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Film About Leon Blum, Former French Prime Minister Imprisoned by Nazis, to Be Screened at Ramapo College

(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)March 31, 2011

(MAHWAH, NJ)  – Jean Bodon, director and co-producer of the film “Léon Blum: For All Mankind,” will screen and lead a discussion of the film at Ramapo College of New Jersey in April.

The film examines the life of the former three-time Prime Minister of France who was imprisoned in the infamous Buchenwald concentration camp during World War II. Blum’s Jewish heritage and his socialist ideology eventually made him a target for the Nazis, and in 1943 they deported him to the Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany where he remained imprisoned for two years. Bodon says the Nazis used Blum as a hostage for a possible future exchange.

After his release, Blum headed France’s provisional government from 1946-1947 and negotiated a U.S. loan to France for post-war reconstruction. He died in 1950. Blum is best known by his countrymen for introducing labor reforms, including the 40-hour workweek, increased wages and two-week paid vacations for workers.

Bodon, a native of France, teaches film in the Department of Communication Studies of University of Alabama, Birmingham. He teaches courses in television production, cinema and broadcasting. In 2000, he was honored with the President’s Excellence Teaching Award.

Bodon has worked as a feature film director and producer and as a director of documentaries and television commercials. His films have been screened at some of the world’s most prominent film presentation organizations including Lincoln Center, the Library of Congress and the Cinémathèque Française. Bodon’s works have been broadcast on HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, The Movie Channel, E!, TLC, and many other cable systems and networks throughout the world.

His extensive work in the area of film also includes a book on Charlie Chaplin which was prefaced by François Truffaut and “Cinema: an introduction” prefaced by Robert Wise.

Bodon will screen a portion of the film and lead a discussion on Tuesday, April 12 at 3:45 p.m. in the H-Wing Auditorium (H-129).  The screening and presentation are free and open to the public.  For more information or to reserve a seat, please call 201.684.7409.

For media inquiries, contact Anna Farneski, assistant vice president, Marketing and Communications, 201.684.6844.

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About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

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