they also get to see it on a big screen."

The majority of films are show in theater seats at the audio-visual room at the nearby Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Ave., and are sponsored by the Friends of the Cranford Public Library; meaning the friends not only buy the films, but also pay the $480 licensing fee needed to show them in a public venue.

After seeing how successful the international film series became, library officials decided to take things a step further by offering weekly classic films, shown every Thursday. The series was started four or five years ago by a nearby high school student who was interested in classic films, Malar says. Once she went to college, librarian Fran Housten took up the reins and began running the program.

"We have a new classic every Thursday, and so far we haven't repeated one," she says. "We make sure we hit a lot of genres and a wide date range, from the 20s to the 80s."

She says she is surprised at how good some of the selections are, and is always happy when she uncovers a hidden gem.

"The 'Awful Truth' was just this wonderful screwball comedy that I've never even heard of," she said, high praise from someone who lists "Casablanca" as one of their all-time favorite movies.

"Hands down I love 'Casablanca.' Anything by Alfred Hitchcock I love. 'Victor Victoria,' I love it. 'Creature from the Black Lagoon' was wonderful."

Malar also finds himself falling under the spell of little-known films.

"Back in March we showed 'The Bicycle Thief,' " he says. "I'd never seen that before. It's a classic from 1948. It was tremendous. And then we showed kind of a two-parter, two French films, 'Jean de Flouret,' and 'Manon of the Spring,' they were wonderful. The thing is, I pick the films, so I think they're great. Hopefully others like what I like."

Both the classic and the international film series draw people from out of town, and many senior citizens. In addition, many films are typically rated for most audiences, with ratings listed on the library's Web site and in its newsletter.

"The people are very excited," Housten says. "Very often people will clap at the end, which is wonderful. Sometimes people will say they don't like it, but that's OK, because not everything is for everyone. Most of the feedback is very, very positive."

Classic films are shown at 7 p.m. Upcoming screenings include "A Touch of Class," from 1973, on Thursday; "Somewhere in the Night," from 1946, on Sept. 16; "A Double Life," from 1947, on Sept. 23.

The next international film will be "Waiting List," to be shown at 2 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. on Sept. 27.