Windham World Affairs & Latchis Arts Present 'TAKING ROOT' Film Screening

50 Main Street,Brattleboro VT 05301

05 August, 2021

Description

Story of Green Belt Movement founder Wangari Maathai, the first environmentalist and first African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize. Windham World Affairs Council and Latchis Arts Spotlight Series present award-winning film, TAKING ROOT, the story of the Green Belt Movement of Kenya and its founder Wangari Maathai, the first environmentalist and first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Local Windham County filmmakers Lisa Merton and Alan Dater, through TV footage and chilling first person accounts, document the dramatic confrontations of the 1980s and '90s and captures Maathai's infectious determination and unwavering courage. Cinema verité footage of the tree nurseries and the women and children who tend them brings to life the confidence and joy of people working to improve their own lives and ensure the future and vitality of their land. Winner of 14 international film festival awards, TAKING ROOT captures a world-view in which nothing is perceived as impossible and presents an awe-inspiring profile of Maathai's thirty-year journey of courage to protect the integrally connected issues of the environment, human rights, and democracy. A live Q&A discussion with the filmmakers will follow the screening. This event is co-presented by Windham World Affairs Council and Latchis Arts Spotlight Series, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Wangari Maathai Foundation. The Wangari Maathai Foundation is a non-for-profit organization dedicated to championing the legacy of Wangari Muta Maathai and developing courageous and responsible leadership amongst children and youth. Windham World Affairs Council is a 100% volunteer-driven organization, the smallest member of the World Affairs Council of America, and only chapter committed to providing programming free to all who wish to participate. Spotlight is a series curated by Latchis Arts, featuring films on a different theme each month, with a particular focus on spotlighting films and filmmakers that may not have received mainstream attention. Films are shown on Thursdays at 7 p.m., at the Latchis Theatre. August's theme is Female Voices and features four original and engaging films that spotlight bold and brave female directors, performers, and creators. Admission is by suggested donation of $10 accepted at the door, but no one will be turned away. Windham World Affairs Council members are invited to join us for a private reception with the filmmakers immediately following the Q&A. More information on becoming a member at WindhamWorldAffairsCouncil.org. MEET THE FILMMAKERS Alan Dater and Lisa Merton have been working together on the production of documentary films since 1989. Their productions include: ‘Home to Tibet,’ a film about a Tibetan refugee’s return to his homeland, shown on many PBS stations, and at the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam; ‘Bridge of Fire,’ the story of the collaboration of a Japanese and Vermont potter, winner of a Cine Golden Eagle and The Best Media Work at the Montréal Festival of Films on Art, also screened at the Museum of Modern Art and the Louvre; ‘Wolf Kahn: Landscape Painter,’ a portrait of the well known American painter, winner of a Cine Golden Eagle; and ‘The World in Claire’s Classroom‘ a documentary on a veteran Vermont public school teacher’s extraordinary vision of teaching children how to appreciate diversity and how to respect themselves and others. Alan Dater graduated from Goddard College in 1965 with a B.A. in Philosophy. He began his film career in New York City shortly thereafter working on documentaries as a freelance soundman and later as a director/cameraman. Many of these productions were broadcast on the major U.S. networks and include: ‘Lifeline,’ an Emmy Award-winning medical documentary series for NBC; ‘The Body Human,’ an Emmy Award-winning medical series for CBS; and National Geographic Specials. He has gained extensive experience in film and video from working on many productions on the arts, social issues, and education as well as for the corporate world. These productions include the feature film ‘Hi Mom‘ directed by Brian De Palma, starring Robert De Niro; and a documentary about the country singer Johnny Cash entitled ‘Johnny Cash: The Man, His World, His Music.‘ After moving to Vermont he continued his freelance career and began producing independent films. Often these films focused on the arts. They include: ‘The Stuff of Dreams,’ the story of a community theater group’s creation of an elaborate, original production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, shown at INPUT in Milan; and ‘Blanche,’ a portrait of the conductor, Blanche Honegger Moyse, one of the founders of the Marlboro (Vermont) Music Festival. Lisa Merton started out her career as a weaver. She studied textile design and weaving in Scandinavia and, after returning to the U.S., worked professionally as a weaver for ten years. While studying in Norway, she was inspired by a series of tapestries that depicted the occupation of Norway by the Nazis. Her intent was to weave tapestry and use it as an art form for social change but instead she ended up as a production weaver. It was not until she started making films in 1989 that she fulfilled her intent to weave images that could inspire social change. She has a Masters in Teaching English and has taught English as a second language in multi-cultural classrooms. She brings her interest in education, cultural diversity, and social change, as well as her skill as a craftsman, to the filmmaking process. Wangari Maathai Foundation