To honor the memories of the nine innocent victims of the recent Charleston church massacre, the Psychotronic Film Society of Savannah will screen one of the most powerful and pioneering films on black and white race relations ever made in the USA – with all proceeds being donated to the victims’ families.
ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO is a stunning and emotional drama that premiered 51 years ago this month, just three weeks after the passing of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 – which, for the very first time, outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
This film, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Writing and Screenplay, also saw its under-appreciated director Larry Peerce (GOODBYE COLUMBUS, A SEPARATE PEACE, THE BELL JAR, WIRED) nominated for the coveted Palm d’Or at that year’s Cannes Film Festival.
The film’s female lead Barbara Barrie (PRIVATE BENJAMIN, THE BELL JAR, TV’s SUDDENLY SUSAN) also won the Best Actress Award at Cannes for her performance in this film, and ONE POTATO, TWO POTATO famously received the longest standing ovation at Cannes in close to a decade.
THE PLOT: In this blunt and unflinching portrayal of the sad state of race relations in early 1960s America, a white divorcée with a young child falls in love with and marries an African-American man. When her racist and violent ex-husband (played by the incredible Richard Mulligan, later known for the TV sitcom SOAP) sues for custody of their child, arguing that a mixed household is an improper place to raise the girl, the new husband fights for his parental rights in court. However, he winds up fighting against a judge who clearly represents the prejudices of the era.
DESPITE IT BEING MADE A FULL THREE YEARS BEFORE THE ICONIC RACE-RELATIONS MOTION PICTURE GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER, THIS AMAZING AND INTENSE INDEPENDENT FILM HAS NEVER BEEN RELEASED OFFICIALLY ON DVD ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD AND HAS FALLEN INTO ALMOST COMPLETE OBSCURITY.
100% OF ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS SPECIAL EVENT WILL BE DONATED TO THE SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS OF “THE EMANUEL 9.”
Please make plans now to attend this rare public screening of a gripping, emotional drama that is criminally unknown today.
Its powerful message of tolerance and equality for all remains as crucial as ever, more than a half-century after it premiered.
The PFS of SAV thanks you for your support.
Until 9PM, the Bean will have special discounts on both Craft Beer and Organic Wine for anyone 21 and older, as well as their usual great selection of award-winning vegetarian cuisine, pastries, desserts and Fair-Trade Coffees and Teas.
We’ll also be raffling off some rare DVDs and unusual prizes from the PFS archives before the show.
So, make sure to bring a few extra bucks with you for Raffle Tickets…
$10 admission for Mature Audiences Only.
ALL PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO THE SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS OF CHARLESTON’S EMANUEL 9 VICTIMS.
Seating at 7:30pm / Show starts at 8:00pm
For over a decade now, The Psychotronic Film Society of Savannah has been repeatedly named the BEST LOCAL FILM SERIES in annual reader polls. The PFS of SAV shows obscure and/or underappreciated films from around the world every Wednesday at the Sentient Bean (and occasionally on other nights as well). Whether extremely well-made or “so bad they’re good,” their selections are always rare, unique and memorable.
TO SUBSCRIBE NOW TO THEIR FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER FOR UPDATES ON ALL PFS of SAV SCREENINGS (including those not held at The Bean), JUST EMAIL YOUR FULL NAME AND REQUEST TO psychotronicfilms@hotmail.com (YOUR INFO WILL NEVER BE SHARED)!