I was very surprised to learn that our new library has a beautiful theater, suitable for movies and other performances, with surround sound and blackout shades. It's right to the left of the entrance (behind the café). How did that escape my notice?
And there are two new movie series starting this week, so there will be lots of opportunities to enjoy this theater.
Film Series, in brief:
On Wednesdays at 2 p.m. the library hosts a matinee series that will encompass all sorts of different films: features, independents, documentaries, classics, foreign films—anything judged worthy by Thomas and her crew.
And on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. in January: a new series of independent films. The doors open at 7 p.m. and there are free (yes, free) refreshments like coffee and cookies provided by the library.
Wednesday Matinees, in greater detail:
I went to the kickoff of the Wednesday matinee this week and saw The Proposal, starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds and directed by Anne Fletcher. This was when I first saw the theater. Wow! I enjoyed the film, a fresh take on romantic comedies; it's a popular feature recently released on DVD and it's difficult to check out, so it was a treat to be able to see it in a nice theater. And eat snacks.
The theater is so spanking new and gleaming with polished wood and clean floors that I hesitated, and yet I knew from previous investigations that food is allowed anywhere in the library. Anywhere! People were getting coffee at the café to enjoy during the film. I was imagining getting a gourmet sandwich there and enjoying a matinee every Wednesday. There were about twenty people there—those of us in the know.
Barbara Thomas, Head of Media and Publicity for the library and our resident movie guru, said they might add a discussion group afterwards if people are interested.
In addition, they may show some of the Friday evening films (more on that below) on Wednesday afternoons to accommodate those who don't like to drive at night.
Check out the schedule here: Wednesday Matinees
Friday-Night Indies, in greater detail:
The Friday night Independent Film Series starting this week is sure to draw a larger crowd. A former Darien Library Board President Alice McGill suggested the idea. Fridays will be the independents, and then they will progress on to their established Feature Film series that runs from February to April.
"Doors open about 7 p.m. and people come for coffee and cookies. It's quite a social event," said Thomas. "People come and see their friends and they like to chat with the same people that come every week. It's a nice environment and people seem to enjoy it."
There will also be one event where the filmmakers (writer, director, producer) will come to speak. On Jan. 22, Richard Atkinson and Jane Scandurra of the documentary Singles will guest. They will introduce the film, and they will remain after the film for questions and answers.
"I understand it often becomes quite a lively debate," said Thomas.
Check out the schedule here: Friday Night Independent Film Series
Resident Movie Guru, in greater detail:
Thomas has been developing the DVD collection for about seven years, which ultimately led to screening films for the film series and then developing the film series.
As the library became more of an online presence, Thomas started blogging, posting movie reviews on the library website to share her experience and help circulate the collection.
"It's been very successful. Our collection circulates very, very well," Tomas said. "I'm particularly proud of the foreign film collection we've developed."
Which is when I realized that she was a movie guru.
We started talking about Philip Seymour Hoffman and how good he is, and about getting our kids to watch documentaries, and I complained to her about the documentaries being upstairs, and then she told me about King of Kong, A Fistfull of Quarters:
"It's one of those documentaries. I have a son in his 20s, and when he saw I was watching a documentary he rolled his eyes; but he was sucked in, in minutes."
So I checked out King of Kong and watched it with my ten-year-old son and we loved it. We were emotionally pulled in—unexpected—and cheering by the end.
Thomas also said her kids like foreign films.
"Shall We Dance, Run Lola Run, things that are very different. I love the fact that they don't shy away from them now."
So now I am going to try to get my kids to watch more foreign films.
So I am excited to go to the library and see some movies that have been thoughtfully chosen, rather than just brailling my way down the DVD aisle by myself.
"I think the lineup is something that will keep our audience happy," said Thomas.
If you want to find Movie Guru Barbara Thomas, she's downstairs in the "User Experience Department."
