this issue Office of the Director

NATIONAL
LANGUAGE
SERVICE
CORPS
Winter
2013
“Crossing”North Korea:
Through the
Eyes of a South
Korean Director
by Robert Lauler
this issue
From the Office of the Director
p. 1 “Indochine”
p. 5
Featured Movie: “Crossing”
p. 1 “The Yacoubian Building” A Shift in Egyptian Society
p. 2
“Incendies”
p. 3
“Central do Brasil”
p. 4
NLSC on the Road
p. 6
p. 4 Membership
p. 11
“A Separation”
“The Cuckoo”
Learning Russian from Comedic
Actor Alexander Filipenko
“Crossing” depicts the story of a North
Korean man, Yong Soo, who escapes
into China and then
South Korea to
earn money to buy
medicine for his sick
wife. After his wife
dies, Yong Soo’s
young son attempts
to make the journey
to South Korea alone
to join his father, but ends up dying in
the process. Due to its star-studded cast,
“Crossing” has been critically acclaimed
for its portrayal of ordinary life in North
Korea.
In the past, South Korean cinematic
portrayals of North Korea and its people
were largely relegated to caricatures.
Successive South Korean leaders only
allowed movies with an anti-communist
slant; however, major changes in NorthSouth Korean relations in the late 1990s
and 2000s allowed a more open atmosphere to produce North Korean themed
films. This period saw a flurry of movies tackling North Korea and themes
related to unification, including “Shiri”
and “Welcome to Dongmakgol,”
but many of these films were
criticized for being either shallow
action movies or overly biased.
For example, “Welcome to
Dongmakgol” has been criticized
for being anti-foreign in its portrayal of a small village caught in
the middle of fighting during the
Korean War.
continued on page 2 >
Asianet Award
Just an American Dream”12 Angry Men”
p. 7
p. 8
p. 9-10
Of fice of the Director
Dear Members,
This is an exciting time for the National Language Service Corps (NLSC). This year,
The President of the United States signed the 2013 National Defense Authorization
Act, establishing the NLSC as a permanent organization. Prior to this change in
status, the NLSC functioned as a pilot and later as an operational program. According
to Dr. Michael Nugent of the Defense Language and National Security Education
Office (DLNSEO), the transition of the NLSC to a permanent language resource to
federal agencies is “one of the largest innovations in the federal sector.” Through
your dedication as a Member of the NLSC, we now have a pool of more than 4200
US Citizens representing nearly 270 languages, ready to support the Department of
Defense and other federal agencies facing gaps in foreign language support. All of your
support and commitment to the NLSC are valuable to making the NLSC the successful
organization it is today.
This issue of The Language Compass highlights the diversity of experiences and
backgrounds of our NLSC Members through our Members’ recommendations of their
favorite Foreign Language films. As our logo represents unity, diversity of people, and
language (http://www.nlscorps.org/Forms_Kernel/NLSCLogo.aspx), these motion
pictures, too, share a common theme of humanity and the human experience while
depicting varied cultural, linguistic, and artistic aspects of the regions they represent.
These vintage and new movies convey a wide range of universal stories and ideas, both
comedic and dramatic. I invite you to read our Members’ contributions and seek out
these examples of fine films from throughout the world – South Korea, Japan, Iran,
Egypt, Lebanon, Russia, Lapland, France, Belgium, Brazil, and the United States.
During this season of Film and Music Awards, a special recognition should go out to
you, our NLSC Membership, for your service to our Nation. Your efforts have helped to
both boost our Membership rolls and continue to attract the notice of Federal agencies
that benefit from your service and support. Your participation reminds us that the
National Language Service Corps truly represents Language for the Good of All®.
Bill Castan
Staff Program Director, National Language Service Corps
< continued from page 1
For me, “Crossing” provides a welcome journey into the
lives of ordinary North Koreans. Their lives have too often
been overshadowed by the focus on political and military
issues occupying most of the press coverage of the country.
Just as importantly, the film accurately depicts the country’s
grave human rights situation. In graphic detail, it shows the
precarious lives led by North Koreans in their own country,
and the inhumane treatment of those caught for one reason or
another on the wrong side of the regime. For example, after
his first failed attempt to escape the country, Yong Soo’s son
is taken to a prison camp where he—along with other children—are forced to witness unimaginable scenes of brutality,
including the beating of a pregnant woman by a guard. These
scenes remind viewers that compared to the relative freedom
and prosperity enjoyed by those in South Korea, the human
rights situation in North Korea is serious and in need of more
attention from both South Korean society and the international community.
Robert Lauler has a Bachelor’s degree in Korean Language
and Literature from the University of Washington
and a degree in International Studies from
Seoul National University. He currently works for NKnet, an
NGO based in Seoul
and focused on promoting democracy and
human rights in North
Korea. Robert Lauler
has been a Member of the
NLSC since 2013.
“A Separation”
by Lila Sadrieh
“A Separation” is a foreign film that I
relate to on a personal level. I moved to
the United States twenty years ago for
the same reason that Simin, one of the
main characters in the movie, wanted
to move to the U.S. – to create a better
future for my daughters and ensure they
grow up in a society where men and
women are treated equally.
“A Separation” shows how the Islamic Revolution negatively
affects the Iranian people and, indirectly, how the restricted
status of women encourages them to lie to get what they
want. It goes full force into the life of one couple and reveals
the universal oppression of economic insecurity and laws that
turn all—men, women, and children—into liars.
The frustration that is shared by many Iranian people is
portrayed through the eyes of one family. It shows the extent
that unhappy individuals are willing to go in order to have
control over their lives and regain the freedom that was once
available to them. In the movie, Simin is adamant about
leaving because she wants to gain that freedom and make it
available for her 11-year-old daughter, Termeh. The movie
can be conflicting for a viewer who can relate to and understand both Simin’s reasoning for wanting to leave, as well as,
Nader’s opposition to leaving in order to be available to assist
his ill, elderly father.
A Separation continued on page 3 >
Did you know…?
NLSC Members have access to the following benefits:
•
Access to Language Professional Development Resources through the NLSC 24/7 Member Center: The 24/7 Language Resource offers numerous language links, articles, and a long list of language resources. Members have access to LangNet for sustainment and enhancement training in dozens of
languages up to an Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) Level IV.
•
Generous discounts via Working Advantage can save Members up to 60% on ticketed events, online shopping, and more.
•Network with other NLSC Members and staff via NLSC Meet & Greet events.
•
Participation on Social Networking Sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Join the
discussions and stay up-to-date with the latest in language news.
•
Subscription to The Language Compass: a publication exploring relevant issues to NLSC
membership and language speakers.
•
Official Language Assessment: Members who are selected to participate in an assignment have access
to an Official Government proficiency test or an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI).
•
Participation in Language Assignments: Members may be selected to participate in challenging
language assignments in the United States and around the world, serving in a volunteer capacity.
•
Volunteer Stipend while on Assignment: Members selected for NLSC assignments become temporary
Federal Hires and receive compensation.
2
< continued from page 2
I think people should watch “A Separation” to gain an underof what is being said and how that affects the action of the
standing of the power and negative impacts that oppression
film, if you do not speak Farsi. However, the film is so wellhas on people. The movie shows that Simin was willing to
made that audiences still find it very powerful despite the
move from her birth country to a foreign place with a comlanguage barrier.
pletely different culture even if it meant leaving her husband
behind. Although “A SeparaLila Sadrieh is fluent in English
tion” makes subtle political
and Farsi. She received her Bach“Children of Heaven”
points, it equally focuses on
elor’s degree in English TransThe 1997 family drama, “Children of Heaven,”
the trickling effects of lying,
lation from Tehran University.
was produced in Persian and takes place in Iran.
deceit, and personal responShortly after her husband passed
It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best
sibility.
away, she migrated to the United
Foreign Language Film in 1998 and received
States with her two daughters in
international recognition. The film is about a
Language plays a key role
order to provide them with better
brother and sister who live with their family in a
in this movie because once
opportunities. Lila has translated
poor South Tehran neighborhood and their adventhe drama of events begins
two books from English to Farsi.
tures over a lost pair of shoes. While tackling deep
to take place, there is a fair
She is highly involved in her comsocial issues, this film portrays the friendship and
amount of questioning, exmunity and has assisted Iranian
unconditional love shared by the children. If you
plaining, and lying. There is a
are looking for a good film to watch and have some immigrants overcome language
lot of dialogue, which might
barriers as well as cultural obtears to shed, I recommend this film.
be difficult to fully apprecistacles. Lila has been a Member
-Ahmad Maiwandi
ate in terms of the nuances
of the NLSC since 2011.
“The Cuckoo”- Three
People, Three Languages,
One Classic
with his name and thereafter address him as “Psholty,” a
slightly mangled variation of “Poshol ty” (in the English
subtitles, the term “Get lost” is intentionally corrupted to
“Gerlost”).
Alexander Rogozhkin’s brilliant film, “The Cuckoo,”
As the scenes move seamlessly from the serious to the philosophical, the poignant and the comic, the characters continually talk to each other. The others listen intently, reach their
own (invariably incorrect) conclusions, and respond with
often hilarious non sequiturs.
by Becky Blackley
portrays three people from different cultures who are struggling to understand not only each other’s languages, but also
each other. The dialog is in Russian, Finnish, and Sami, with
subtitles in either English or Russian.
The story is set in Lapland on the Finnish-Russian border
in September 1944. A young Finnish private named Veiko
is chained on top
of a rock as punishment for some
unspecified offense.
Meanwhile, a
middle-aged Soviet
captain is driven
to a court martial
for writing antiSoviet poetry. When
his jeep is bombarded, his escorts
are killed and he
is wounded. He is
rescued by a young
Sami woman named
Anni, who drags the unconscious captain back to her coastal
reindeer farm. The attack and the rescue are witnessed by
Vieko, and once he frees himself, he trudges to the farmstead.
Anni, who has been without a man for four years, now finds
she has two.
Three people, three languages, three cultures. None of the
characters can understand the other languages, but that does
not stop them from talking to each other. Each one supposes
that somehow the others understand. When Veiko asks the
Russian his name, the Russian, mistakenly believing the Finn
is a German soldier, responds with “Poshol ty (Get lost)!” Of
course, both Veiko and Anni think the Russian has responded
The focus of “The Cuckoo” is on the interaction between
three human beings unexpectedly thrown together. In the
middle of a war, the two men find peace in Anni’s bucolic
sanctuary, while she heals their wounds, both physical and
emotional. The message is that war is a misunderstanding
that occurs between people not because they speak different languages, but because they don’t understand each other.
Understanding an individual goes far deeper than words.
The film has a perfect ending, carrying the themes of love,
humanity, and understanding to their logical conclusion
and leaving the viewer with a few final laughs. In the last
couple of scenes, we learn the meaning of the film’s title and
Psholty’s real name, which is...
Becky Blackley is a certified Russian to English translator
with a Masters degree in Russian from Middlebury College
and an Advanced Certificate in Translation Studies from the
University of Chicago. In previous lives, she was a professional musician, editor/publisher of The Autoharpoholic
magazine, author of The Autoharp Book, member of the Autoharp Hall of Fame, a chip carver and handmade felt maker,
and a Senior Olympics swimmer. Becky has been an NLSC
Member since 2009.
3
Learning Russian from
Comedic Actor Alexander
Filipenko
by Emily Papera
“To have another language is to possess a second soul.” -Charlemagne
My Russian professor complained bitterly that I wasn’t
learning the language the “right” way. He said that I took
shortcuts in my language learning by listening to music and
watching films versus really grabbing the meaning of the
words in Chekhov’s, “The Cherry Orchard.” He was probably right. However, studying verb tenses, adjectival endings
and specific rules of the Russian language only provides one
facet to embracing the language. One cannot dismiss songs
and films as unproductive ways to learn languages.
I am getting to know Alexander Filipenko. He is coming
to Atlanta for a one-act comedy melodrama. The upcoming
show sparks excitement in my Russian friends and clients.
“Who is he?” I ask, for I only know a few of the famous Russian films from my days at Moscow State University (MGU).
They exclaim, “He is one of the best Russian comedic actors!
He changed Russian film.” I rent one Filipenko film, then
another and another. I am hooked but better yet, I become
closer to a culture that I chose to adopt.
I am delighted to talk to my clients about
these films and how they played a role in
Russian culture. I can contribute much
more to a conversation and create a
closer connection between us.
I am an American. I was born here and
learned a second language all on my own. So, why should
people learning a second language spend time watching foreign films, books or musicians? Because there are subtleties,
jokes and nuances to every language that one cannot simply
get from conversation. The incorporation of English words
such as “blog” and “online” in the Russian language distresses me, but I realize that the other forms of movies and music
continue to weave the Russian language into beautiful poetry. It is important to embrace all forms of
cultural expression. So I am going to continue to
watch my Filipenko films, listen to my Mumiy Troll
station on Internet radio, and read Lukyanenko’s
science fiction novels. I live with a richer, deeper
understanding of the beauty of the language and it
feeds my second soul.
Emily Papera is the Russian Information & Assistance Case Manager for the AVIV Older Adult
Services division at Jewish Family & Career Services in Atlanta, Georgia. Hailing from the seemingly foreign land of Nebraska, she studied Russian
at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin and
American University in Washington, DC. Emily has
been an NLSC Member since 2012.
4
Clare or FilmFare Award
American Humor for the Japanese
in the Film “Hairspray”
Hiroshima. 2007. Japan was finally screening the (new)
American classic, “Hairspray.” I shuffled ecstatically into the
theater. Finally, a comedy I can relate to in the sea of slapstick
Japanese humor. As soon as Tracy Turnblatt hit the streets
of Baltimore, I was rolling. Never had I laughed so hard in a
theater. Punch line after cultural euphemism, I was in tears.
Then I realized — no one else around me was laughing. I was
surrounded by silence. Clearly the 1960s were much different in Japan. I am guessing hairspray, drag, and obesity did
not popularize in the country until the ‘80s.
-Angela Perrone
Just an American Dream –
“12 Angry Men”
by Haiyan Hutchison (Jane Li)
I heard about “12 Angry Men” when I first set foot in the
United States. I learned that it was a classic film. At the time,
such a “talking flick” was way beyond my grasp of English,
and its lack of colorful visual effects
did not help either.
Two decades later,
I finally brought
myself to watch it,
to enjoy its exquisite
craftsmanship with
great appreciation,
and to be profoundly moved by
the ideology that
stands firmly behind
this film.
The film can be considered a courtroom drama. During the
major part of the film, all we can see is a long table, chairs,
and 12 ordinary Joes. They are the jurors in a murder case.
At the beginning of the film, most of them believe that their
personal agendas, such as watching a ballgame, are more important than the life of a minority suspect. A “guilty” verdict
should be conveniently rendered and is reasonably expected
by all jurors, but one refused to cave in. Henry Fonda’s character insists that because a life is at stake, it is important for
the jury to put forth a decent effort to “talk about it.”
A pain-staking process ensues before the dignity of justice
and the respect to human life finally prevails. The jurors realize that many of their precluded “reasonable” conclusions
could actually be challenged. One by one, the jurors struggle
to confront, and eventually conquer, their own social prejudices.
For six decades, countless critics hailed the film as a masterpiece because it shows how and why the United States
became “the greatest country.” Many Americans have even
long been entertaining the rosy idea that the American way of
thinking and living shall prevail throughout the whole world.
In a foreigner’s eyes, the American justice system is unique
< continued from page 5
indeed, but more ideal than realistic. Surely the ideology
boasts well. If every single step of the process goes as intended, the system would serve as close to justice as a human
being can possibly receive. But in too many cases, the promise of true justice is only a dream.
The volatility of human nature has cursed every single justice
system to be imperfect. Any efforts should be geared towards
finding something more workable, instead of something
perfect. Every country and nation has to find its own way, in
its own shape or form, to nudge closer to justice for its own
people. There is no “one size fits all” formula. The struggle
and sacrifice have to continue far beyond the promising ending of “12 Angry Men,” both inside and outside of the United
States.
“Indochine”
by Andrew Fournier
My favorite movie is entitled
“Indochine.” Released in 1992,
this French film stars a mature,
yet beautiful, Catherine Deneuve,
and Vincent Perez, who would
later star in many other French
and American films. It depicts the
French occupation of Indochina, a
French colony in Southeast Asia,
during the mid-1900s. A mix of romance and historical
fiction, the storyline focuses on the lives of two young
lovers during Communist revolutions in Indochina.
The movie’s main characters – Navy captain JeanJane Li has been a Chinese interpreter since 2003. She has
Baptiste, played by Perez, and a young Vietnamese girl
always been mesmerized by how a culture stands behind its
named Camille, played by Linh Dan Pham – must flee
language and believes
the country in the wake of
that one has to be into
escalating conflict between
a culture before bethe nationalist movement
“Okuribito (Departures)”
ing able to grasp its
and the French military.
In 2008, the Japanese film, “Okuribito (Departures),” took
language. She believes
home the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film,
In addition to the storyline,
that learning a new lanwhich seems to be the first time a Japanese film won this
the film’s cinematography is
guage is an experience
honor. It was a decent movie, but with other classics such as
also well done. The story takes
that textbooks or dicAkira Kurosawa’s, “Rashomon” (1951), not reaching that
the viewer on a trip through
tionaries cannot bring,
level at the Oscars, one has to wonder — why this film?
northern Vietnam to Dragon
that it is not a job or a
“Okuribito” is about Japan’s culture surrounding death and
Island and through the beautiful
study, but rather a
funerals. In comparison to other cultures, these customs can
Gulf of Tonkin. While the
lifestyle. Ms.
be considered quite beautiful — a form of art. This film’s
main story line is fictional, the
Hutchison
success shows that the beauty of customs can take precebackdrop is realistic as the plot
has been
dence in this category.
is incorporated around true
an NLSC
-Angela Perrone
events, such as the 1954 Geneva
Member
Conference between the United
since
“Romantics Anonymous”
States, the United Kingdom,
2012.
My husband and I recently watched “Romantics AnonyFrance, the Soviet Union, and
China regarding the immediate
mous,” a Belgian film in French with English subtitles. It is
future of Indochina, and the
a humorous film about two people who work in the chocopartitioning of North and South
late industry in Belgium. The French language is rich and
Vietnam. Thus, this movie is
poetic. In this film, French is used to describe the wondergreat not simply for its drama
ful variations in the taste of chocolate. It is also used to
and cinematography, but also
describe the feelings of two people grappling to overcome
for its reliance upon historical
their fear of everything in life, especially of intimacy. This
events.
is an amusing little film produced by an American firm,
Tribeca, owned by Robert De Niro. It proves that only by
Andrew Fournier received
taking risks can we truly partake in life.
his Bachelor’s degree in
I hope you enjoy watching this film and appreciate the rich
French from the University of
and poetic French language as it relates to how chocolate
Southern Maine, his Masters
can taste!
in Secondary Education from
-Ayesha Mohid
IIFA Award
Wayland Baptist University,
and is currently working on his
Doctoral degree in Education Development in Leadership
with an emphasis on Organizational Development from
Grand Canyon University. He served for four years in
the US Army and was deployed for one year in Iraq. He
currently instructs Army recruits at Ft. Huachuca, AZ.
Andrew has been a Member of the NLSC since 2010.
5
“The Yacoubian Building”A Shift in Egyptian Society
by Hala Elsalawy
“The Yacoubian Building,” is an
Egyptian movie produced in 2007. The
movie was directed by Marwan Hamad,
based on a novel by Alaa Al-Aswany,
staring Adel Imam, Ahmed Rateb, Hind
Sabry, Mohamed Imam, and Nour
Elsherif.
“The Yacoubian Building” is, in my opinion, one of the most
important movies that reflect and explain the fundamental
changes in the behaviors and attitudes of the Egyptians. I
consider the movie a classic because it is a metaphor for
Egyptian society and tackles some delicate subjects which
are usually ignored. It is one of few movies that deal with
homosexuality, sexual harassment, radical Islam, class
struggle, political corruption, and social unrest. This film is
a symbol of how Egyptian society transformed from a once
cosmopolitan society accepting one another to a more rigid,
provincial society with many conflicting forces. The transformation in the Egyptian identity over the years is accounted
for differently by the diverse characters in the movie, with
one key character, the aristocrat, representing the old Egypt.
The aristocrat blames Nasser’s nationalism and politics for
the deterioration in Egyptian values, while the westernized,
half-French homosexual blames it on the inability of people
to act and feel freely outside the frame of religious beliefs
and traditions.
It is important to watch this movie to better understand that
the Western stereotyping of Middle Eastern societies will not
hold when it comes to understanding the pseudo-cosmopolitan Egypt. The Egyptian identity is not cliché, but rather the
by-product of many historical and socio-economic factors.
Furthermore, the Egyptian dialect, which is the most used
and understood in the entire region, is also undergoing many
changes with the use of many slang words and new body
language. The language and dialect is a reflection of a boiling
society whose core is not what is revealed on the surface.
Watching “The Yacoubian Building” will throw light on the
Egyptian culture of more than 5,000 years of recorded history. The most amazing aspect of the culture is its people. The
movie explores the inner part of the Egyptian culture carried
and preserved by its wise people, whose clothing, habits,
celebrations, food, etc., reflect but do not fully describe.
Hala Elsalawy (also known as Hala Eltonbary) lives in Vista,
CA. She holds a BA in Middle East Studies from the American University in Cairo, Egypt. Additionally, she has a post
graduate degree in Speech & Language Disorders. Hala has
been a Member of the NLSC since 2012.
“City of God”
One of the greatest foreign films of all time is the 2002
Brazilian film, “City of God (Cidade de Deus),” directed
by Fernando Meirelles. This film proves to be cinematically innovative and inspiring as it realistically depicts the
harsh conditions and lawless lifestyle of drug traffickers
in Cidade de Deus, a favela in Rio de Janeiro. This film
relies heavily on colloquial dialogue and the use of slang to
directly reflect the impoverished conditions of the area and
street-like upbringing of its inhabitants. A majority of the
actors had no previous acting experience and were picked
from actual favelas to add an extra element of authenticity. This film is extremely moving in showing the ongoing
challenge Brazil faces in battling drug trafficking and gang
violence in its favelas. I would definitely recommend this
film as an entertaining way to receive more insight about a
current issue in Brazil, as well as an outlet to learn life lessons from a unique struggling class of individuals.
-Jeremy Seastrand
“Argo”
The film “Argo,” directed by Ben Affleck, is about
Iran in 1980. Right after the Islamic revolution, the
country is in total chaos and Khomeini’s followers
attack the American
Embassy in Tehran and
take the Embassy’s
employees hostage. The
movie takes you to
where you see yourself
in the shoes of
the hostages, feel the
heat and cherish
your freedom. This
movie is about
intelligence verses
ignorance.
-Caroline Bouey
6
Academy Award
“Incendies”
by Hanane Wehbe
I was very entertained and moved
by the Canadian movie, “Incendies”
(2010). The story and region where
the film took place reminded me of
my roots and culture. In the movie,
a mother’s last wish was to send her
twins, Jeanne and Simon, on a journey
to the Middle East in search of their tangled roots. Adapted
from Wajdi Mouawad’s acclaimed play, “Incendies” tells the
powerful and moving tale of two young adults’ voyage to the
core of deep-rooted hatred, never-ending wars, and enduring
love.
The opening of the film reveals many clues about which
direction the story will take. In a stark room, young boys
are having their hair shorn. One of the boys has a tattoo on
his heal of three aligned dots on the Achilles tendon. After
this unsettling beginning, the camera moves to Canada in
the office of Notary Jean Lebel (Rémy Girard), who has
the responsibility of executing the will of his secretary,
Nawal Marwan (Lubna Azabal), and presenting the will to
Nawal’s Lebanese-Canadian twin children, Jeanne (Mélissa
Désormeaux-Poulin) and Simon (Maxim Gaudette) Marwan.
The will divides Nawal’s worldly goods equally between
the children and also describes in detail how the deceased
mother is to be buried (naked, face down, with no coffin in an
unmarked grave). The major plot point is when Jean provides
two letters from Nawal, charging Jeanne and Simon to find a
father and brother they did not even know existed.
The remainder of the film moves back and forth between
the past and the present —tracing Nawal’s incredible and
harrowing life story as well as following the twins in their
attempt to find their living relatives. Nawal was Christian
Lebanese and had a lover who was a Palestinian. When her
lover was killed, she realized that she was pregnant, shaming her family and thus forcing her to give up her son to an
orphanage — but not before her grandmother sensitively tattooed three dots on his heel for future recognition. From that
point, Nawal becomes a mathematician, a hired killer, a tortured prisoner, and once again becomes a mother. The twins
— acting as detectives — trace clues to follow the rocky road
of Nawal’s life and make astonishing discoveries.
Though Lubna Azabal is clearly the central star of this
film, the entire cast — particularly the twins, Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin and Maxim Gaudette — is exemplary. Very
little of the tragedy of Nawal’s life is spared, but the power
that comes from discovering the truths of her life lies in the
quiet shock in the eyes of the twins. This is an amazingly
powerful film that keeps the audience’s tension level high,
making the surprising ending that much more powerful. The
cinematography by André Turpin manages to capture both
the vast power of the Middle Eastern desert and villages, as
well as the moments of intimacy. The musical score by Grégoire Hetzel enhances the atmosphere and the story line very
subtly; however, in the end, it is the sensitive direction of
Denis Villeneuve that brings with human tragedy of a story
alive. In my opinion, “Incendies” is simply one of the finest
films of the decade and is bound to become a permanent part
of my cinematic library.
Hanane Wehbe was born in Lebanon and came to California
in 1986. She received her education in the United States and
has 3 children. She refers to herself as a helpful person and is
proud to serve her country using her skills and expertise. She
has been an NLSC Member since 2007.
“Dawns Here Are Quiet”
Have you ever questioned statements about justice? If so,
you should watch the movie “Dawns Here Are Quiet.” This
film was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Foreign Language Film category. Additionally it was the most viewed
movie of 1973 (66 million viewers) and a Venice International Film Festival prize winner in Italy in 1972. In this film,
the young, funny and playful, kind and wise, humble and
strong women of the Soviet land will gently move you to the
discovery of their understanding of the most treasured and
cherished human emotion: love.
-Tatiana Schlenker
“In the Name of God”
A Pakistani movie that I would like to share, especially for
non-Muslim audiences, is ‘Khuda key liyeye, (In the Name
of God).” It is an Urdu movie which has beautifully depicted
contemporary history’s burning issue of Islamic Fundamentalism. The film addresses issues that affect the global
mindset of the world today. The movie is original and bold.
It portrays a clash of ideology between moderate Muslims
and Extremists. The theme of the movie projects a clash between Western and traditional values. If we are interested in
understanding the conflict between Islam and the rest of the
world, then this movie is worth watching because this theme
has been conveyed through the exhibition of the characters,
while fully handling the psychological impact of the sensational and dramatic movements of the story.
-Naema Freedi
BAFTA Award
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“Central do Brasil”
by José Cabral Jr.
The movie, “Central do Brasil,” directed
by Brazilian, Walter Salles, raises some
important aspects of society, culture,
and politics of Brazil in the late 1990’s.
The story focuses on Dora, a retired
schoolteacher, who becomes a cynical
and dishonest letter writer serving illiterate migrants who
are desperately trying to contact their loved ones left behind.
Dora sets up her table in downtown Rio de Janeiro at Central
Station, which was built in 1858 to show the world the country was modern and had an efficient government. The Central
Station houses all possible evils such as unemployed workers, drug and organ dealers, abandoned children who become
delinquents, and robbers.
A single mother and her 9-year-old son, Josué, ask Dora to
write a letter to the boy’s father asking him to meet his son.
Unexpectedly, the boy becomes orphaned after his mother
is struck and killed by a bus. He is hoping Dora will find his
father, so he decides to not leave her side. She chooses to sell
him to some organ dealers to buy a new television set, but
“Doctor Zhivago”
I highly recommend Russian director Alexander Proshkin’s “Doctor Zhivago” miniseries
released in 2006 to anyone who has read the
novel, is fluent in Russian or currently learning it. You will enjoy the authentic Russian
dialogue
with the richness of its intonations and double entendres.
You will follow the changes
in Russian language from
the epoch of Tsarist Russia and the Bolshevik
Revolution to Soviet
Russia during the Second World War. Most of all,
you will have a chance to feel Boris
Pasternak’s characters and the events described more than 30 years ago in the novel
the same way Russians interpret them today.
-Tetyana Burnett
regrets her decision almost immediately and reunites with the
boy. They both run away from gangsters who are pursuing
them for payment, and eventually leave Rio de Janeiro for
the rural and poor northeastern region of Brazil in order to
find his father’s house. Along the trip, Josué’s integrity helps
Dora embark on a journey of complicity and affection.
The movie reflects some contrasts of modern Brazil by showing rich versus poor, literate versus illiterate, and transparency versus corruption. The filmmakers also tried to show
a side of Brazil by depicting the poor, farmers, and others
living in the region of Brazil called the “hinterlands.” In
fact, “Central do Brasil” is set in 1998 in the midst of serious
economic issues and financial difficulties following the 1992
impeachment of President Fernando Collor de Mello.
José Cabral Jr. is a Brazilian American who was born in
Brazil and moved to the United States in 1998. He has
worked for the last eight years as a Medical Interpreter while
attending his senior year of nursing school. José enjoys yoga
and some martial arts. He has been a Member of the NLSC
since 2011.
“Peculiarities”
Watching foreign comedies definitely has a bright
side. They help us understand the nuances of
life in a foreign country and for language
professionals; they are a great way to keep
up with our native language and culture.
I grew up with great Soviet-era comedy classics, and was very skeptical about “New
Russian” comedies until I discovered the
“Peculiarities” series of films directed
by A. Rogozhkin. What makes his comedies, such as “Peculiarities of the National
Hunt,” and “Peculiarities of National Fishing,” unique is that he brings together all
classes of the new Russian society and puts
them in some bizarre situations in a whirlwind of drinking, partying, and stealing.
Movies directed by Rogozhkin might seem like
“light material”; however, they lift the curtain
on important aspects of contemporary Russian life and serve as a great resource for anyone working in a cross-cultural environment.
- Tatyana Ariyevich
Golden Globe Award
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NLSC on the Road
The NLSC has recently traveled to cities across the country, hosting Meet & Greet
events and attending language conferences and recruiting events!
ber
ecem
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ampa
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7th, 2
Dec
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pa, FL
Tam
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- Falls
5th, 2012
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Decembe
Church,
ami
Mee
, FL
t&G
reet
VA
nt
pter Eve
egional Cha
DC R
- Mi
Janu
ary 4
th, 2
013
Bosto
- Bo
n, MA
ston
Meet
, MA
& Gre
et
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Feb
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t, 201
21s
ruary
isco,
ranc
San F
CA
ancis
San Fr
et
t & Gre
Mee
co, CA
Febr
uary
23rd
Los A
, 201
ngele
3-L
March 1st
2013- Salt
Lake City,
Meet
ngel
es, C
& Gre
et
Utah
Salt Lake City
, UT Meet &
Greet
“Save the Date”
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s, MA
os A
New York City, New York – Friday, March 22nd 2013
San Juan, PR – Friday, April 19th 2013
Chicago, IL – Friday, April 26th 2013
Minneapolis, MN – Friday, May 10th 2013
Columbus, OH – Friday, May 24th 2013
Portland, OR- Thursday, June 6th 2013
Seattle, WA - Saturday, June 8th 2013
A
PLANNING
Constance Briley
Wanda Penn
EDITING
Kara Weidman
Andre Flores
Catherine Atwood
Daniella Morinigo
Mark Overton
Joanna Fesler
LAYOUT/DESIGN
Wanda Penn
Catherine Atwood
Ron Thomas
The Language Compass
Spotlights NLSC
Members Volunteering
in the Community
In honor of National Volunteer Week
from April 21-27, 2013, our next issue of The Language Compass will
feature NLSC Members who have
volunteered in their communities.
Help us celebrate you and your volunteer contributions in the NLSC as
well as in your local community.
This spring, take on the challenge of
volunteering your language skills,
time, or other talents in service of
our Nation. Keep track of the hours
you spend volunteering and take
pictures for submission for the next
issue of The Language Compass.
Here are some ideas to get you
started:
• Visit a nursing home or school
to share a cultural presentation,
• Sign up for a charity walk or
run, and/or
• Volunteer at a soup kitchen, food
bank, or homeless shelter in
your area.
In the next few weeks, look for more
details on the NLSC Volunteer
Challenge in your emails. Let’s show
the impact of the NLSC Members
working together
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Did you join the NLSC in 2008?
Are you a Charter Member?
Since its establishment, the NLSC has grown to a current volunteer base of over 4,200
Members who speak over 270 languages. With your help, the NLSC continues to fulfill
its mission of maintaining a readily-available pool of language volunteers to serve federal
agencies. Per federal regulations, your membership is set to discontinue every four years;
we value your commitment, and hope that when the time comes, you will renew your
membership with the NLSC.
As your membership renewal deadline approaches, look for an email with instructions
on how to renew. If you have recently moved or changed your e-mail address, please send
your updated contact information to Catherine Atwood at [email protected].
Remember that you are not obligated to participate in assignments or to contribute
anything to the NLSC. Renewing your membership is free and gives you the opportunity
to take advantage of the NLSC’s exclusive benefits. When your time for membership
renewal comes, we sincerely hope you will choose to renew for four more years.
MOVIE DISCOUNTS for NLSC MEMBERS
NLSC Members can receive discounts on movie tickets from
AMC, Regal Entertainment Group, and more. Discounts are
available for individual e-tickets or even family packages.
Visit here to learn more. When opening an individual account you will need the National Language Service Corps ID
#345899934. Remember, your subscription is free.
Working Advantage offers 24-hour online shopping and customer support Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:30
Palm d’Or Cannes
PM Eastern time. If you have specific questions regarding
the site, please contact Working Advantage at 800-565-3712.
Film Award
Interested in foreign films?
Here are a few recommendations
from other NLSC Members:
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•
Diane Gollard Parlante, M.A. – “Amour” (2012)
Melba Ariza - “Oye Bonita” (2008)
Sherry Ve - “House of Sand and Fog” (2003)
Yocoub Isa - “Kon-Taki” (2012)
Karen Wemmelman - “Oil Painting”
(Marsha and Medved series)
Jean Bart – “Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter” (2003) BIFA Award
Dr. Daniel Laurant – “The Gods Must be Crazy” (1980)
Jo Zajaczkowska – Janosik movies
Follow us on Social Networking sites
NLSCORPS.ORG
“Crossing” by Big House and Plan B; “A Separation” by FilmIran (Iran) and Sony Pictures Classics (US); “The Cuckoo” by STV (Russian: CTB);
“12 Angry Men” by United Artists Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; “Indochine” by Bac Films; “The Yacoubian Building” by Arab Co for Cinema
Production & Distribution; “Incendies” by Sony Pictures Classics (USA); “Central do Brasil” by Sony Pictures Classics (USA); “Departures” by
Shochiku; “The Gods Must be Crazy” by 20th Century Fox (US); “The Cherry Orchard” by BBC Video Series (UK); “Children of Heaven” by
Miramax Films; “Doctor Zhivago” by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; “In the Name of God” by Geo TV; “Romantics Anonymous” by Tribeca Film;
“Argo” by Warner Bros.; “Peculiarities” by Lenfilm; “Dawns Here Are Quiet” by Gorky Film Studio.
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