Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 7:00 PM

(Spain, 2007, Color, Spanish w/English subtitles, 93 mins. Director: Eduard Cortes)

The Clown And The Fuhrer

It is Berlin, 1944. Internationally acclaimed Spanish clown Charlie Rivel (Ferran Rane) and partner Witzi (Jordi Martinez) have been performing at the Scala Theater in Berlin to much fanfare.

They are approached by formidable Gestapo agent Krauss (Manel Barcelo) who invites the comedic duo to entertain Adolf Hitler on his birthday. The SS officer, who always yearned to be a clown, imposes ever greater editorial control over the act. Witzi is replaced with a new sidekick, Golo, a clown with a dubious story.

Loosely based on a real-life event, this award-winning film is a provocative rumination on the role of the entertainment in the face of barbarism.

Winner, Best Narrative Film, 2008 San Joaquin International Film Festival

Winner, Best Film, 2008 Anchorage International Film Festival

Punto de Encuentro Section, 52 Semana Internacional de Cine de Valladolid

Speaker: Kenneth Hoffman, Director of Education, National World War II Museum, New Orleans