McKendree University’s Hettenhausen Center for the Arts plans to show six critically acclaimed movies during its 2020-2021 Film Art Series at the Lebanon, Ill., campus. A university professor will briefly discuss each film’s theme or concept beforehand during an informal “Screen Talk” at 6 p.m.
Appropriate precautions will be taken to protect audience members’ health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Liz Crabtree, director of the Hett. The Hett will follow state and local public health recommendations for events as outlined by the governor’s current Restore Illinois recovery plan. Seating capacity may be reduced to create more distance between individual seats, or pairs of adjacent seats, to minimize contact inside the 488-seat auditorium.
Admission is free to all screenings. Some films contain adult themes or language and may not be appropriate for everyone. For more information, visit theHett.com, or call 618-537-6863. The schedule is as follows:
Sept. 22: “Booksmart” (2019) On the eve of their high school graduation, two academic overachievers try to cram four years of fun into one chaotic, adventurous night. Rated R; 1 hour, 42 minutes. Screen Talk host: Dr. Jenny Mueller, professor of English.
Oct. 12: “The Night of the Hunter” (1955) Released from prison for car theft, a religious fanatic marries a gullible widow, whose children are reluctant to say where their dad hid $10,000 he stole in a robbery. Not rated; 1 hour, 32 minutes. Screen Talk host: Dr. Jessica Campbell, assistant professor of English.
Nov. 12: “Scotland, Pa.” (2001) A modern black comedy retelling of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” is set in a suburban Pennsylvania hamburger stand in the early 1970s. Rated R; 1 hour, 44 minutes. Screen Talk host: Dr. Nichole DeWall, professor of English.
Feb. 11, 2021: “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (2018) Bitten by a radioactive spider in the subway, a Brooklyn teenager suddenly develops mysterious powers that transform him. Rated PG; 1 hour, 57 minutes. Screen Talk host: Dr. Brenda Boudreau, professor of English.
Feb. 23: “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” (2019) Jimmie and his best friend try to reclaim the house built by his grandfather, taking them on a poignant odyssey that connects them to their past and tests their friendship and sense of belonging. Rated R; 2 hours, 1 minute. Screen Talk host: Amy MacLennan, M.F.A., associate professor of art.
Apr. 22: “Anthropocene: The Human Epoch” (2018) Filmmakers travel to six continents and 20 countries to capture stunning images documenting the catastrophic impact humans have made on the planet. Not Rated, 1 hour, 27 minutes. Screen Talk host: Dr. Martha Patterson, professor of English.
Lynn (Zipfel) Venhaus has had a continuous byline in St. Louis metro region publications since 1978. She writes features and news for Belleville News-Democrat and contributes to St. Louis magazine and other publications.
She is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic, currently reviews films for Webster-Kirkwood Times and KTRS Radio, covers entertainment for PopLifeSTL.com and co-hosts podcast PopLifeSTL.com…Presents.
She is a member of Critics Choice Association, where she serves on the women’s and marketing committees; Alliance of Women Film Journalists; and on the board of the St. Louis Film Critics Association. She is a founding and board member of the St. Louis Theater Circle.
She is retired from teaching journalism/media as an adjunct college instructor.