Library to Host Community Read Film Screenings

In conjunction with its 2017 Community Read of “Blasphemy” by Sherman Alexie, the Tompkins County Public Library will offer free screenings of the films “Cabeza de Vaca,” “Smoke Signals” and “Reel Injun” during the month of October.

Launched in September, the Community Read Film Series will continue October 18 with a 6 p.m. showing of “Cabeza de Vaca,” each of these screenings is free and open to adult audiences.

Directed by Nicholas Echevarria, “Cabeza de Vaca,” is based on the true story of the ill-fated 1527 Narvaez Expedition, commissioned to explore Florida. The film tells the story of Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, one of only four men to survive the expedition. Nunez and his companions wandered for eight years in the American Southwest and Northern Mexico, living as slaves, traders and faith healers before connecting with the Spanish settlements in Mexico.

This screening will include a short introduction and question and answer session with Ron Krieg, facilitator of the Library’s World Cinema Thursdays program.

“Cabeza de Vaca” will be followed by a Saturday, October 21 screening of “Smoke Signals.” Adapted from a screenplay by Alexie, “Smoke Signals” is a poignant film written to explore and expose the nature of Native American stereotypes in popular cinema. The first feature film to be written, directed and co-produced by American Indians, ‘Smoke Signals” will be screened beginning at 2 p.m..

The Community Read Film Series will conclude Wednesday, October 25 with a 2 p.m. showing of “Reel Injun,” a film tracing the evolution of cinematic depiction of Native people from the silent film era to the present. “Reel Injun” features clips from hundreds of classic and recent Hollywood movies, as well as candid interviews with celebrated Native and non-Native celebrities, activists, film critics and historians.

All three screenings will take place in the Library’s BorgWarner Community Room-East. For more information, contact Tom Burns at tburns@tcpl.org.

Now in its 15^th year, the Community Read encourages readers to experience the bond of literature by reading and discussing the same title. Copies of the book are available to borrow from the Library’s collection and limited copies are available for local book groups and not-for-profit organizations.