A year-and-a half after Reel Mondays was unceremoniously shelved, it has returned and with much bravado.
The festival-inspired film series is preparing the projector for four contemporary stunners to be screened at the Arden Theatre: The Father, The Public, French Exit, and In the Heights. There’s always something for everybody, explained Valerie Spink, the chair of the Friends of the St. Albert Public Library's Reel Mondays committee, but what’s more is all proceeds go to benefit the St. Albert Readers’ Festival.
That’s just as important as providing quality entertainment, Spink said, and that also comes with more than a quantum of public-health safety.
“A couple of people who have spoken to me have said, ‘Well, Valerie, I'm uncertain.’ My answer is that it's a 500-seat theatre so, pretty well, if we even have 200 people, which we've had previously, you can pick your seat very easily,” she vowed, noting there are no there are no requirements for masking or public-health measures at the theatre as of Aug. 17. She did recommend people stay tuned to the city’s website for updates as the pandemic progresses.
“If you come with someone, you sit together and you make sure that you're not that close to anybody else, if you have concerns,” she continued, adding, “They can follow their own protocols and ensure their own seating.”
The cinematic action starts up on Sept. 27 with Sir Anthony Hopkins in another Oscar-nominated role in The Father. The touching family drama about aging and memory loss co-stars Oscar winner Olivia Colman. It’s the perfect treat to bring your loved one to, but don’t forget your tissues.
On Oct. 25 there comes a film that seems custom-designed for a library fundraiser. The Public was written and directed by and stars Emilio Estevez. The homeless of Cincinnati have taken over a library during a cold snap, forcing a confrontation with the police and bringing a major social issue to light.
French Exit, arriving on Nov. 15, brings Michelle Pfeiffer in an adaptation of Canadian author Patrick DeWitt (The Sisters Brothers). Manhattan socialite Frances Price wanted to die before her wealth ran out, but her plans didn’t happen as they were meant to, forcing her to live in a borrowed apartment in Paris with her son.
The series ends on Dec. 13 with the grand spectacular musical In the Heights. Singing in your seats and dancing in the aisles might occur with this crowd-pleaser.
The Friends of St. Albert Public Library is a non-profit community group. They volunteer, fundraise, and advocate to support the St. Albert Public Library. Since 1988, the Friends have raised more than $200,000 for the library.
DETAILS
Reel Mondays series
One Monday per month from September to December
Featuring:
- Sept. 27: The Father
- Oct. 25: The Public
- Nov. 15: French Exit
- Dec. 13: In The Heights
A season pass is $50, or you can purchase your tickets for $15 each (plus Eventbrite fees).
All screenings start at 7 p.m.
Visit friendsofsapl.ca/reel-monday for more information.
eventbrite.ca/e/reel-monday-movie-nights-fall-2021-tickets-166132232981?aff=0817fr
Please contact [email protected] or visit the Library's Customer Service Desk if you need assistance with purchasing your tickets, whether with alternative payment options or if you need help navigating the website. As this is a Friends fundraiser, there will be no refunds for unused tickets. Tickets can be purchased online until just before the movie begins but will not be available in-person at the door before the movie.
