Sunday night will be the first showing of a documentary about Rhode Island’s notorious sex industry.
“Happy Endings?” follows the life of “Heather” over three years as she works in a massage parlor, while the Rhode Island legislators debate over the “loophole” in a law that allows prostitution behind closed doors. Happy Endings? will also screen at the Columbus Theatre in Providence on June 5th and June 6th at 7pm and 9:15pm, and The Salvation Café in Newport on June 15th. The film will be followed by a panel discussion with the filmmaker and RI experts on the issue.
5:30pm, Sunday, AS220, 115 Empire Street
This film features interviews with many of Rhode Island’s notables: Providence Mayor David Cicilline, Dennis Roberts (Attorney General 1978 -1984), Steve Brown (ACLU), Stephen Brown (Providence Phoenix), Donna Hughes (University of RI, Human Trafficking Expert), Senator Rhoda Perry, Representative Joanne Giannini, The Providence Police Department and local residents.
RI Documentary Films
A collection of three documentaries that will take you to parts of the state rarely seen.
The Open Eye Film Series features some of the best and most relevant recent documentary films from the state. The films take viewers to parts of the state that are rarely seen, and each of the three films is about a real world story that matters right now.
Showing in Providence, Cranston, and Newport
Happy Endings?
Sunday, 5-24 5:30 @ AS220, 115 Empire Street, Providence
Friday&Saturday, 6-5/6-6, 7:00 & 9:15 @ Columbus Theatre, 270 Broadway, Providence
An intriguing look into Providence’s Korean spa industry, the film provides rare behind the scenes footage of the spas. The film follows the political efforts to close down the spas and end the “loophole” in RI law that allows them to continue to operate.
By Tara Hurley and Nick Marcoux 90 minutes
“A brilliant play by Hurley, and even though she never shouts what she is saying, we get it. Crushing honesty more than compensates for the portions of faces we don’t see.”–The Plot Hole
Stronger Than Their Walls
Wednesday, 5-27 6:00@ AS220, 115 Empire Street, Providence
Wednesday, 6-3 7:00@ The Artists’ Exchange, 50 Rolfe Square, Cranston
A film about probation, exoneration, and people fighting for the second chance they deserve. From Providence to Charlestown, the prison to the Statehouse, this film follow four wrongfully imprisoned people and their families.
By Nick Horton, Julia Liu, Keith Heyward, Jon Mahone 45 minutes
Lost in Woonsocket
Monday, 5-25 6:00@ AS220, 115 Empire Street, Providence
A miraculous journey of hope…Missing for years from their families, two alcoholics are discovered hiding in the woods in Woonsocket, RI by a film crew. Official Selection–SXSW Film Festival and Newport Beach Film Festival.
By Andre Miller and John Chester 80 minutes
AS220 films are $5, Columbus screenings are $10 pre-order (on Happy Endings film website), Cranston screening is free. Newport screenings will be at the Salvation Cafe in June, dates TBA.
riflc.org