HIFF and Guild Hall present an exciting new series of screenings, titled NOW SHOWING, that will bring notable films currently in theaters to East Hampton. On select Saturday nights, the series, curated by HIFF, features acclaimed first-run art house, independent, and world cinema in Guild Hall’s John Drew Theater.
THE FINAL YEAR
Saturday, January 20 | 6:00pm | Guild Hall
Director: Greg Barker | Runtime: 89 minutes
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During 2016, filmmaker Greg Barker gained access to key members of outgoing US President Barack Obama’s administration — Secretary of State John Kerry, Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, confidant and speech writer Ben Rhodes, and others — for an unprecedented look at the shaping of US foreign policy. While TV shows from The West Wing to Madam Secretary have invented dramas from this milieu, never has a documentary captured the real players so much in the moment. The globe-spanning journey involves stops on multiple continents. Rhodes, who’s described as sharing a “mind meld” with Obama, joins the President on historic visits to Ho Chi Minh City, Hiroshima, and Havana. Power seeks to put ordinary people at the heart of foreign policy in Nigeria and Cameroon. Kerry negotiates at the UN for a Syrian ceasefire and bears witness to global warming in Greenland. Every move they make stirs reactions from media, Congress, and the public. While history books will be better equipped to explore political complexities, THE FINAL YEAR excels at showing us the humanity of these policy makers in times of breakthrough, setback, and tragedy. This perspective would be remarkable in any year. But 2016 stands out since US foreign policy changed dramatically under a new administration. The contrast is clear in every minute of the film. As we gain distance from the Obama years, THE FINAL YEAR will serve as a vital document.
“Under the current circumstances, Barker has given us a film… that’s not only absorbing but also essential in its depiction of humane, responsible leadership.” — The Wrap
Tickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for HIFF and Guild Hall members. HIFF members: purchase tickets online from Guild Hall and select ‘member price’ to receive your discount (your name will be checked against our member roster). Enjoy!
Other films in the series:
THE DIVINE ORDER on Saturday, January 27, 2018
