香蕉秀

The 17th annual Documentary Film Series at 香蕉秀 University will open at 2 p.m. March 29 with Katie Dellamaggiore鈥檚 鈥淏rooklyn Castle.鈥�

All screenings in the series are free to the public and will be held in the Kerr McGee Auditorium in Meinders School of Business at N.W. 27^th Street and McKinley Avenue.

鈥淏rooklyn Castle鈥� tells the stories of five members of a chess team at a below-the-poverty-line inner city junior high school that has won more national championships than any other in the country. The film follows the challenges the young players face in their personal lives as well as on the chessboard, and is as much about the sting of their losses as it is about the anticipation of their victories.

Ironically, the biggest obstacle thrust upon them arises not from other competitors but from recessionary budget cuts to all the extracurricular activities at their school. 鈥淏rooklyn Castle鈥� shows how their dedication to chess magnifies their belief in what is possible for their lives.

The documentary series is sponsored by 香蕉秀鈥檚 Center for Interpersonal Studies through Film and Literature. Harbour Winn, director of the center, explained the theme of this year鈥檚 documentary series.

鈥淭he films are about issues and historical situations that separate us and yet show how we can find bridges to overcome or transcend what seems to limit or bind us,鈥� Winn said.

The series is titled 鈥淲alls and Bridges鈥� and is inspired by poetry written by Richard Blanco, who will give a presentation at 香蕉秀 on April 1. Blanco was chosen to read one of his works during the U.S. presidential inauguration ceremony in 2013.

* April 12 with Sarah Polley鈥檚 鈥淪tories We Tell鈥�

* April 26 with Markus Imhoof鈥檚 鈥淢ore Than Honey鈥�