HumanDocs film series to screen Oscar-nominated documentary, "The Look of Silence"
Lacey Klotz |
Lipscomb University’s HumanDocs Film Series presents a special screening of the Oscar-nominated documentary, “The Look of Silence,” at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 17, in the university’s Ward Hall. The film is free and open to the public. 
Screening at Lipscomb just 11 days before the 88th Annual Academy Awards ceremony on Feb. 28, “The Look of Silence” is nominated for the category of Best Documentary Feature.
“It's not hard to see how the film garnered an Oscar nomination,” said Ted Parks, associate professor of foreign languages and director of Lipscomb’s Human Docs Film Series. “The documentary captures the tranquil beauty of Indonesia with stunning cinematography at the same time it explores the wrenching violence that took place there.”
“The Look of Silence” tells the story of an Indonesian optometrist, Adi, who defies taboos preventing Indonesians from talking about the slaughter of a million civilians following the military takeover of their nation in 1965.
As the optometrist confronts the perpetrators of the violence, who are now his patients, the audience learns of Adi's deeply personal stake in the story.
“This documentary reminds us of the dark human capacity to justify horrific deeds in the name of security, just as it leaves us perplexed about how to effect reconciliation in a place of so much suffering,” Parks continued.
There will be a panel discussion after the film featuring Sarah Gibson, filmmaker and associate professor of communication; J.P. Conway, adjunct professor in Bible; and Susan Haynes, assistant professor of political science. Sam Hearn, a Lipscomb undergraduate majoring in English, will moderate the discussion.
HumanDocs is a series of social-justice documentaries at Lipscomb University. The series emerged from the desire of the university's College of Liberal Arts & Sciences to develop students personally, encourage lifelong learning and inspire service in a changing world.
The HumanDocs Film series is hosted by Lipscomb's College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. HumanDocs also has ongoing partnerships with the Lipscomb Honors College, the Nashville Film Festival and Nashville Public Television's Indie Lens Pop-Up program.
For more information on this event, contact Ted Parks at ted.parks [at] lipscomb.edu or at 615.966.6616.