February 25, 2004

MASS MoCA to Show Documentary About Life of Harlem Minister and Activist Robert Castle

(North Adams, Mass.) An Academy-Award-winning director from Hollywood and a white Episcopal minister in Harlem –two men who have taken distinctly different paths in life – are the subject of the poignant documentary, Cousin Bobby. With films like Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Philadelphia (1993) to his credit, director Jonathan Demme steps away from the blockbuster to focus on this more intimate project: the stirring account of his childhood hero and cousin, Reverend Robert Castle. An uplifting portrayal of the relative Demme has not seen in almost thirty years, Cousin Bobby seamlessly merges issues of crime, poverty, and race against a backdrop of social activism and spirituality. As part of its Thursday night Cinema Lounge series, MASS MoCA will screen Cousin Bobby on Thursday, March 25th at 8 P.M.

The New York Times calls Cousin Bobby a film of “unwavering intensity and strong sense of purpose…both [Castle and Demme] are fueled by an idealism that elevates Cousin Bobby well beyond the home-movie realm.” Shortly after receiving his first appointment in Jersey City in 1960, Robert Castle was asked to leave for suspected ties with the Black Panthers, a militant radical group who sought to defend minority communities from economic exploitation and government oppression. The documentary describes Castle’s inevitable return to the church after losing his first post, chronicling his efforts to both improve and include himself in the lives of his Harlem congregation. Shot on 16mm film in the manner of a home video, the story of Robert Castle’s life is explored from the hills of Vermont to the inner-city streets of Harlem through interviews with his family, members of his parish, and live footage of his rousing public sermons.

Cousin Bobby recounts the selfless devotion of a man to his society and the reunion of two cousins who have not seen each other in almost thirty years. Whether speaking during fundraisers and political rallies or dancing at barbecues, Reverend Robert Castle’s involvement and devotion to his community speaks of a perseverance of the spirit that transcends race, religion, or ethnic origin and embraces something universally human.

Tickets to Cousin Bobby are $5.50 (members save 10%) and are available through MASS MoCA Box Office located off Marshall Street in North Adams from 11 A.M. until 5 P.M. Wednesday through Monday (closed Tuesdays). Reservations can also be made over the phone by calling 413.662.2111 during Box Office hours or made online at www.massmoca.org. Doors open at 7 for food and drink from Lickety Split.

MASS MoCA, the largest center for contemporary visual and performing arts in the United States, is located off Marshall St. in North Adams on a 13-acre campus of renovated 19th-century factory buildings.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Katherine Myers
(413) 664-4481 x8113
katherine@massmoca.org