Welcome to Wayfarer Says

REEL Reflections – Illuminating the Unity of Humanity

The lights dim, the crowd quiets, and the world fades away. You sink into your seat with a bag of hot buttery popcorn and a sense of anticipation. It’s showtime! No, it’s more than that - it’s a journey!

There’s nothing like going to the movies! Growing up, my parents took me all the time.  I met an alien with Drew Barrymore, time-traveled in a DeLorean with Marty McFly, hunted treasure with the Goonies, and got lost in Neverending Stories. I even learned a thing or two from Ferris Bueller about skipping school (just kidding Mom and Dad)! That love for the big screen only grew through my teen years whenever my friend Michelle and I wondered what to do and she would always say, “Let’s go to the movies!”

In college, everything shifted. I took a class called Film and Society, exploring how movies both reflect and shape the world around us. It completely transformed how I saw film, not just as entertainment, but as a mirror of who we are and who we hope to be.

Movies are a powerful catalyst for reflection and the elevation of thought and understanding. They put a spotlight on our shared human experience, allowing us to see ourselves and one another with greater clarity and empathy. Moreover, films are a significant vehicle to contribute to the discourses of society and in some cases serve as a call to action.

In a world facing so much, from social injustice and political division to climate change and global uncertainty, it’s easy to lose hope, feel anxious or more. Too often, films mirror the seemingly insurmountable differences that divide us.

Wayfarer Theaters believes in something brighter! We curate and share films that celebrate the richness of global cultures and traditions while highlighting inspiring and uplifting stories of truth, justice, and the nobility of the human spirit. The kinds of stories that show how, together as one human family, we can overcome even the toughest challenges.

Our theaters serve as community centers for all ages to explore the themes of these films through our Q&A’s, panel discussions, special events and our new podcast, ‘The Movie of Your Life’. And we are so thrilled to now bring to our community reviews of selected films that will be shown across our screens!

Visit our Wayfarer Says page every Wednesday to read a new film review each week! You can also subscribe to our weekly Newsletter to get a link to the new review.

Join me in exploring and honoring stories that illuminate the unity of humanity. To quote The Hobbit: “Alone, it's just a journey. Now adventures, they must be shared." Let’s be Wayfarers and go on this grand adventure together!

See you at the movies!

Christina Wright is a Film Review and Curation Consultant for Wayfarer Theaters. She also freelances as a Screenwriter and teaches Film Studies at San Jose State University and De Anza College in Silicon Valley, CA.