FATblog

Christopher Nupen’s Award Winning Film We Want the Light comes to the Fine Arts Theatre, March 14, 2006 at 1pm.

Join Film-maker Christopher Nupen for a screening and post-film discussion of his recently released television film, We Want the Light, which illuminates the interconnectedness of Jewish culture and music and German culture and music from 1850-1933. It is a film is about freedom and captivity, about emancipation, acculturation and assimilation; about the Mendelssohns and the importance of music in the dream of unproblematic, fruitful integration of the Jews into German society; it is about Richard Wagner, his ferociously anti-Semitic essay, Das Judenthum in der Musik (Judaism in Music) and his influence on the thinking of the Third Reich but, above all, it is a film about how much music can mean to people particularly in the direst of circumstances.

Follow the film’s heroine, a 102 year old woman pianist, Alice Sommer Herz, who played more than 100 concerts in Theresienstadt Concentration Camp and who is convinced that it was music that kept her, and many others, alive in those unimaginable circumstances. In the film at 98, she plays part of a Schubert Impromptu and her son, Raphael, who was with her in the camp from the age of six, plays part of Ernest Bloch’s Méditation Hébraïque. Both provide telling moments.

Many who see the film find Alice Sommer deeply inspiring, not just because she has survived in incredibly good shape to over a hundred years of age (she practices the piano for two and a half hours every day and studies philosophy, at the University for the Third Age, in London, three days a week), it is her quiet dignity and her courage in the face of appalling suffering that touches people. She lost her husband in Dachau six weeks before the end of the war and has recently had to bear the loss of her son.

Amazingly, it is not the suffering and the tragedy that shine through Alice Sommer's testimony, but her extraordinary wisdom. She says that she has never hated and never will because hatred poisons the soul. She says also that she is an optimist and that these two things together explain her longevity.

The film includes music by Mahler, Bach, Schoenberg, Bruch, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Wagner, Schubert, Bloch and Franz Waxman, including Song of Terezin, based on poems written by the children of Theresienstadt.

Winner of the Jewish Cultural Award for Film and Television, 2004
Winner, Best Editing, New York Film and Television Festival, 2004
Broadcast on BBC television on Holocaust Memorial Day 2004 and 2005
Critic’s Choice or Pick of the Day in six national British Newspapers
Winner, Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik
Winner, DVD of the Year Award, 2005

Posted by J. Parker at 07:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Fine Arts Theatre, in cooperation with locally based support organizations, and professional care providers will sponsor a community talk-back following the 1:00 pm showing of Transamerica on Saturday, March 18th.

Dianna Stone, PhD, is a local Clinical Psychologist who specializes in the care and treatment needs of transgender persons, their families and their emotional wellbeing. Alan S. Baumgarten, MD, MPH, practices family medicine in Asheville and cares for transsexual persons providing support and medical treatments during “transition” and afterwards. Phoenix Transgender Support and Tranzmission, are local support groups with regional outreach. Representative transgender women and men, and family, together with Dr. Stone and Dr. Baumgarten will form a discussion “Q&A” panel after the movie for the purpose of raising awareness of transgender people and families; their uniqueness not only in need, but in gift.

This event is being offered as a public service free of charge. Professional care providers are sincerely encouraged to attend.

For further in formation contact:
Neal Reed 232-0257
Carla Pridgen 712-8367

Posted by J. Parker at 07:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Kindness Week is coming, and this year the theme is “Spreading Kindness through Community Service.” Mayor Terry Bellamy will sign a proclamation of Kindness Week on Thursday, February 9 at 11:30 a.m. in the Mayor’s office. She will also be helping to present the Kindness Campaign’s “Community of Kindness” awards to nine community service organizations which helped Hurricane Katrina refugees who made their way to Asheville.

Interfaith Celebration of Kindness will be the highlight of the week. It will be held on Monday, February 13 at the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Asheville from 6-7:30 pm with a potluck to follow. Through music, dance, and poetry, twelve different faith groups will demonstrate how kindness is a part of their tradition. This joyous event is co-sponsored by the Kindness Campaign, the WNC Interfaith Network, Holy Ground, and Christians for a United Community. All are invited, and signers will interpret for the deaf and hard of hearing. Bring a potluck dish to share!

Valentine’s Dinner for Homeless Women and Children
The Kindness Campaign has formed a “cook team” to make and serve dinner to women and children at a homeless shelter on February 14. To get involved, please call 252-3054.

“Ryan’s Well” Film Showings - One nine-year-old boy made a huge difference for a thirsty village in Africa when he raised the money to provide a well; and he didn’t stop there. “Ryan’s Well,” an inspiring short film about this true story of kindness, will be showing at Mystic Journeys Bookstore, 333 Merrimon Ave., on Wednesday, February 15 at 7 pm, with a discussion afterwards. It will also be shown at the Fine Arts Theater on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at noon. Showings are free; donations benefit the Kindness Campaign.

Also during Kindness Week, Goodwill Industries has a group of developmentally disabled adults who are making valentines to distribute to seniors at retirement centers.

Barry Weinhold, Director of the Kindness Campaign, asks: “Did you know that writing a ‘gratitude letter’ and delivering it in person could benefit you just as much as the recipient? Research by Dr. Martin Seligman shows that people who did this simple act of kindness were measurably healthier both mentally and physically for up to three months afterwards! Consider writing a letter to someone sincerely thanking them, this week.” Acts of kindness such as serving meals at a homeless shelter, running to the pharmacy for a sick neighbor, or lending emotional support to a friend may help people live longer, according to a recent study. Do something kind and compassionate for someone else each day, and you'll reap health benefits as well.

Kindness Bumper Sticker Slogan Contest: Would you like to see your catchy slogan promoting kindness on cars all over town? The Kindness Campaign invites everyone to participate in a Kindness bumper sticker slogan contest. Send in your idea to: cfholt@buncombe.main.nc.us by February 28 (maximum of 8 words). The winner will receive a prize (dinner for two at Vincenzo’s Ristorante).

For more information about any of these events, please call: 252-3054.

Posted by J. Parker at 02:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)