Marching Toward the Greater Good: A Fifty-Year Film Roadmap

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

(Bellows Falls VT) In these perilous times, the work of filmmakers Charles Light and Daniel Keller is more pertinent than ever. A series featuring their documentaries that exemplify the famous Margaret Mead quote about changing the world will be screened at the historic, 100-year-old Bellows Falls Opera House on Thursday nights during the month of September – 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th. The titles include Far Out: life on & after the commune and Waves in the Woods on September 4th; Lovejoy’s Nuclear War and Save the Planet on September 11th; The Last Resort and Early Warnings on September 18th; and Vietnam: The Secret Agent and Vietnam Experience on September 25th.

To date, Far Out has been screened across the country and abroad to rave reviews, receiving a total of fourteen film festival awards from 2024-2025. It is an 85-minute documentary that tells the story of two rural New England communal farms–Packer Corners in Guilford, Vermont and the Montague Farm in Massachusetts and the group of writers, activists and artists who came together to birth the modern-day example of how grassroots activism can become a national movement.

For the last twenty-five years, Bellows Falls has demonstrated the will of community activism as the village reinvented itself from a downtrodden mill town to a vibrant arts district. The Opera House is the only theatre nationwide to reflect upon this body of work from the 60s and 70s that captures the lessons of activism, beginning with back-to-the-land organic farming communes to the No Nukes movement and protests against the Vietnam War.

Each film will be followed by a Q&A with members of the original groups. Viewing time on each night does not exceed 90 minutes, and doors will close at 9:30 p.m. after the Q&A. Far Out will kick off the series, and the Q&A panel will consist of filmmaker Charles Light, poet and commune resident Verandah Porche and musician and composer Patty Carpenter.

Purchase individual & series tickets at https://www.bellowsfallsoperahouse.com/special-event-moviestochange25. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with the film at 7:00 p.m. The Opera House is located at 7 The Square in downtown Bellows Falls and is handicapped accessible. Refreshments will be available. Presented by special arrangement with Bellows Falls Films and Rockingham Entertainment Development. Underwritten by Friends of the Bellows Falls Rotary. www.bellowsfallsoperahouse.com

https://www.greenmountainpostfilms.com/far-out-life-on-after-the-commune
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If you have questions or would like more information, or if you are press and would like a full press kit with photos, please go to our website, www.gmpfilms.com and/or contact Charles Light at (413) 348-9005 or clight@gmpfilms.com