David B. Jaffe wonders: "Here at Connecticut College we have a theme that we focus a series of lectures, discussions, and events around. The theme is chosen a year in advance. Next year's theme is "Concepts of Community." Might you all have suggestions for films that illuminate issues of community, how the comm. acts against or with the individual, how comm. is created or destroyed, etc? Ideally, there would be one that is not well known, but available on video that might serve as a launching point for other events. Whaddaya think?" Here are some thoughts: John Ford and Frank Capra often deal with this theme, eg. MY DARLING CLEMENTINE, THE QUIET MAN, HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY and THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE; MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN, MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON, MEET JOHN DOE, LOST HORIZON, and IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. Altman's MCCABE AND MRS. MILLER and NASHVILLE Sentimental versions of community in WAY DOWN EAST, I REMEMBER MAMA, A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN, PLACES IN THE HEART, and STEEL MAGNOLIAS. Deconstructions of community in WELCOME TO L.A. and MRS. PARKER AND THE VICIOUS CIRCLE. Ethnic communities in BOYZ N THE HOOD, DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS, and TO SLEEP WITH ANGER; A WEDDING BANQUET; and THE MILAGRO BEANFIELD WAR. Counterculture communities in ALICE'S RESTAURANT. Foreign films: Pagnol's THE BAKER'S WIFE, Renoir's GRAND ILLUSION, RULES OF THE GAME, and THE RIVER; Fellini's AMARCORD; Clouzot's THE CROW; S. Ray's DISTANT THUNDER; Zhang Yimou's TO LIVE; the Taviani Bros.' NIGHT OF THE SHOOTING STARS; Chabrol's MADAME BOVARY; Teshigahara's WOMAN IN THE DUNES and Immamura's INSECT WOMAN and BLACK RAIN; the Norwegian KAMILLA; and the British/Italian IL POSTINO. There are also interesting variations as Cold War/Red Scare films in such movies as HIGH NOON, INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (Kaufman's remake is also interesting), and STORM CENTER. The German multi-part film HEIMAT is yet another. Don Larsson, Mankato State U (MN) ---- To signoff SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]