A school board election in a small Pennsylvania town becomes a frontline battle: the radical conservative side, citing Christian values, seeks to remove sexually explicit books from school libraries. Auberi Edler’s documentary vividly illustrates how a small community’s internal conflict reflects the broader fault lines of an entire nation.
For this film, Auberi Edler won the Best Directing Award at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) in 2024.
🌙 PROGRAM
18:00 – American picnic by Mátyás Huszár
19:00 – Ripoff Raskolnikov Duo concert
20:30 – An American Pastoral (2024) – documentary
22:30 – Discussion with invited experts
✨ What is Pont Csopak?
Pont Csopak is a unique screening series held in the fairytale-like garden of the Plul Mill, where you can watch brand-new festival hits from the international circuit. But it’s more than just an open-air cinema – the events include conversations, concerts, and talks inspired by the themes of the films, creating a truly distinctive cultural experience.
✨ Film Screening: An American Pastoral (2024)
Elizabethtown is a small town in the heart of Pennsylvania where churches preach peace, but tensions within the community are rising. In the fall of 2023, the local school board election isn't just about the curriculum – it’s about what values will shape the future of education. The influence of radical religious groups, debates around book censorship, and the future of public schooling bring the fragility of democracy to the surface.
Director Auberi Edler followed the life of the community for a year, offering an intimate view into the daily realities of political and ideological struggle. The film doesn’t offer simple answers, but rather encourages us to reflect: how can a community maintain unity in an age of division?
☄️ Ticket Prices:
Available online or on-site (cash and card accepted)
General admission: 3000 HUF
Discounted (students, seniors, residents of Csopak): 2500 HUF
🌓 Date: May 31, 2025
🌓 Venue: 8229 Csopak, Kisfaludy u. 16. (Plul Malom)
🌓 Parking: Csonkatorony
🌓 Please do not bring food or drinks into the event area.
🌓 Dog-friendly event!
🌓 Supported by: National Film Institute, National Cultural Fund of Hungary, Municipality of Csopak