This past Thursday, I had the wonderful privilege of planning a film screening of 2009′s Across the Universe at a college’s theater. I set this event up for my two Composition classes as a diversion from regular classwork (even though the ulterior motive was to foster critical thinking and connecting the dots of human experience from 1960s to 2011).
While it was a meager showing (only 13 students came), it was a beautiful showing. A few students even brought cookies for the event. I was touched because I wasn’t planning to have food at all. I suggested bringing enough food for “the class” (of 15-20) but I know my students are strapped for cash (even more than me). I didn’t want to push the issue. Despite that, there was a great showing of fellowship snacks and shockingly, DINNER!
One of the students who worked as a pizza delivery driver donated six pies of pizza to the event, saying that his manager even donated an extra pie because the event was “for college kids and they sure will be hungry.” I almost cried! This generosity was the embodiment of the film’s theme (and the students didn’t even know it yet).
I also thought about how I can make the theme of the film have practical applications to our world now. The morning before the screening I was listening to my playlist on shuffle and my MP3 player played a song I haven’t heard a few years at least – “We Are The World” of 1985. As I listened the lyrics (which I know by heart), I realized that this event could be more than just a diversion from class; it had the potential to make history (even if it is just for these classes and this college).
So I decided to make the event a mini-fundraiser for the American Red Cross towards the Japan Disaster Relief. The suggested donation was $5 but any donation would be accepted. Before we watched the film, I collected donations that totaled $37. That might seem small to some people but knowing my students and the financial stresses they carry with them daily, I was very honored that they offered what little they had to such a worthwhile cause. That is a memory I was always remember.
Who knows what else we’ll do this semester? Visiting the Smithsonian a-la-To Sir, With Love? Having an End-of-the Semester Party in DC? Get invited to the White House by the President and the First Lady? The President and the First Lady visiting US on-campus? The sky is the limit! Stay posted!
I learned a lot on Thursday. I learned that people are not always what they seem. Not only in the movie were the characters so galvanized and changed by their situations and people in their lives, but that the characters in my life were the same way. I learned that everyone, no matter who they are or in what time they live in, wants to be accepted for who they are. Jude and Lucy found that in each other. I hope that you Professor Robinson, can maybe find some of that in us, the students. I’m not assuming that you have or haven’t, but if you haven’t, we are beginning to.
I greatly enjoyed the movie and all the singing and dancing. I learned a lot about that era and what was going on during the Vietnam War and the Revolution. What was really great about the movie is how they took all this different people and let us witness what they were feeling as they were going throughout everyday life.
I wish I could have attended your screening at school. I did watch the movie at home and I enjoyed it immensely. I understand why you chose the film. It really made me appreciate that era in history. I loved the direction with song in every aspect of the film. Bravo… it was a great film.
Because Across the Universe was (and still is) one of my my favorite movies, I was pretty bummed out about not being able to go. Instead of watching one of my favorite movies and eating pizza, I was at work getting yelled at by my boss for dumb stuff. Across the Universe sends so many positive messages, and it was a great decision to show it to the class. Even though a lot of us did not attend I thank you anyways.
By the way, ^^This is Mustapha Sankoh
It is the first time I watched this movie, and I have to say that it has become one of my favorite ones. Across the Universe does not only show how somebody wants to change his/her life, but also how much it can be learned through it. Lets take Jude for example. He went to New York to know his father, but after he met him, he stayed in the state because of a friend he met. After some weeks he had his own circle of friends and working as a team, they started to make some progress and doing also some money. He also knew a girl, Lucy, who he fall in love and after some incidents they started a relationship. In other words Jude was having a life that he couldn’t have in his country, showing that he really wanted to change his life and be a better person each day.