It’s a couple of days into FLEFF and I’m starting to get a real feel for what the festival is all about. So far I have seen four films and went to the West Side Story Counterpoints performance and lecture. I have seen ‘How to Fix the World’, ‘Being Innu’(highly recommend seeing that if given the chance again), ‘Human Rights in Burma’, and ‘Becoming American’. All the films have been fantastic.

            Each film focused on a clashing of cultures, destruction of a culture, and the ways in which to preserve the traditions and people of a culture. I found that all the films (including West Side Story) exemplified how important a sense of community is in preserving human happiness. How in any time of distress having a support system such as a family, a youth group, a town hall, or even just a classroom setting can help maintain good health and happiness.

            Each film took place in a different environment, but they all focused on being human. There is some sense of unity in the fact that although we are all live different lifestyles we all need a sense of community. We can define ourselves by what country we live in or what culture we came from but we are all human, we all live on one planet, and we are all still the same.

            I am very much looking forward to seeing more films the rest of this week, and I highly recommend you to do the same! I have been learning so much about the people that I share this planet with through these films and I can’t wait to learn more.

            Some recommendations for films that I have are to go out and see: ‘Precious Places’, ‘Honeydrippers’, and ‘War/Dance’(it was nominated for an Academy Award!). Take a look around the website for information about the films and where they will be screening! Hope to see you there!