Every week, something fun is happening at the German Society of Pennsylvania. Lectures, Panel Discussions,
                                                                    Movies, German soccer broadcasts, and  music fill our home on Spring Garden Street in Philadelphia.

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Friday Film Fest

May 9, 2008
6:30 pm

We will be showing:

"Witness"

On Oct. 2, 2006, Charles Roberts stormed into a one-room Amish Schoolhouse in West Nickel Mines near Strasburg, PA and shot 10 young girls, killing five. This tragedy shocked the peaceful Amish community, Lancaster County, the entire nation and many people around the world. Millions of people sent messages and letters expressing their grief and sympathy and donated millions of dollars to a special fund for the victims.

But countless people were also inspired by the way the Amish reacted to this senseless act of violence. The church community expressed forgiveness toward the killer and his family, who were not Amish. Amish neighbors comforted Robert’s widow and her three children only hours after the shooting and donated money from the special fund to them. Members of the Amish community went to the killer’s burial service at the cemetery and hugged the widow and other members of his family.

These gestures of forgiveness made news around the world. The “outside” world gained compelling insights into the Amish and their beliefs, foremost among which was a refusal to balance hurt with hate and revenge.  The tragedy was used rather to inspire goodness and forgiveness. Great compassion and grace was poured out in the face of unimaginable acts of violence against members of their faith. The close knit families and community of the plain clothed Amish (who use no electricity and employ horse drawn buggies for transportation) evinced a powerfully resilient support system.

 The old school was demolished and a new one was built in a different location. Four of the five surviving girls have returned to school while the fifth is confined to a wheelchair. Three of the families who lost daughters have had new babies and the family that lost 2 girls had a baby boy last year.  Please, join us in a discussion of these events and of the Amish community in general when we meet for our next film night. The discussion will be followed by a showing of “The Witness”. We hope that many members of the German Society will contribute to our forum and stay for the movie even though if they have already seen this film.

Director: Peter Weir  

The Friday Film Fest aims to provide access and insight to all things German while in the midst of some great food.
We hope to provide a good balance of the old and the new, the light and the serious.


The movie is shown on a projection screen in our historic Auditorium or Library.

Your donation includes our famous Suppenküche (a light meal), coffee, cake, and also a discussion after the film.

Donations: $12 for members, $15 for non-members, $10 for students

 

Saturday, June 14

All-Day Film Fest The German Society will have its first All-Day Film Fest on Saturday, June 14, beginning at 11:00am. Please continue to check this page as a schedule of films will be posted shortly. We also encourage you to offer your input by filling out our survey.

German Society of Pennsylvania
611 Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia, PA  19123
(P) 215-627-2332
(F) 215-627-5297