UA Honors College Screens Documentaries in Honor of Late Professor

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s Honors College will present screenings of the documentary films “Da Vinci” and “Pablo’s Winter” in memory of Dr. Will Nolan, a UA assistant professor, who died in 2012.

The films are presented in “The Look of Things: The Will Nolan Documentary Film Series.” The screening will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, at the Bama Theatre in downtown Tuscaloosa. The event is free and open to the public.

“Da Vinci” is a short film by Italian director Yuri Ancarani. It focuses on the Da Vinci, a specialized surgical robot with mechanical arms that performs intricate operations.

“Pablo’s Winter” is a documentary by Chico Pereira. The film recounts the life of a retired miner in Almadén, Spain, who risked his life daily in search of mercury. In addition to adjusting to the changes of retirement, Pablo must deal with the doctor’s request that he stop his beloved pastime: smoking. The film traces the everyday lives of the miners and their families as well as the appeal of ritual and the power of community.

Nolan was a film scholar who taught in The University of Alabama Honors College and encouraged students to improve their consideration and analysis of film. Each year students attend the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham, N.C., a tradition Nolan started. Students who attend the Durham event pick two films to bring to Tuscaloosa for the “Look of Things” festival.