middletowneye

Free Screening of "Merchants of Doubt" Documentary February 6th

Organizers of The Elements: An Environmental Film Series present a free screening of the documentary film MERCHANTS OF DOUBT on Monday, February 6 at 7 pm at the Goldsmith

Family Cinema on the campus of Wesleyan University.

Inspired by the acclaimed book by Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway, MERCHANTS OF DOUBT takes audiences on a satirically comedic, yet illuminating ride into the heart of conjuring American spin. Filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the curtain on a secretive group of highly charismatic, silver-tongued pundits-for-hire who present themselves in the media as scientific authorities – yet have the contrary aim of spreading maximum confusion about well-studied public threats ranging from toxic chemicals topharmaceuticals to climate change. Using a professional magician, the film explores the analogy between these tactics and the methods used by magicians to distract their audiences from observing how illusions are performed. The 90-minute film was an official selection of the Telluride, Toronto, and New York Film Festivals and was a 2013 Pulitzer Prize finalist.

The screening is free and open to the public and takes place at The Goldsmith Family Cinema in Wesleyan University’s Center for Film Studies, 301 Washington Terrace, Middletown, CT. For additional information about the screening, please visit www.rockfallfoundation.org or call 860-347-0340. For additional information about the film, visit www.sonyclassics.com/merchantsofdoubt/

The Elements: An Annual Environmental Film Series was launched in 2015 by the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District, Middlesex Community College Environmental Science Program, The Rockfall Foundation, and Wesleyan University’s Center for the Arts and College of the Environment.