by Chloe Bailey
Elm Staff Writer
The Rose O’Neill Literary House is hosting spring movie nights featuring “Carol” and “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” in April and May to provide a solution for mid-week boredom.
“The Literary House is a homey and quiet space where students can hang out, have club meetings, or get some writing and homework done…[The Lit House] has a supply of tea to keep you caffeinated as you hang out in our library room…There are comfy couches and chairs on the first floor, and a quiet study room on the third floor,” said Director James Hall.
The first movie in the lineup was “To Kill a Mockingbird,” shown on Friday, Feb. 17. Based on the book of the same title by Harper Lee, this story of intense moral conflict was a poignant and aptly chosen movie to begin the spring semester.
The next movie is Todd Hayne’s “Carol,” a story about queer women and the nature of romantic desire. Alumna Claire Hansen ’14 will also be giving a talk about the film.
Dr. Hall chose the film for its powerful story, “focused on defiant, queer love between two women in 1950s New York City. The movie shows those moments of lived experience that queer folks have been forced to hide, to keep secret, thus allowing an exquisite rebellion to take place before our eyes.”
The showing of “Carol” will take place on April 19 at 7 p.m.
The last movie of the semester was chosen by Lindsay Lusby, assistant director of the Literary House and assistant editor of the Literary House Press.
She selected “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” for its “snarky science fiction with a dry, British sense of humor” as “a fun movie to close out the last day of classes for the spring semester.”
Showing on May 4, during finals week, at 7 p.m., this classic book-turned-movie ought to liven spirits.
If you are looking for other events to come to in between movie nights, Dr. Hall said, “the Lit House hosts readings and workshops by some of the world’s most recognized writers. If you haven’t come to a reading, please do. They’re usually held on Tuesdays or Thursdays at 4:30 p.m.”
The ongoing reading series at the Lit House, The Personal & The Political, has several more events for this semester.
Lusby said, “poet and activist Carolyn Forché will be reading on March 30 and Chris Abani (who writes poetry, fiction, and nonfiction) will be reading on April 6.”
Additionally, the Annual Senior Reading will take place April 20 for those who are interested in hearing the work of graduating students at Washington College.