January 18th, 2019 - 7:00 pm to January 20th, 2019 - 3:00 pm
The Rehoboth Beach Film Society will present its popular What Makes Us Tick? series during the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, January 18-20. This analytical film and discussion series explores aspects of the human condition. This year’s theme is “Breaking Through: Stories of Hope and Inspiration.”
In these times of division and turmoil, three films show us a way up out of the darkness, through hope, determination and cooperation. A woman, escaping from a suffocating marriage, takes it upon herself to fulfill her dream of climbing the tallest mountain in Scotland. A judge who puts people away for drug-related offenses dedicates his time lifting some of those very same people out of poverty and addiction. A community comes together to help a young girl fly, while she teaches them the power of imagination. All of these stories show us that the human spirit—collectively and individually—can overcome any challenge.
The series begins Friday, January 18 at 7:00 PM with the English film “Edie”. Edie (Sheila Hancock) has spent 40 years trapped in a colorless life, tending to her controlling husband (Donald Pelmear) after his stroke. When he passes away and her daughter (Wendy Morgan) tries to send her to a care home, she packs an old camping bag, leaves her life behind and embarks on an adventure she never got to have–climbing the imposing Mount Suilven in Scotland. The journey to the summit will be long and difficult, but Edie is determined to prove to herself and everyone else that it’s never too late. “Edie” is an unforgettable, immersive visual journey through the unspoiled wilderness of the Scottish highlands. [UK, 2017, 102 minutes, Not Rated].
Moderators for this session are Ronnie Green and Mona Schwartz. Ronnie Green recently retired after working as a Career Counselor for a Baltimore nonprofit for 15 years. She also has a life-long love of film. After a career as a high school teacher in New York City, Mona Schwartz spent the next 30 years as a senior business executive. Mona is a movie buff and participates on two of the mini-festivals’ planning committees.
The series continues on Saturday, January 19 at 1:00 PM with “Skid Row Marathon”. When a criminal court judge starts a running club on LA’s notorious skid row and begins training a motley group of addicts and criminals to run marathons, lives begin to change. “Skid Row Marathon” follows four runners as they rise from the mean streets of LA to run marathons around the world, fighting the pull of homelessness and addiction at every turn. Their story is one of hope, friendship, and dignity. [2017, US, 85 minutes, Not Rated].
Moderators for this session are Ronnie Green and Saro Dedeyan. Saro Dedeyan worked for 22 years as a graphic designer in DC and Baltimore and has spent the last 11 years working as a realtor with Cummings and Co. in Baltimore. He has a lifelong love of film.
The series closes on Sunday, January 20 at 1:00 PM with “Supa Modo”. From first-time feature filmmaker Likarion Wainaina and co-producer Tom Tykwer comes this honest and inspiring story about the strength of young people in the face of adversity. Obsessed with Jackie Chan and action films, nine-year-old Jo dreams of being a superhero. However, Jo isn’t like other kids, and her mother insists she stay inside away from danger. Her sister, though, has other plans. With the entire village's support, they decide to make dreams a reality and turn Jo into the superhero they know she is. Newcomer Stycie Waweru delivers a captivating and earnest performance, imbuing her character with a subtle strength that ignites the screen. This film is a stunning reminder of the power of imagination. [2018, Germany/Kenya, in English, Kikuyu and Swahili with English subtitles, 74 minutes, Not Rated].
The moderator for this session is Saro Dedeyan.
A special thanks to long-time What Makes Us Tick? planning committee chair Carolyn Walter for her valuable input. Carolyn is a PhD, LCSW, Professor Emerita, Center for Social Work Education, Widener University and an Adjunct Professor at University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Work.
What Makes Us Tick? is open to the general public and RBFS members. Admission prices for each screening are $9 for RBFS members and $11 for future members. Customers are encouraged to purchase tickets online. If seats are available, tickets can be purchased at the theater, starting 30 minutes prior to each screening.
The mission of the RBFS is promoting cinematic arts and providing education and cultural enrichment for our community. The Film Society sponsors ongoing screenings, special events, and the Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival (Oct 31 –Nov 11, 2019). Having met all the requirements for best practices in nonprofit management, the Rehoboth Beach Film Society is accredited by the Standards for Excellence Institute®. The Film Society is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com. For more information on this series, other events, or to become a member, visit the Rehoboth Beach Film Society website at www.rehobothfilm.com, or call 302- 645-9095.