In June 1964 hundreds of college students traveled to Mississippi for Freedom Summer. That same month, two groups of obsessed blues fans—from different coasts and unknown to each other—traveled to Mississippi to find two blues musicians and coax them out of retirement. Thirty years earlier, Son House and Skip James had recorded some of the most memorable music of their era, but now they seemed lost to time. Mississippi was tense and violent, and on June 21 these stories collided in memorable and tragic fashion. 2016, USA, 80 minutes, documentary, narrated by Common, music by Gary Clark Jr. ONLINE TICKET SALES HAVE ENDED, BUT TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR.
Meet the Filmmaker: Sam Pollard, via Skype. After the film there will be a discussion with the Oscar nominated, Emmy winning director, Sam Pollard, as well as Guitarist and Songwriter Award nominated musician R&B musician Adam Falcon, sharing their thoughts on how music influenced the Civil Rights movement and Freedom Summer. Discussion moderated by Rivertown Film board member, Bea Pohl.
DINNER AND A MOVIE: All ticket buyers will receive a 10% discount on dinner from Broadway Bistro (3 S. Broadway, 845-353-8361). Call in advance for reservations, and state that you will be attending the film then and when you order. This offer is valid on February 28 only. Thank you Broadway Bistro!
2018 Grammy nominee for best soundtrack
“With deep historical knowledge and nimble storytelling techniques, Mr. Pollard explores how idealism, horrific brutality and artistic genius converged in a single historical moment.” (A NYTimes Critics’ Pick) – A.O. Scott, The New York Times
“The 1960s’ political clashes and cultural revelations were essentially linked, and equally liberating. When those young, white blues fans found Son House and Skip James, they stumbled upon the past, but also the future.” – Mark Jenkins, Washington Post
