Sarah
Feinbloom’s New Documentary "What Do You Believe"
By Susie
Davidson
Advocate
Correspondent
BOSTON -
Sarah Feinbloom believes that in order to promote global harmony, it may be
necessary to begin at home, and through the eyes of youth.
On April
30, “What Do You Believe?,” her rare cinematic look at spiritualty
as seen in a diverse group of youth, was presented at the Dorothy Quincy Suite
at the John Hancock Hall in Boston.
Feinbloom,
a filmmaker and producer, documented the spiritual lives and beliefs of over
200 teenagers in her 50 minute film, representing a spectrum of faiths
including Islam, Paganism, Judaism, Atheism, Hindu, Buddhism, Agnosticism,
Lakota Indian, Mormonism, Catholicism, Christianity, Sikhism and more. The
production, timely and insightful, was accompanied by a curriculum guide which
aimed to teach cross-cultural tolerance to young people. The film’s
teenaged interviewees, who shared their innermost feelings regarding
spirituality, morality, prayer, death, the purpose of life, and freedom of
religion in the United States, challenged prejudicial biases as they revealed
stereotypical thought, and in doing so, shed light upon the realities of
America’s religious pluralism.
“I
made this film because we are the most religiously diverse country in the
world,” says Feinbloom, “but we haven't really embraced that in our
education system and as a society. I believe that in order for us to really
live together peacefully, we need to understand who lives next door, because
it's no longer someone who comes from the same background. I want this film to
help young people understand the changing religious landscape and engage in
dialogue about differences and diversity.
“There
are still too many religious hate crimes and stereotypes,” she continues,
“and we need to start learning about each other if we are really going to
live up to the principles of our Constitution and what this country is supposed
to be about.”
The film
was recently featured at Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco.
Feinbloom,
who holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Barnard College,
Columbia University and a master's degree in education from Tufts University,
leads discussions about religious stereotypes and spirituality at youth
centers. She has worked with teens for 15 years as a public school teacher
(including at Boston Latin) and coordinator of youth programs committed to
social justice and cross-cultural understanding. Her award-winning 1993
documentary “Youth to Youth,” which was produced by 12 freshmen at
the Boston Latin School and whose production was assisted by the MIT Center for
Advanced Engineering Studies, explored teen views on violence. Following its
premiere at the 1993 Birmingham, Alabama Film and Video Festival, the film
showed at several youth and education film festivals including the Chicago
International Children's Film and Video Festival, the New England Children's
Film and Video Festival, and the Charlotte Film and Video Festival. Her ``Which
Way Por Favor?'' which she produced with director Mick Diener, was featured on
National Public Radio and in the Boston Globe, Release Print Magazine and other
publications.
The April
30 Boston showing featured a 6 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. showing and 8 p.m.
discussion.
For further
information, please e-mail Deborah Heller, Ph.D., at dheller@hellercunningham.com or call 617-734-7604.