THE OPTIMIST Free Preview Screening

Overview

The Optimist is a beautiful, Northern Californian-set, cross-generational odyssey of healing and discovery, in which an extraordinary friendship blooms between an aging soul and a troubled young woman, each bearing unspoken pains. For over 60 years, Holocaust survivor Herbert Heller (Stephen Lang), now a toy store owner, concealed his wartime memories even from his family. But as illness looms, he befriends Abbey (Elsie Fisher), a teen grappling with her own buried anguish, inspiring him to open up. By sharing their individual struggles, a path to mutual empathy unfolds, offering newfound purpose and solace. Heartfelt performances, traversing haunting historical flashbacks and the serene redwood forests, movingly capture the unbreakable human spirit, offering hope in dark times and unexpected places.

One of the film’s producers, Jeanine Thomas, and (hopefully) one of the actors in the film (TBC) will be here to participate in a post-screening panel discussion about the film and an audience Q&A, during which they will be especially interested in hearing from those in the audience on how best to position this film in communities like ours to increase audience impact and engagement.