The UMass Haitian American Students Association presents "The Agronomist," the latest film by Jonathan Demme, the Academy Award-winning director of "Silence of the Lambs" and "Philadelphia." "The Agronomist" tells the story of Haitian national hero, journalist and freedom fighter Jean Dominique, whom Demme first met and filmed in 1986. An open discussion with Michele Montas, a colleague of Dominique's who appears in the film, will follow the screening. Seating is limited, so come early! (Fri., Oct. 1 at 7 p.m., Campus Center Room 101, UMass. No admission charge.)

Aqoolu Lakum (Let Me Tell You): The Western Massachusetts Palestinian film festival will open this Friday evening at Smith College. The three-day festival will show a mixture of documentaries and fiction films about Palestine. Most of these films were made by Palestinians, although a few were also made by Israeli and other international filmmakers. Many of these films were awarded prestigious prizes at internationally acclaimed film festivals in Cannes, Locarno, Isfahan, Jerusalem and Rotterdam. The film festival will open with "Ticket to Jerusalem." (Fri., Oct. 1 at 7 p.m., Wright Hall, Smith College. No admission charge. For more information, check www.aqoolulakum.com.)

Author Tanuja Desai Hidier will perform a "readings-rock-and-revolutions gig" this Friday evening at Mt. Holyoke College. Hidier spoke at Amherst College in April 2003 and read from her novel "Born Confused," which has been a Larry King pick and Sunday Times London book of the week. This time, she will give a musical performance featuring her band, with whom she recorded a CD based on the book. There will also be a bhangra/Bollywood afterparty featuring DJ Rekha. (Fri., Oct. 1 at 8 p.m., Blanchard Great Room, Mt. Holyoke College. No admission charge. For more information, check www.abcreatived.com.)

President Anthony Marx will hold a Town Meeting next Monday. Among other things, Marx will discuss "the academic planning process the College is about to embark on," according to the all-student e-mail he sent. Marx invites students to bring any issues of concern to discuss at the meeting. (Mon., Oct. 4 at 9 p.m., Babbott Room, Octagon.)

Editor's Movie Rental of the Week

We've been waiting for this one a long time-"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" is finally out on DVD! One of the best reviewed films of the year, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" has an incredible collection of talent, in front of and behind the camera. The cast includes Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Elijah Wood, Mark Ruffalo and Tom Wilkinson, with a screenplay written by Charlie Kaufman ("Adaptation"). "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" is the story of Joel (Carrey) who discovers that his long-time girlfriend Clementine (Winslet) has undergone a psychiatric procedure in which all of her memories of Joel are removed. This is a solid movie rental, or even a buy.