Seeking to broaden perspectives, plumb universal emotions, and explore the world at large, An Appalachian Summer’s Helene and Stephen Weicholz Global Film Series showcases four award-winning and critically acclaimed international films. This year’s set of films hails from Iceland, Lebanon, Thailand, and Sweden. United by the theme of family, the movies take personal yet universal looks at the fragility and tenacity of familial relationships when tested by adversity. Films include a thrilling romance spanning continents and decades (Touch), an endearing mother-son dramedy (Arzé), a comic yet tender look at the slow deterioration of a loved one (How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies), and an enchanting and heartbreaking father-son documentary about finding the true meaning of joy (The Last Journey). Screenings will be held at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts on July 1, 8, 15 and 22 at 7:30pm. A post-film Q&A with Dale Pollock will take place immediately following each screening.Tickets are $10. To purchase, visit appsummer.org or call the box office at 828-262-4046.
“The theme for this summer is family, in its many forms and permutations,” says Pollock, who watched over 100 Academy Award-nominated films this year to curate the summer selection. “This year’s program of international films focuses on the fragility of family relationships when they are tested from within or from outside pressures, and how they remain resilient.”
App Summer runs June 28-July 26 and features a diverse lineup of music, dance, theatre, film and visual arts programming. This season’s artists include Amos Lee, Ranky Tanky with Ms. Lisa Fischer, Tessa Lark, Joshua Roman and Edgar Meyer, Joan Osborne and Lisa Loeb, Heather Headley with Western Piedmont Symphony, Peabo Bryson, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, The 5 Browns, as well as more music, visual arts, and films. Visit AppSummer.org to explore the full season and purchase tickets.
July 1
FALLEN LEAVES
In English/Japanese/Icelandic with English subtitles
Iceland, United Kingdom, Japan / Rated R / Directed byBaltasar Kormákur / 2024 / Drama, Romance / 121 minutes
A romantic and thrilling story that spans several decades and continents, Touch follows one man’s emotional journey to find his first love, who disappeared 50 years ago, before his time runs out.
July 8
ARZE
In Arabic with English subtitles
Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Egypt / Not rated / Directed byMira Shaib / 2024 / Comedy, Drama / 90 minutes
Frustrated by the lack of police action, Arzé, a determined single mother, takes her angsty teenage son on a journey across sectarian Beirut in a hapless hunt for their stolen scooter, the only thing separating the duo from abject poverty. This lighthearted romp through Beirut plays as an ode to parents, especially mothers, who will stop at nothing to provide a better life for their children.
July 15
HOW TO MAKE MILLIONS BEFORE GRANDMA DIES
In Thai with English subtitles
Thailand / Rated PG / Directed byPat Boonnitipat / 2024 / Comedy, Drama, Family / 125 minutes
M., an aimless 20-year-old, begins to care for his terminally ill grandmother, Menju, with hopes of earning her affection — and, ultimately, her inheritance. M’s devotion to his grandmother may not be selfless, but his sacrifices and caregiving are evident, as Menju comes to see her family in a new light despite their apparent shortcomings. This compassionate portrait of family life will leave you thinking of your own family long before and after the credits roll.
July 22
THE LAST JOURNEY
In Swedish with English subtitles
Sweden / Not rated / Directed byFelip Hammar and Fredrik Wikingsson / 2024 / Documentary / 95 minutes
Filip and his friend Fredrik embark on a touching road trip with Filip’s depressed father, Lars, from Sweden to France. As Lars grapples with age, Filip’s desperate mission to reignite his father’s spirit unfolds in a heartwarming and transformative journey to discover the true meaning of joy and time.
About Dale Pollock
Dale M. Pollock, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, received a BA in Anthropology from Brandeis University in 1972 and a MS in Communications from San Jose State University. In 1977, he became the head film critic for Daily Variety until he was hired by the Los Angeles Times to be their chief entertainment correspondent. He was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in the early 1980s and wrote Skywalking: The Life and Films of George Lucas in 1983, which has sold more than 150,000 copies and remains in print. In 1985, Pollock joined David Geffen’s company as a development executive, where he discovered the scripts for Beetlejuice, The Burbs and Universal Soldier. He joined A&M Films as vice president in charge of production, and was named president in 1990, producing such films as The Beast, The Mighty Quinn, A Midnight Clear and Mrs. Winterbourne. Pollock ran his own film company, Peak Productions, for 10 years, producing the box office hit Set It Off. He co-founded the producing program at the American Film Institute in 1995. In 1999, he became Dean of the School of Filmmaking at the (then) North Carolina School of the Arts, stepping down in 2006 to become Professor of Cinema Studies. He was awarded Emeritus status in 2019 and served as Interim Dean for nine months in 2021. Pollock was awarded an Endowed Professorship in Film in his name at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts School of Filmmaking in 2014 and is the 2016 recipient of the UNC Board of Governors Award for Teaching Excellence. He also received the 2020 Arts Council of Winston Salem’s Annual Award, its highest honor. Pollock’s first work of fiction, Chopped: A Novel, is available in print, e-book, and audiobook narrated by Pollock, available on Audible, as is the audio edition of Skywalking, narrated by Jordan Rich. Pollock continues to teach Continuing Education classes at UNCSA, along with programming the Weicholz Global Film Series as part of An Appalachian Summer.
Tickets for An Appalachian Summer
With ticket prices ranging from $5-$65, as well as several free events and discounts for both children, students, and App State faculty/staff, App Summer offers unique opportunities for residents and visitors to create arts experiences suited to their individual artistic tastes and budgets.Purchase in person at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts Box Office (733 Rivers St), online at AppSummer.org, or by phone at 828-262-4046.
App State Faculty/Staff: 10% off Tiers 1, 2 & 3.Contact Box Office for discount code.
Local Residents (Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Watauga, and Wilkes counties):10% off Tiers 1, 2 & 3 for select events.Enter zip code before selecting tickets online.
An Appalachian Summer
Presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources, this annual celebration of the performing and visual arts is held every summer in venues across the university campus, and features a diverse mix of music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and film programming. An Appalachian Summer began in 1984 as a chamber music series and retains strong roots in classical music, combined with a variety of other programming geared to varied artistic tastes, preferences, and price points. The series has become one of the region’s leading arts events, attracting more than 27,000 visitors to the High Country each summer. App Summer has been named one of the “Top Twenty Events in the Southeast” by the Southeast Tourism Society.
For more information, call the Schaefer Center Box Office at 828-262-4046, visit in person at 733 Rivers Street, or explore AppSummer.org.
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