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By James Ensor
Hometown Weekly Reporter
An inflatable screen similar to an air mattress with a screen on it was erected behind the gazebo near Medfield Public Library. The open green area, which was filled with provided wooden seats and patrons who had brought their own seating, played host to a peaceful outdoor evening for the young and young and heart to watch a film.
Preparations included two large speakers to provide a surround sound atmosphere as well as the projector itself, angled just right to fit its inflatable counterpart. Additional amenities included a pair of teen volunteers dutifully popping corn for any snackers in the audience.
The feature film on Tuesday, August 9, aired at 8 p.m., and was chosen for its relatively recent release date. “Wall-E,” a film about a robot stranded on earth while humans take refuge in space awaiting a safe return home, delighted those in the audience. Futuristic landscapes were on display throughout the film, giving children a chance to imagine possibilities beyond what we have today.
“This is our second movie showing of the summer,” said Kim Tolson, the Head of Children’s Programs at Medfield Library. “We bought the projector equipment a few years ago and it’s proven to be a good way to get kids outside and interested in the library.”
Summer’s premier film was “Homeward Bound,” a tale of three household pets and a misunderstanding with their owner. Believing they’ve been abandoned (in reality, they have simply been placed in the care of a friend), two dogs and a cat set off on a comic adventure to relocate their owner.
Though “Wall-E” and “Homeward Bound” were created over a decade apart, they share common themes of teamwork, facing challenges head-on, and being able to see the humor in difficult situations. Overall, both films represented two excellent selections for Medfield Library’s summer movie series - and ones that should instill the desire in students to use more library resources and read books along similar inspiring themes.
