Bless the Rains

Most documentaries offer only one half of the picture: Moviegoers have the luxury of peering into other people's lives without anyone looking back. Rain in a Dry Land is a little different. This film, which is part of the St. Louis County Library's Africa World Documentary Film Festival, shows two Somali Bantu families as they transition from refugee camps to present-day America. When watching Rain, we have the chance to see ourselves as these newcomers view us — and perhaps learn not only about their difficult life change, but also about ourselves and our country. In addition to this film, the St. Louis County Library Headquarters (1640 South Lindbergh Boulevard, Frontenac) screens One Family: An Ethiopian Adoption, a short movie about an American family giving a home to a ten-year-old orphan. The night of documentaries, which closes out the fest, begins at 7 p.m. and is free. Visit www.slcl.org or call the branch at 314-994-3300 for more information.
Wed., March 26, 2008