Wednesday, June 19, 2013 • 6:30 p.m. Columbia Public Library, Friends Room
“Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars” (78 min.) follows a reggae band born in the camps of West Africa, representing a real-life story of survival and hope. The six-member musical group came together in Guinea after civil war forced them from their native Sierra Leone. Traumatized by physical injuries and the brutal loss of family and community, they fight back with the only means they have-music. (more…)
Wednesday, May 22, 2013 • 6:30 p.m. Columbia Public Library, Friends Room
The documentary “Buck” (88 min.) follows Buck Brannaman, a true American cowboy and sage on horseback who travels the country for nine grueling months a year helping horses with people problems. A real life “horse-whisperer,” he eschews the violence of his upbringing and teaches people to communicate with horses through leadership and sensitivity, not punishment. Buck possesses near magical abilities as he dramatically transforms horses-and people-with his understanding, compassion and respect. This documentary by director Cindy Meehl was shown at the True/False Film Fest in 2011.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013 • 6:30 p.m. Columbia Public Library, Friends Room
“The Queen of Versailles” (100 min.) is a character-driven documentary about a billionaire family and their financial challenges in the wake of the economic crisis. The film begins with the family triumphantly constructing the biggest house in America, a 90,000 sq. ft. palace. Over the next two years, their sprawling empire, fueled by the real estate bubble and cheap money, falters due to the economic crisis. (more…)
Wednesday, February 13, 2013 • 6:30 p.m. Columbia Public Library, Friends Room Director Chad Freidrichs in attendance!
Destroyed in a dramatic and highly-publicized implosion, the Pruitt-Igoe public housing complex has become a widespread symbol of failure amongst architects, politicians and policy makers. “The Pruitt-Igoe Myth” (84 min.) explores the social, economic and legislative issues that led to the decline of conventional public housing in America, and the city centers in which they were built, while tracing the personal and poignant narratives of several of the residents of the notorious Pruitt-Igoe public housing complex in St. Louis. Director Chad Freidrichs will lead a Q&A afterwards. Freidrichs teaches film and video courses in the Digital Filmmaking program at Stephens College and has also directed the film Jandek on Corwood.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013 • 6:30-8:30 p.m. Columbia Public Library, Friends Room
One hundred years ago, American teachers established the English-speaking public school system of the Philippines. Now, in a striking turnabout, American schools are recruiting Filipino teachers. “The Learning” (90 min.) shares the story of four Filipina women who reluctantly leave their families and schools to teach in Baltimore. With their increased salaries, they hope to transform their families’ lives back in their impoverished country. But the women also bring idealistic visions of the teacher’s craft and of life in America, which soon collide with Baltimore’s tough realities. This documentary by Ramona Diaz is shown in collaboration with POV, PBS’ award-winning nonfiction film series. You might know Diaz from her film Imelda that played at the 2004 True/False Film Fest, or from her newest film Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey that opened the 2012 Citizen Jane Film Fest.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012 • 6:30-8:30 p.m. Columbia Public Library, Friends Room
On call 24 hours a day for the past five years, a group of senior citizens has made history by greeting over 900,000 American troops at a tiny airport in Bangor, Maine. The Emmy-nominated film, “The Way We Get By”, is an intimate look at three of these greeters as they confront the universal losses that come with aging and rediscover their reason for living. This documentary by Aron Gaudet is shown in collaboration with POV, PBS’ award-winning nonfiction film series. (90 min.)
Wednesday, January 23, 2013 • 6:30-8:30 p.m.
