SUN-B and Sephardic Nursing Center to Host Screening of Award-Winning "Beautiful Hills of Brooklyn" November 19th

Online, November 2, 2009 (Newswire.com) - Brooklyn, NY - October 31, 2009 - The compelling story of a newly retired elderly woman forced to confront the changes in her life and in her beloved Brooklyn neighborhood will be the featured film presentation at the monthly meeting of the Senior Umbrella Network of Brooklyn (SUN-B) on Thursday, November 19th from 10am to 1pm. The "Beautiful Hills of Brooklyn" will have a premier showing for SUN-B members and guests at the Sephardic Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 2266 Cropsey Avenue, followed by a special brunch and discussion of the film by its creators and star performer.

"The film opens a window into the life of an elderly woman living alone in Brooklyn -- the kind of life that is often hidden from view. Without advocating any particular solutions, the film poses questions about how we are meeting the needs of the elderly in our community and how we could perhaps do better. Something that comes across very strongly is the role of the caregiver -- how vitally important those human connections are," says Ellen Cassedy, who wrote the original play of the same name and will attend the screening. The story was crafted from the diary of her aunt, Jessie Singer Sylvester that spanned two years of her life from ages 76-78. The words were simplistic - her everyday existence was by all accounts, mundane. But Jesse's sentiments, interwoven with excerpts from Walt Whitman's poem "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry," present an absorbing story of a woman facing the challenges of old age as her cognitive functions diminish, her sister passes away, and her friends and neighbors leave the neighborhood.

Ms. Cassedy, a speaker, non-fiction writer, and playwright was a founder of 9 to 5, the national association of working women that inspired the film Nine to Five. She is the author of three books and often speaks on social issues, in particular how society can respond to the unique needs of the elderly with greater insight, compassion and caring.

Director Ragnar Freidank and Broadway, TV and film actress Joanna Merlin, who co-wrote and stars in Beautiful Hills of Brooklyn, were awarded the 2009 D.C. Independent Film Festival Audience Award for Best Short Film. This honor was followed by the Golden Ace Award at the Las Vegas International Film Festival and Mr. Freidank's Silver Remi Award for Directing from World Fest Houston. Beautiful Hills of Brooklyn is an official selection at the Connecticut Film Festival was a Semi-Finalist at the 2009 Show Off Your Shorts Festival in Los Angeles and won the Audience Award at the Beverly Hills Hi-Def Film Festival. In 2008, the film was awarded Best Short Film at the Big Apple Film Festival at the world famous Tribeca Cinemas.

The screening is free to SUN-B members and $25 for non-members - the cost of which can be applied toward annual dues for new membership. SUN-B is a 501c3 organization comprised of professionals who work with or advocate for seniors in the Brooklyn area. Says Vicki Ellner, SUN-B founder and chair "We are proud to hold this screening in conjunction with Sephardic Nursing and Rehabilitation Center as they share with us our deep concern for the well-being of seniors in Brooklyn. The film is a poignant reminder of the adversities many of them face today. It is our goal at SUN-B to serve as a cohesive and efficient referral and resource network for senior services so that older people will be better positioned to solve the health, social, financial and day-to-day practical issues that confront them."
To reserve your space for the screening of "Beautiful Hills of Brooklyn" email [email protected] or call Vicki Ellner at 516.455.9612. Visit the SUN-B website at www.sunb.org to learn more about membership.