Film Club Rockets to Mars…and Back!

St. Monica saw red — in a good way — when Film Club’s guests arrived for a Rock the Red Planet party, prior to the final film of this season, The Martian. Guests (most wearing some red, as suggested on invitations) enjoyed an array of refreshments (including astronaut ice cream), posed for photos in front on a Martian landscape, and played the games Gravity Wins, Planet Roll It, Black Hole and Space Cadet, all developed for the night’s adventure. A specially created mix of “space-themed’ songs (Rocketman, The Age of Aquarius, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Blue Moon and more) served as the musical backdrop for the Caruso Patio event.

Once the Grand Pavilion lights dimmed, we were suddenly 140 million miles from Earth, ready to enjoy a double Golden Globe winner — 2016’s Best Picture and Best Actor (Matt Damon). The Martian didn’t disappoint. It proved to be smart, thrilling and witty, weaving a memorable tale of human resilience, faith, international cooperation, and the importance of better angels.

Fr. David Guffey, CSC, hosted the screening, positioning the film and helping summarize the lessons that can be gained from it. Door prizes were drawn from game winners and those wearing red to conclude the evening’s activities.

The Martian, with its selfless better angels, a crew of astronauts willing to risk their lives to save another, was an apt conclusion to our Better Angels season. Each film we shared over the season reminded us that we may be blessed with better angels in our lives — and that we, too, have the capacity to be better angels ourselves. Film Club begins again in the Fall with a new series of screenings with meaning. We hope to see you then.

Joanne Dietch

Film Club