Women in film

Professor Halla Beloff, a psychologist from the University of Edinburgh will deliver a lecture on images of women in films as part of the Dundee Women's performing arts festival. Hosted by the University, Prof Bellof will kick off an evening entitled 'Reel Women' which will include a preview of 1-minute films, all of which have been shot by local women after attending a film workshop earlier this year.

Halla's lecture entitled "the many selves of ourselves or seeing Bette Davis in the dark' will discuss how women have used Hollywood films and their stars as serious tools in creating their own identities. Prof Bellof: "Selecting with care both the narratives and the roles that charismatic figures like Bette Davis played, we have chosen an adaptation to our reality where we could be happy being unhappy. We were 'interesting' at least to ourselves.

The content of film noir will be shown to exemplify both a dominant morality and an adjustment that made sense to our forced rendering of it.

Halla Bellof is also a visiting professor at the Derby University School of Art and Design.

After attending the film workshops Delia Gallagher from IT services is premiering her first movie at the same event performed by IT services staff and filmed in the department. "The Wonder of It All" is perceived through the eyes of an office junior whose life at work is suddenly spiced up by a visit from a genie. Played by local actress Helen Brennan, the genie is accompanied by the Arabesque dancing troop who kick start an Arabian nights party among the staff. Delia has written, produced and directed the film and is currently working on her first novel. Her collection of short stories "Soft Soap" is published by Kettillonia and is available at James Thin.

The lecture and premiere will take place in DCA cinema one at 6.30pm on Thursday 28 March. The festival hosts a number of events throughout the City including drama, singing, literary readings and film. Full festival programmes are available from the Rep theatre.

Caption Bette Davis - an example in the women in film lecture

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