**MERRICK FILM FORUM NEWS**

2008-2009 SEASON

Welcome to the Merrick Film Forum’s 51^st year of offering the community an alternative to the standard movie fare. It is hard to believe we have been doing this for so long.

We have good news. We have received our grant for this year, arranged by New York State Senator Charles Fuschillo, so we are financially solvent for the coming season. This will enable us to maintain our current dues even with increasing costs for our films and other expenses. If you have occasion to speak with The Senator, we hope you will express our thanks. We also must thank the Senator’s Administrative assistant, Sarah Holley for her efforts on our behalf. Jack Ross has written for, and obtained our grants from the National Heritage Trust. We are indebted to him and State Senator Charles Fuschillo and Sara Holley who have been our conduit to the Foundation and the State.

Our schedule this year will allow us to present all our films on the first Friday of the month except for January which will be the second Friday

We have allocated the same assignments to our Executive Board members and we all pitch in to assist on all the tasks whenever needed and share in choosing films and we are very grateful for their efforts.

Because we are still operating with a small number of dedicated Board members, we could use assistance to maintain the FILM FORUM so that all of our members can continue to come to our presentations and enjoy our films and discussions. We need a Treasurer, a collation specialist and several people to help at the door on film nights. On the membership application there is a spot for people to volunteer to join our Board. Please consider joining and helping us continue to provide our series to the community.

If you would like to see the Film Forum, continue, we need your help. Not good intentions, but a commitment to the nitty gritty work that is involved in bringing our programs to the public. It’s not that hard, nor very time consuming. But it does take a willingness to follow through on that which you agree to do. If you would like to work with us, please check the box on the enclosed membership form or contact me, or any board member. If you have any questions, please call me at (516) 781-8685 or e-mail at jayh@broad.tc

Joe Sturniolo, is contacting speakers for each program. We expect many of your favorite discussion leaders to be with us again this year. The board has selected eight outstanding films. They are described overleaf. Joe is also working on a new version of our web page that will be easier to update and keep current as well as including a link to an email address to make it easier to contact us.

As many of you know, we present fine films along with great speakers and discussion leaders, plus coffee and cake during the discussion. All this for only $4.00 per program (with annual $16.00 membership.)

We have enclosed a membership application inside. Please fill out the application ASAP, and return it to us with your check. Because of the late mailing of this newsletter, it may be impossible to mail the membership cards to you before the first film. We will have them at the table as you come in, and will mail any not picked up after the first film.

Our programs are held in the Merrick Avenue Middle School’s comfortable auditorium and cafeteria. We start promptly at 8:00 PM. They are usually held on the first Friday of the month, October thru May. All the films, speakers and program dates are subject to change due to factors beyond our control. We are subject to the distributors ability to deliver the films on our schedule. Please check the dates and save the calendar inside this brochure. We will make every effort to inform you of changes in a timely fashion. Program postponements will be made available to Channel 12 News. In addition our Website: www.merrickfilm.org will carry announcements.

See you at the movies!

The Merrick Film Forum is pleased to offer the following programs for our 51st season,

2008 - 2009

Names of Speakers/ Discussion Leaders will be on our post cards, sent out about ten days before each program.

October 3, 2008 “TAKING SIDES”

A story based on the life of Wilhelm Furtwangler, the controversial conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, whose tenure coincided with the controversial Nazi era, and was renowned conductor of the 1930's, who was considered a rival of Toscanini. After the war he was investigated as part of the de-Nazification of Germany. An American Major is given his file and is told to find anything he can to prosecute the man. Members of the orchestra defend him as a protector of Jewish members of the orchestra. To Germans he was a demigod, to the Major just a lying, weak-willed Nazi.

2002. 105min. English. Unrated

Speaker/Discussion Leader -Professor Michael Libresco D’Innocenzo

November 7, 2008 “MRS. PALFREY AT THE CLAREMONT”

Mrs. Palfrey, recently widowed, after a long happy marriage, moves into a London residential hotel, more lively and elegant on line than in fact. She is determined to make the best of it while she waits for her Grandson, a London resident to visit. When she has a minor accident on a walk she meets and is befriended by a pennyless young writer. She invites him to lunch at the hotel and her dining mates assume he is her grandson, and she plays along. A friendship develops that gives her a companion with whom she can talk about memories and poetry, giving him ideas and support for his writing. How it plays out is the movie’s story.

2008. 108min. English. Unrated

Speaker/Discussion Leader – John Traversa

December 5, 2008 “LIMBO”

Limbo tells the story of people trying to reinvent themselves in the Southeastern islands of Alaska. The story revolves around Joe Gastineau, a fisherman traumatized by an accident at sea years before, singer Donna de Angelo and her disaffected daughter Noelle come into Joe’s life. When Joe’s fast talking half-brother Bobby returns to town and asks Joe for a favor, the lives of the characters are changed forever.

1999. 126min. Rated “R” for language

Speaker/Discussion Leader – Maggie Gough

January 9, 2009 “THE LAST KISS”

Michael and Jenna, having been a couple for three years, want to get married and start a family. Their plans seem to be under way when Jenna announces she is pregnant. But Michael is worried that his life and his youth will be over for good. At a friend’s wedding he meets a free spirited coed who leads him away from Jenna. Meanwhile, none of the relations of the people surrounding the couple are happy and stable. Even Jenna’s parents are experiencing troubles in their long term marriage.

2006. 115min. Rated “R” for sexuality, nudity, language

Speaker/Discussion Leader - TBA

February 6, 2009 “TWO FAMILY HOUSE”

An unseen narrator looks back to 1956, on Staten Island, when Buddy, an Italian guy with big dreams buys a house planning to live upstairs with his wife Estelle and run a bar downstairs. The first problem is Estelle’s lack of confidence in Buddy. Then the Irish tenants upstairs refuse to move and won’t pay rent; plus, the woman upstairs is about to have a baby. Next the baby is born and clearly the father was black and the husband splits.

Buddy evicts Mother and child, then feels guilty and tries to help her sort out adoption etc.

200. 108min. Rated “R” for language, brief sexuality

Speaker/Discussion Leader -TBA

March 6, 2009 “ELLING”

When his mother who has sheltered him his entire forty years dies, Elling, a sensitive would-be-poet, is sent to live in a State institution. There he meets Kjell, a gentle giant and female-obsessed virgin in his forties. After two years the men are released and provided with a state-funded apartment and stipend with the hope they will be able to live on their own. The simple act of going to the grocery is a challenge at first. But the two discover they cannot only survive on the outside but they can thrive, even with oddball ways of coping and finding friends in the most unlikely places.

2001. 89min. Rated “R” for language, some sexual content

Speaker/Discussion Leader - TBA

April 3, 2009 “TRUCE”

In this film, a modern western, we view the drama of a man struggling to hold on to his ranch as he also struggles to raise a granddaughter he never knew.

2006. 95 min. Not rated

Speaker/Discussion Leader – Professor Karen Smith

May 1, 2009 “THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY”

One of the consequences of America’s involvement in the Viet Nam war, was the children of GI’s by their Vietnamese wives and lovers. For years these women were social outcasts, enduring taunts and abuse. This is the story of one such love child, Binh, being forced from his village at 17, going to Saigon to find his mother, then trying to escape to America with his younger brother in 1990. He suffers the problems of most refugees and finally life opens up for him when he goes to Houston to find his father.

2004. 125 min. Rated “R” for language and crude sexual referral

Speaker/Discussion Leader – Milan Lukac

Directions To The Merrick Avenue Middle School

1870 Merrick Avenue

From Southern State Parkway

Exit at Merrick Avenue (Exit No. 24 S ) going South.

Proceed South on Merrick Avenue.

Turn right at 7^th Traffic Light into parking lot at the school.

From Sunrise Highway

At Merrick Avenue in Merrick, go North.

Proceed North on Merrick Avenue.

Turn left at 4^th Traffic Light into parking lot at the school.

Please park toward rear of parking area near the Auditorium entrance(Second entrance)

DIRECTORY OF MERRICK FILM FORUM SPEAKERS

Professor Michael D’ Innocenzo - Professor D’ Innocenzo is a well-known speaker who has always been welcomed by our audiences. He has been involved in local politics for many years. Professor D’ Innocenzo has received the Hofstra University Distinguished Teacher’s Award and is the author of more than two dozen books and other publications.

Mr. Milan Lucac - Mr. Lucac, now retired, has been in various positions involving communications and media, primarily in Europe. Milan spends most of his winters in Europe teaching English.

Ms. Rhea Pollock - Ms. Pollock was born in Toronto and lived in Israel for 4 years during the Six Day War. She was formerly a social worker and is now a librarian at the Brentwood Library. Her interests include theater, politics and travel.

Mr. Jack Ross - Jack is Vice President of the Merrick Film Forum and Chair of the Finance Committee. Mr. Ross is past chairman of PEIR at Hofstra University and leads a film discussion group there.

Mr. George Rystar - Mr. Rystar is a retired English teacher and travels extensively. He has led several film discussions for us in the past.

Professor Karsten Struhl - Professor Struhl teaches Philosophy and Political Theory (with emphasis on media and films) at Adelphi University, The New School, John Jay College and New Rochelle University. He recently edited a book on cross-cultural philosophy.

Professor Karen Smith - Professor Smith has been with us for three years and has received very good reviews from our members.

Ms. Maggie Gough - Ms Gough has led several discussions for us and has been well received by our members

THE MERRICK FILM FORUM

220 NORTHWOOD COURT

JERICHO, NEW YORK 11753

PLEASE MAIL THIS FORM TO:

THE MERRICK FILM FORUM, 220 NORTHWOOD COURT, JERICHO, NY, 11753

WITH YOUR CHECK MADE PAYABLE TO “MERRICK FILM FORUM”

PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY

Name________________________________________ Telephone #___________________

Address_______________________________________________Apt. #__________

Post Office______________________________ State_________ ZIP+4_______________

E-Mail Address_________________________________________

Number of Memberships @ $16.00 Each _______ Amount Enclosed $___________

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP (ANY FOUR PROGRAMS) - $16.00 PER PERSON

INDIVIDUAL ADMISSIONS SOLD AT THE DOOR:

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS WITH MEMBERSHIP CARD - $5.00 EACH

EACH PROGRAM WITHOUT MEMBERSHIP CARD - $6.00 EACH

Please include, on a separate sheet of paper, the names and addresses of

any persons whom you believe would like to receive this Newsletter

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We are looking for some additional interested (and interesting) people to join our Executive Board to help operate and manage the Merrick Film Forum. You will help us to choose our films, pick speakers, serve refreshments, operate our equipment, make decisions as required, etc. We have Executive Board meetings about 2 weeks before each film program plus 2 or 3 meetings between May 1 and October 1 to plan and prepare for the next season. If you would like to join us, please sign below and put this strip in the envelope with your membership application and check. NOTE: Executive Board members must be members of the Merrick Film Forum.