“Northern Lights” screening

By Brittney Goodman

The Dakota Resource Council is completing the the last of its free regional screenings of the award-winning film “Northern Lights” at the Fargo Theatre on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. in celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the Nonpartisan League in North Dakota. The DRC is partnering with the  Northern Plains United Labor Council, The North Dakota Human Rights Coalition and the South Agassiz Resource Council for the Fargo screening. All screenings are also supported by the North Dakota AFL-CIO.

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The acclaimed film “Northern Lights,” directed by John Hanson and Rob Nilsson, was filmed in North Dakota and premiered in 1978 at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Camera d’Or for Best First Feature. This narrative feature poignantly tells the story of the harsh winter of 1915-16 in Crosby, N.D., and the farmers there who were pitted against the political machine, big business, banks and the railroad. The story focuses particularly on one young farmer, Ray Sorenson, and his struggle to fight back and survive. Sorenson, played by Robert Behling, leaves the farm to become an organizer for the grassroots NPL.

The film is critically acclaimed for its storytelling and stunning black and white cinematography. In addition to its recognition at Cannes, the film was nominated for Best Feature at the Chicago International Film Festival in 1978.

The upcoming Fargo Theatre screening will be followed by a discussion of the film and the impact of the Nonpartisan League on the cultural and political growth of North Dakota. One of the film’s directors, John Hanson, will headline the Fargo screening and participate in the discussion. Hanson is an award-winning independent director, producer and screenwriter, known for the films “Wildrose,” “Shimmer” and many documentaries over his career. Hanson is a director fellow at the Sundance Institute and a founding member of the Independent Feature Project, fostering independent filmmaking. He has also produced award-winning documentaries with the San Francisco group Cine Manifest, including “Western Coal” and “Prairie Fire.” A photographer to boot, Hanson has recently published a retrospective of his own photographs of the High Plains, “Below the Sky.” Hanson is originally from St. Paul, was raised in North Dakota and currently leads Northern Pictures, a media production company, based in Bayfield, Wis.

IF YOU GO:

“Northern Lights” screening and discussion

Mon, Oct. 26, 7 p.m.

Fargo Theatre, 314 Broadway N

TICKETS: Free admission