In spirit of International Education Week, a movie night was held on Feb. 3  at 7 p.m in the Gentile Gallery. They showed The Terminal, a 2004 comedy film famous for its clever humor and unique plot, in which protagonist Viktor Navorski winds up stuck at JFK airport for nine months.

Between war in his fictional home of Krakozhia and his promise to fulfill his late father’s dream of obtaining jazz player Benny Golson’s autograph, the film explores Navorski’s foreign innocence and determination. 

Throughout the showing, audience members laughed at the ridiculous actions of airport workers and at Navorski’s frequent misunderstandings. 

The movie appeals not only to those who may relate to feeling foreign, but also to Americans who frequently interact with the United States’ vast range of cultures. Likewise, Franciscan’s International Education Week used The Terminal to encourage students to expand their cultural palate.

The film itself began with a series of clips, in which different travelers were asked the question, “What is the purpose of your visit?” The mission of International Education itself relates to this question, as it is aimed at creating rich connections and helping students to experience new things through other cultures.

When asked what the message of the movie was, international and sophomore student King Besong answered: “Be humble. . .because it goes a long way, the people who helped [Navorski] were [also] those he helped.”

Internationality speaks not so much about differences that divide but about the common desire to explore the unfamiliar. For the average person, this means having an openness beyond one’s everyday America, striving to understand and appreciate the vast cultural differences the world has to offer.