What is Cinema Journey?
Part of our A Place for Films network, Cinema Journey is a film club that helps us engage in our personal journeys of spiritual growth through the story-telling power of movies. Spiritual growth requires a process of change and a shift in perspective that entails letting go of our egos and allowing our spirit-centered selves to emerge. Cinema Journey utilizes the cinematic story-telling elements of light, color, action, dialog, character development, symbolism, cinematography and music to facilitate that change and shift in perspective. In this way, movies help us to step outside of our comfort zones and access our more authentic, inner truths, which, in turn, help us to move towards deeper relationship with each other, our communities, our planet, and the Divine (however we understand the Divine).
Each season, we watch and discuss four movies that are connected by a common underlying theme. While our themes span a wide range of subjects, they always share an underlying element of the Jewish wisdom tradition. Past season's themes have included Creation, Honoring Parents, Listening, Middot, New Paradigms, Renewal of Spirit, Pillars of Value, and the Evolution of Community.
Our theme for the 2024-2025 season is Power: Bad Inheritance. Each of the four diverse, penetrating and thought-provoking films that we will watch and discuss this season will offer a different perspective on the downstream effects of the white, male power structure on women, indigenous people of color, the environment, and white men of conscience. Film discussions are hosted by Valerie Edwards.
Cinema Journey is open to anyone interested in watching and discussing meaningful movies. You don't have to be a HAMAKOM member, Jewish, or living in Southern California! If you have family or friends who might enjoy Cinema Journey, please invite them to join us!
During each film conversation, Valerie will invite you to delve deeply into the nuances of the film's characters, plot-lines, cinematography, symbolism, music and dialog. You'll be invited to immerse yourself in the movie's "world" and to see that world through the eyes of the film's characters. Valerie's lively, iterative, question-driven style creates a welcoming and inspiring space for audience members to explore and share their experiences of the film - and to discover in that film its underlying life lessons and hidden spiritual truths.
Ready to get started? It's easy!
1) Sign up here to join the Cinema Journey mailing list! Every three months or so you'll receive information about out upcoming movie, including how to watch it and details for joining the film conversation. It costs nothing except to stream the movies at your convenience.
2) Click RSVP to let us know that you're planning to attend the upcoming discussion.
3) Watch the film on your own. Streaming and rental availability for the upcoming movie is listed HERE.
4) Attend the film discussions in person or via Zoom. Enjoy!
September Selection: "Mona Lisa Smile"
What happens when young women are trained to uphold & promote the very power structure that keeps them down?
Institutional sexism in higher education
Film Discussion will be September 26th, 7:00 PM in person at HAMAKOM at
7353 Valley Circle Blvd.
West Hills, CA 91304
And
Remote on ZOOM!
In 1953, Katherine Watson, a progressive, idealistic young art teacher, travels from California to New England to teach art history at the prestigious all-female Wellesley College, where she anticipates working with the smartest young women in the country and being able to make a difference in their lives. But while the school prides itself on its high standards of academic excellence, it quickly becomes clear to Miss Watson that the only grade that really counts at Wellesley is the one a husband gives his wife for her performance as a wife and mother. "I thought I was headed to a place that would turn out tomorrow's leaders," she fumes, "not their wives!" When her plans for a more adventurous art curriculum are stymied by the college's conservative administrators, and her efforts to change her students' perspectives are met with resistance and retaliation, Miss Watson must decide whether to give in... or keep fighting.
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Future Cinema journey conversations
