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More Arts:

Focus on Film has a single theme this year: intimate stories about men at the most crucial times in their lives.

In addition, according to the Mondavi Center, each film features music that transcends the "soundtrack" tag — instead taking a central role in the aesthetic experience.

The series is set to open Nov. 18 with Tous les Matrins du Monde, a 1991 film starring Gerard Depardieu as the elderly Marin Marais, a 17th-century composer looking back on his life, both as a musician and a lover. Based on a true story, the film features music by Marais and his teacher Sainte Colombe, all performed by Jordi Savall on the viola da gamba. Directed by Alain Corneau. In French with subtitles. 115 minutes, rated R.

The rest of the Focus on Film series for 2010-11:

• Jan. 27 — 25th Hour (2002), in which Edward Norton plays Monty Brogan, a drug dealer in his last hours of freedom before a seven-year jail term. Directed by Spike Lee with music by Terence Blanchard. 135 minutes, rated R.

• April 21 — Der Untergang (Downfall), a 2004 film about Hitler's final days, as he raged against his powerlessness to top the fall of Berlin, and with it, World War II and the Third Reich. Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel with music by Stephan Zacharias. 156 minutes, rated R.

Starting time for each film is 7 p.m. in the Vanderhoef Studio Theatre. Tickets are $10, or $25 for all three films.

MORE AT THE MONDAVI CENTER

• Madness and Music Festival — Continues today (Oct. 29) through oct. 31.

• Venice Baroque Orchestra: The Seasons Project — In this world premiere tour, the orchestra joins with violinist Robert McDuffie to present two distinct versions of Vivaldi’s master work: first, the original Four Seasons, followed by Glass' The American Four Seasons, which McDuffie commissioned. 8 p.m. Nov. 3, Jackson Hall. Preperformance talk featuring McDuffie in conversation with Don Roth, executive director, Mondavi Center, 7 p.m., Jackson Hall.

• Buika — The "Flamenco Queen," a Latin Grammy nominee, with a unique sound that the Mondavi Center describes as “a blend of flamenco, jazz, soul and blues.” Her latest recording, El Último Trago, is a tribute to Mexican folkloric singer Chavela Vargas. 8 p.m. Nov. 6, Jackson Hall.

• Delfeayo Marsalis Octet – In the Studio Jazz series. 8 p.m. Nov. 3-6, Vanderhoef Studio Theatre.

• Alexander String Quartet, with Robert Greenberg — Two season ago, the quartet and Greenberg began a special series at the Mondavi Center — with four sets of concerts a year, each of them featuring string quartets by Beethoven, so that at the end of three seasons, the quartet will have performed all of them. The cycle wraps up in 2010-11, starting with the String Quartet in E-flat Major, op. 127. Each set of concerts (Nov. 7, Dec. 5, March 13 and June 5, all Sundays) comprises two performances — 2 and 7 p.m. — in the Vanderhoef Studio Theatre. The 2 p.m. series, with Greenberg's commentaries, is sold out (contact the box office if you would like to be put on a waiting list). Tickets are limited in avaiability for the 7 p.m. concert series (in which a question-and-answer session follows each performance).

• Imago Theatre: ZooZoo — A Children's Stage program featuring  larger than life rabbits, hippos, penguins and more. ZooZoo is a greatest hits collection of acrobatics, dance and theatrical imagination from Imago's fun and frolicsome FROGZ and Biglittlethings. 3 p.m. Nov. 7, Jackson Hall.

• Delfeayo Marsalis Group with student guests — During the second week of a residency, Marsalis plans to work in area schools — and from these visits, he and his combo will invite some of the top student musicians to join the professionals for a portion of three evening concerts: 8 p.m. Nov. 10-12 in the Vanderhoef Studio Theatre.

• Paul Taylor Dance Company — One of the oldest touring companies of modern American dance. With a post-performance question-and-answer session. 8 p.m. Nov. 13, Jackson Hall.

• Christopher O’Riley: Out of My Hands — The pianist reimagines works by Radiohead, Elliott Smith, Nick Drake and others, earning the only four-star review ever given by Rolling Stone to a classical pianist. His latest project, Out Of My Hands, includes music of R.E.M., Portishead, Cocteau Twins, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, the Bad Plus, the Smiths and Tears For Fears, as well as material from Radiohead and a newly-released song by Elliott Smith. 8 p.m. Nov. 13 and 2 p.m. Nov. 14, Vanderhoef Studio Theatre. As of midweek, the Nov. 13 concert was sold out (contact the box office if you would like to be put on a waiting list). Preperformance talks featuring O’Riley in conversation with Lara Downes, artist in residence, Mondavi Center, 7 p.m. Nov. 13 and 1 p.m. Nov. 14, Vanderhoef Studio Theatre.

• Ornette Coleman — Jazz saxophonist, composer and 2007 Pulitzer Prize winner for his purely improvised recording, Sound Grammar. 8 p.m. Nov. 20, Jackson Hall. Preperformance talk by Cory Combs, director of education, SF Jazz, 7 p.m., Jackson Hall.

• Jeanine De Bique — Soprano, in the Debut series. 8 p.m. Nov. 20 and 2 p.m. Nov. 21, Vanderhoef Studio Theatre.

Or call (530) 754-2787 or (866) 754-2787.