Movies & Screenings
Friday Night Films in September
Written by Barbara T. on 08/27/2010
There's always something curious in the air whenever September rolls around. It's hard to resist the desire to try something new...to be curious...to learn...to reconnect. Our selection of films for the September screenings bring some new and different titles to invigorate your fall Fridays.
In the spirit of September, here's an early fall pop quiz. Match the tag line with the film.
"I worked too hard. And too long. I ain't goin' down without a fight."
"How did one woman save 2500 children?"
"What if you had a second chance to find true love? The greatest love story ever told...is your own."
"The True Story of a multi-billion dollar art heist and how they got away with it."
September 3 at 7:30 p.m. -- THE COURAGEOUS HEART OF IRENA SENDLER(2009) Starring Anna Paquin, Goran Visnjic, Marcia Gay Harden; Not rated, 95 minutes
This is the story of Irena Sendler, a social worker who was part of the Polish underground during World War II and was arrested by the Nazis for saving the lives of nearly 2,500 Jewish children by smuggling them out of the Warsaw ghetto. Often called "The Female Schindler," Sendler not only saved thousands of lives, but also countless generations of their descendents.
September 10 at 7:30 p.m. -- THAT EVENING SUN (2010) Starring Hal Holbrook, Ray McKinnon, Mia Wasikowska; Rated PG-13; 110 minutes
In this critically-acclaimed gen, Abner Meecham is fleeing the retirement home where his son abandoned him and is setting out to reclaim his beloved Tennessee farmstead -- only to find it's been leased to an old enemy, the volatile Lonzo Choat. After Abner intervenes to protect Choat's daughter from her drunken father's abuse, events spiral toward a startling, violent climax in "...an exceptionally fine, richly atmospheric film."
September 17 at 7:30 p.m. -- THE ART OF THE STEAL (2009) Documentary; Not rated; 101 minutes
It's been called the greatest theft of art since the Second World War. Reveals how a private collection of paintings became the envy of the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and other major institutions, and the prize in a battle between one man's vision and the forces of commerce and politics. Founded in 1922 by wealthy American drug developer and art collector Albert C. Barnes, the Barnes Foundation became the finest collection of paintings by Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse, and Van Gogh.
September 24 at 7:30 p.m. -- LETTERS TO JULIET (2010) Starring Amanda Seyfried, Gael Garcia Bernal, Vanessa Redgrave; Rated PG; 105 minutes
When a young American travels to the city of Verona, home of the star-crossed lover Juliet Capulet of Romeo and Juliet fame, she joins a group of volunteers who respond to letters to Juliet seeking advice about love. After answering a letter dated 1957, she inspires its author to travel to Italy in search of her long-lost love and sets off a chain of events that will bring love into both their lives unlike anything they could ever imagine.
Click on the images to watch the movie trailers and then join us on Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m. for our Friday Night Films!
All films are free and open to the public.
Refreshments will be served.
Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen’s).
Health & Wellness Series - Fall 2010
A Picture of Health
Darien Library Health & Wellness Series
Achieving personal wellness requires a conscious decision and commitment to shape a healthy lifestyle. It encompasses self-assessments of how we feel about various aspects of our lives, including our physical and emotional well-being.
At all times, Darien Library is an excellent resource for researching information about health and medical concerns. This fall, we add A Picture of Health, an extensive series of lectures, expert panels, computer workshops, and films. The schedule offers sessions on a variety of health issues, including nutrition, stress management, personal safety for children & teens, pain management, holistic medicine, sleep disorders, and medication management.
Please join us for this important and enriching series.
Lectures, Expert Panels & Meet-the-Author Events
Health Choices Information & Technology Courses
Health & Wellness Film Screenings
Lectures, Expert Panels, & Author Events
Managing Your Medication
Thursday, September 23 at 10:30 AM
Get the 411 on medication safety! While prescription and over-the-counter medications can improve health and overall quality of life, they also contain powerful chemicals with potential to harm when used incorrectly. This presentation will review the general risks and benefits of medication therapy, common medication use problems, and ways everyone can improve medication safety. All participants will complete a medication safety self-assessment. Free medication organizer and a packet of valuable informational materials will be provided. (And for information about "Safe Disposal = Safe Returns," Darien's Free Medication Collection Day on Saturday, October 9, please click here.)
Presented by Elaine Abrams, MPH RN CHES, Certified Health Education Specialist and Community Health Coordinator at Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Fairfield County (formerly Nursing & Home Care).
Ask the Doctors!
Tuesday, October 5 at 7 PM
It's time to take the anxiety out of the word "healthcare!" Doctors4Darien, a team of four esteemed community physicians, will discuss new research findings and information related to our bodies and our health. The panel will also focus on preventative healthcare from head to toe - literally! From dental care to foot care and everything in between, this is your chance to learn new and better paths to well-being.
Presented by Dr. Maryann Lehmann, D.D.S., Dentist; Dr. Brian P. McKay, D.C., Chiropractor; Dr. Brian S. Sheets, D.O., Ob/Gyn; and Dr. Josephine Velasquez, D.P.M., Podiatrist.
Personal Safety: A Workshop for Kids (ages 9 - 12)
Monday, October 11 from 2 PM to 3:30 PM
In this self-protection class, your children will learn the ABC's of safety in a fun and supportive atmosphere. Practice when and how to say no to strangers, friends, and familiar adults, and when it's time to find safety and ask for help. Sign up for this workshop in the Children's Library, or call (203) 669-5235 for details.
Presented by Michael Robin, certified self-defense instructor.
Medicare 411
Tuesday, October 12 at 10:30 AM
When it comes to understanding Medicare, we know you have tons of questions - so we're giving you the answers! Learn about CHOICES (the Connecticut Health Care Options program), the types of Medicare plans that are available, buying and paying for plans, and how the new healthcare reform benefits you. (CHOICES does not sell insurance, nor does it endorse one plan over another; it is funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Administration on Aging, and the State of CT.)
Presented by Christine Crain, Director of Programs - Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging, and CHOICES Regional Coordinator. The Q&A portion will also feature Inta V. Adams, Assistant Director - Darien Social Services.
Personal Safety: A Mother/Daughter Workshop (ages 12 - 18)
Saturday, October 16 from 2 PM to 3:30 PM
Learn self-protection skills and safety basics with your teen in this mother/daughter workshop. A definite bonding experience, this class has won rave reviews for improving parent-child communication. Sign up for this program by emailing the Teen Librarian at eleone@darienlibrary.org.
Presented by Michael Robin, certified self-defense instructor.
To Eat or Not to Eat? That is the Question.
Tuesday, October 19 at 7 PM
With so many choices available at the supermarket these days, deciding which food to purchase for a healthy lifestyle can be very difficult! What should we be eating? And how much? Our panel of nutrition experts will help address these food issues and more, including overeating, portion-size awareness, making healthful food choices for your family (especially children), the importance of plant-based living, and how to be a budget organic. Healthy snacks will be provided by Whole Foods Market.
Presented by Jessica Yep, MS, RD, CDN - Registered Dietician and Founder of Nutrition Consultants LLC; Mimi MacLean, Holistic Health Coach - The Well Balanced Life; and Ronna Corlin, Healthy Eating Specialist - Whole Foods Market.
Meet the Author! Gene Stone
The Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick
Thursday, October 21 at 7 PM
The Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick tells the stories of 25 people who each possess a different secret of excellent health - and shows how we can all use these insights to improve our own lives. The stories make it personal; then comes the science, the expert authority, and the nuts and bolts. From probiotics to veganism to a daily dose of garlic, from yoga to cold showers, it's an extensive list: 25 secrets to health and how to make each work for you. A book signing will follow the presentation. Book will be available for purchase at the event.
Gene Stone is a health-savvy journalist, writer, and former Peace Corps volunteer. He's written and/or ghostwritten more than 30 books, most recently the national bestseller The Engine 2 Diet, with Rip Esselstyn; his articles and columns have appeared in New York, Playboy, Esquire, Vogue, Elle, and GQ.
Integrative/Holistic Approaches to Wellness
Tuesday, October 26 at 7 PM
What is holistic medicine? This modern approach to medicine integrates traditional and complementary therapies to promote optimal health, taking into account physical, emotional, spiritual, social, and environmental factors that affect our overall wellness. Experts from Greenwich Hospital's Center for Integrative Medicine, where hearing the patient's entire story is essential to its more natural approach to wellness, will discuss these integrative and holistic practices, including new ways of thinking about healing.
Presented by Dr. Henri Roca, Medical Director - Greenwich Hospital's Center for Integrative Medicine. The Q&A panel will also include additional experts from the center.
Meet the Author! Beth Lambert
A Compromised Generation:
The Epidemic of Chronic Illness in America's Children
Thursday, October 28 at 7 PM
Children today are being diagnosed with illnesses such as autism, asthma, allergies, and ADHD at breakthtaking rates. A Compromised Generation reveals how environmental factors, specific American lifestyles, and pharmaceutical over-usage are at the root of the epidemic, offering advice on how it can be reversed. A book signing will follow the presentation. Book will be available for purchase at the event.
Beth Lambert is a former healthcare consultant and teacher, and is currently the Executive Director of PEACE: Parents Ending America's Childhood Epidemic, a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to education the public about the epidemic of chronic illness affecting our youth. The Q&A portion will also feature co-author Victoria Kobliner, MS, RD, a registered dietician with extensive experience using diet to help children with autism and related disorders.
Stress Management: Caring for Ourselves, Empowering Our Children
Friday, November 12 at 11 AM
We all live busy lives, and trying to fit our commitments into a 24-hour day while juggling the needs of our family, friends, and ourselves sometimes seems impossible! But no matter how busy we are, it is important to find ways to manage stress to maintain a healthy lifestyle and overall sense of well-being. This panel discussion will provide specific tips for reducing stress for ourselves while helping our children to develop healthy stress-management habits, as well.
Presented by representatives from The Child Guidance Center of Southern CT, Darien Youth Options, and Family Centers.
Healthy Choices (Lecture + Technology Series)
Registration Required
People are turning to the internet more than ever to find health and wellness information. But with so many online options, how can we be sure we're getting the best information out there? This unique health education series combines lectures by world-class physicians with hands-on computer workshops that will help you to become a more information-literate healthcare consumer and to make more informed health decisions for you and your family. Co-sponsored by Stamford Hospital.
Each session will take place in Darien Library's Technology Lab (lower level) and consist of a lecture on a health-related topic, followed by a hands-on workshop that will teach you how to find corresponding health information online.
Registration for Healthy Choices is open to all Darien residents, those who work full-time in Darien, and non-resident Friends of the Library at the Contributor level ($300 annual donation). To register, visit darienlibrary.org. (Registration begins in mid-September). All registrants will be notified via email or phone to confirm that your registration has been accepted. If you have any questions about registration, contact Judy Sgammato at jsgammato@darienlibrary.org or (203) 669-5256.
A Focus on Sleep Disorders
Monday, October 4 at 7 PM
Guest Lecture: Steven A. Thau, MD, FCCP, Associate Director of Sleep Center - Stamford Hospital
Workshop Instructor: Judy Sgammato, Technology Manager - Darien Library
Living Healthy with Diabetes
Friday, October 15 at 10 AM
Guest Lecture: Debbie Milne, RN, CDE, Director of Diabetes & Endocrine Center - Stamford Hospital
Workshop Instructor: Guillaume Van Moorsel, Director, Health Science Library - Stamford Hospital
All About Pain Management
Tuesday, October 26 at 10 AM
Guest Lecture: Vincent Carlesi, MD, Pain Management Specialist - Stamford Hospital
Workshop Instructor: Guillaume Van Moorsel, Director, Health Science Library - Stamford Hospital
Increasing Vitality with Herbs
Monday, November 8 at 7 PM
Guest Lecture: Joseph Feuerstein, MD, Director of Integrative Medicine - Stamford Hospital
Workshop Instructor: Judy Sgammato, Technology Manager - Darien Library
Health & Wellness Films
Good Night with the Sleep Doctor
Thursday, September 30 at 7 PM
Noted sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus explains how your genes, environment, job, and physiology may be hampering your sleep and in turn, dramatically affecting your waking life. In the PBS lecture, he shows that getting the proper quality and quantity of sleep can help rejuvinate your mind and body, increase your energy, help you lose weight, take years off of your appearance, and more. Not Rated; 79 minutes (2007).
Just Add Spice: Parenting for Happy, Healthy Kids
Monday, October 18 at 2 PM
Follow four families as they attempt to instill healthy habits in their kids by using a set of proven positive parenting skills represented by the acronym SPICE (Structure, Praise, Inspire, Consistency, and Enjoy) - including how to deal with children who refuse to eat healthy foods and turn to sedentary forms of entertainment. Not Rated, 90 minutes (2010).
Food, Inc.
Monday, October 18 at 7 PM
This controversial documentary film lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, which is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health. We have bigger, better, longer-lasting food, but the consequences may often outweigh the benefits. Named one of the ten best films of 2009 by Entertainment Weekly. Rated PG; 94 minutes (2009).
The Alternative Fix
Monday, October 25 at 2 PM
The past few years have seen an explosion in the popularity of complementary and alternative medicine. Under pressure from everyone from consumers to Congress, major hospitals and medical schools have embraced therapies that were once dismissed as quackery. But the question remains: Do these treatments actually work? PBS's Frontline examines the controversy over complementary and alternative medical treatments. Not Rated; 60 minutes (2004).
The Way We Get By
Wednesday, November 10 at 2 PM
A deeply moving documentary film about life and how to live it. Beginning as a seemingly idiosyncratic story about a group of senior citizens who gather daily at a small airport to thank American soldiers departing and returning from Iraq, the film quickly turns into an incredibly compassionate story about aging, loneliness, war, and mortality. Winner of the 2009 SXSW Special Jury Award. Not Rated; 84 minutes (2009).
Wednesdays at 2 = August Oasis
Written by Barbara T. on 07/27/2010
If July's weather was any indication, August could possibly leave us, yet again, seeking refuge from waves of heat waves. (I admit it. I am afraid.) We will be here with a mostly fluffy August, presenting some interesting (cool?) fare for the mid-day, mid-week movie "fix."
August 4 at 2 p.m. - PIXAR SHORT FILMS COLLECTION VOLUME 1(2009) Not rated (Appropriate for all ages); 54 minutes
Featuring 13 spectacular Pixar shorts, including Oscar winners for Best Animated Short Film - Tin Toy (1988); Geri's Game (1997); and For the Birds (2000).
August 11 at 2 p.m. - THE BOUNTY HUNTER (2010) Starring Jennifer Aniston, Gerard Butler, and Christine Baranski; Rated PG-13; 110 minutes
A bounty hunter learns that his next target is his ex-wife, a reporter working on a murder cover-up. Soon after their reunion, the always-at-odds duo finds themselves on a run-for-their-lives adventure.
August 18 at 2 p.m. - BURMA VJ: REPORTING FROM A CLOSED COUNTRY (2009) Documentary Feature; Not Rated; In Burmese and English with English subtitles; 84 minutes
Courageous young citizens of Burma live the essence of journalism as they make reports – illegal in their country - from the streets, smuggle the footage out and broadcast it back into Burma via satellite for free, exposing the police state that has developed. This film combines those individual clips into one overall picture offering a unique insight into high-risk journalism and dissidence in a police state.
August 25 at 2 p.m. - THE BACK-UP PLAN (2010) Starring Jennifer Lopez, Alex O'Loughlin, and Melissa McCarthy; Rated PG-13; 106 minutes
Jennifer Lopez plays a single woman who turns to artificial insemination in response to her ticking biological clock, only to see her backup plan turned on its side when the man of her dreams shows up at the same time as her positive pregnancy test results.
All movies are free and open to the public.
Please join us!
Keep Cool on Friday Nights in August
Written by Barbara T. on 07/26/2010
When the air is still on those hot August nights, you can still count on us to stir the air and stir things up with our Friday Night Films. The films for August offer intrigue, laughs, suspense, and history. We offer refreshment...and refreshments! We begin with Christopher Plummer and Helen Mirren in the unforgettable film, The Last Station.
August 6 at 7:30 p.m. - THE LAST STATION (2009) Starring Christopher Plummer, Helen Mirren, James McAvoy, and Paul Giamatti; Rated R; 113 minutes
In honor of his newly created religion, Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy renounces his title, property, and family in favor of poverty and celibacy. For the Countess Sofya, his wife of nearly fifty years, this is the last straw! after she discovers his plans to leave the rights to his iconic novels to the Russian people rather than his own family, she decides to use every trick of seduction in her considerable arsenal to fight for what she believes is rightfully hers.
August 13 at 7:30 p.m. - THE GHOST WRITER (2010) Starring Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, and Kim Cattrall; Rated PG-13; 128 minutes
When a successful British ghost writer, The Ghost, agrees to complete the memoirs of former British Prime Minister Adam Lang, his agnet assures him it's the opportunity of a lifetime. But the project seems doomed from the start -- not least because his predecessor on the project, Lang's long-term aide, dies in an unfortunate accident. As The Ghost works, he begins to uncover clues suggesting his predecessor may have stumbled on a dark secret linking Lang to the CIA. Resonating with topical themes, this atmospheric and suspenseful political thriller is a story of deceit and betrayal on every level -- sexual, political, and literary.
August 20 at 7:30 p.m. - DATE NIGHT (2010) Starring Steve Carell, Tina Fey, and Mark Wahlberg; Rated PG-13; 88 minutes
About an ordinary couple in the right place, on the wrong night. Phil and Claire Foster are a sensible suburban husband and wife slogging through their daily lives and marriage. But a case of mistaken identity sets off an outrageous chain of events involving small-time thieves, big-city mobsters, corrupt cops, and a crazed cabbie, as the Fosters' 'date night' turns into a wild ride they'll never forget!
August 27 at 7:30 p.m. - THE JONESES(2010) starring David Duchovny, Demi Moore, Glenne Headly, Lauren Hutton, and Gary Cole; Rated R; 109 minutes
the Joneses, a seemingly perfect family, are the envy of their posh, suburban neighborhood filled with all the trappings of the upper middle class. They are the ultimate trendsetters with an endless supply of high-tech toys, designer clothes, fast cars, and the latest gadgets. But as the neighbors try to keep up with the Joneses, none are prepared for the truth about this all-too-perfect family.
Click on the images to watch the movie trailers and then join us on Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m. for our Friday Night Films!
All films are free and open to the public.
Refreshments will be served.
Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen’s).
Friday Night Films in July
Written by Barbara T. on 06/18/2010
When it's July ...and when it's Friday... and when it's 7:30 p.m. , where will you be? We hope that you'll be right here at...Darien Library, where we'll begin our July film schedule with When in Rome.
Friday, July 2 at 7:30 p.m. -- WHEN IN ROME (2009) Starring Kristen Bell, Will Arnett, and Jon Heder; Rated PG-13; 93 minutes
Beth Harper is a young, successful real estate agent... but she's completely unlucky in love. However, when the New Yorker travels to Rome to see her newlywed sister, she impulsively steals some coins from a reputed fountain of love. She then finds herself being aggressively pursued bya band of wannabe lovers in this romantic comedy.
Friday, July 9 at 7:30 p.m. -- GREEN ZONE (2010) Starring Matt Damon, Brendan Gleeson, and Jason Isaacs; Rated R; 115 minutes
Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller is a rogue U.S. Army officer who must hunt through covert and faulty intelligence hidden on foreign soil before war escalates in an unstable region. He is on the trail of Weapons of Mass Destruction with a
foreign correspondent following this mission
Friday, July 16 at 7:30 p.m. -- A SINGLE MAN (2009) Starring Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, and Ginnifer Goodwin; Rated R; 101 minutes
Set in Los Angeles in 1962 at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis, this film is the story of Georg Falconer, a 52-year old British college professor who is struggling to find meaning to his life after the death of his long-time partner, Jim. This film is a romantic tale of love interrupted, the isolation that is an inherent part of the human condition, and ultimately, the importance of the seemingly smaller moments in life.
Friday, July 23 at 7:30 p.m. -- THE RED BARON (2010) Starring Matthias Schweighofer, Lena Heady, and Joseph Fienes; Rated PG-13; 129 minutes
Europe, 1916. Baron Manfred von Richthofen is, at the age of just 24, the crack pilot of the German aerial combat forces -- a legend in his own time, a hero at home, and a man both feared and respected by the enemy. The provocative red paint job of his Fokker aircraft earns him the nickname "The Red Baron" and makes him famous the world over. For millions of his countrymen, he becomes an idol, a symbol of hope and pride.
Friday, July 30 at 7:30 p.m. -- ONE WEEK (2008) Starring Joshua Jackson, Liane Balaban, and Campbell Scott; Not rated; 94 minutes
When a young man is confronted with his mortality, he takes a cross-country road trip on a vintage motorcycle. ONE WEEK tells the story of Ben Tyler (Joshua Jackson), in his mid-twenties, who flees from the confines of his life - an impending marriage, a job he's not entirely happy with, and a recent diagnosis--in order to attempt to live more fully. What starts off as an ill-defined venture soon morphs into a quest for the West Coast.
All films are free and open to the public.
Refreshments will be served.
"New York State of Mind" Wednesday Matinees
Written by Barbara T. on 06/18/2010
Summer in the City is our Adult Summer Reading theme this year, so we're devoting our Wednesday Matinees in July to that splendid burg just south of here. During the month, every Wednesday at 2 p.m., we'll be hosting A New York State of Mind. We hope that you'll join us for these mid-year, mid-week, mid-day city "getaways." Each film is set in New York City, and each is keenly reflective of its time and place.
Wednesday, July 7 at 2 p.m. -- A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (1935) Starring The Marx Brothers, Margaret Dumont, and Kitty Carlisle; B&W; Not rated; 93 minutes
The Marx Brothers considered this their best film and the "stateroom sequence" is possibly the funniest five minutes in screen history. The boys have a great time poking fun at grand opera and at wealthy dowager Mrs. Claypool (Margaret Dumont) in particular.
Wednesday, July 14 at 2 p.m. -- YOU'VE GOT MAIL (1998) Starring Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Parker Posey, and Greg Kinnear; Rated PG; 116 minutes
Inspired by the 1940 film THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER, this romantic comedy features Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan as rival Manhattan bookstore employees who fall in love via the Internet. Their romance blossoms through a series of e-mails, which they send anonymously to each other.
Wednesday, July 21 at 2 p.m. -- NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959) Starring Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, and James Mason; Not rated; 136 minutes
From Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) being chased by the crop dusting bi-plane, to the climax atop the faces of Mount Rushmore, this Hitchcock classic never lets up. Roger, an unsuspecting NYC adman is mistaken for a spy by a secret agent (James Mason). One of Hitchcock's personal favorites, the film combines a tense, harrowing pace with the fear of calamity lurking behind every door—truly the work of a master.
Wednesday, July 28 at 2 p.m. -- MOSCOW ON THE HUDSON (1984) Starring Robin Williams, Maria Conchita Alonso, and Cleavant Derricks; Rated R; 155 minutes
This is considered one of the best performances of Robin Williams’ career. A gentle, glowing exuberant Russian defector tries to build a new life in New York City. His sensitive anguish and overwhelming enthusiasm make for a tale of rare, warm, wonderful magic. Energetic, touching parody on patriotism.
All films are open to the public.
Admission is free.
Friday Nights in June
Written by Barbara T. on 05/29/2010
Friday Night Films at Darien Library is huge. Bigger than huge. Enormous. And we are hugely honored and enormously thrilled that so many have chosen to spend their Friday nights with us.
Thanks to everyone for making our film series so popular and beloved.
Here's what's on the schedule for June:
June 4 at 7:30 p.m. – INVICTUS – (2009) Matt Damon, Morgan Freeman, Scott Eastwood; Rated PG-13; 133 minutes The film tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa’s rugby team to help unite their country. Believing he can bring his racially and economically divided country together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies his underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Championship match.
June 11 – NO FILM – Please join us for a musical concert by ACABELLA, an all-female vocal group (pictured, right) featuring 14 women from lower Fairfield County. This gifted and committed auditioned group is popular for its talent and wide-ranging repertoire, which ranges from big band tunes to Broadway hits to disco and pop music. (7:30 p.m.) For more details, please click here.
June 18 at 7:30 p.m. – OWL AND THE SPARROW – (2007) Cat Ly, The Lu Le, Han Thi Pham; Rated PG; 98 minutes; In Vietnamese with English subtitles On the bustling streets of Saigon, three very different people are seeking connection are about to collide. A beautiful flight attendant looking for love. A zookeeper hiding within his animal kingdom to nurse a broken heart. And the young flower-selling runaway who brings them together. But to avoid the authorities and a strict uncle tracking her down, she will need all of her cleverness and determination if she is going to grab any chance at lasting happiness.
June 25 at 7:30 p.m. – EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES – (2009) Harrison Ford, Brendan Fraser, Keri Russell; Rated PG; 105 minutes Inspired by the true story of John Crowley, a man who defied conventional wisdom and great odds, and risked his family’s future to pursue a cure for his children’s life-threatening disease. He teams with Dr. Stonehill, a brilliant, but unappreciated and unconventional scientist who helps him find the cure.
All films are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen’s).
June's Wednesday Matinees
Written by Barbara T. on 05/28/2010
HOME - June 2 at 2 p.m.
(2009) Starring Marcia Gay Harden, Marion Seldes, and Michael Gaston; Rated PG-13; 84 minutes
Inga, a poet and mother, is drawn to a house that reminds her of her childhood home and here she realizes that many things in her life are coming full circle. Inga's marriage is crumbling and when she finds herself facing breast cancer, she begins to use alcohol in much the same way as her mother's use of morphine to control her pain. Like many artists, Inga's struggle is reflected in her poems and expressing her inner emotions allows her to transform her life.
IT'S COMPLICATED - June 9 at 2 p.m.
(2009) Meryl Street, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin, Rita Wilson; Rated R; 120 minutes
Jane is the mother of three grown kids, has a thriving business and an amicable relationship with her ex-husband Jake. But when an innocent meal turns into an affair, Jane finds herself as the other woman. When an architect falls for Jane, he soon realizes he’s become part of a love triangle as things get very complicated.
ANITA O'DAY: THE LIFE OF A JAZZ SINGER - June 16 at 2 p.m.
(2007) Documentary; Not rated; 90 minutes
The Jezebel of Jazz lived a life as hot as her phrasing was cool. Doctors declared her dead after a heroin overdose, but she survived and kept testifying in song for 40 more years until her death at 87. This superb documentary has all the O'Day highs and lows recalled by the star with salty, unapolgetic clarity.
DEAR JOHN - June 23 at 2 p.m.
(2010) Starring Amanda Seyfried, Channing Tatum, and Richard Jenkins; Rated PG-13; 105 minutes
A soldier, home on leave, falls for a conservative college girl. Instead of returning homet o her, he reenlists after the attacks on September 11th, 2001. Time and distance begin to take a toll on the young lovers in the film based on the book by Nicholas Sparks.
FRONT OF THE CLASS - June 30 at 2 p.m.
(2009) Starring Treat Williams, Patricia Heaton, and Jimmy Wolk; Rated PG; 95 minutes
This film is based on the true story of Brad Cohen, a young man diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome who defies the odds to become a teacher. When Brad was growing up, teachers and even his father interpretted Brad's involuntary sounds and sudden jerking movements as attempts to get attention or simply acting up. As a result, he hated school...unitl a principal used an all-school assembly to educate the faculty and students, which helped Brad win their understanding and acceptance.
All films are free and open to the public. Please join us!
Wednesday Matinee - "In Love We Trust"
Written by Barbara T. on 05/24/2010
We've been enjoying our mid-week, mid-day movies! This Wednesday, we're back with a thought-provoking film from China...we almost can't help but contemplate what we would do if faced with similar circumstances
Wednesday, May 26 at 2 p.m. – IN LOVE WE TRUST (2009) In Mandarin with English subtitles; Not rated; 115 minutes
In order to save their daughter, who is suffering from cancer of the blood, a divorced couple must have another child. As both have remarried, they must put their current relationships in jeopardy to test their love and commitment to one another.
All films are free and open to the public.
Please join us every Wednesday at 2 p.m. for our Wednesday Matinee Films Series.
See The Big Picture (and Bottle Shock)
Written by Barbara T. on 05/12/2010
On Friday, May 21 at 7:30, Meet the Author Meets Friday Night Films! Kevin Coupe, co-author of the book The Big Picture: Essential Business Lessons from the Movies will be here to talk about the book...and the movies. The film Bottle Shock will be shown following the presentation. The book, written by Coupe and Michael Sansolo, uses movies ranging from The Godfather to Young Frankenstein to illustrate tenets of leadership, the importance of marketing and branding, and how to survive in the workplace.
Kevin is a Darien resident and has his own website/blog, MorningNewsBeat.com, which after 10 years, has well over 20,000 subscribers. He also runs Coupe Communications, a production company that specializes in business videos designed to help companies define and share big ideas with employees, customers, and clients.
The author presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will include a book signing. (Books will be available for purchase.) The film screening of Bottle Shock will begin at 8:30 p.m. We hope that you'll join us for this enlightening and entertaining evening!
Bottle Shock (2008) Starring Bill Pullman and Alan Rickman; Rated PG-13; 109 minutes
This film is based on an inspiring true story from the early days of California winemaking. In 1976, in the Napa Valley, a small winery and its workers compete in a blind taste test against French wine.
"Bottle Shock is more than the story. It is also about people who love their work, care about it with passion and talk about it with knowledge." -- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
"This intelligent, affectionate, beautifully acted movie gives crowd-pleasers a good name." -- Stephen Farber, The Hollywood Reporter
Click here to watch the trailer for the film.
Click here to see the schedule of our upcoming Friday Night Films.
This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs on Thorndal Circle (behind Nielsen’s).
Darien Library, 1441 Post Road, Darien, Connecticut, 06820-5419 · 203-655-1234Directions and Contact Information. Twitter: darienlibrary. AIM & Y!M: deweydarien.