World Cinema Day 2022 | Mission Ulja Funk

Co-sponsored by the Center for European Studies and IRIS. Part of the Spring 2022 Lecture Series

World Cinema Day 2022 Film: Mission Ulja Funk (2022)

World Cinema Day brings middle and high school students and teachers to Madison for the screening of a high-quality, international film with an introduction before the film and a brief Q&A/discussion after the film led by a regional expert from UW-Madison. This is an annual event held in conjunction with the Wisconsin Film Festival.

This event is free to students attending with their teachers and will open with a presentation by UW-Madison GNS+ Graduate Student, Matthew Greene.

Description: Twelve-year old aspiring astronomer Ulja has made an important discovery: an asteroid is going to hit the earth in Belarus. The adults around her just aren’t interested, or don’t believe her, and her grandmother tries to banish all science from Ulja’s life. But she is in communication with a scientist who takes her seriously and will be at the impact site. Ulja commandeers a hearse, persuades classmate Henk to drive, and takes off on a wild and delightful road romp through Germany, Poland, and Belarus. Pursued by concerned family and by a local pastor (whose motivations may not be selfless), Ulja and Henk race the clock in a desperate bid to avert disaster. Eclectic characters and improbable adventures will challenge preconceptions about family, friendship, and the pursuit of knowledge. Contains occasional foul words and gestures, jokes about religion.

For more information and to register for this event, click HERE.

For others interested in viewing this film, you can watch it during the Wisconsin Film Festival. See showings here.