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Public Invited to Community Cinema Series
The Community Cinema Series is Jan. 16th-20th. Each night one documentary will be shown in Belk Auditorium at 7:00pm. The films are each about a hour long and there will be a short discussion afterwards. The Community Cinema Series is free and open to the community. This is also tied in with the MLK Day of Service, to be held January 22.
The Films
The Calling (Sunday Jan. 16th) by Daniel Alpert. A behind-the-scenes look at young Americans — Christian, Jewish, Catholic, and Muslim — preparing to become the nation’s next generation of religious leaders, The Calling explores the forces that are drawing a new generation of young people to serve their communities and their faith. The Calling offers entertaining, often surprising stories on how faith is lived in a modern, largely secular world.
Taking Root (Monday Jan. 17th) by Lisa Merton and Alan Dater. How does the simple act of planting trees lead to winning the Nobel Peace Prize? Ask Wangari Maathai of Kenya. In 1977, she suggested rural women plant trees to address problems stemming from a degraded environment. Under her leadership, their tree-planting grew into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment, defend human rights and promote democracy. And brought Maathai the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.
A Village Called Versailles (Tuesday Jan. 18th) by S. Leo Chiang. Welcome to Versailles, New Orleans––home to the densest ethnic Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam. For over 30 years, its residents lived a quiet existence on the edge of New Orleans. But then came Hurricane Katrina, the immense garbage piles and the shocking discovery of a toxic landfill planned in their neighborhood. Watch as they fight back, turning a devastating disaster into a catalyst for change and a chance to build a better future.
Deep Down (Wednesday Jan. 19th) by Sally Rubin and Jen Gilomen. Beverly May and Terry Ratliff grew up on opposite sides of a mountain ridge in eastern Kentucky, where coal is king. When a mountaintop removal coal mine encroaches on their community, the two find themselves on opposite sides of a debate that divides their community and the world — who controls, consumes, and benefits from the planet’s dwindling supply of natural resources? In a small town in dire economic straits and high unemployment, the coal company’s offer to buy land and provide jobs can be hard to resist. What can a community do when it must choose between its present and its future?
Garbage Dreams (Thursday Jan. 20th) by Mai Iskander. Welcome to the world’s largest garbage village located on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt. The Zaballeen (Arabic for garbage people) recycle 80 percent of the trash they collect—far more than other recycling initiatives. But now multinational corporations threaten their livelihood. Follow three teenage boys born into the business who are forced to make choices that will impact the survival of their community.