Professor Pilar Rodriguez offered a talk within the Koldo Mitxelena Chair, in Chicago

Pilar Rodríguez (University of Deusto) offered a talk at the University of Chicago, within the Koldo Mitxelena Chair, on Friday, May 29: "Contemporary Cinema in the Basque Country: new formats, new places”. Professor Rob Stone (University of Birmingham) opened the course, and now, Rodriguez is closing the Chair that has this year deepened in Basque cinema.

Basque cinema is and always has been a vital medium for the examination and perpetuation of Basque identity from numerous perspectives emanating from a specific geographical point and resulting in diverse trajectories. It has proven itself a durable vehicle for the historical, political, social and artistic interests of the Basque people and has duly imagined past, present and future variations on local, national and international concerns that all contribute to this frustrating, yet at the same time liberating ambiguity about the Basque Country.

The course explores the major works and themes in Basque cinema, from its origins to present day productions, with a special attention paid to four aspects: the creation of the Basque nation on screen, filmic representations of terrorism, the cinema of the second wave of filmmakers, and contemporary films which range from the Kimuak initiative for short films to local and diasporic works.

This chair, founded by the Etxepare Basque Institute in 2012, is part of the Division of Humanities at the University of Chicago and hosts every year a renowned Basque professor who imparts seminars and lectures about Basque humanistic studies. Etxepare has created five chairs in international universities worldwide.