Just as the light began to fade in the sky last Saturday, we carried out the huge film screen and set it up on the lawn, followed by the chairs and the popcorn machine — which Susan Brosnihan lovingly cleaned and restored. We don’t often get the chance to see a film out in the open air — And with so many of good friends.
Then Bob Evans started the Looney Tunes cartoons and we were on our way! Bugs Bunny. Daffy Duck. Porky Pig. Elmer Fudd. Tweety. Sylvester. Wile E. Coyote. Bringing back memories for the oldsters among us. Before long, it was time for the feature film, which few of us, young or old, had ever seen and didn’t know what to expect: “Upside Down.” This is a fascinating film for all ages. By following the life of little Riley as she grows from a newborn to a toddler and a little girl, it explores how our emotions, memories, dreams, relationships, and lived experience form our personality and our ability to handle all the challenges that life throws at us. Heavy stuff, you say? This film uses bright, dynamic, zany and comic cartoon characters — Joy, Sadness, Anger and other emotions, to dramatize the inner life of this little girl and all of the other players in her life, showing both the sources of strength and weakness that interplay within each of us as we move through our lives. Most powerful for Riley were the loving relationships she and her parents had formed, helping her survive some of life’s most traumatic experiences. This is a film that can be appreciated on many levels and was definitely a big hit with the audience.
