The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul and the Capri Theater present the inspiring documentary Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks at 7 p.m. Thursday, November 3. Tickets to First Thursday Films @ the Capri are $5 and can be purchased in advance at mspfilm.org or at the door the night of the show. The Capri is located at 2027 West Broadway.
Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks was directed by local filmmaker and Northside resident, Craig Rice. “My motivation for making this film came from Gordon Parks’ autobiography, A Choice of Weapons (1966). My parents gave me this book when I was young and it had a real impact on me, particularly as I learned about his very intentional choice of ‘life weapons’ – photography, writing, dance, music, film – over ‘death weapons.’ It was a powerful message for me back then, and I wanted to make sure that this message was heard in our contemporary world today.”
Half Past Autumn, narrated by Alfre Woodard, considers the many ways that Parks put these ‘life weapons’ to potent, life-changing use. “The film is…heartfelt and historically significant, by turns moving and melodramatic in its efforts to organize Parks’ accomplishments, which are literally too numerous even to list, and which, the film proposes, emerge from the man’s astonishing ambition and passion, and perhaps more profoundly…his rage against the injustice and pain that shaped his experience.” (Cynthia Fuchs, Nitrate Online)
Director Craig Rice will participate in the post-film discussion (always a part of First Thursday Films) as will Gordon Parks’ great niece, Robin Hickman. Join us for this noteworthy film and good conversation.
First Thursday Films @ the Capri are screened on the first Thursday of every month, and all movie-goers are offered a “buy one, get one free” pass to the series. The remaining 2016 schedule includes Daughters of the Dust on December 1. A complete schedule of First Thursday Films through March 2017 is available at mspfilm.org and thecapritheater.org.
This screening of Half Past Autumn is part of Black Cinema: Under the Skin, a program of films by Black filmmakers, exploring Black culture and experiences funded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. First Thursday Films @ the Capri is also supported by the law firm Grey Plant Mooty. More info at thecapritheater.org and mspfilm.org.