Faculty Colloquia features discussion of Jean Renoir

Roman Zylawy, professor of French, will kick off The University of Virginia’s College at Wise Colloquium series on Wednesday, Sept. 27, at 1 p.m. in the Chapel of All Faiths with his lecture “Renoir’s Ethics in ‘Rules of the Game’.” The lecture will be followed by clips from the classic film.

Renoir was the son of French Impressionist Auguste Renoir. While his father painted on canvas, the son chose to narrate on celluloid. “Rules of the Game” and “Grand Illusion” are perennially listed by critics and film historians among the top ten greatest films ever made.

Zylawy will discuss the importance and significance of this World film classic and explain why this Neo-Realist precursor engenders so much discussion and controversy and how the film’s form and content are universal.

Ironically, Renoir’s prophetic message about the onset and reasons for World War II as expressed in “Rules of the Game” was bitterly panned and rejected by French critics and audiences alike on its initial release in 1939.

Fortunately, his prophetic vision and insights into human nature and its foibles depicted in this masterpiece would not remain unappreciated. In the late 1950s the film was rediscovered and truly appreciated by World audiences enlightened by the passage of time and the 20th century’s tragic history.

Zylawy began teaching at UVa-Wise in 1988. He earned a bachelor of arts from LaSalle College, a master’s degree from the University of Kansas and a Ph.D., from the University of Colorado.

For more information about the UVa-Wise Faculty Colloquium Series, contact the Office of College Relations at (276) 328-0130.

Posted September 19, 2006