06
Mar
Sneak Preview of New Film on Rachel Carson: Your invitation
(Beyond Pesticides, March 6, 2008) The public is invited to a screening of the remarkable Rachel Carson film, A Sense of Wonder, opening at the D.C. Environmental film festival, March 12th at 7 pm at E Street Cinema in Washington, D.C. The film was shot last fall at Miss Carson’s cottage in Maine and is adapted from the one-person play of the same name. Bill Moyers of PBS said of the play, “I was deeply moved by Kauilani Lee’s incarnation of Rachel Carson in A Sense of Wonder. You cannot watch. . .without reflecting on universal themes – life death, the power of place, courage in growing old and speaking truth. You cannot walk away unmoved.”
The film should have a great life spreading Miss Carson’s vital and timely words. The actress Kaiulani Lee with director Christopher Monger and co-producer Karen Montgomery bring Ms. Lee’s play based on the life and writings of environmentalist Rachel Carson to the silver screen. Ms. Lee will perform the play at the upcoming 26th National Pesticide Forum, Reclaiming Our Healthy Future, March 14, 7:30pm at the Clark Kerr Conference Center at the University of California, Berkeley. For directions, details on the film or general festival information, visit the film festival website. View the film trailer here.
About the film
A Sense of Wonder (USA, 2008, 54 min.) Based on the life and writings of environmentalist Rachel Carson, this film tells the story of a woman’s love for the natural world and her fight to defend it. Rachel Carson was thrust into controversy with the 1962 publication of her book, Silent Spring, which alerted the world to the dangers of chemical pesticides and launched the modern environmental movement.In this film, acclaimed actress Kaiulani Lee portrays Miss Carson during the last year of her life. Shot on location in Carson’s cabin on the Maine coast, the first scene takes place as she is preparing to leave her summer home. Fighting cancer, she fears this may well be her last visit to her beloved Maine.
The second scene takes place two months later in her winter home outside of Washington, D.C. where her life is embroiled in the furor over her book, Silent Spring. Miss Carson is simultaneously battling the chemical industry, the government, the press and her continuing illness to get her message to Congress and the American people. Recalling the arduous but triumphant process that resulted in Silent Spring, she recounts with humor and some anger the attacks on her by the chemical industry and the film concludes with a moving and inspiring recitation by Miss Carson that summarizes her environmental worldview.
This film, screened in high definition, is based on Kaiulani Lee’s critically acclaimed one-woman play of the same name, written with the help and guidance of many of Miss Carson’s friends and colleagues. Directed by Christopher Monger and produced by Karen Montgomery. Director of Photography: Haskell Wexler.
Introduced by Flo Stone, President & Founder, Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital. Discussion with actress Kaiulani Lee follows screening.
Ticket/Reservation Info:
Tickets, $10, available at E Street Cinema Box office beginning Feb. 15.
E Street Cinema, 555 11th St., NW (entrance on E St. between 10th & 11th Sts.)
(METRO: Metro Center). Get tickets in advance. Seating limited.
For information on the Berkeley, CA performance of A Sense of Wonder, contact Beyond Pesticides, 202-543-5450, or go to Beyond Pesticides’ conference webpage.
The film will be available soon for public distribution. If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the DVD, please contact Beyond Pesticides at [email protected].
“Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the Earth are never alone or weary of life.†– Rachel Carson
