Subscribe to MWCC News Civil rights, autism, cyber-bullying and climate change are among the topics that will be examined during Mount Wachusett Community College’s free spring 2016 film series, sponsored by the office of Student Life.
All films are open to the public and begin at 12:30 p.m. in room W11 at MWCC’s Gardner campus, unless otherwise noted.
The series begins with Freedom Summer on February 24 in room W11. The 2014 documentary takes a look back at the summer of 1964 when more than 700 student activities took segregated Mississippi by storm, registering voters, creating freedom schools and establishing the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party.
The series continues on March 2 with A Brave Heart: the Lizzie Velasquez Story. The 2015 documentary about the inspiring journey of 26-year-old, 58-pound Lizzie from cyber-bullying victim to anti-bullying activist. Born with a rare syndrome that prevents her from gaining weight, Velasquez was first bullied as a child in school, then as a teenager when she discovered a YouTube video labeling her “The World’s Ugliest Woman.” The film follows Lizzie’s physical and emotional journey to her multi-million viewed TEDx talk to Capitol Hill, where she lobbies for the first federal anti-bullying bill.
On March 30, the 2015 documentary (Dis) Honesty – The Truth About Lies, will be screened. The film explores how and why people lie. From little white lies to devastating deceits, people share on camera the true stories of lies they’ve told. Behavioral scientist Dan Ariely brings guides viewers in discovering the complicated truths about lies.
On April 5, Mel Brooks’ classic 1974 comedy Young Frankenstein will be screened in the college’s North Café. Gene Wilder stars as the American grandson of the infamous scientist. After inheriting the estate in Transylvania, Dr. Frankenstein recreates his grandfather’s experiment with the help of servants Igor, Inga and the fearsome Frau Blucher.
The series continues on April 13 with This Changes Everything, inspired by Naomi Klein’s international nonfiction bestseller of the same name focusing on climate change. The film presents seven powerful portraits of communities, from Montana’s Powder River Basin to the Alberta Tar Sands, from the coast of South India to Beijing and beyond. Interwoven with these stories of struggle is Klein’s narration, connecting the carbon in the air with the economic system that put it there.
The film series concludes on April 27 with A Mile in His Shoes, in recognition of April as national Autism Awareness Month. Based on the book, The Legend of Mickey Tussler, the film follows the story of 18-year-old Mickey, who has autism. He lives hidden away on a farm where he practices throwing apples at an amazing speed, catching the eye of a minor league scout.