"How are we going to breathe life into those dry bones?"

The GCFC hosts our 5th annual Film Forward Documentary Spotlight, featuring the locally-produced DRY BONES on February 6th with a screening and filmmaker talkback.

FILM SYNOPSIS
DRY BONES tells the gripping and emotional tale of Ike Maxwell, a legendary Black football player from the 1970s whose life is upended when his brother is tragically shot and killed by a white police officer in Elyria, OH - a city long plagued by racial tension. This incident thrusts Ike into a world of unrelenting hardship, grief, and trauma, compounded by the physical toll of brain injuries sustained over the years. 

Sherman Jones, a passionate local community organizer, draws a poignant parallel between Ike's story and the biblical tale of Ezekiel's dry bones. "How are we going to breathe life into these dry bones?" Jones asks in the film. This question resonates not only for Ike but for the entire city of Elyria.

Imbued with religious undertones, the film presents football as a near-sacred experience for Black Elyrians who once revered Ike Maxwell as their hero. A central question then emerges: how do you revive a fallen hero? The answer lies in the power of community. DRY BONES showcases communal strength, offering a moving testament to the enduring omnipotence of a relatively obscure Black community in the heart of a rust belt city in Ohio.

Directed by Dr. Tara Conley
Assistant Professor, School of Media & Journalism, Kent State University

PRESENTING SPONSORS

This event is supported by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.

Community Sponsors

Additional Support Provided By

DETAILS:

Friday, February 6th
5 - 6:30 pm Doors Open & Pre-Screening Reception
6:30 - 8 pm Screening & Filmmaker Talkback with Moderator Lowell Perry Jr.

Karamu House
2355 E. 89th St.
Cleveland, OH 44106
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Free parking available 

FREE to attend, registration required