April 25-26, 2003

A John Michalczyk Conflict and Resolution Film Series

All four films will be followed by a panel discussion with
Director John Michalczyk, Father Raymond Helmick, SJ
and other distinguished panelists.

Friday, April 25th

Out of the Ashes: North Ireland's Fragile Peace

This film is a documentary chronicling "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland that premiered at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts in March 1998. "Out of the Ashes" offers personal and historical views of the unrest in Northern Ireland from the mid-1960s to present day, with interviews with political and religious leaders, former paramilitaries, and Catholic and Protestant children. While some prominent personalities such as Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams appear, "the primary focus is on newer voices," according to Michalczyk, "ones seldom heard before: the women who are forced to take up so much of the day-to-day work in family and community life; and the former prisoners, who have undergone a radical change from using violence to pursuing social action. As the peace process goes on these are the people who are truly fostering a long term change." The documentary was shot on location in Ireland, specifically in Derry, Belfast, and Dublin. The film also features the work of renowned musicians Phil Couter, Robbie O'Connell, Ken Meltz and Seamus Connelly, music programs director for Boston College's Irish Studies Program.

Prelude to Kosovo: War and Peace in Bosnia and Croatia

This film is a documentary that depicts the bitter civil war in the former Yugoslavia. It premiered at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston in September 1999. Shot on location in Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia, the documentary combines graphic footage and interviews with religious and political figures. The film address the ideology of "ethnic cleansing" and the massacres resulting from nationalist quest for political, cultural and religious domination. The Serbian Orthodox, Bosnian Muslim and Croatian Catholic perspectives are all represented. The film features original Balkan music by Alexis Gavras, Vedran Smailovic and Vuk Kulenovic.

Saturday, April 26th

South Africa: Beyond a Miracle

This film chronicles the evolution of South Africa from the tragic years of apartheid to exhilarating elections, and finally to the cautious hopes of building a strong democracy. Shot on location in Johannesburg, Soweto, Pretoria, Capetown, Port Elizabeth, and Durban, the documentary features interviews from witnesses-representing various geographical areas and profession-to the rebirth of South Africa. The interviews were conducted by Boston journalist Clark Booth.

Israel: The Peacemakers

This film was just completed. Please check back later for more information.

About the Director

Boston College Fine Arts Professor John Michalczyk, director of the university's Film Studies Program, is a filmmaker whose documentary work since 1990 has focused on issues of social justice. He uses the examination of painful human experiences to shed light on our humanity. Michalczyk's documentaries explore issues of discrimination, hatred, war and peace. His films to date have searched for anti-Semitism in the Christian world and given voice to those working for peaceful resolutions in Northern Ireland, the Balkans and South Africa. They also have delineated the conflicts between medicine and ethics in Nazi Germany, between Boston's Jewish and Irish populations and between Christians and Jews during celebrations of faith. Michalczyk is also the director of the Jacques Salmanowitz Program for Moral Courage in Documentary Film, which provides a film production mentoring service, including advice, consultation and workshops, for Boston College undergraduate or graduate students who are interested in making films about moral courage.