Winner Best 8 Festival Best Feature Awards in Los Angeles, Chicago, Iowa, New York, Poland and India.
"A Stunning Story, Compelling, Entertaining" - Chicago Tribune
This free Monday, June 22 Old Heart screening includes:
6:30 pm: Preglow Reception ( Light refreshments)
7:00 pm: Intro & Film
8:45 pm Talk Back
9:00 pm Closing Remarks, Acknowledgments
Reservations are requested at shapirolerner@gmail.com Walk-ins are welcome.
Evening's Co Hosts:
First Hebrew Congregation of South Haven, (Remey Rubin & Dana Hullinger)
Lily of the Valley, Covert (Pastor Darryl Williams)
Temple B'nai Shalom, St. Joseph, Benton Harbor (David Ravitch)
Pastor Williams, Remey Rubin and David Ravitch will have brief remarks.
Advocacy: Attendees are encouraged to email or write members of the national Black Caucus and our Michigan elected officials to prioritize restoration of a commemorative plaque honoring World War 2 black grave diggers at the American Battle Monuments Commission’s Margraten Cemetery visitors center in the Netherlands. This plaque, taken down by Pentagon order in 2025, documents the stories of the American Black soldiers who fought to liberate northern Netherlands after the South was freed in the fall of 1944.. Their memories should not be forgotten. They saved many Jews, members of the resistance and citizens of the Netherlands. For more information visit these stories in The Hill and Nu? Detroit.
Adapted from Peter Ferry’s award winning novel, Old Heart tells the story of black soldier Tom Johnson fighting the world's greatest racist as part of the segregated American Army. He works with a Jewish translator, Sarah van Praag, to smuggle food and supplies from liberated southern Netherlands to starving residents of northern cities trapped behind Nazi lines. They also fall in love.
Sixty years later, in the summer of 2005, Tom foils his family’s plan to move him to assisted living by secretly flying to Amsterdam. With his children in hot pursuit, Tom is determined to find Sarah, the love of his life.
Old Heart's focus on how people cross cultural boundaries to find common ground makes the film especially timely. A tribute to elder independence, Old Heart also explores the hidden history of the black soldiers in World War 2's only integrated American Army unit, the Red Ball Express. After the war General Patton said his forces would not have made it to Berlin without this critical 6,000 truck supply team dominated by courageous black soldiers.
Old Heart has won over 30 festival awards for acting, editing, cinematography, screenwriting and costuming. A lesson plan available with the film is being used in schools in America and Europe.
“Fabulous. The cinematography led by David Darling is excellent. The editing by Gene Gamache is first class. Powerful performances from Jamelle Sargent as the young Tom and Eva Doueiri as the young Sarah.” - Tony Moore, Indy Film Library
"The actors did very solid work in this film. It’s touching to watch a bunch of people come together to do something big and to witness their solidarity and utter belief in doing something great. This film was able to utilize a high-end Hollywood studio for post-production. This showed in the quality of the sound and stunning visuals. That kind of resourcefulness, along with pure passion, allows (this) small-budget project to overcome its disadvantages. This feature-length film becomes part of Peter Ferry's legacy. It’s a fine piece of work to leave behind. " - Chicago Literary Hall of Fame