The Gracie Theatre at Husson University Announces Slate for Third Annual Documentary Film Series
Published on: September 8, 2014
BANGOR, MAINE – The Gracie Theatre at Husson University announced today the slate of films to be screened at its Third Annual Documentary Film Series on Ethics. The series, presented by Nico Jenkins, lecturer in ethics and philosophy in the School of Science and Humanities, and the program for Ethics and Philosophy at Husson University, seeks to present controversial documentaries that engage the public on contemporary ethical issues. Admission is free and open to the public.
Opening the series will be The Known Unknown nominated for a Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 2013. The Known Unknown follows the career of Donald Rumsfeld from his days as a congressman in the early 1960’s to his role in planning the 2003 invasion of Iraq as Secretary of Defense. Filmed by the Oscar winning and renowned documentarian, Errol Morris, this documentary examines the often-enigmatic Rumsfeld as an example of the neo-con legacy. As the United States seeks a greater involvement with ISIS in Iraq in 2014, this film takes on greater and more poignant urgency. The Known Unknown will open the series on September 17, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.
The second film in this year’s series is Fed Up. Narrated by Katie Couric and directed by Laurie David (producer of An Inconvenient Truth), Fed Up examines the dangerous role sugar plays in our diet. As Couric intones, “Over 95% of all Americans will be overweight or obese in two decades” resulting in a larger public health crisis than the country has ever known. USA Today called Fed Up “the movie that will change the way people think about eating.” Fed Up will be shown on November 16, 2014
Beginning in the spring, the Husson Documentary Film Series will show Documented, a documentary about the undocumented American journalist Jose Antonio Vargas and his fight on behalf of the estimated 11 million immigrants currently residing and working in the United States. The series will close with An Act of Killing, the shockingly inventive documentary that examines the relatively unexamined genocide perpetrated by the civilian Indonesian militia following the 1965 Suharto coup.
“The purpose of our film series is to raise public awareness to issues that are too often ignored or overlooked within our society. These films, whether we agree with their premises or not, do just that,” says Nico Jenkins, lecturer in ethics and philosophy in the School of Science and Humanities. “The purpose here is not to advance an ideological agenda—indeed it is just the opposite. True democracy is founded not on agreement but disagreement, and the consensus that follows disagreement. These documentaries seek to further our dialogue within the school and within the wider community.”
The Third Annual Documentary Film Series on Ethics is presented at the Gracie Theatre at Husson University and hosted by Mr. Jenkins as part of an effort to help stimulate awareness and discussion of critical moral and ethical issues.
For more information about the screening, contact the box office at The Gracie at 941-7888 or visit GracieTheatre.com.
Completed in October of 2009, The Gracie is Husson University's center for the fine and performing arts. This beautiful new 500-seat theatre is quickly earning a reputation as one of Maine’s premier performance venues. In addition, The Gracie also serves as a learning platform for students from the New England School of Communications in digital audio, sound mixing, set design and construction, lighting, acting and electronics.
For more than 100 years, Husson University has prepared future leaders to handle the challenges of tomorrow through innovative undergraduate and graduate degrees. With a commitment to delivering affordable classroom, online and experiential learning opportunities, Husson University has come to represent superior value in higher education. Our Bangor campus and off-campus satellite education centers in Southern Maine, Wells and Northern Maine provide advanced knowledge in business; health and education; pharmacy studies, science and humanities; as well as communication. In addition, Husson University has a robust adult learning program. For more information about educational opportunities that can lead to personal and professional success, visit Husson.edu