Film Studies

Hard Light Cinema at UR: Focus on Italian Films

Hard Light Cinema is a new Richmond collective of cinephiles bringing arthouse and non-mainstream films to central Virginia.  The collaboration with Film Studies at University of Richmond aims to connect UR students/faculty/friends with Richmond city film fans. This Spring, come out to see these movies. Note: All showings start at 7 pm at UR in Jepson 118.

January 27: La Strada, 1954. Dir. Federico Fellini
La Strada, an Italian poetic neorealist drama by Federico Fellini, follows a naïve young woman sold to a brutal strongman and carried along the dusty roads of postwar Italy. Giulietta Masina’s luminous performance turns suffering into grace, as circus life, loneliness, and faith collide in one of Fellini’s most moving and emotional masterpieces. Italian dialogue with English subtitles.

February 24: Fistful of Dollars, 1964. Dir. Sergio Leone
A Fistful of Dollars, an Italian Spaghetti Western, is a 1964 reinvention of the Western inspired by Kurosawa’s Yojimbo. Clint Eastwood’s “Man with No Name” plays rival gangs against each other in a lawless border town, launching a new cinematic myth with iconic style and Morricone’s unforgettable score. Italian dialogue with English subtitles.

March 17: The Great Silence, 1968, Dir. Sergio Corbucci
The Great Silence, a revisionist Spaghetti Western by Sergio Corbucci, follows a mute gunman who aids a town oppressed by corrupt and tyrannical authorities. Set in a frozen frontier where justice has failed, the film becomes a bleak story of resistance and injustice. Italian dialogue with English subtitles.

 April 7: The Consequences of Love, 2004, Dir. Paolo Sorrentino
The Consequences of Love, an Italian psychological crime drama, centers on a solitary man living a monotonous life in a quiet Swiss hotel while entangled with the Mafia. This 2004 film presents a gripping tale of isolation and obsession, enhanced by striking visuals and a haunting soundtrack. Toni Servillo’s powerful performance makes it a must-watch for fans of intricate narratives. Italian dialogue with English subtitles.

Indigenous Filmmaker Series

Indigenous Filmmakers: Screening & Conversation with Loren Waters

Th, Nov. 20, 5-7 pm, Boatwright Adams Auditorium

 Loren Waters (Cherokee/Kiowa) comes to UR to inspire our creativity. We’ll view her film, Tiger, that received the 2025 Sundance Film Festival,Short Film Special Jury Award for Directing, along with 6 other festival awards. As an award-winning filmmaker named to 2025 Forbes 30 Under 30, she is dedicated to serving Native youth and uplifting Indigenous communities.   Waters says, “ Tiger highlights an Indigenous award-winning, internationally acclaimed artist and elder, Dana Tiger, her family, and the resurgence of the iconic Tiger t-shirt company.”   Waters’ talk, film screening, and Q&A are open to general public.

 This event is sponsored by Film Studies with A&S Dean’s Office funding. Waters will be in town as a featured artist for 9^th annual Pochahontas ReFramed Film Festival, Nov. 20-23 at VMFA and VMHC. https://pocahontasreframed.com/

Local Film Festivals

UR Film students enjoy festivals and screenings with faculty on campus as well as throughout the Central Virginia area.  "Being at a film festival reminds me of the power of film. The power that we have in our hands. Telling specific stories about personal matters can start the debate that is needed today, and that connect you with realities that you had no idea were connected."  Diego Luna