Movies that Matter Series Screens “McFarland USA”

On April 19 at 4:30 pm, McFarland USA will be screened at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Door County (UUFDC). This inspiring Disney sports drama is based on actual events. In this film, Kevin Costner plays a high school football coach who leads a cross-country track team made up of lower class Latino students to a state championship.

Costner’s character, Jim White, finds his days as a football coach numbered when an incident with a player leads to his dismissal. Desperate for work, he moves his wife and daughters from Idaho to McFarland, Cali., a rural town that’s predominately Latino and the only place willing to give him a teaching job. The family feels like they don’t fit into their new community, but White has an epiphany one day when he sees his students running from their early morning farming jobs to school – why not channel their talents into running cross-country track?

The film is part of the monthly Movies That Matter series examining a wide range of issues. UUFDC is located at 10341 Hwy. 42 in north Ephraim. For more information call 920.854.7559.