The Film Committee and Black Caucus invite DAUK members to an exclusive screening and discussion of Dawn Porter’s widely acclaimed John Lewis: Good Trouble.
The film provides an elegantly constructed portrait of this fearless fighter against systemic racism, campaigner and Civil Rights icon, alongside an eloquent message about the vital importance of voting: "The vote is precious. It is almost sacred. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democracy."
This evening will be a moment to reflect on his life and achievements and to draw inspiration and determination from the integrity and perseverance of the man known as the ‘the conscience of congress’, who called upon all of us to join him in getting into “… good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America." With the soul of America currently in peril, this film couldn’t be more timely.
Due to licensing issues, the link to stream the film can only be given to those who will be viewing the film from within the UK.
Date and time: Thursday, October 29, 6:30p.m. to 9:45 p.m.
Schedule:
6:30 Screening starts (NB this will not be on the Zoom call; you will receive an Eventbrite email with the special link on the day)
6:30 – 8:35 Screening of John Lewis Good Trouble (98 minutes) and a special video clip
8:40 Join an after-screening DAUK Zoom discussion
9:45 End!
John Lewis
John Lewis was the ‘boy from Troy’, Alabama, a son of sharecroppers. In the early 1960s, inspired by Martin Luther King Jr – his own mentor – he became one of the first freedom riders and spent the rest of his life working to create a fairer and more just society. Originally trained as a preacher, Lewis, first elected to the House of Representatives in 1986, represented Georgia District 5 for 33 years, until his death this year at the age of 80.
Along with working for civil rights, Lewis campaigned for gun control, fair housing, voters’ rights, LGBT+ rights and the protection of the environment. The film reveals him as tenacious, courageous and principled. And he loved to dance.
The film
Director Dawn Porter is a much-acclaimed documentary filmmaker whose work covers a wide range of modern American issues. We screened Trapped (on abortion rights and the TRAP laws) in 2016 and she has just completed The Way I See It, which revolves around Peter Souza, former Chief Official White House photographer.
Porter draws upon archival footage going back many decades, to recall the pivotal events in a lifetime of activism on behalf of racial justice. These include Lewis’s powerful speech at the 1963 March on Washington; the ‘Bloody Sunday’ march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, where his beating from a state trooper led to a fractured skull; and the 50th commemoration of Bloody Sunday in 2015, where Lewis was joined in Selma by President Barack Obama.
There are also illuminating interviews with John Lewis, his family, colleagues and a wide range of politicians including Barack Obama, who regarded Lewis as his mentor, the late Elijah Cummings, Nancy Pelosi, Hillary and Bill Clinton and the new generation of Congressional representatives such as AOC and Ilhan Omar, who credit Lewis for paving their way for engagement and success in electoral politics.
For more information on the film, the issues it addresses and the Film Night, click here on the new DAUK website
From the filmmakers:
The filmmakers have provided an exclusive video clip to follow the film.
After screening discussion:
After the screening, join us to discuss the film, the state of the election campaign, and getting out the vote with Q and As with our own DAUK GOTV.
We will ask you to switch to a DAUK Zoom meeting for this discussion.
Special Notice:
While we would like to welcome all, due to the licensing of distribution rights, access to view the film is restricted to the UK, and you will be asked to affirm that you will be present in the UK at the time of the screening. The discussion after the film will be open to people both within and outside the UK.
We are grateful to the filmmakers , AGC Studios and Post Haste for making these arrangements, and to Sky for granting us this opportunity to make this screening available to DAUK members.
How to access the film screening and after screening conversation:
The film and pre-recorded conversation will be accessible on the evening via a special link to the PostHaste hosting platform. You will also receive a separate link to the after-screening Zoom meeting.
Watch your inbox on the day for messages from the Eventbrite team with the links to the screening and meeting .
