Roadside Cinema: 2002 Spring Film Festival Continues with "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" Feb. 14

"Roadside Cinema," Texas A&M International University's Spring Film Festival's trip through road movies, continues with "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert." The film will be shown Thursday, February 14 at 7 p.m. in Bullock Hall 101. The showing is free and open to the public.

"The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert." (1994), directed by Stephan Elliot, follows two drag queens and a transvestite on their dilapidated bus journey through Australia to an Alice Springs cabaret gig. The humor is outrageous and campy while solid acting creates believable characters who manage to intrigue the viewer, despite their flamboyancy.

With the tagline "Finally, a comedy that will change the way you think, the way you feel, and most importantly . . .the way you dress," the film won a fitting Oscar for Best Costume design. It features a soundtrack full of ABBA and Village People songs.

The film is rated R.

After the show, there will be 15 to 30 minutes of commentary and questions and answers, led by Dr. Sean M. Chadwell and Dr. William J. Nichols II, both assistant professors in the College of Arts and Humanities, and series creators.

The next film, "Guantanamera," will be shown on Thursday, February 21. Shown in Spanish with English subtitles, the story follows the halting journey of a casket in Castro's Cuba and the funeral procession's stories.

For more information on the "Roadside Cinema," 2002 Spring Film Festival, contact either Drs. Chadwell or Nichols by phone, 326.2471, 326.2610, visit offices in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 418C, room 421B or visit the festival's website: http://www.tamiu.edu/~wnichols/road.htm.

Office hours for the University are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu