Free monthly film and discussion on the second Saturday
A community film series curated with the Longview Public Library
Screening Location: Longview Public Library, 1600 Louisiana Street
Doors open at 1:00pm and Film begins shortly after
Spirited Away (2001)
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Spirited Away tells the story of a young girl named Chihiro who gets trapped in a magical world after her parents are turned into pigs. To save them, she must work in a bathhouse for spirits and learn courage, kindness, and perseverance along the way.
It’s a visually stunning movie filled with imagination, heart, and wonder. Beneath its fantasy, it’s about growing up, finding strength in yourself, and learning to care for others even when the world feels strange and new.
Movies have always been my teachers. As a child, I learned about the world not just from people around me but from the stories on the screen. I grew up watching films that showed me what courage, perseverance, and hope look like when tested.
I’ve always believed that film is more than entertainment. It’s a visual language that reflects who we are, what we fear, and what we dream about. Every story, whether set in the past, present, or future, carries quiet lessons about what it means to be human. Most of the time, we don’t even realize how these stories shape the way we see the world and each other. That’s the quiet power of cinema. It reaches us in ways words can’t.
Second Saturday Cinemas began with that belief in mind: to give our community a place to come together, watch meaningful films, and talk about the ideas and emotions that stay with us long after the credits roll.
See you at the movies--Garett
Let’s Talk About the Movie!
Choose a question and share your thoughts. There are no right or wrong answers—just ideas!
What did this film show or teach you about life in another culture or part of the world?
Were there emotions or situations that felt universal, even across language or culture?
What stood out about how the story was told — the visuals, pacing, or music — compared to American films?
If you could ask the director one question about the culture or characters, what would it be?
BEYOND THE CREDITS:
Books to explore
Kids (10 and under)
By Eiko Kadano
A cheerful young witch named Kiki leaves home to start her own flying delivery business in a seaside town. Through challenges and small acts of kindness, she learns independence, confidence, and how to believe in herself.
by Kathryn Tanquary
When Saki accidentally angers a family spirit during Japan’s Obon Festival, she’s swept into a magical world of ghosts and gods. To save her family, she must journey through the spirit realm before time runs out.
Tweens (10-13)
by Catherynne M. Valente
September, a brave young girl from Omaha, is whisked away to Fairyland where she must face whimsical creatures, odd rules, and moral choices that test her heart. It’s a lyrical adventure about imagination, courage, and growing up.
by Sosuke Natsukawa
When his grandfather dies, shy bookshop owner Rintaro meets a talking cat who takes him on a journey through magical worlds to rescue neglected books. Together they discover how stories — and readers — keep the world alive.
Young Adults
by John Connolly
After his mother’s death, young David escapes into a mysterious world of dark fairy tales where twisted versions of classic stories come to life. His journey through grief and imagination blurs the line between fantasy and reality.
by Naomi Novik
A quiet village sacrifices a girl every ten years to serve a powerful, reclusive wizard known as the Dragon. When clumsy, strong-willed Agnieszka is chosen, she discovers her own magic and an ancient darkness threatening their world
Adults
by Haruki Murakami
Set in 1960s Tokyo, a young man reflects on love, loss, and the search for meaning as he navigates the fragile lives of two very different women. Poetic and haunting, it captures the quiet melancholy and emotional depth of Ghibli’s world.
by Katherine Addison
An exiled half-goblin unexpectedly becomes emperor after his royal family dies in an airship crash. Thrust into a court full of intrigue and politics, he must learn empathy, diplomacy, and integrity to rule with compassion.