Do You Wanna Watch a Movie Tonight?

Who was the first character that helped you understand who you are? Mine was Jo March from Little Women. I admired how she deftly balanced her adoration for her family with a sincere need for creating art. She was unapologetically a writer; her first and forever love was her stories. Even as a child, I recognized the passion that radiated from Jo lived in me. I met Matilda, who challenged me to read Moby-Dick and implored me to choose bravery in the face of injustice.

I was stunned to discover that moving images from my favorite novels existed on worn VHS tapes and smudged DVDs. From that moment on, I fell in love with cinema, as my favorite films taught me to see the world through forgiving eyes.

Close Ups Cinema Club, dispatched monthly, aims to revel in the afterglow of emotionally potent cinema.

Here’s what to expect each month:

• A curated selection of films centered around a compelling subject, nagging idea, or relevant theme

• An introduction to different ways of thinking about film

• Why distinct cinematic choices are important

  (ex. number of bangles adorning a wrist, the color of streetlamps overhead)

I believe that cinema is an accessible, communal tool worthy of our attention. The best films foster cultural exchange and empathy, while leaving a profound impact on viewers. Consider Close Ups Cinema Club a thoughtful, fun, and free intro to film school.

Why I love cinema, and why I ultimately pursued a degree in cinema, is that films help me survive. Throughout my life, the world has tried to impose its own limitations on who I can become. My favorite films fought back, cradling me in the warmth of recognition, declaring that I have a right to feel, and so do you.

In my adulthood, I now understand that most of us know pain and doubt and regret, how it rattles the cage in your belly, demanding to be heard. I want you to know you don’t have to carry it alone. Close Ups Cinema Club invites you to get close to the heart of the matter, on screen and in you. Let’s get close.

Vote below if you would prefer Close Ups Cinema Club on Fridays, to make weekend movie night selections easier, or earlier in the week - because movie night is every night!