Oct 2nd: God of the Piano, nEW FILM BY ISRAELI FILMMAKER ITAY TAL

A Greek tragedy set in contemporary Israel, God of the Piano is the story of a concert pianist from a respected musical family who has never been able to live up to her father’s stratospheric expectations. When she becomes pregnant, she transfers her hope of being a musical prodigy onto her child. She is devastated when her son is born deaf, but she doubles down on her dream, obsessively grooming him for stardom. But as the young pianist grows up, his lack of respect for his grandfather becomes an obstacle to his career. This beautifully composed film has the pacing of a thriller. (Israel / 80 minutes)

“CRITIC’S PICK! Tal’s style has a simultaneous simplicity and density that has an affinity with the works of Lucrecia Martel and Michael Haneke. Rarely does a debut feature showcase a talent so fully formed. This is a remarkably potent film.” – Glenn Kenny, The New York Times

WHY THE RYDER NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT (Yes, we know, everyone is asking for your support.)

Through the years, The Ryder has been generously supported by local shops and restaurants, many of them purchasing ad space simply because they wanted to support a community magazine. Their support has benefited not just the magazine, but also, indirectly, the Film Series.
When the pandemic struck in March we decided that it was our turn to step up. Rather than suspend publication, we made the decision to publish the magazine electronically without ad revenue. Ads would be run for free. We thought the pandemic would be under control by September and we could then make up for some of the lost funds. Clearly, we were wrong about that. Today, with the end of the pandemic nowhere in sight, we are asking for your support to publish The Ryder into the spring.  Read more

A Conversation with Scott Russell Sanders Morgenstern’s Bookstore is hosting an online talk with Bloomington author Scott Russell Sanders. The conversation touches on the role of imagination in art, science, social reform, ethics, and everyday life. Friday, October 2nd @ 5PM LIVE Author Talks This talk with Scott Sanders is inspired by his recently  published work, The Way of Imagination, a 0guide on how imagination can help us navigate turbulent times and find solutions in the face of harrowing environment and social challenges. Click on these links to listen in on Zoom or Facebook live*