“The rare teenage remembrance to consider the role of money in everyday life.” - Chuck Bowen, Slant Magazine

Thursday, December 5, 8:30 p.m. & Sunday, December 15, 2:00 p.m. | In 1964 on Chicago’s near north side, high school graduation is weeks away for carefree aspiring poet Preach (Glynn Turman) and his best friend, local basketball hero Cochise (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs). As average teenagers, their final days of high school are defined by dance parties, late-night spins on the streets of the city, and the promise of blossoming love. But as young Black men, growing up is not simple, and when a seemingly harmless outing goes awry, their hopes and dreamsand very liveshang in the balance. Director Shultz and screenwriter Eric Montewho grew up in Chicago’s Cabrini-Green housing projectpresent an authentic coming-of-age story and a timeless story of Chicago that is equal parts delicate, innocent, bitter, and true.


HeartlandFlyover country, the third coast, the rust belt. The American Midwest has plenty of nicknames, and is arguably more difficult to outline on a map than the east or west coasts. Despite its ambiguous footprint, the Midwest is often defined by its people: hard working, sympathetic, and “nice.” With Heartland, we search for the Midwest's cinematic definition—how is middle America defined by big screen style and story, and when the lights go down, do we like what we see of our cinematic selves (however realistic or fantastical) reflected back at us? Read more


The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu