Film Discussion Evening: There’s Still Tomorrow (Italy, 2023) and Perfect Days (Germany, Japan, 2023)

There’s Still Tomorrow (Italy, 2023); Perfect Days (Germany, Japan, 2023)

This semester, as part of celebrating its 50 years as a multilingual, multicultural department, the Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics (LLL) is hosting a film series, including a film discussion evening on October 30. The films span diverse cultures and time periods, reflecting the department’s commitment to global perspectives and the exploration of language through art. As the renowned Soviet filmmaker Dziga Vertov argued, film has its own language—an “authentically international, absolute language of cinema”—distinct from theatre and literature, yet universally understood. This series not only demonstrates the department’s linguistic and cultural diversity but also highlights how the shared structure of film unites the different programs, creating a common ground for intercultural dialogue.

The film discussion on October 30 will feature Perfect Days (2023) and There’s Still Tomorrow (2023), two films that act as cinematic bridges across cultures and time periods. Perfect Days, directed by German filmmaker Wim Wenders, beautifully illustrates how tiny, fleeting moments accumulate to form a larger, more meaningful picture—much like how the humanities explore the richness of life’s detail. This celebration of the small but significant aspects of life reflects LLL’s effort to broaden our understanding of human experience across diverse languages and cultures. On the other hand, There’s Still Tomorrow, the film selected by Prof. Lauren Surovi, powerfully explores the life of a woman confronting domestic violence at the end of World War II. Its cinematic revelation—that she is not escaping to be with another man but to cast her vote in Italy’s first national election where women granted suffrage. These films offer poignant reflections on life, purpose, and the power of individual action.”