The Darling Room
MON 11/14
Many people’s first encounter with Russell Banks was through the moody film based on his book The Sweet Hereafter, whose characters are forever changed by a school-bus accident that kills all of the children onboard. Banks’ newest novel, The Darling, explores similar themes of isolation and survival. The darling of the book’s title, Dawn Carrington — aka Hannah Musgrave — details her flight from America to West Africa and back as she seeks to break from her radical past in the Weather Underground and establish one true identity. Banks incorporates real-life events in Liberia into the fiction, creating a seamless world in which he examines issues of race, corruption and politics. Banks reads from and discusses his book at 7 p.m. Monday. And those who believe that author appearances occur only at Unity Temple on the Plaza are in for an additional delight: The event is free, and it’s at the Helzberg auditorium at the Central Branch of the Kansas City Public Library (14 West 10th Street, 816-701-3400). Call 816-501-4828 for more information. — Ray T. Barker
Soul Food
Westport Presbyterian Church has soul — and cinema.
SUN 11/13
The phrase cinema ‘n’ soul makes us imagine certain soundtracks — say, the theme from Shaft. But the Westport Presbyterian Church’s Cinema ‘n’ Soul film series deals with soul in the spiritual sense. Arthur Miller’s film adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People, the second movie on the 2005-06 schedule, depicts a Norwegian village whose leaders must decide whether to risk financial ruin by warning tourists about the town’s poisoned water supply. Set in the 1880s, this riveting debate presages the current stalemate between environmentalists and corporations, though when Miller adapted it in the 1950s, he hoped to imply that liberal artists weren’t enemies at all. The reels roll at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the church (201 Westport Road, 816-931-1032). — Andrew Miller
The Frame Game
Professor George Lakoff talks the talk.
SAT 11/12
By Kate Smith Ann Coulter makes a living by telling the public how to talk to liberals, so it’s only fair to give equal time to George Lakoff, who knows about speaking to people of all political persuasions. The linguistics professor at the University of California-Berkeley and author of Don’t Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate — The Essential Guide for Progressives comes to town Saturday for “The Victory Starts Now,” presented by the Heartland Democrats of America and the Jackson County Democratic Committee. Lakoff talks about how conservatives use language to get their message across and how progressives can do the same, says Michele Lahr of the HDA. Learn more at Lakoff’s 7:30 p.m. talk at the Valentine Room at the Uptown Theater (3700 Broadway). Tickets cost $35; call 816-841-2877.
