FILM

These are some of the films youve recommended in Week 4:

ARGENTINA
El secreto de sus ojos (2009)
La historia official (1985)
BRAZIL
At Play in the Fields of the Lord (1991)
CHILE
La Luna en el Espejo (1990)
Machuca (2004)
CHINA
Kai Guo Da Dian (1989)
CZECH REPUBLIC
Dark Blue World (2001)
Loners (2000)
EGYPT
Al irhab wal kabab (1992)
Shadi Abdel Salam's movie The Night of Counting the Years (1969). I think it is one of
the most important Egyptian films ever made.

ETHIOPIA
Difret (2014)
After she kills her abductor, a 14-year-old teenager challenges Ethiopia's tradition of
kidnapping girls and forcing them into marriage.
FRANCE
La Famille Blier (2014)
A very good film that captures something about my country and culture is "The
Fabulous Destiny of Amlie Poulain". The story takes place in Paris and shows some
very well known areas of the city, it gives also a glimpse on the neighborhood life.
GERMANY
Goodbye Lenin (2003) is a film about the time before and just after the fall of the wall
and describes pretty well the situation for people from the Eastern part of Germany.
INDIA
Queen (2014)
English Vinglish (2012)
INDONESIA
Tjut Nyak Dien (1988)
ITALY
L'Albero degli zoccoli (the Tree of Wooden Clogs) (1978) by Ermanno Olmi
La vita bella (Life is beautiful) (1997) by Roberto Benigni
The Best of Youth (La meglio giovent) (2003) by Marco Tullio Giordana

MEXICO
Hecho en Mxico (2012)
POLAND
Skazany na Bluesa (Destined for Blues) (2005)
Ida (2013)
ROMANIA
Moromeii (1987) The best movie you can see that represents entirely ,life in my country
as it was before the World War. The main character is Victor Rebengiuc,an icon among
Romanian actors
A recent movie that I highly recommend to you is "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2
Days (2007). Do not miss it!!
RUSSIA
The Barber of Siberia (1998)
Leviathan (2014)
SENEGAL
Le Mendat by Sembene Ousmane (1968)
SERBIA
Zona Zamfirova (2002)
SPAIN
La Voz dormida (2011)
Las 13 Rosas (13 Roses) (2007) by Emilio Martnez Lzaro
I would suggest Luis Garcia Berlanga film's and Luis Buuel's films. Both do a
descrptions accurate of Spain and Spanish's characters.
TUNISIA
A Summer in la Goulette (1996)
A Summer In La Goulette is the best film that talks about the best place and period in
recent Tunisian history. It shows how Tunisian muslims and Jews, French, Italians,
Maltese and Greek used to live together in peace in La Goulette on the coast of Tunis
during the first half of the 20th century.
UKRAINE
The Earth (Zemlya) (1930)
Povodyr (2014)
"Shadows of forgotten ancestors" is the real masterpiece directed by Paradjanov. It is
based on the classic book by Ukrainian writer Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky.

BOOKS
These are some of the books youve recommended in Week 4:
ALGERIA
Ahlam Moustaghanami;because she is roughly the best Algerian writer who succeeded
to describe my country in different essential features that characterize any
country;history,tradition,politics,society,arts...I recommend to my dear fellows;MEMORY
of the BODY
Other recommended authors:
Moloud Feroun, Memori and Assia, Yasmina Khadra
ARGENTINA
One of the most famous Argentinian books is Martin Fierro. It is a poem about the life of
a gaucho who lives in the country in the late 1800s and after suffering from discrimination
and social unfairness, becomes a gaucho matrero (that means, one that lives outside the
law). It was written by Jos Hernandez in 1879
Jorge Luis Borges. He is also a controversial figure of our literature, trapped in the
endless ideological struggles of our contemporary history. Borges is an exquisite narrator
and a remarkable poet, who was inspired in English literature. Recommended: The
Aleph and other stories
Other recommended authors: Maria Elena Wash, Fontanarrosa, Cortazar
ARMENIA
I and he by Nar-dos.
BELARUS
Belarus can boast of Nobel Prize nominee (though he hasn't got the Prize yet) - Ryhor
Baradulin, a great and very metaphorical poet with extraordinary poetic language.
BOLIVIA
Raza de Bronce by Alcides Arguedas.
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
If you haven't, you should immediately read two great books by the only Nobel prize
winner from Bosnia and Herzegovina - Ivo Andri. Books are called The Damned Yard
and The Bridge on the Drina. Also I would recommend Mea Selimovi.
BRAZIL
Some recommended authors:
Joo Ubaldo Ribeiro, Rubem Alves, e Ariano Suassuna, Clarice Lispector, Jos de
Alencar, Carlos Drummond de Andrade, Machado de Assis, Graciliano Ramos,
Guimares Rosa, Ceclia Meireles, Lima Barreto, Manuel Bandeira, Mario Quintana,
Paulo Coelho and many others.
The Violent Land by Jorge Amado
Paulo Coelho - very famous Brazilian writer. One of his great works is the trilogy: "Na
Margem do Rio Piedra Eu Sentei e Chorei", "O Demnio e a Srta. Prym" and "Veronika
Decide Morrer.

BULGARIA
Under the yoke by Ivan Vazov
BURKINO FASO
Le crepuscule des temps anciens by Nazi Boni
CABO VERDE
I would recommend Germano Almeida. He is an amazing author, with such a great way
of telling stories. With him, you have a perspective of Cabo Verde in a more
contemporary way. I would suggest "The Last Will and Testament of Senhor da Silva
Arajo" or in portuguese " Testamento do Sr. Napumoceno da Silva Arajo
CHILE
Some recommended authors:
Francisco Coloane, Los Jaibas, Illapu, Neruda, Mistral, Huidobro , M. Luisa Bombal, and
Isabel Allende
Many people overlook Alberto Blest Gana. I think he was a great writer who described
Chilean XIX century society very well. ( "Los transplantados", Martn Rivas" ."
CHINA
The Story of the Stone/Dream of the Red Chamber. by Cao Xueqin
The Analects of Confucius
Kunlun Shang by Bi Shumin
Big Breasts and Wide Hips by Mo Yan
Zhimo Xu is one of the most famous poets in China.
COLOMBIA
In Colombia the most famous and brilliant writer was Gabriel Garcia Marquez, cosidered
one of the most important in Latin America in the twentieth century. He received the
Nobel prize in literature in 1982. But is best known for his novels, such as One Hundred
Years of Solitude, The Autumn of the Patriarch and Love in the Time of Cholera.
CROATIA
August Senoa wrote great historical novels as well as Josip Eugen Tomic. Silvije
Strahimir Kranjcevic was one of the greatest poets from my hometown as well as
Vjenceslav Novak, Pavao Ritter Vitezovic, etc. my hometown Senj is very well-known for
its writers and poets. From the modern one there's Julijana Matanovic, Sibila Petlevski,
vedrana Rudan (she's a bit shocvking for the language she uses), Hrvoje Salkovic, etc.
I would recommend books from the first female journalist in Croatia, Marija Juri
Zagorka.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Recommended authors include:
Franz Kafka and Jaroslav Hasek
R.U.R. by Karel apek
Kytice by Karel Jaromr Erben

CUBA
I recommend Jos Mart's works. He is a very well known writer in Cuba and probably in
many other countries. He is considered a national hero and the Apostle of cubans
independence. He spent most of his life writing and his best works are for children. The
most famous one is La Edad de Oro..The Golden Age. His collection of poems, Versos
Sensillos, also became really famous when they were put to music as La
Guantanamera.
EGYPT
Nagib Mahfouz is the most famous writer in egypt
ESTONIA
The work of Kristjan Jaak Peterson
FRANCE
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
Mrs Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
In search of lost time by Marcel Proust
Les Trois Mousquetaires by Alexandre Dumas
Le Petit Prince by Antoine de SaintAlso recommended authors:
Jules Verne, Molire, Boris Vian, Marcel Pagnol, Chrtien de Troyes, Voltaire
Hunting and Gathering by Anna Gavalda was recommended as a hugely popular and
critically acclaimed contemporary French novel.
I'd rather choose a funnier one:"Froth on the Daydream" (literally, the French title is "The
Foam of Days") from Boris Vian. This is a love story written with a lot of fantasy,
published in 1946, at the end of the WW II, when the Parisian young people expressed
joy and relief to see the peace back by celebrating in Saint-Germain-des-Prs's cellars.
GERMANY
Goethe and Schiller are probably the most famous writers but they do not really describe
Germany as such, Drrematt, Brecht and Boll are also well known and the latter gives
quite a good picture about his time. However all of them are quite difficult to read and
understand if German is not your mother tongue. Florian Illies, Generation Golf is
something I would recommend as he describes Germany in the 80s in a very entertaining
way.
GREECE
The Last Temptation of Christ by Nikos Kazantzakis
Odysseas Elytis (November 2, 1911 March 18, 1996) is regarded as a major exponent
of romantic modernism in Greece (Notable awards----Nobel Prize in Literature 1979).
Z by Vasilis Vasilikos-'' (also made into an Oscar-winning film by Costa-Gavras)
HUNGARY
Recommended writers and poets:
Sndor Petfi, Attila Jzsef and Jnos Arany and more.

INDIA
Malgudi Days by R.K.Narayan
Two States by Chetan Bhagat
Naalukettu by M T Vasudevan Nair
Rabindranath Tagore, the Bengali poet and writer is to my mind a good example of one
who has been successful in writing about India's culture. He is the author of our National
Anthem.
INDONESIA
The Buru Quartet (This Earth of Mankind, Child of All Nations, Footsteps, and House of
Glass) Pramoedya Ananta Toer.
One of my favorites writer is Tere Liye, some of his works converted to the films. Many
morals message that I gain from his works and changed my life after.
IRAN
The Neighbours by Ahmad Mahmoud
ITALY
I recommend poets like Pascoli, Quasimodo, Montale , Merini just to quote some and
writers like Pirandello, Calvino, Pasolini.
It is difficult to choose a book that speaks of Italy, each region is unique. Saviano's
Gomorrah is a book denouncing the crime, but it is refered to a part of southern Italy
Christ Stopped at Eboli by Carlo Levi describes Italy after the Second World War, the
central theme is the political and economic differences between north and south. Don
Camillo by Guareschi said with irony that Italy is changing, fears and confusion caused
by the loss of identity.
IRAQ
Muhammad Kudhair one of the best known Iraqi writers, his short stories are translated
into English ,Russian and French. His best works include "The Black Kingdom ,"At 45
centigrade, Autumn Dream" and the novel Basiata .The short story ,"The Swing".
JAPAN
Haruki Murakami is one of the best known, I believe.
One of famouse writer is Yukio Mishima in Japan. I love his play, Sotoba Komachi which
is playing at a theatre sometime.
KAZAKHSTAN
Nomads by I.Esenberlin
Abay way by M.Auezov
KENYA
Facing mt Kenya by Jomo Kenyatta
LITHUANIA
A. Baranauskas (Anyki ilelis)

REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
you should read Krpen zivot (Darned life), Golemata voda (The Great water) - there is
also a film addaptaion of it, Pirej, Pustina (Desert) Most of them explain the life in
Macedonia in the past.
MEXICO
Moldavita by Norma Muoz Ledo
Aura by Carlos Fuentes
Pedro Pramo by Juan Rulfo
The Labyrinth of Solitude by Octavio Paz
MYANMAR
Freedom from Fear by Aung San Su Kyi
There are many famous writers in our country Myanmar. Among them, Ma Sandar is one
of the most favorite of mine. She can describe our daily lives, attitudes, cultural and also
our tradition.
My country has some iconic writers such as Ludu U Hla, Saya Zawgyi, Mya Than Tint
who was known for his translations of Western classics like War and Peace,Ludu Daw
Amar, Aung San Suu Kyi , Khin Khin Htoo , Ju ,etc.
THE NETHERLANDS
The Diary of Anne Frank.
I think one of the most famous writters is Carry Slee in the Netherlands.
NIGERIA
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
NORWAY
The most famous Norwegian writer is Henrik Ibsen. He is to Norwegians what
Shakespeare is to the English. He is the second most played playwright in the world, next
to Shakespeare. Some of his most famous works are A Doll's House, Hedda Gabler,
Peer Gynt. His plays still continue to challenge his audiences. He lived from 1828 1906.
PALESTINAN TERRITORIES
the most famous writers & authors such as Mahmoud Darwish and Ghassan Kanafani
and Samih al-Qasim, they wrote several books in literature and poems that are in a very
magnificence, beauty and they received many awards in this field.
THE PHILIPPINES
Noli Me tanghere by Jose P. Rizal. Rizal is our national hero, I like his book because it
reminds me of the life of Filipino people before.
POLAND
A Treatise on Shelling Beans Wiesaw Myliwski
Chopi Wadysaw Reymont

I recommend Wisawa Szymborska, Henryk Sienkiewicz and Adam Mickiewicz. They

describe Poland.
ROMANIA
Ion by Liviu Rebreanu
Why we love women by Mircea Crtrescu
I adore this book , are 20 stories and all have a female protagonist. I will not say more , I
wont spoil the surprise !
The work of the poet Eminescu
The plays of Eugene Ionesco and Marin Sorescu.
One of the most interesting writer of Romanian literature was Ion Luca Caragiale. He
wrote plays (comedy and drama), short novels, poems, he was jornalist and theater
manager.
Bengal Nights by Mircea Eliade
One of the most famous in the word is our national poet - Mihai Eminescu.
RUSSIA
Many recommendations for some of the very famous Russian authors. The works of
Fedor Dostoevsky, Leo Tolstoy, Alexander Pushkin, Anton Chekhov.
Also mentioned were Turgenevs "Fathers and Sons" , Bulgakovs "The Master and
Margarita and Gogols Dead Souls.
Dead Souls Gogol
RWANDA
Indyoheshabirayi by Aloys Bigirumwami
SENEGAL
Une si longue letter (So long a letter) by Mariama Ba
SERBIA
I would recommend a book by Stevan Sremac called 'Zona Zamfirova' and the film by
Zravko Sotra with the same name. It is a love story about two young people from the
different social classes. In my opinion, it describes history of my nation,their
tradition,customs and attitudes once upon a time.
SLOVENIA
France Preeren is our most famous (romantic) poet; his Zdravljica ("Toast") is also the
national anthem. Ivan Cankar is perhaps the best known novelist (brutal realism).
Personally, I would emphasize Zofka Kveder (one of the first female authors and
feminists who tackled some truly difficult issues) and Fran Milinski (his Butalci are a
wonderful satire on our national character). One of the most important poem collections
is the intimistic Pesmi tirih ("Poems of the Four") written by Janez Menart, Ciril Zlobec,
Kajetan Kovi and Tone Pavek. The new generations seem promising as well; lately, I've
enjoyed the fantastic and uneasy novels by Nejc Gazvoda and the brave, brash and
concise poetry of Katja Perat.

SPAIN
Many recommendations from all parts of Spain. These include:
Manuel Rivas (from Galicia), Antonio Machado, Federico Garca Lorca.
Carlos Ruiz Zafns "The shadow of the wind". It's wonderful and tells about the
customs of that time.
"A Esmorga", translated in English as "On a bender". This book written by Eduardo
Blanco Amo is a good description of Galician culture and people.
Javier Maras - The Infatuations
Ildefonso Falcones - Cathedral of the Sea
And, of course, many of you recommended Miguel de Cervantes fantastic Don Quixote.
SRI LANKA
Nihal De Silve describes our country best in The Road to Elephant Pass
SUDAN
Season of Migration to the North and The Wedding of Zein by Tayeb Salih (1929 2009)
THAILAND
Soontronpoo is the name of the most famous writer in my country,Thailand I recommend
his poetry especially "Phra Apai Manee".
TUNISIA
The poet who describes the best my country is ''Abu Al Kacem Achebbi'', he one of an
icon for Tunisia's culture, although his young age he has got touching, awesome and
fabulous poems expressing the love of our country, the love of life, motivating people to
reach their goals...
TURKEY
Mehmet Akif ERSOY was one of the greatest poet in my country. He wrote our national
anthem which describes my counties background and its brave soldiers. I think that is the
best.
UGANDA
I recommend Abyssinian Chronicles by Moses Isewaga. Set in the backdrop of
Ugandas turbulent past, Moses Isewagas Abyssinian Chronicles is based on the
authors own life, although it also clearly reflects a more general Ugandan experience
under the military dictatorship of Idi Amin.
UKRAINE
I would recommend to read poetry by Taras Shevchenko. He is well known Ukrainian
poet, writer and artist, who influenced our culture in so many ways. His works are
translated to different languages. Also, my personal favourite is Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky,
but I'm not really sure about the translations.

Modern Ukrainian literature is quite rich. If you like poetry I can recommend Sergiy
Zhadan or Yuriy Andrukhovich who's books are translated in many languages. If you like
controversial view on modern Ukrainian life I would recommend Irena Karpa. If you are
not ready to post modern literature and want to learn classic literature - look for Andriy
Kurkov, modern novelist from Kyiv.
Speaking of classic books which are the ground of Ukrainian literature we have to
remember Ivan Franko, Ivan Kotsubynskyy, Borys Grinchenko, Mykhaylo Bulgakov etc.