I thought I would create a separate discussion for proposed/requested upcoming movies.
To begin, I need to solicit opinions about the schedule for the next two weeks. I have scheduled the following:
1. "The Way" (w/ Martin Sheen) for Wed of Holy Week, March 31. I scheduled this before I heard of the Tenebrae Service scheduled at COH the same evening. ("The Way" was actually suggested by Dennis.) I would be happy to hear from folks regarding the conflicting scheduling: shall we show "The Way", or would you prefer to attend the Tenebrae service.
2. "Brother Sun, Sister Moon" (1972 Franco Zeffirelli move) about St Francis for Wed, April 7.
However, I have since learned of documentaries on the immigration crisis that appear particularly important, perhaps even urgent, at this point in time. So I'm thinking of pushing "Brother Sun, Sister Moon" back at least one week and showing a pair of documentaries on Wed, April 7. These are:
-- "Undeterred", a 2019 documentary (1 hr, 16 min). Undeterred tells the story of the build up of enforcement along the US/ Mexico border and how it functions. Through intimate portraits, raw footage and artful animation, it shows how life in one small town has changed and how local residents have organized to push back and resist those changes. See https://www.newday.com/film/undeterred.
-- "Oh Mercy: Searching for Hope in the Promised Land", a 2020 short (10-12 min) documentary short about the dehumanization, marginalization, and increasing sense of desperation among thousands of refugees and asylum seekers clustered in a camp in Matamoros, Mexico, across the Rio Grande from Brownsville, Texas. See https://www.globalsistersreport.org/news/arts-and-media/blog/sr-norma-pimentel-center-new-documentary-migration
Your thoughts on these and other movies are welcome here.
We continue our Season of Creation theme for movies with “Paris to Pittsburgh”, a 2018 documentary (https://www.paristopittsburgh.com). The title comes from a quote of Trump explaining his motive behind pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement: “I was elected to represent Pittsburgh, not Paris.” Ironically, the mayor of Pittsburgh, immediately enforced that agreement in the city! The narrator (Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award-winning actress and activist Rachel Brosnahan, star of the hit series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) says about this movie: “Paris to Pittsburgh shines a light on the many forgotten communities and people who have been affected by climate change in our country, as well as solutions for how we can fight back and reduce our carbon footprint. I’m proud to be part of this poignant and powerful documentary, and admire the pro-active approach Bloomberg Philanthropies has taken with this project and this issue; we need meaningful change.”
Join us next Wednesday, Sept 8, at 7pm on Zoom, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87671456490?pwd=R09WSENPMWFwMndZRnFVZjJxZ3J2UT09, for viewing and discussion. We’ll review candidates for movies for the coming weeks leading up to the Feast of St Francis.
One man has seen more of the natural world than any other. This unique feature documentary is his witness statement. In his 93 years, David Attenborough has visited every continent on the globe, exploring the wild places of our planet and documenting the living world in all its variety and wonder. Now, for the first time he reflects upon both the defining moments of his lifetime as a naturalist and the devastating changes he has seen. Honest, revealing and urgent, DAVID ATTENBOROUGH: A LIFE ON OUR PLANET is a powerful first-hand account of humanity’s impact on nature and a message of hope for future generations.
Join us on Wednesday, Aug 25, at 7pm for a zoom showing of this movie (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87671456490?pwd=R09WSENPMWFwMndZRnFVZjJxZ3J2UT09), a fitting start to our preparation for the 2021 Season of Creation, Sept 1 - Oct 4 (https://seasonofcreation.org/2021/08/17/pope-francis-vatican-duffe-letter/)
Those who have seen this week's parish email, or the recent event notice on our Facebook Group, will know that we are coming out of a long movie hiatus to show the documentary "ReWilding Kernwood" next Wed, Aug 18, at 7pm, on our usual zoom link, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87671456490?pwd=R09WSENPMWFwMndZRnFVZjJxZ3J2UT09.
This is a "Creation Care" movie night.
Kernwood, a family cabin lovingly constructed in the Alaska bush by Jean Aspen and Tom Irons, was their summer home for 26 years. In 2015 they decided to give the land back to itself. “We should strive to enrich the future, not use it up,” Aspen said. “The children of tomorrow don’t need our moldering edifices. They need a healthy, living world in which to envision their own dreams.” In this, their 3rd documentary, they dismantle their home and carefully restore the site to intact wilderness.
We've been waiting for the release of the highly praised documentary Rebel Hearts, and now it should be available starting June 27, so we'll share it on Wednesday, June 30 at 7pm. Join us on Zoom, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87671456490?pwd=R09WSENPMWFwMndZRnFVZjJxZ3J2UT09 for viewing, inspiration, and discussion. Read more about it at https://www.rebelheartsfilm.com/home#film.
The Discovery channel suggests 3 reasons to watch it: 1. The Nuns Are Pretty Bad*ss 2. It was a Sundance Film Festival Favorite 3. The REBEL HEARTS Soundtrack is SO GOOD
Here is the summary.
In 1960s Los Angeles a trailblazing group of nuns, The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, bravely stood up to the patriarchy of the Catholic Church, fighting for equality, their livelihoods, and their own freedom against an all-powerful Cardinal who sought to keep them in their place. Their bold acts of faith, defiance and activism turned the Church upside down, helping to reshape our society in ways that continue to resonate today. From marching in Selma in 1965 to the Women’s March in 2018, they challenged the notion of what a nun and a woman were supposed to be.
These unlikely resistance fighters, including Anita Caspary, Helen Kelley, Pat Reif and iconic pop artist Corita Kent, were devoted to a life of service, not only to others but to themselves - forming a community that empowered each sister to live up to her fullest potential. Their desire to bring the church into modern life was met with forceful opposition at every turn. As each of them discovered their own talents and voices, they fully stepped into their roles as leaders in a movement that is still making waves.
Just a reminder: Tonight (Wed, June 9) is Movie Night featuring Homeboy Joy Ride, a just-released documentary about Homeboy Industries, founded by Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. It is a compelling documentary about transformation and the power of community. Homeboy is the starting point of a joy ride that welcomes people suffering from addiction, isolation, and marginalization. This community fosters connection, purpose, peer support, and skill building. Witness how individuals can come together to heal themselves through community and service. Learn how you can support Homeboy! (https://www.wholehearted.org/title/homeboy-joy-ride/)
Join us at 7pm for viewing and discussion on Zoom, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87671456490?pwd=R09WSENPMWFwMndZRnFVZjJxZ3J2UT09
I think I will reconvene our Wednesday movies a little sooner than suggested in my last note. I personally want to see the recent documentary Francesco (https://www.francescofilm.com), as I noted above in a post on March 9. The movie is described by the producers as "... the headline-making Pope Francis documentary from Oscar® nominated director and producer, Evgeny Afineevksy. This groundbreaking film features unprecedented access to His Holiness Pope Francis, providing an intimate look at a global leader who approaches challenging and complex issues with tremendous humility, wisdom and generosity towards all." It is now available on Discovery+, so I signed up for a subscription in order to show it.
Francesco has mostly positive reviews. For example, from NPR-Los Angeles: "A Vatican-sanctioned, pretty worshipful documentary, and yet I still found it worth watching because of the breadth of the issues that the pope is concerned about." But the reviews are definitely not all positive, one of the sharpest reviews being from the NYT: "Judged strictly as a movie, "Francesco" comes across as shapeless and secondhand - a missed opportunity to present a closer look at the daily work of being pope and perhaps to demystify elements of the papacy." Still, I think it is worth watching, so I'll make this available next Wednesday, May 26, at 7pm (unless folks want to push our start time back due to more sunshine) on our usual zoom link, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87671456490?pwd=R09WSENPMWFwMndZRnFVZjJxZ3J2UT09.
This might be considered as the first of a trio of documentaries on inspirational figures, to be followed by those of a couple of other Jesuits, Fr. Greg Boyle on June 6, and Fr. James Martin on June 16. But don't worry, I have not forgotten women and our women religious (who have featured in previous movies we have shown)! I'm still on the alert for when I can get access to "Rebel Hearts."
We've been taking a little break, but I think we'll start getting together again in June. Following a couple of recent suggestions, I'm proposing :
June 9: Homeboy Joy Ride, a just-released documentary about Homeboy Industries, founded by Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. Homeboy Joy Ride is a compelling documentary about transformation and the power of community. Homeboy is the starting point of a joy ride that welcomes people suffering from addiction, isolation, and marginalization. This community fosters connection, purpose, peer support, and skill building. Witness how individuals can come together to heal themselves through community and service. Learn how you can support Homeboy!(https://www.wholehearted.org/title/homeboy-joy-ride/)
June 16: Building A Bridge A Martin Scorsese-produced documentary about James Martin, S.J., and his ministry to L.G.B.T. Catholics has been selected to be part of the Tribeca Film Festival in June, the organization announced Tuesday.
The documentary, “Building a Bridge,” is based on Father Martin’s 2018 book of the same name. I got a voucher from the Tribeca Film Festival for viewing the movie on this date.
And one more to plan for, "Dolores", the documentary about Dolores Huerta, co-founder with Cesar Chavez of the United Farm Workers. It is possible that Debi could arrange for someone from the farm workers union to join us for this showing.
Another very powerful movie (recommended by Nancy Miller) is The Condor and the Eagle
Four Indigenous leaders embark on an extraordinary trans-continental adventure from the Canadian Boreal forests to deep into the heart of the Amazonian jungle to unite the peoples of North and South America and deepen the meaning of “climate justice.” “The Condor & The Eagle” offers a glimpse into a developing spiritual renaissance as the film’s four protagonists learn from each other’s long legacy of resistance to colonialism and its extractive economy. Their path through the jungle takes them on an unexpectedly challenging and liberating journey, which will forever change their attachment to the Earth and one another.
However, we might have to pay a fair bit for the rights to show this movie. For more information and the trailer, see https://thecondorandtheeagle.com
A suggestion from the National Religious Campaign against Torture, passed along by Sr. Judith:
Dear Friends,
Now available for streaming, The Mauritanian tells the story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi and his fight for freedom after being detained, tortured, and imprisoned without charge in Guantanamo. Tahar Rahim (Golden Globe nominee), Jodie Foster (Golden Globe winner) and Benedict Cumberbatch star in the new film, which accurately depicts both the torture and other inhumane treatment inflicted upon Guantanamo detainees, and the Kafkaesque lengths that the U.S. government has gone to keep them locked up regardless of their guilt or innocence.
The film is available for streaming on major on demand services, while also running in theaters. You can see the trailer for the film and options for streaming it at https://www.themauritanian.movie/.
For additional background on the history depicted in the film and the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, as well as suggestions for what you can do to help close Guantanamo, check out NRCAT's The Mauritanian Viewing and Discussion Guide.
I'm moving here a couple of posts regarding other proposed movies
Last edited March 1:
Suggestions and comments on possible movies to be shown in the future can be posted here. Here are some recent suggestions.
Two movies recently shown at the Sundance Film Festival are definitely of interest, once they become available.
- Rebel Hearts (sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Saint Mary in the 1960s)
- My Name is Pauli Murray (black, non-binary, priest, poet, lawyer, professor, friend of Elanor Roosevelt, civil/black rights activist)
And for Care for Creation:
- A Life on Our Planet (David Attenborough)
- Brother Sun, Sister Moon, the 1972 Franco Zeffirelli movie about St Francis of Assissi (a considerable change in style from our sequence of documentaries!)
Last edited March 9:
I might have to get a subscription for the Discovery+ streaming service. They have acquired rights to "Rebel Hearts" (see above), which will be available sometime later this year, and to "Francesco". The film website (www.francescofilm.com) says: "FRANCESCO is not a biographical film about Pope Francis in the traditional sense. Rather it is a film that shows us the world as it is today and a path to understanding what a better future can be for tomorrow as seen through the remarkable work of the Pope in the areas of climate change, migration, refugees, peace and religious tolerance, gender and identity justice, health and economic equality, and, by example, the meaning of inspired leadership. "