Photo Courtesy Capitol Hill BID
The Capitol Hill BID is presenting a free showing of My Tale of Two Cities tonight at the US Capitol Visitor Center from 6 to 9 p.m. According to the BID’s press release, this event, “will share a story of urban transformation – and the impact individuals can have in revitalizing their communities. The first of its kind event at the new U.S. Capitol Visitor Center will feature a special screening of a movie, My Tale of Two Cities, a funny and heartfelt tale of one city’s inspiring comeback as told through a personal journey about coming home again and coming to terms with our pasts in order to redefine who we are.”
Now, you’ll have to allow me a smidge of navel-gazing here. My Tale of Two Cities is about my hometown, Pittsburgh. It was written by, and features prominently, Carl Kurlander, who also wrote one of the quintessential movies set in our own fair city, St. Elmo’s Fire. (Rest assured, there is nothing as bad as Andy McDowell’s atrocious acting in My Tale of Two Cities.) I went to see this film last year up in Silver Spring at the AFI Silver Theatre, as much for the movie itself as for the q&a session with Franco Harris and Mr. McFeely and promises of chipped ham and Reymer’s Lemon Blennd following the show. I dragged along two friends who weren’t from Pittsburgh and had maybe only passed through the airport once, and I can attest that there were many funny moments in the Roger & Me-style documentary that they enjoyed, so you definitely don’t need an attachment to the subject matter to enjoy and appreciate this film.
The film’s premise is pretty pure – how do you continue to love a city in which you see so much potential, but at the same time, seems to be falling apart at the seams? Growing up in Pittsburgh meant constantly hearing that Pittsburgh’s time will come once again, but I’ve been gone for 18 years or so now, and that time still hasn’t come. When I go home, I see so much potential, but I also see so many people too consumed with holding on to what-used-to-be to ever truly make it great again. But ultimately, I think the film is about wanting to be part of the solution and celebrating all the good things of the city you choose to call home, which for me is now DC.
But, I’ll be at the Capitol Visitors Center tonight to watch this sweet (but not sappy) love letter to my hometown again, followed by a question and answer session with Howard Fineman, Newsweek‘s Senior Washington Correspondent & Columnist, senior editor & deputy Washington bureau chief; Congressman Mike Doyle (D, PA-14); Franco Harris, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Hall-of-Fame fullback (and of course, the man who scored the touchdown in the greatest NFL play of all time) and his son, F. Dok Harris; Carl Kurlander, the film’s writer and director; and, Steve Moore, Executive Director, Washington DC Economic Partnership.
The free screening is preceded by a reception at 6 p.m., with the film beginning at 7 p.m. There will also be an after-party at Top of the Hill at 10 p.m. For more information, please see the Capitol Hill BID’s blog.
It was not at all what I expected. It left me wanting to see more of what exactly “makes Pittsburgh great”. The only redeeming elements were getting to see Mr. McFeely in person and the on-screen interview with Teresa Heinz Kerry. Would have preferred to see more of her, less of the St. Elmo’s Fire backward glances.
It was a classic example of baby boomer overindulgence, delivered in classic handwringing style.
I wanted 2 hours of my life back.