Julia Alekseyeva

In the 18th century, Horace Walpole wrote, “Life is a comedy to those who think, a tragedy to those who feel.” Perhaps the greatest films—those rare epic wonders—are those that allow you to do both: to tear up and laugh uncontrollably.

French filmmakers seem to veer toward the grandiose—like profoundly emotional plots and immeasurable risk-taking—especially in comparison to their American counterparts. Nicolas Klotz’s Heartbeat Detector (released as La Question Humaine in France), part thriller and part manifesto, exhibits this plunge into the epic and excessive quality of French cinema.

A political showdown occurred in Hamilton Hall this Monday, as the Columbia University College Republicans and College Democrats butted heads over the heavily-debated topic of oil dependency.

Spectator interviews two Morton Williams employees and listens to their take on Columbia students.

Latino Heritage Month festivities concluded in McIntosh Hall Monday night to the melodious tunes of tango and flamenco, as various members of the Columbia and Barnard communities gathered to celebrate with speeches, delicious cuisine, and dance performance.