"To Sir with Love" (1967) starring Sidney Poitier and directed by James Clavell is shown Aug. 26, Sept. 13 & 14.
Washington County Public Library hosts a variety of events to celebrate its community read of “Go and Come Again: Segregation, Tolerance and Reflection by local author and educator Dr. Jerry Jones.
Book Discussions
Discussions are held Sept. 16 at 2 p.m. at the Abingdon library, Sept.21 at 6 p.m. in Damascus and Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. in Glade Spring.
Author Program
Dr. Jerry Jones, speaks Sunday, Sept. 12, at 3 p.m. at the Abingdon library. This program is part of the Community Read project encouraging the communitywide reading of a single book to foster shared conversation.
Film Series
Washington County Public Library in partnership with Virginia Highlands Community College will be showing free films at the Abingdon Cinemall. You will need your library card or VHCC student/faculty ID for entry. There is no general admission. Library cards are free for area residents. Get them at any Washington County Public Library location. All films begin at 7 p.m.
“To Sir with Love” (1967) starring Sidney Poitier and directed by James Clavell is shown Aug. 26, Sept. 13 & 14. Based on the true story of E.R. Braithwaite (and adapted from Braithwaite’s novel), the film addresses social and racial issues in an inner-city school in London. Desperate for a position as an engineer, Mark Thackeray (Poitier) takes what he believes will be a temporary position as a school teacher. However, as he instructs his students, those students also introduce Thackeray to their lives, and the obstacles they face. Featuring a classic hit song by Lulu, “To Sir, with Love” is one of Poitier’s best movies.
“Places in the Heart” (1984) starring Sally Field, Danny Glover, and John Malkovich is on screen Sept. 2, 20 & 21. Set in a small Texas town during the height of the Great Depression, the film tells the story of Edna Spalding (Field), a recent widow, who must find a way to save her farm. Desperate, she hires Moze Hadner (Glover), who is a natural at farming. His presence, however, in this small, segregated town, has repercussions. Sally Field won an Oscar for Best Actress and the film also received the award for Best Original Screenplay. Nominated for a total of seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, the film is a story that will touch the heart of anyone who sees it.
“The Color Purple” (1985) is shown Sept. 9, 27 & 28. “The Color Purple” is considered by many to be one of Steven Spielberg’s greatest works. Based on Alice Walker’s 1983 Pulitzer-prize winning novel, it is a story that highlights a level of hope rarely seen. Celie Harris (Whoopi Goldberg) is horribly abused by her husband “Mister” Albert Johnson (Danny Glover). To help herself come to terms with her ordeal, she writes letters to God. When things come to a head, Celie tells Mister that all his efforts will fail, if he does not change. The film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards but received none. Roger Ebert called it “the year’s best film” and said that Goldberg’s work was “one of the most amazing debut performances in movie history.”
