John Brown Lives! is thrilled to partner with Adirondack Film to host the screening of A Binding Truth at the 2024 Lake Placid Film Festival this Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. The filmmaker, Louise Woehrle, will be present at the screening, and there will be a discussion afterward.
We are grateful to The Adirondack Daiily Enterprise for publishing an article about the movie today. Read it here.
This award-winning documentary tells the story of an unexpected friendship between Jimmie Lee Kirkpatrick, a Black athlete, and Hugh “De” Kirkpatrick, a white psychologist, who reconnected decades after attending high school together in the 1960s South. What began as two men revisiting the past grew into a powerful exploration of shared history, resilience, and healing.
Watch the trailer:
Set against the backdrop of racial tensions in Charlotte, North Carolina, the film highlights Jimmie’s remarkable journey. He was a star high school football player, but racial discrimination barred him from a spot on the all-star team. Represented by civil rights lawyer Julius Chambers, Jimmie’s case became a landmark for racial justice in sports, though it sparked intense backlash in their community. Despite the hardships he faced, Jimmie eventually found fulfillment as an educator and high school administrator.
Decades later, while researching his ancestry, Jimmie discovered that De’s ancestors had enslaved his own. This discovery sparked an emotional reconnection between the two, as they navigated the weight of history together, choosing to build a friendship based on understanding rather than resentment.
Woehrle’s approach to A Binding Truth fosters open conversations on race, justice, and trauma in a way that feels safe and approachable. Her vision for the film was to inspire change through empathy and reflection, and audiences have responded with a willingness to share their own experiences.
Scheduled for a national PBS broadcast in 2025, A Binding Truth is already making waves at film festivals. Come out on Saturday to see it in Lake Placid!