Member Announcements

For our second Thursday movie night this month we will view the  2020 Academy Award winning documentary "American Factory" about Chinese company Fuyao's factory in Moraine, Ohio. The factory occupies Moraine Assembly , a shuttered General Motors plant. IMDB says " In post-industrial Ohio, a Chinese billionaire opens a factory in an abandoned General Motors plant, hiring two thousand Americans. Early days of hope and optimism give way to setbacks as high-tech China clashes with working-class America. " This documentary was produced by Barack and Michelle Obama's film company Higher Ground Productions. You can read more on the film's  Wikipedia  page and in a review published in  The Guardian . Meet for snacks and fellowship on Thursday at 7:00; movie starts at 7:30. We gather at the home of Ann and Mike, 110 Seville Blvd, Lafayette, LA 70503 . If you have questions call Mike at 337-852-3668 , Please do feel free to invite your friends. -- ann...

For our second Thursday movie night this month ( Black History Month ) we will view  Harriet ,  a 2019 American biographical film about abolitionist Harriet Tubman. The film stars Cynthia Erivo as Tubman, with Leslie Odom Jr., Joe Alwyn, and Janelle Monáe in supporting roles. Cynthia Erivo was nominated for a 2020 Oscar for best actress in a leading role, plus Cynthia Erivo performed the Oscar nominated original song 'Stand Up' Live at the 2020 Oscars . You can read more about the film and Harriet Tubman at the film's  Wikipedia site . Meet for snacks and fellowship on Thursday at 7:00; movie starts at 7:30. We gather at the home of Ann and Mike, 110 Seville Blvd, Lafayette, LA 70503 . If you have questions call Mike at 337-852-3668 , Please do feel free to invite your friends. -- ann and mike

Our second Thursday  movie   night  is a 2019 biographical drama " The Two Popes ." It stars Anthony Hopkins as Pope Benedict XVI and Jonathan Pryce as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (later Pope Francis). The story portrays their introspection and exploration of the role for contemporary religious leaders. At the Telluride Film Festival in August 2019, this film was praised for its humor and for the two lead actors' performances. Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus reads, "Led by outstanding performances from its well-matched leads, The Two Popes draws absorbing drama from a pivotal moment in modern organized religion." Read more at the film's Wikipedia page . This film selection was suggested by our friend A.J. Meet for snacks and fellowship on Thursday at 7:00; movie starts at 7:30. We gather at the home of Ann and Mike, 110 Seville Blvd, Lafayette, LA 70503 . If you have questions call Mike at 337-852-3668 , Please do feel free to invite you...

Our second Thursday movie night meets again this month to view the 2005 film Joyeux Noël (Merry Christmas) . This film is a fictionalized retelling the Christmas truce of December 1914, depicted through the eyes of French, Scottish, and German soldiers. Roger Ebert wrote: Joyeux Noël has its share of bloodshed, but the movie is about a respite from carnage. Its sentimentality is muted by the thought that this moment of peace actually did take place, among men who were punished for it, and who mostly died soon enough afterward. But on one Christmas, they were able to express what has been called, perhaps too optimistically, the brotherhood of man. Meet for snacks and fellowship on Thursday at 7:00; movie starts at 7:30. We gather at the home of Ann and Mike, 110 Seville Blvd, Lafayette, LA 70503 . If you have questions call Mike at 337-852-3668 , Please do feel free to invite your friends. -- ann and mike

Our week-delayed 2nd Thursday Movie Night is this Thursday, November 21. We will be viewing the 2018 documentary film about Mister Rogers, " Won't you be my neighbor? " The film tells about the life and guiding philosophy of Fred Rogers, For over 30 years, Fred Rogers, an unassuming minister, puppeteer, writer and producer, was beamed into homes across America in his beloved show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood . This documentary received acclaim from both critics and audiences. It grossed over $22 million, becoming the top-grossing biographical documentary ever produced and the 12th largest-grossing documentary ever produced. Read more at the film's Wikipedia page .  Note that there is a new dramatic film titled " A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood " starring Tom Hanks that is being release to theaters this Friday. An article in The Atlantic, My Friend Mister Rogers , gives a very personal perspective on both the new dramatic film as well as the 2018...

We must reschedule movie night this month to November 21 . Ann and I regret the confusion, but we needed to do it because our son Grayson has been diagnosed with the flu, and it is really not prudent to have guests in the house right now. But - The good news about this rescheduling is that it also solves the scheduling conflict with the Trees Acadiana movie Symphony of the Soils showing on Thursday, November 14. I urge all our regular movie night viewers to attend this alternative event. Here is a link to that film announcement    https://uulalaannouncements.blogspot.com/2019/11/november-14-movie-symphony-of-soil.html I will send out an  invitation and announcement message early next week about the rescheduled movie night film.   -- mike

Movie Night for the 2nd Thursday of October, October 10, is a 2016 award winning drama starring Adam Driver as a bus driver and poet named Paterson, and Golshifteh Farahani as his wife, who dreams of being a country music star and opening a cupcake business. Rotten Tomatoes says "The film quietly observes the triumphs and defeats of daily life, along with the poetry evident in its smallest details." Read more at the film's Wikipedia page  or watch the trailer .  Meet for snacks and fellowship on Thursday at 7:00; movie starts at 7:30. We gather at the home of Ann and Mike, 110 Seville Blvd, Lafayette, LA 70503 . If you have questions call Mike at 337-852-3668 , Please do feel free to invite your friends. -- ann and mike Michael G. Waldon, Ph.D. 110 Seville Blvd Lafayette, LA 70503 337-852-3668, email:  mike@mwaldon.com

For our 2nd Thursday Movie Night this month we'll be watching  Green Book , a 2018 American biographical comedy-drama film set in 1962. The film is named after The Negro Motorist Green Book , a mid-20th century guidebook for African-American travelers. It tells the story of a black classical pianist traveling through the segregated southern US accompanied by his white driver and bodyguard. The film was inspired by an actual southern concert tour by pianist Don Shirley and his driver, Italian American bouncer Frank "Tony Lip" Vallelonga. The story was based on interviews with both men, and on letters that were written by Vallelonga.  Green Book won a number of awards, but also was a source of controversy . The film was called a "racial reconciliation fantasy" in the New York Times, and Salon said the film combines "the white savior trope with the story of a bigot's redemption." This certainly gives us lots to discuss after viewing.  Meet ...

Movie   Night  for the 2nd Thursday of August, August 8, will be the 2012 comedy/drama "Frances Ha." This story follows a New York woman, who doesn't really have an apartment. She apprentices for a dance company although she's not really a dancer, and throws herself headlong into her dreams. You can learn more at these websites:   Wikipedia:  https://en. wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Ha   IMDB:  https://www.imdb.com/ title/tt2347569/ Following the success of Frances Ha, Gerwig went on to write and direct the film  Ladybird . One bit of trivia important to UUs - The lead actress in the  movie , Greta Gerwig, was raised as a Unitarian Universalist. In the Fall 2013 issue, UU World magazine published an interview:  " Greta Gerwig, UU film star "   Meet for snacks and fellowship on Thursday at 7:00; movie starts at 7:30. We gather at the home of Ann and Mike, 110 Seville Blvd, Lafayette, LA 70503 . If you have questio...