Some people say that the culture of the Valley is too permissive, too coddling. What they mean, really, is that it's too generous. They see the panhandlers lining Northampton's Main Street and mutter unkind words; they see people standing up for the rights of strangers and—thinking it an insult—call them liberals. Let them mutter; I'll always be glad that the Valley is the high-hearted place that it is, and lately it's been on a tear.
Eight hundred people filled the Academy of Music a few weeks ago to aid the victims of Northampton's recent string of arsons, and now, as the tragic aftermath of Haiti's January earthquake continues to unfold, the Valley's artists, venues and patrons have opened their hearts and wallets in an effort to ease a less local pain.
Amherst Cinema recently opened its doors for a visit from director Renee Bergan; a screening of Poto Mitan, her documentary about Haitian women, helped raise over $3,000 for Partners in Health, a medical advocacy group active in Haiti for over 20 years. And on Thursday, Feb. 11, local film stars the Young@Heart Chorus appear in person at the UMass Fine Arts Center Concert Hall in Amherst, where they'll perform as part of the Stand with Haiti Benefit Concert beginning at 7 p.m. Proceeds will again benefit Partners in Health; for more information and a full list of performers, visit fineartscenter.com.
On Friday night, the Northampton Committee To Stop the War in Iraq presents Haiti: Killing the Dream in a free screening. Filmmakers Hart and Dana Perry traveled to Haiti for the 1991 inaugural of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the nation's first freely elected president. Just seven months later, the pair returned when Aristide was overthrown in a coup d'?tat. Working in a land hostile to journalists, they captured not only the determination of Aristide, but the hardships endured by those who voted him into power.
*
On a lighter note—a much, much lighter note—this week also features two films aimed at the younger crowd. KidsBestFest2010 gets underway in Northampton, with daily 2 p.m. events running at the Academy of Music from Feb. 15 to 19. Opening afternoon brings The Wizard of Oz. But even here, there's charity: come dressed as an Oz character and $1 will be donated to HampshireCountyCares.org, a disaster relief group. On Wednesday, the Dutch import Winky's Horse gallops into town. The story of Chinese immigrant Winky Wong's Christmas wish, it is, despite featuring the sinister sounding Sinterklaas, a resoundingly universal tale: a little girl wants a pony. The screening also gives young Einsteins a chance to bone up on their Dutch, while the English subtitles will be read aloud by Cate Damon of New Century Theatre.
Jack Brown can be reached at cinemadope@gmail.com.
