By Della Lowe
Dixie State University DOCUTAH International Documentary Film Festival and Eclipse Theaters in Las Vegas have teamed up to present a special screening of two powerful and inextricably linked films, beginning with the iconic film “Thelma & Louise” followed by the documentary “Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise,” directed by Jennifer Townsend. If you ever wondered what effect “Thelma & Louise” had, “Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise” answers that question. Now you can see both at DOCUTAH@TheECLIPSE. The event takes place Aug. 23 at 5 p.m. Townsend will be on hand to host her film and a Q&A after the screening. The evening begins with a pre-screening reception with Townsend in the upscale lounge and luxury bar at The Eclipse. Tickets are $16 and available online.
The idea for “Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise” had its beginnings in 1991, when viewers from around the country shared their visceral reactions to “Thelma & Louise” in a national survey conducted by Townsend. After seeing “Thelma & Louise” (several times) when it was first released, Townsend felt, “that this film had affected me in a profound way. Even now I find that words do not fully capture this sensation. I had never seen a film where women exuded so much power. They had ‘slain the dragon’. They were forces to be reckoned with. Even in the face of death, they refused to surrender.”
The film compelled Townsend to embark on a research project to understand how other viewers were affected by the film. Although she received thousands of responses, the research paper never materialized. Now, 25 years later, in her powerful documentary, some of these voices and stories will come to life in “Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise.” Some of these viewers will share their remembrances of a film they felt strongly about at a certain time in their lives — and perhaps still do. Much like its namesake, “Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise” grabs you and doesn’t let you go just because you finished watching it. Some films provoke animated conversations and robust engagement. This is one of them.
“We felt that Eclipse Theaters was a perfect venue to kickoff DOCUTAH@TheECLIPSE. By bringing these two films together in the intimate atmosphere of Eclipse, we could provide its sophisticated audience not only with the type of high quality entertainment, which it is accustomed to, but an opportunity to interact with the filmmaker and each other,” said Phil Tuckett, executive director of DOCUTAH International Documentary Film Festival and digital film professor at DSU. “‘Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise’ is the ideal documentary to pair with the original dramatic film, ‘Thelma & Louise,’ because of the impact the latter had on its viewers. The screening will also provide viewers with a preview of the DOCUTAH festival occurring in September.”
“Eclipse Theaters showcases independently supported film projects in a venue with the exclusivity and elegance expected from an award show or movie premiere,” said Rodney Chichester, partner of Eclipse Theaters. “DOCUTAH brings an important element to the community, and we believe our audience is looking for the kinds of innovative projects that this first event provides. We are always thinking about ways to expand unique entertainment options for the audience.”
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