Travel the world via the annual Reel Time Film Series hosted by the City of Holland’s International Relations Commission (IRC) and Hope College. This FREE film series runs Tuesday nights in November at the Knickerbocker Theatre.
FRENEMIES: CUBA AND THE U.S. EMBARGO
Tuesday, Nov 1st, 7pm, Knickerbocker Theatre
Set to the pulsating beats of Afro-Caribbean music, Frenemies examines the fraught relationship between the island nation of Cuba and the United States. Blending 1950s archival footage with contemporary shots of Cuba’s economic decay and vibrant culture, the film paints a vivid portrait of a nation fighting for survival against the world’s longest-running embargo. For almost 60 years it has been painfully difficult for U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba. With the loosening of some travel restrictions at the end of the Obama administration, many U.S. citizens visited the island for the first time. In Frenemies we hear these eye-opening experiences in Cuba, as well as experiences and insights from subjects who have had longer term relationships with this small Caribbean country. We also hear from talented but frustrated native Cuban artists living on the island.
Landfill Harmonic
Tuesday, Nov 15th, 7pm, Knickerbocker Theatre
Landfill Harmonic follows the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, a Paraguayan musical group that plays instruments made entirely out of garbage pieces found in the landfill where their community is settled. When their story goes viral, the orchestra is catapulted into the global spotlight. Under the guidance of idealistic music director Favio Chavez, the orchestra must navigate a strange new world of arenas and sold-out concerts. However, when a natural disaster strikes their community, Favio must find a way to keep the orchestra intact and provide a source of hope for their town. The film is a testimony to the transformative power of music and the resilience of the human spirit.
Hosted by the Holland Youth Advisory Council
SMALL ISLAND BIG SONG
Tuesday, Nov 29th, 7pm, Knickerbocker Theatre
Small Island Big Song is collaboration of artists of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, a timely musical statement from the frontline of the Climate Crisis. Filmmakers spent 3 years visiting and recording artists on their island homes, sharing songs from island to island.
Small Island Big Song explores the cultural connections of the vast ocean through the Austronesian migration. Working with artists who have made a choice to maintain the cultural voice of their people, to sing in the language, and to play the instruments of their land. These unique lineages mixed with their diverse contemporary styles - roots-reggae, beats, grunge, RnB, folk & spoken-word, establishing a contemporary musical dialogue between cultures as far afield as Madagascar, Aotearoa, Taiwan, Mauritius, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tahiti and Rapa Nui, creating "One coherent jaw dropping piece" as described by Rob Schwartz - Billboard.
*There will be a virtual Q&A with the filmmakers after the screening of Small Island Big Song.
Original source can be found here.
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