Film Screening and Panel Discussion
Join Project NIA for a screening of the new film
followed by a panel discussion of community leaders.
The film explores Cyntoia's life. The camera first glimpses her the week of her arrest at age 16 and follows her for nearly six years. Along the way, nationally renown juvenile forensic psychiatrist, Dr. William Bernet from Vanderbilt University, assesses her situation. We meet Ellenette Brown, Cyntoia's adoptive mother who talks about the young girl's early years. Georgina Mitchell, Cyntoia's biological mother, meets her for the first time since she gave her up for adoption 14 years earlier. When we meet Cyntoia's maternal grandmother, Joan Warren, some patterns begin to come into sharp focus.
Cyntoia wrestles with her fate. She is stunningly articulate, and spends the time to put the pieces of this puzzle together with us. Cyntoia's pre-prison lifestyle was nearly indistiguishable from her mother's at the same age. History - predestined by biology and circumstance - is repeating down the generations in this family.
Cyntoia is tried as an adult, and the cameras are there when she is convicted and sentenced to life at the Tennessee Prison for Women. After the verdict, Cyntoia calls her mom to tell her the news.
In the end, we catch up with Cyntoia as she is adjusting to prison, and struggling with her identity and hope for her future.
Saturday, February 19th
2 to 5 p.m.
Chicago Cultural Center
Claudia Cassidy Theater
78 East Washington Street
We are pleased to partner with Community Cinema and many others to present this program.
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