Holocaust Education Committee of the Quad Cities

In conjunction with the Figge exhibit Sporting Fashion: Outdoor Girls 1800 to 1960, the Figge Art Museum presents four award-winning, ground-breaking, women-directed, feature-length films to celebrate the remarkable contributions and achievements made by women in the cinematic arts. FILM AT THE FIGGE is a Thursdays at the Figge program. Admission is free.  –  John Deere Auditorium.

Thursday, February 16, 2023, 6:30 p.m.
SELMA (2014) – Directed by Ava DuVarnay

A chronicle of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965 to secure equal voting rights. Ava DuVarnay is the first African-American woman to direct a feature-length film.  Awards: Academy Award nomination for Best Director; Academy Award for Best Song: Glory. 

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6t7vVTxaic

Thursday, March 9, 2023, 6:30 p.m.
Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005) – Directed by Miranda July

A lonely, single-parent shoe salesman and an eccentric performance artist struggle to connect. Awards: Cannes Film Festival: Caméra d’Or; Sundance Film Festival: Special Jury Prize 

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t87QILBZd_I

Thursday, April 6, 2023, 6:30 p.m.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2016) – Directed by Celine Sciamma

In 18^th-Century France, young painter Marianne, is commissioned to do the wedding portrait of Heloise without her knowing. Marianne must observe her model by day to paint her portrait at night. The two women become close as they share Heloise’s last moments of freedom before her impending wedding, which she dreads. Awards: Cannes Film Festival: Best Screenplay; Caesar Award: Best Cinematography; New York Film Critics: Best Foreign Language Film; Nat. Soc. of Film Critics: Best Cinematography

Trailer: https://youtube.com/watch?v=R-fQPTwma9o&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE

Thursday, May 11, 2023, 6:30 p.m.
The Farewell (2019) – Directed by Lulu Wang

When they learn that their grandmother has only a short time to live, a Chinese family schedules a wedding for all to gather before she dies. Based on an actual lie. Awards: Independent Spirit Awards: Best Film, Best Supporting Actress; Golden Globe Awards: Best Film, Best Actress; Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize Nominee: Best Director      

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RofpAjqwMa8

POST-SCREENING WINE AND DISCUSSION: After each film, socialize and discuss the film with a complimentary glass of wine in the lobby just outside the John Deere Auditorium. ALSO: The bar is now open again on Thursdays!! The lobby bar opens at 5:00 for all to socialize before each Thursdays at the Figge program. 

For parents and educators who are home-schooling students in grades 7-12, here is a one class period lesson (with extended activities) from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum entitled: “History of Antisemitism and the Holocaust.”

R.O.I., produced by KALA and an affiliate of Public Radio International, has interviewed several local scholars on topics relating to the Holocaust. The show examines important events in history as well as current events through books, journal article, papers, and presentations. The guest and show co-hosts then discuss the topic with experts and history buffs who ask the question “How is it relevant or irrelevant in today’s world?”

Dr. Art Pitz was interviewed on the radio show R.O.I. in 2019, on the topic “History of Antisemitism and American Eugenics Movement.” His interview can be found at this link or click on the “play arrow” below.

KALA is operated by St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa. Shows air locally on Friday night on KALA 88.5 FM and 106.1 FM at 9:30 PM. After airing, the full program and web segment will be available as a podcast at: https://soundcloud.com/kalaradio

Other Holocaust-related shows on R.O.I.:

Mark Finkelstein – Holocaust Memorial in Des Moines

Rabbi Henry J Karp – One Human Family Program   

Dr. Stephen Gaies – Pre-WWII German Youth Diaries and Memoirs Exhibit

Author Noah Lederman – A World Erased

Curriculum cases for teaching about the Holocaust in grades 6-8 are available for free checkout by Quad City area teachers.  These cases were developed by the Curriculum Committee for the Jeff Leibovitz Special Collection of Holocaust Education Materials.
Flyer Curriculum Cases

Three curriculum case topics:
Case 1: “You Can Make A Difference: Teaching About the Holocaust”
Case 2: “They Made a Difference: Rescuers and Resisters”
Case 3: “Voices from the Holocaust: Diaries & Memoirs”

Cases 1, 2, and 3 are located at WIU-Quad Cities Library (3300 River Drive, Moline, IL). Call to schedule curriculum case checkout at 309/762-1598. No delivery service. Self pickup required. Website   Case 1 is also available at Mississippi Bend AEA9 (729-21^st St., Bettendorf, IA). Call to schedule curriculum case checkout  at 563/359-1371. Iowa schools within the AEA9 district can request AEA9 van delivery to school building.

Date: April 1 & Oct. 1 (bi-annual deadline)
Event: Rauch Foundation Teacher Scholarship for Professional Development in Holocaust Education
Application: RAUCH SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION