Day 3 - Can't We All Just Get Along?

We only saw two movies today, one fiction and one documentary, and both tackled the issues of race relations in high school. I am starting to realize that a lot of the Sundance gems lie in the documentaries. It helps that we get to ask questions of the director after the film, but often these stories are just as amazing on their own. For every Supersize Me, there are probably 100 other true-life films that only reach a handful of people. It's really too bad and I appreciate the Sundance Institute for continuing to champion this category of film.

I really hope the documentary we saw today hits the big screen.

Prom Night in Mississippi

Here's the story. Charleston High School in Charleston, Mississippi was finally integrated in 1970. They continued, however, to hold a white prom and a black prom. In 2008, Morgan Freeman, who lives in the area, offers to pay for their prom if it is integrated. (This is the second time he has made this offer. In 1997, he was turned down.) The filmmaker spends 4 1/2 months in the town interviewing kids, teachers and parents and following the plans for the first ever integrated prom. It turns out the adults of the community have been driving the separate proms and it's not at all what the kids want.

On the heels of the election of our first African-American President, this film illuminates clearly that racism is still very much alive in America. It also sheds light on the difficulty of breaking the cycle that's passed from generation to generation. For example, there were kids who would not speak on camera unless their identity was concealed for fear of repercussions from their parents. Morgan Freeman is also interviewed and he so articulately expresses his motives that every kid in America should see this movie just to hear his words. It was also great to hear how clearly the kids were able to express their beliefs and fears.

Two of the girls in the film (one who had never been on a plane before) made the trip to Park City. They and the filmmaker answered many questions after the screening. Yes, the school is planning an integrated prom for 2009 and this time they hope to have it at the school, which shows school administrative support and takes some of the power away from the parents. Morgan Freeman has agreed to match the money pitched in by the District. No, it has not been bought yet, so distribution remains to be seen. I want my kids to see it, so I'll be watching for it on DVD if nothing else.

Toe to Toe

This work of fiction was written and directed by a young female director (Emily Abt) and stars two up-and-coming young actresses (Louisa Krause and Sonequa Martin.) Go girls! It was written in response to the statistic that 87% of all inter-racial friendships end by age 14.

The story revolved around two high school senior girls, one black and one white, who play lacrosse on the same team for their prep school. Both are misfits and transient and so they find each other ... sort of. As the relationship disintegrates, we learn more about these two girls and why they are the way they are. It is a well-told story -- not a rush-right out and see it movie --but good nonetheless. If nothing else, it highlights a director and two actors, whose stars are on the rise