An appreciation of film is all it takes to join this group. The 2026-27 season is our 28th year of celebrating the medium!
Our group meets at 7 pm, usually on the first Tuesday of each month from September through June, except December. We view the selected film on our own and then come together to discuss it. Typically about a dozen people attend. We gather on Zoom; the link is on our calendar: fpcpaloalto.org/calendar-of-events
We talk about character transformation, cinematic values, etc, plus our perspectives on the faith and ethical issues raised by the films. Our discussions are rich with multiple views and observations, as well as lots of laughs and caring, all enriching our relationships. We close with prayers of the people. New members are always welcome!
Here is our 2026-27 schedule, chosen through our election process in the spring.
| Sept 1 | The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Frye |
| Oct 6 | Famous Last Words: Dr. Jane Goodall |
| Nov 3 | Eleanor the Great |
| Jan 5 | Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery |
| Feb 9 | Ordinary People |
| Mar 2 | The AI Doc: Or How I Became An Apocaloptimist |
| April 6 | A Different Man |
| May 4 | My Octopus Teacher |
| June 1 | The Manchurian Candidate |
The last film of our 2025-26 season was
Sing Sing (2023)
Director: Greg Kwedar
Availability: Lots of the streaming services
The film centers on a group of incarcerated men who participate in a theater program at Sing Sing, a maximum-security prison in New York. It is a real life example of hope and resiliency.
The movie is based on the real-life program Rehabilitation Through the Arts where incarcerated individuals engage in theater and music to find a creative outlet and a sense of purpose.
The film is a true story and features formerly incarcerated men who were part of the program, including Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin and Jon-Adrian “JJ” Velazquez, who play themselves.