Family Video Vault Presents: 'A Wrinkle in Time'

In this heartfelt, star-studded adaptation of Madeline L'Engle's beloved children's novel, young Meg Murry (Storm Reid) and her precocious little brother Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe) must journey through space and time with the help of three eccentric witches (Oprah Winfrey, Mindy Kaling, Reese Witherspoon) to save their missing father from an ancient, cosmic evil.

Sunday Cinema: 'Black Panther'

In the heart of Africa, hidden from the world for centuries, the highly advanced nation of Wakanda thrives protected by king T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) and outfitted with miraculous technology by his genius sister Shuri (Letitia Wright). But there are rumblings of change, a new challenger, M'Baku (Winston Duke), seeks to claim the throne, and an enemy from the country's fraught past returns. This landmark film made headlines in 2018 for it star-studded cast, immaculate costume design, and inspired soundtrack, rallying millions of fans with the iconic call to arms: Wakanda Forever.

Part epic political drama, part sci-fi action thriller, Black Panther is a sprawling and visually stunning marvel (pun intended) that demands to be seen on a big screen! Join us in the Durwood Film vault for a free screening of this multi-award winning blockbuster.

Movie Matinée: 'Harriett'

Based on the thrilling and inspirational life of an iconic American freedom fighter, the movie tells the extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery and transformation into one of America’s greatest heroes. Her courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history.

Celebrating Emerging Artists

Johnson County Developmental Supports’ Emerging Artists program supports an array of artists diagnosed with intellectual and development disabilities, allowing them to sell and show their works locally and nationally alongside those of other artists.

Intrigued and then inspired by the initiative, filmmaker Lindsey Doolittle produced the award-winning short film Emerging Artists. She screens the 8-minute movie, then joins JCDS Arts Program Specialist Kristen Devlin and artists Ryan Sikes and Brad Friedman to discuss its story, artmaking, and the JCDS program and its future.

The program is held in conjunction with the Library exhibition Peripheral Visions, which features the work of artists from the JCDS Emerging Artists program and Imagine That! KC.

Doolittle – also an artist, art educator, children’s author, and advocate for suicide survivors – made her film after a chance meeting on a plane with Sikes. They bonded over loss; she’d lost her husband to suicide, and he had lost his father to sudden heart failure. Each came to use art not only to express and communicate their grief but also as a means of beginning to heal.

Sikes works and sells his art through JCDS’ Emerging Artists program and introduced Doolittle to its work.

Family Video Vault Presents: 'Coach Carter'

Based on a true story, high school basketball coach Ken Carter (Samuel L Jackson) sees the potential of his students on and off the court. When he encourages them to take their academic studies as seriously as their athletics, Coach Carter requires every player to sign a contract requiring they maintain a C grade average in order to play. After achieving a winning streak some students break their contract and Coach Carter benches the whole team.

Featuring plenty of soon-to-be-famous faces like Ashanti, Channing Tatum, and Robert Ri'chard. Coach Carter persists as a much beloved and inspiring sports drama that not only showcases the brilliant acting talents of the legendary Samuel L Jackson, but also serves as a nostalgic time capsule of 1990's aesthetics. Please join us in the Durwood Film Vault for this throwback sports classic!

Why We Love Rom-Coms: 'Heartburn'

This year’s Searching the Psyche Through Cinema series, presented in partnership with the Greater Kansas City-Topeka Psychoanalytic Center, continues with a screening and discussion of Heartburn (1986, R, 108 min.). Based on Nora Ephron’s autobiographical novel about her second marriage, to journalist Carl Bernstein, the film spotlights two writers who meet, fall in love, start a family, and then must reevaluate their lives after the husband has an affair. Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson, and Jeff Daniels star.

The post-screening discussion is led by psychoanalyst Manuel Morales, film critic Abby Olcese, and Library Director of Readers’ Services Kaite Stover.

The two-month series, featuring a selection of films mostly adapted from books, is designed to illuminate our understanding of ourselves.

Sunday Cinema: 'The Early Works of Cheryl Dunye'

This collection of early short films from trailblazing independent writer/director Cheryl Dunye, fusing documentary and fiction to explore stories following both the filmmaker as well as a collection of her proud, troubled and complex lesbian creations, is a fascinating look at the intersection of race, gender and sexuality in 1990's America.

Family Video Vault Presents: 'Akeelah and the Bee'

Akeelah (Keke Palmer) is bright, witty, and has an incredible talent for spelling, but often skips school. Despite her truancy, Akeelah's mother (Angela Bassett) and principal see great potential for her and encourage her to enter a local spelling bee, or else be in detention for the rest of the school year. Initially skeptical, Akeelah wins the spelling bee and English professor Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne) takes her under his wing to prepare her for her next challenge: The National Spelling Bee. Akeelah and the Bee is an inspiring and true-to-life coming of age story about a young black girl finding herself and taking pride in the skills that she masters.

Sunday Cinema: 'Love & Basketball'

Gina Prince-Bythewood's romantic drama is a cult classic of Black independent cinema, following next door neighbors played by Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan as they fall for each other while chasing their dreams of becoming successful pro basketball players.

Movie Extra: 'Judas and the Black Messiah'

Fred Hampton, a young, charismatic activist, becomes Chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party - putting him directly in the crosshairs of the government, the FBI, and the Chicago Police. But to destroy the revolution, the authorities are going to need a man on the inside.

Family Video Vault Presents: 'Good Burger'

In this 90's family classic, scheming teen Dexter (Kenan Thompson) finds his summer vacation ruined when he must take a job at local fast food restaurant Good Burger, where he meets dim-witted but lovable star employee Ed (Kel Mitchell). Soon the two must work together to overcome their differences and save their humble eatery from being wiped out by the evil corporate chain Mondo Burger in this goofy and heartwarming comedy.

Why We Love Rom-Coms: 'The Apartment'

This year’s Searching the Psyche Through Cinema series, presented in partnership with the Greater Kansas City-Topeka Psychoanalytic Center, wraps up with a screening and discussion of The Apartment (1960, NR, 125 min.). Revolving around an insurance clerk (played by Jack Lemmon) who’s determined to climb the corporate ladder by loaning out his apartment to higher-ups for trysts, the Billy Wilder-directed film is about getting what you want – and what you never expected to get.

The post-screening discussion is led by psychoanalyst David Donovan and film critic Trey Hock.

The two-month series, featuring a selection of films mostly adapted from books, is designed to illuminate our understanding of ourselves.