summer 2007 series

Cornell Cinema presents three film events this July that invite us to shake off the harried details of our urban (even if only mentally urban) lives, and remind us of how lucky we are to live in a place where we still have so much open space around us!

ru-ral \ adj : of or relating to the country, country people or life, or agriculture

The creators of the Rural Route Film Festival leave it up to the film and video artists to explain their own definition of ÒruralÓ. On July 11 weÕll be showing a program of shorts from this festival, some of which stretch the definition to include prairie zombies, animated mole-hill-seeking aliens, and a Ken Burns-style mockumentary about mimes in Des MoinesÑbut all of them honor the mission of the festivalÑto highlight works that deal with rural people and places.

Later in the month weÕll show two more films that keep easy company with that mission, and could easily have been Rural Route Festival selections. Commune (July 13, 15, 17) tells the entertaining history of the Black Bear Ranch, a settlement of hippies and political idealists who moved to a remote forest in northern California in 1968, to Òget away from AmericaÓ. And on July 26, join us for Milk in the Land: Ballad of an American Drink, a poetic essay/documentary, explores the mysterious ties between food and culture, telling an alternative history of what is often assumed to be the perfect food. Local filmmakers Ariana Gerstein and Monteith McCollum will be on hand to present the work and answer questions.

Come see how rural July can be at the movies!

Images from (top to bottom): Commune, Rural Route Festival, Milk in The Land