The Baha'is of Vienna are sponsoring a showing of the award-winning film, "Me-The Other" at the Angelika Theater of the Mosaic Shopping Center in Vienna/Fairfax, on Thursday, Feb. 21,
between 7 and 10 p.m. Following the showing of the film, there will be live discussion of the film with the film's director and co-producer, Shidan Majidi. Light refreshments will be served. "Me, The “Other” is a documentary film created in less than five months about a diverse group of students living in Washtenaw County in Southeast Michigan. Through their struggles, we find ourselves in each of them.
In words of Mr. Majidi, Director/Co-Producer:
“I believe that at this critical juncture in our journey as a human race, we need a radical paradigm shift in our approach to the preservation of our collective home by starting to view our planet as one country and humanity its citizens. Elimination of prejudice is one of the fundamental principles in establishing this goal. Storytelling is a powerful tool in raising awareness and bridging the gaps. With this film, we set out to tell stories of a diverse cast of characters who are on some level experiencing prejudice in their lives. They come from various backgrounds but in that deep place inside, they are all essentially one…and we are one of them. My personal hope for this film is to expose that sacred place inside where beyond the clouded isms of race, religion, class, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical appearance—lies a place of light, warmth, hope, and pure love called the human soul.”
The film has won a few awards:
March 2018 - The Washtenaw County Commissioners honored the film with a special Proclamation as it “voices an urgent message that our diversity should be the cause of unity for our communities in these challenging times.”
March 2018 – University of Michigan honors the film’s producer and cast member with the Ida Gray Award for its celebration of diversity.
June 2018 – The film wins the Best Documentary Award at the Buddha International Film Festival in India.
John Russo
Vienna