The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Monday, September 8, 2008 -5A FINE A RPEIEW UMS looks to Arab world "Do you know what they say about guys with a big nose and big ears?" Empty beauty By NORA FELDHUSEN Daily Arts Writer Every day we are bombarded by televi- sion and online images of the Arab world. Photographers and pundits shape our con- ception of this vast region, in which our country is heavily invested, but from which we are culturally disconnected. But how often do we discuss Arabic art, music or dance? A few years ago, the University Musical Society (UMS) began to highlight a differ- ent region of the world each season. They started with the Arab world and went on to explore Africa; Mexico, the Americas and Asia. This season, they are beginning the cycle again by returning to the Arab world, a theme for which there is no shortage of varied artistic material to fill this year's roster. The theme of global performing arts, however, does not stray from UMS's regu- larly impressive lineup. Highlights of this season, in addition to the Arab-themed UMS delivers another global lineup. performances, are the Mark Morris Dance Group from New York City and the upcom- ing return of world-renowned theater group Complicit. The largest Arab-American community in the United States is about 40 miles from Ann Arbor in Dearborn, Michigan. Accord- ing to Claire Conley Rice, Interim Director of Education and Audience Development at UMS, the society chooses world regions to "connect local communities with a season of artists where they or their ancestors are from." It hopes specific events will inspire local communities to come out for other UMS events, and there are ofteninforma- tive activities like artist talks and panel dis- cussions before or after performances. This year, Rice said, UMS is attempting to "festivalize the approach to global pro- gramming" by adding more than just music to the roster. The festival includes a theatri- cal interpretation of "Richard III: An Arab Tragedy." The play is set in an-unspecified oil-rich Gulf location and willbe performed in Arabic with English supertitles. According to Rice, the goal of these per- formances is not so much to send a politi- cal message but to "celebrate a part of the world that has been plagued with negative stereotypes." The performances not only pay tribute to a rich cultural world but help audiences understand the diversity within it. There will be a number of unique events inupcomingmonths, including The Culture Project and Sulayman Al-Bassam Theater's performance of Shakespeare, and Algerian choreographer Heddy Maalem's interpre- tation of Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring." This season also includes a book group, with one session led by Zeitouna, the local Arab-Jewish women's group. The women will lead a discussion about "The Lemon Tree," a story of an Israeli woman and a Palestinian man who form a relationship in spite of their surroundings. Artists from across the Arab world will be in Ann Arbor this year to show us that seemingly disconnected regions of the world with differing values and ways of life can combine to create art that is dynamic and exciting. Ben Kinglsey and Penelope Cruz fail to save dramatic, yet thoughtless, film BY SHERI JANKELOVITZ Daily Arts Writer Somehow, "Elegy" isn't moving. How is this possible? There are fantastic, raw performances, mainly by the support- ing cast, quiet piano music underscor- ing many scenes and a supposedly heart tugging climax that comes out of left field. It clearly intends to be far more emotional than it is onscreen. But some- thing's still missing. David Kepesh (Ben Kingsley, "Sexy Beast") is a suave older professor who uses his charm to seduce the most beau- tiful of his female students, but only at theendofthe semester, after all grades have ** been given. Sneaky. His prey of choice Eleg at the start of the film Egy is Consuela (Penelope At the Cruz, "Volver"), a Michigan beautiful Cuban stu- Theater dent transfixed by Lakeshoe every word that comes Entertainment out of her teacher's mouth. David's best friend, George (Dennis Hopper, "Swing Vote"), warns him about getting too involved with Consuela, telling him she's just a beautiful shell he'll never crack. Yes, Cruz's character is beautiful (as she always is) and seems almost untouchable, but what more to her is there? At one point, she tells David she's going dancing with her brother and. David is incredulous, as he never knew she had a brother: The audience feels the sameaway, shocked there are actual dimensions to seemingly hollow char- acters. Maybe that's done on purpose. The audience is continually reminded that "beautiful women are invisible." Con- suela certainly proves that point. She's a beautiful face and, like David, we're not supposed to care much about what she says or feels. At one point the words coming out of her mouth are actually muted. She's clearly only meant to be an See ELEGY, Page 8A A