A quiet life on the big screen
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Sage Merritt / News Virginian
Published: September 12, 2007
"Me and my family have quite a few ties to the Valley," King said. "I actually went to Eastern Mennonite High School and so did other members of my family, my siblings. We've got relative in the area, Stuanton and Waynesboro, Harrisonburg, lots of family and friends who live in Harrisonburg and other areas. It's a little bit of a homecoming to get to show that movie in that area to that audience."
"Pearl Diver," written and directed by King, explores the story of a traditional Mennonite family in northern Indiana. Two sisters, haunted by the memory of their mothers' murder, forge a path to reconciliation when a farm accident brings the two together. According to King, areas with prominent Mennonite populations - like the Valley - have had a deeper, more emotional reaction to the movie in previous screenings.
"They [Indiana, where the movie was set, at the Valley] are both similar in that they both have Mennonite colleges there and an academic, modernized progressive community, but also much more conservative communities, very very old order Mennonites as well," King said. "It was interesting in Indiana to see some of the more conservative Mennonites come out for the movie. I heard positive responses, and I hope to see that in Staunton as well.
"I'm sure I'll see representatives of boths types of communities there," King added. "Audiences have walked away with two different views on it - is the movie kind of idealizing this traditional way of life, or critiquing this way of life- I hope that might happen in Staunton as well. If there are people who are familiar with Mennonite traditions, they tend to have stronger feelings about it - a lot of people have had to deal with those feelings and situations themselves. As a director, it's always gratifying to see people get some sort of reaction, even if it really bothered them."
The Dixie, an independently-owned community theater, was ideal for a showing of an independent movie, King said.
"There are places like the Dixie that are locally owned and operated, but they are pretty rare and getting rarer, unfortunately," King noted. "Places that are corporately owned, like the Regal Cinema in Harrisonburg, are not going to be interested in showing this film. The owners of the Dixie, we were able to meet face to face, and I was able to discuss with them some of the connections to the area from the film."
According to Marney Gibbs, marketing director and volunteer coordinator for the Dixie Theater, "Pearl Diver" is a great opportunity to bring a unique, localized story to the Dixie's big screens.
"We are very pleased premier the movie in the state of Virginia," Gibbs said. "We think it's a wonderful movie, and think it will appeal to the community."
The movie will open Wednesday, Sept. 19, at Dixie Theater on Beverley Street in downtown Staunton. On Friday, Sept. 21, the theater will host a question-and-answer session with King after the 7 p.m. show.
For showtime and ticket information, contact the Dixie at 885-8445 or visit the theater's Web site at http://www.dixietheater.com.
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