America seems more politically divided than ever. Republicans, Democrats, liberals, conservatives — we can’t seem to agree on much of anything these days.
That’s where the power of movies could help bridge that gap, says Annie Roney, founder of the nonprofit In Real Life (IRL) Movie Club. And the club’s next movie takes on that political divide head-on at more than 100 U.S. theaters next weekend, including Bonita Springs’ Prado Stadium 12.
“At the end of the day, we have to be able to live with each other and talk to each other,” Roney says. “And we have to be able to disagree.”
Movie ‘My Omaha’ follows filmmaker’s talks with Trump-loving dad
The 2025 documentary “My Omaha” follows liberal filmmaker Nick Beaulieu as he returns to his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, to document its growing racial-justice movement and try talking with his dying, deeply conservative father — a staunch Donald Trump supporter.
“It’s a deeply personal documentary made by a filmmaker who grew up in Omaha,” Roney says. “He dives into trying to have conversations with his father, who’s on the other side of the political fence as he is. And so it’s a film that allows us to watch how it can be done in a loving and respectful way — where you might not get to a place of complete understanding, but it’s in the trying.”
A publicity photo for the 2025 documentary “My Omaha”
Our national divide has been particularly intense since the Sep. 10 assassination of right-wing activist and celebrity Charlie Kirk, Roney says. But “My Omaha” shows how we can maybe find some middle ground.
“It’s a kind of a lesson on how we can attempt to understand people who have very different experiences than us,” she says.
In Real Life Movie Club: Connecting over film, despite political differences
The movie is part of the fledgling In Real Life Movie Club, a national club that showed its first film in September 2024 at about 27 U.S. theaters, Roney says. Now more than 100 movie theaters are taking part in the Sunday, Oct. 12 screening of “My Omaha.” That includes, for the first time, Bonita’s Prado Stadium 12.
Each $5 screening includes an introduction from the director and suggestions for an after-movie discussion with fellow movie-goers — either right there in their theater seats, or afterward over dinner or coffee.
“We build in about 10 minutes at the end of each film before the credits roll for people just to turn around and say ‘hi’ to their seatmates,” Roney says. “They’ll probably talk about the film, but all we care about is people — strangers — make connections and have conversations.”
There’s just something special about seeing a movie at an actual theater and then getting to interact with other audience members afterward, Roney says.
“We don’t have Q&A’s after where people are talking at you,” she says. “It really is a club for members of the community who are craving these kind of in-real-life experiences. … I think most people agree that being together and having real-world experiences is always so much more fulfilling and satisfying.”
Roney doesn’t expect anything to get solved at these club screenings. But it’s at least a start on a journey to better understand each other.
“It’s meant to be very casual,” she says. “It’s meant to make a connection and not, you know, solve any particular problem.”
Tickets to see In Real Life Movie Club’s ‘My Omaha’ in SW Florida
Prado Stadium 12 is at 25251 Chamber of Commerce Drive, Bonita Springs.
Tickets are $5 (plus taxes and fees) for both screenings of “My Omaha” at 1:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12.
To sign up for the club, buy tickets or get future movie announcements, visit irlmovieclub.org. You can also buy tickets in person at Prado Stadium 12 or online at pradostadium12.com.
A publicity photo for the 2025 documentary “My Omaha”
Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 or email [email protected]. Follow or message him on social media: Facebook(@charles.runnells.7), Instagram (@crunnells1) and X (@CharlesRunnells)
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Movie club seeks common ground in Trump and Charlie Kirk era
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