WHAT: “Julia Child’s The French Chef,” Dana Polan (NYU)
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 9 @ 8 p.m.
WHERE: Levis Faculty Center, Music Room
The second of two events in which scholars will discuss their recent books in a conversational setting with respondents from the University of Illinois.
WHAT: Global Lens 2010- “Shirley Adams”
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 9 @ 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: University YMCA, Latzer Hall
From the event announcement: “In this deeply affecting portrait of ordinary courage in present-day South Africa, a single mother — Shirley Adams — struggles to care for her paraplegic teenage son, Donovan, in a depressed district on the outskirts of Cape Town. Wearied but resolute, she desperately clings to him as he withdraws from the world following a suicide attempt, and is hopeful when his spirits are momentarily lifted by the appearance of Tamsin, a pretty but overeager social worker. But when the relationship between Donovan and Tamsin sours, his fragile emotional health declines, and Shirley’s faith and perseverance are put to the ultimate test. First-time director Oliver Hermanus’s observant camera holds close to its subjects, capturing the claustrophobia, intimacy and hushed anguish surrounding the tender daily routines of a mother and her child.”
There’s really nothing else going on this week that I feel would be interesting to a broad, non-technical audience. Have a happy holiday season, everyone, and we’ll see you again in January.
You live near a major university and a community college. There are smart people that come here every week to talk to the general public about interesting topics. Perhaps you were not aware of this fact, or were overwhelmed by the sheer number of opportunities for possible enlightenment. If that’s the case, Smile Politely understands and is here to help. Here are several events going on in town this week. Check out one or more of them if you have time. Get your learn on, as they say, and join the cognoscenti. It’s free, you know. Plus, sometimes there’s free food, too!
If you have a community event, speaker, or film event that you’d like to see featured on Listen Up!, send the event information to joelgillespie [at] smilepolitely [dot] com by Friday the week prior to the event. Listen Up! runs on Tuesdays.