Last Thursday, we were part of a select audience across the country deciding the fate of a movie. All we could think of was the line from Spiderman, "With great power, comes great responsibility."
Nairobi Half Life, Kenya's first official submission to the Academy Awards screened at The Palace Danbury last week. It was part of the Feature Film Project, where 100 theaters across the US screen the movie and the audience votes if the film should return for a full one-week run at the theater.
This unique movie is about a young, aspiring actor from upcountry Kenya who dreams of becoming a success in the big city. In pursuit of his dream and to the chagrin of his family, he makes his way to Nairobi: the city of opportunity. Upon arrival he is robbed of all his money and belongings and left alone in a city where he doesn’t know a soul. Fate brings him face to face with two groups of downtown crooks and he forms a friendship with a young small time gang leader who takes him in. Drawn into a world of theft and violence, he still tries to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. He struggles to not only survive but also keep his two worlds separate. It's a story of friendship, survival and dreams. It's dramatic and often times dark, but with light-hearted moments.
If this movie gets a second run here in the Hat City, go see it.
Beyond being part of a cool movie experience is the awesomeness of just being in The Palace Danbury in downtown. We remember seeing movies here in our childhood/teenage years. It's a seriously beautiful building inside and it's wonderful that it's being brought back to life. The architecture and fixtures make it a unique place. It's worth going to an event here just to see the inside.
And take note, The Palace Danbury has a bunch of events going on from other film screenings to music events. Pick an event and go.Labels: danbury, downtown, movie
