The Human Experience Comes to SEMO

What does it mean to be human? What is suffering? What is joy? Why hope? Why love? Grassroots Films brought these fundamental questions to light in their most current production, a documentary called The Human Experience. Southeast Missouri State had the privilege of hosting a prescreening of this film on Wednesday, April 28th and Thursday, April, 29th which was attended by over 600 students, faculty, and community members.

The Human Experience is the story of two brothers from Brooklyn, New York who set out on an adventure into the human heart that consisted of three life changing experiences: living homeless in New York City, visiting the lost children of Peru, and traveling to a remote leper colony in West Africa. While this film brought the face of suffering to the forefront, the real message was one of hope and unconditional love.

Amidst all their pain and hardship, the people they encountered on their journey believed in a greater purpose for their lives. They desired to be treated with dignity and to have communion with others. “As human beings, God created all of us with a desire for quality relationships and to be loved. When we learn how to love, we learn more about the Heavenly Father who is Love,” said Jennifer Dinan, a graduate student, after viewing the documentary.

After each screening two young men from Grassroots Films answered questions from the audience for about half an hour. Jeffrey Azize, the lead character in the film answered questions about his experiences in New York, Peru and Africa. Jeffrey Ptaszynksi, Grassroots Films Art Director, answered questions about the film’s production.

It is the hope of Grassroots Films that The Human Experience inspires change on an individual level as well as in our families, our communities, our nation, and ultimately the whole world. This film is appealing to people of all religions, races, and cultures. It has been shown to audiences internationally and all across the United States. Grassroots Films hopes to have The Human Experience available to the public for purchase within the year.

After the great success of Fishers of Men, a Grassroots Films production on the vocation of the priesthood in conjunction with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the company wanted to expand into doing feature length projects. The Human Experience is the fruit of that endeavor. Grassroots Films hopes to distribute The Human Experience to as many people as possible. The film can currently be seen in theaters in the southwestern area of the country.

To learn more about Grassroots Films and how you can bring the film to your area visit http://www.grassrootsfilms.com/.

Ali Martin is a graduate student at Southeast Missouri State University and active member of Catholic Campus Ministry.

View the trailer here: