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Hello Everyone,

If you still need to see DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL or THE END OF TOUR, you’ll need to hurry. Thursday will be your last chance to catch them at THE NEON. On Friday, we will open the exhilarating new film that won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at this year’s Sundance Film Festival – MERU. We will also open Ken Loach’s new film JIMMY’S HALL. In addition, we hold MISTRESS AMERICA for another week. For this week’s remaining showtimes (which are different from the upcoming times listed below), please visit our website at www.neonmovies.com.

Synopsis for MERU: “In the high-stakes pursuit of big-wall climbing, the Shark’s Fin on Mount Meru may be the ultimate prize. Sitting 21,000 feet above the sacred Ganges River in Northern India, the mountain’s perversely stacked obstacles make it both a nightmare and an irresistible calling for some of the world’s toughest climbers. In October 2008, renowned alpinists Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin and Renan Ozturk arrived in India to tackle Meru. Their planned seven-day trip quickly declined into a 20-day odyssey in sub-zero temperatures with depleting food rations. Despite making it to within 100 meters of the elusive summit, their journey, like everyone before them, was not a successful one. Heartbroken and defeated, the trio returned to their everyday lives, where the siren song of Meru continued to beckon. By September 2011, Anker had convinced his two lifelong friends to undertake the Shark’s Fin once more, under even more extraordinary circumstances than their first attempt. MERU is the story of that journey, an expedition through nature’s harshest elements and one’s complicated inner demons, and ultimately on to impossible new heights.” (taken from Music Box Films) Click this LINK to visit the official site.

Synopsis for JIMMY’S HALL: “In 1921 Jimmy Gralton’s sin was to build a dance hall on a rural crossroads in an Ireland on the brink of Civil War. The Pearse-Connolly Hall was a place where young people could come to learn, to argue, to dream…but above all to dance and have fun. As the hall grew in popularity its socialist and free-spirited reputation brought it to the attention of the church and politicians who forced Jimmy to flee and the hall to close.” (taken from Sony Classics) Ken Loach has been making beautiful films since the late 1960’s. From KES (1969) to SWEET SIXTEEN (2002) to THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY (2006), his films are lovely pieces of work that showcase his naturalistic craftsmanship. Click on this LINK to visit the official site for JIMMY’S HALL.

Observe International Peace Day with family, friends and neighbors by meeting up at THE NEON for I AM BIG BIRD: THE CAROLL SPINNEY STORY – an engaging and heartwarming film brought to you by the Dayton International Peace Museum. The Peace Museum is celebrating 11 years of helping people throughout Miami Valley and beyond explore the question, “What does a more peaceful world look like for you?” “For 45 years, Caroll Spinney has been beloved by generations of children as the man behind Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch – and at 80 years old, he has no intention of stopping. A loving portrait of the man in the yellow suit, I AM BIG BIRD features extraordinary footage of Spinney’s earliest collaborations with Jim Henson as it traces his journey from bullied child to childhood icon. And as the yellow feathers give way to grey hair, it is the man, not the puppet, who will steal your heart.” Tickets are first come, first serve. Suggested donation – $10. I saw this film at the Cleveland International Film Festival – it’s a real treat. Don’t miss it! Sunday, Sept. 20 at 3:00.

The Deaf Community Resource Center is bringing a special, one-time screening of THE DEAF CLUB to town on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7:30. This movie is completely done in sign language (though subtitles are available for those who don’t sign). “Deaf people have it all – friends, romance, fights, etc. – at their own club, where everyone uses sign language. Suddenly, the members face a situation where their precious club may have to close. Can they save the deaf club? Almost the entire production team is deaf or hard of hearing.” (taken from press notes) Tickets, just $10 each, will be available at THE NEON’s box office beginning Monday, Aug 24.

On Saturday, September 26 at Noon, Twentig, Inc. will host a special benefit screening and discussion of the film BELLE. “BELLE is a historical fictionalization of a true story about Dido Elizabeth Belle who was born of mixed race in the West Indies. She lived with her great uncle William Murray, the first Earl of Mansfield, Lord Chief Justice of England. Lord Mansfield’s decision on a case in 1786 in the English Courts led to the abolition of slavery in Britain. The film was inspired by the 1779 painting of Belle beside her cousin Lady Elizabeth Murray at Kenwood House.” (taken from press notes) Tickets are $30 each and come with admission to the film, the post-film discussion, a glass of wine and popcorn. They are now available at our box office.

“THE UNRULY MYSTIC is an inspirational documentary of how the filmmaker reaffirms his life’s work when he fell in love with a 12th century Saint. Saint Hildegard of Bingen evokes a calling, that sweet spot of creativity that we all yearn to play in, which is also spiritual in nature. She is venerated for her widely recognized impact on today’s theologians, artists, musicians, doctors and educators. She is indeed the unruly mystic. Her story, invites us all to embrace the connection between God, Nature and Art. This is the story of a powerful muse who invites us to create magic in our own lives by letting the ordinary touch the divine. Join us in connecting more deeply with your own spiritually and creativity.” The film will screen on Thursday, Sept. 30 at 7:30. There will be a Q/A after the screening with the Colorado-based Director Michael Conti and Dayton local Rev. Mary Reaman (who also participated in the film). Tickets are $12 each and are only available on-line at this LINK.

Filmmaker Tony West will bring his Award Winning Documentary, THE SAFE SIDE OF THE FENCE, to THE NEON on Sunday Oct 4 at 5:00. “World War II’s Manhattan Project required the refinement of massive amounts of uranium, and St. Louis-based Mallinckrodt Chemical Works took on the job. As a result, the chemical company’s employees would become some of the most contaminated nuclear workers in history. This documentary explores the legacy that St. Louis is still coping with, from workers who became ill – to the challenges of dealing with the fallout of creating some of the world’s first nuclear waste. The story is not unique to St. Louis, as more than 300 facilities across America would become part of the race to build the bomb, and be forced to deal with the same issues. A detailed look at worker safety and the handling of nuclear waste, from the past to present day.” Tickets are available at THE NEON’s Box Office or on-line by by visiting the official site.

It’s Year 10 for THE DAYTON LGBT FILM FESTIVAL, and we’re pulling out all the stops. In addition to the best LGBT Films touring the world on the festival circuit, we’ll have special guests, throw a great party and bring back a campy classic with a crazy, fun spin (HINT: You might want to bring a wire hanger). Some films have familiar faces (like SNL’s Kristen Wiig or GLEE’s Chord Overstreet), but many films might star people you’ve never seen before. Take a chance! We previewed over 100 films to curate this weekend…so it truly is a few days of nothing but great material. Click on this LINK to visit the official site – where you’ll find descriptions of the films, trailers and just a hint of what we’ve got up our sleeves! Festival passes go on sale this Saturday. Single Tickets go on sale Saturday, Sept. 19. Here’s a trailer for the Friday night film – GUIDANCE:

Early tomorrow morning, I will be heading to the Toronto International Film Festival. Over the course of 9 days, I plan to see more than 30 films. As usual, I’ll chronicle my adventures via a daily blog post. Here’s the LINK to follow my adventures (first post should be available by Thursday morning): http://www.mostmetro.com/tag/tiff

Please keep THE NEON busy while I’m gone.
See you soon,
Jonathan

SHOWTIMES for Friday, Sept. 11 – Thursday, Sept. 17:

JIMMY’S HALL (PG-13) 1 Hr 49 Min
Friday, Saturday, Sunday:12:40, 5:00
Monday – Thursday: 5:20

MISTRESS AMERICA (R) 1 Hr 24 Min
Friday, Saturday: 3:00, 7:30, 9:40
Sunday: 3:00, 7:30
Monday – Thursday: 3:20, 7:40

MERU (R) 1 Hr 27 Min
Friday, Saturday: 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Sunday: 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20
Monday – Thursday: 3:15, 5:30, 7:45

COMING SOON:
(All Dates Are Tentative. Dates Often Move And Sometimes Disappear.)
Sept. 18 – LEARNING TO DRIVE
Sept. 25 – GRANDMA
Oct. 2 – PHOENIX