Community invited to view Spanish-language film ‘La Misma Luna’

The public is invited to a showing of the Spanish language film “La Misma Luna” (“Under the Same Moon”) at 7 p.m. Monday, April 22, in the Witherspoon Maple Room of the McKelvey Campus Center on Westminster College’s campus.

Students in the Spanish course Advanced Conversation and Composition II selected the film to share with the public. The 2007 movie, which will be shown with English subtitles, tells the story of a boy who crosses into the United States from Mexico in search of his mother who is an undocumented worker.

Students will give introductory and closing remarks as part of the event.

“I am very proud of the work my students have done this semester to pick a film to share with our campus and the community,” said Dr. Joel Postema, associate professor of Spanish. “We picked ‘La Misma Luna’ because we felt that it is an approachable movie about an important issue in our society. We appreciated that it chooses to present that issue—undocumented/illegal immigration—in a way that helps us better understand the people involved and the effect on their lives.

In addition to the public showing, Spanish students from Wilmington Area High School will view “La Misma Luna” and engage with Westminster students on a visit to Westminster College the following day. Both events have been arranged by the students as part of a community-engaged learning project in the Advanced Conversation and Composition II class.

“La Misma Luna,” directed by Patricia Riggen, was the winner of the 2008 American Latino Media Arts (ALMA) Award for Outstanding Spanish Language Motion Picture.

The film showing is made possible by the Beyond the Quad art series which provides students the opportunity to connect with the community through the arts. Beyond the Quad is supported by Westminster College alumni Bob and Debby Caleskie Jewell, both 1980 graduates, and coordinated by the Center for Professional Development and Community Engagement (PDCE) at Westminster College.

The movie, rated PG-13 and recommended for ages 13 and up, is free and open to the public.

For more information about this and other community engagement events, contact the PDCE office at PDCE@westminster.edu.

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