Biographies are the topic for the new Friday Film Series, which runs at 2:30 p.m. Fridays, Oct. 3-Dec. 12, except for the Friday after Thanksgiving. The cost for the series is $10. The films are shown at Kamana Senior Center.
Biographies are the topic for the new Friday Film Series, which runs at 2:30 p.m. Fridays, Oct. 3-Dec. 12, except for the Friday after Thanksgiving. The cost for the series is $10. The films are shown at Kamana Senior Center. Register at Kamana Center. Payment is to be made when the class begins.
The 10 films cover the lives of individuals in varied aspects of human endeavor.
“For anyone who wonders what makes someone tick or why an individual succeeds or fails, these films offer insight into at least 10 individuals featured in the films to be shown,” said coordinator Patsy O’Toole.
The series is sponsored by the County of Hawaii Department of Parks and Recreation, Elderly Activities Division. The entertainment industry is represented in four films.
“The Glenn Miller Story” stars James Stewart as the famous band leader. Many famous musicians appear in cameo roles. “Yankee Doodle Dandy” features a great performance by James Cagney as George M. Cohan, entertainer and songwriter. Those unfamiliar with Cagney’s dance ability will be pleasantly surprised.
“Frances” is a sadder tale of actress Frances Farmer whose unconventional behavior causes her to be an embarrassment to her mother and her studio. She is committed to a mental institution.
“Bound for Glory” tells the tale of folk artist Woody Guthrie, who draws attention to the poor during the Great Depression.
Other films show the effect of individuals on American History.
“J. Edgar” stars Leonardo DiCaprio as the famous FBI chief, revealing a dark side of the lawman. “42” is the story of Jackie Robinson, who in 1947 became the first black man to play in major league baseball. The film shows how he persevered in the face of a less than warm welcome to the game.
Other films in the series are “The Life of Emile Zola,” a writer who exposes anti-Semitism in the French Army; “Kundun,” a story of the life of the Dalai Lama from his discovery as a child to his flight from Tibet in 1957, and “Private Life of Henry VIII,” starring Charles Laughton as the much-married English king.
Former participants in the series recommend the class to others in the community.
Eleanor Hirano, a retired dietician from the Hilo Medical Center, has attended the class for more than 10 years. She enjoys movies and finds the themes selected for each series make her think about different issues and problems.
Ella Miyashiro is a Kukaiau/Hakalau native who lived most of her adult life working in the Washington, D.C., and Chicago areas until returning to the Big Island. She is a life-long learner who takes many educational classes and has attended the movie series class for more than 10 years. She finds the class challenging and thinks it and the discussions help keep her brain active.
Stan Golembeski is a retired educator who said he and his wife, Carol, very much enjoy the class. He said it is more than just watching good movies — it includes stimulating discussions about each film.
“Class leaders select movies with a common theme and pose questions to those watching so as to deepen the movie watching experience,” he said.
Sharon O’Connell is a retired police officer and self-described “garage sale diva” who also is a regular participant in the class. She finds the class fun and informative. Although she might have seen a film before, she always is surprised by what she missed on the first viewing that she notices after seeing it again, as well as what other class participants point out in the discussions following each film.
For more information, contact O’Toole at 333-9850. To have the schedule of the series sent, email patsy_otoole@hotmail.com.
