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 and Pillars of Value.
Our theme for the 2023-2024 season is The Evolution of Community. Each of the four thought-provoking films that we will watch and discuss this season will offer a different perspective on how communities evolve. 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 their own. Streaming and rental availability for the upcoming movie is listed HERE.
4) Attend the film discussions in person or via Zoom. Enjoy!
March Selection: "Women Talking"
What happens to a community if its members betray each other?
Film Discussion will be March 21st, 7:00 PM in person at HAMAKOM's South Campus at
6025 Valley Circle Blvd.
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
And
Remote on ZOOM!
The women of a reclusive, rigidly patriarchal Mennonite community are grappling with the systematic sexual assaults and violent abuse that the men in the colony have been perpetrating against them for years.
While the colony’s elders have always explained away the attacks as the workings of ghosts, demons, or “wild female imagination,” in the face of the secular authorities arresting the perpetrators, the elders have changed their story.
Although they now admit that a problem exists, the elders insist that the women must forgive their attackers within two days, or else leave the colony and forfeit their chance to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Faced with the choice of continued silence or open defiance, the women must now decide how to respond. They organize a referendum in which they will vote to do nothing, stay and fight, or leave.
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Future Cinema journey conversations
