Special night in collaboration with Europa Cinemas: free screening of Ema, free drink, introduction and a dance demonstration.

On Wednesday, December 3rd, Focus Filmtheater in collaboration with Europa Cinemas, is hosting a screening of Pablo Larrain’s film Ema.

Admission is free, and every visitor will receive a drink upon entering the theater. After a brief word of welcome, dance instructor Iris Meijwes will give a dance demonstration. Iris Meijwes teaches dancehall classes, including reaggaeton, a dance style that plays a prominent role in Ema. Jessica de Jaeger of Oficine, the driving force behind the Latin American Film Festival, will introduce the film.

Programme

6:45 PM: walk-in with a free drink
7:00 PM: a brief word of welcome
7:10 PM: reggaeton dance demonstration by Iris Meijwes
7:25 PM: introduction to the film by Jessica de Jaeger of Oficine
7:40 PM: film starts

Iris Meijwes

Iris Meijwes (@irismeijwes on Instagram) is a dance teacher and primarily teaches adult girls. She strives to instill joy and energy in her classes. She also combines Reaggaeton and Afro in her Dancehall classes and loves sharing this with others.

Jessica de Jaeger

Jessica de Jaeger graduated in Human Geography of Developing Countries with a focus on Latin America and a great passion for the moving image. Film as an art form to ‘show people hidden aspects of the world’ has been the driven force behind initiating the Latin American Film Festival (LAFF). For eight years she worked for the LAFF as an artistic and managing director. She specialized in coaching and advising cultural entrepreneurs in how to develop and organize a new project, event or film. She does so for her own company www.como-no.nl. Core activities for Oficine: selection, programming, producing, moderating and advising.

About Ema

Ema is an explosive, stylish, and daring portrait of a dancer who will do anything to be reunited with her son. Young Ema (Mariana di Girolama) dances in her husband’s experimental dance company, choreographer Gastón (Gael García Bernal). After a shocking event, the couple decides to give up their 7-year-old adopted son, Polo. In the aftermath, their marriage is severely tested, while Ema hatches a plan to get her son back. Equipped with a flamethrower and with the help of her friends, she toils day and night to save her family.

Guilt, love, hope, and longing converge in this audiovisual spectacle that will linger long afterward. Musician and artist Nicolas Jaar composed Ema’s pumping ambient reggaeton soundtrack, making the film a spectacle for both the eyes and the ears. Chilean Pablo Larraín became known to the general public with his film Jackie (starring Natalie Portman), which was nominated for three Oscars. He also made a trilogy about the Pinochet dictatorship (Tony Manero, Post Mortem, and No) and the acclaimed biopic Neruda, about the eponymous poet.