from Nancy Stiefel

What:  the June Social Justice Film Blackfish

When: 7:00 PM, Sunday, June 8

Where: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Vero Beach, corner of 27^th Avenue and 16^th Street

More information:
We’ve all heard of Shamu, an Orca whale at Sea World in Orlando, and many of us have seen the Orcas perform there.  Blackfish is the 2013 documentary about Orca whales that caused a great stir in the animal entertainment world. This documentary follows the controversial captivity of intelligent Orca whales (aka killer whales), and the subsequent dangers for both humans and whales. It chronicles the notorious Orca whale named Tilikum which is responsible for the deaths of three individuals, including a top Orca whale trainer.  Several former Sea World trainers are interviewed in the film. Humane Society volunteer Sally Wilson will facilitate the discussion following the film.  Cheryl Baker will also be available to answer questions following the film.  Cheryl recently retired from her position as a dolphin trainer at the Dolphin Research Center at Grassy Key, Florida.

The showing is free, but donations are always gratefully received.  The public is invited, so bring your friends and neighbors! The Fair Trade Corner will be open for 30 minutes prior to the film. 

There will be no films in July or August, but the series will return on September 14 with a film discussing the controversy over Smart Meters.  

SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM NIGHT

from Nancy Stiefel, SJ Film Committee Chair

What:   A Better Life -- a 2011 feature film 

When:  Sunday, Sept. 8th , 7:00 PM

Where:  Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, at the corner of 16th Street and 27th Avenue, Vero Beach

The Social Justice Film Series of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship begins a new season in its sanctuary with the feature film A Better Life.  This film reveals what it is like to live as an undocumented worker, confined to the shadows of American society.  It’s the story of a gardener in East L.A. who struggles to keep his son away from gangs and immigration agents while trying to give him the opportunities he never had.  This film is uncommon among Hollywood productions in that it is set in a Hispanic community and features an almost entirely Hispanic cast. “Not many films have focused on the struggles of undocumented immigrants, much less done a good job at it,” says Jonathan Perez of the Huff Post Latino Voices blog.

Roger Ebert, of the Chicago Sun-Times, wrote that "the performances are pitch perfect," and he gave the film 3.5 stars out of 4.  Its lead actor, Demián Bichir, a popular Mexican actor, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor.  Joy Tipping of Dallas Morning News says, “Director Chris Weitz neatly avoids sanctimony by centering the engrossing story on a father-son relationship, letting the audience make up its own mind about the overarching matter of illegal immigration.” 

All of our social justice films are open to the public.  There is no charge, but donations are always gratefully accepted to cover the screening rights fees.   Mark your calendar to attend this first film of our season and bring a friend!  The Fair Trade Corner will be open 30 minutes prior to the film.