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Bridge Culture Club watches documentary ‘Pelkie’ in June

Bridge Club June
  • On June 12, Bridge Michigan hosts our latest Culture Club event, discussing the documentary film ‘Pelkie: 100 Years of Finnishness in Michigan’s North Woods’
  • Filmmaker Michael Loukinen will join us for the event
  • Participation in the event is free but requires registration

Bridge Culture Club resumes on June 12 to discuss “Pelkie: 100 Years of Finnishness in Michigan’s North Woods,” a documentary created by Michael Loukinen, a retired sociologist at Northern Michigan University and creator of the nonprofit documentary film production company Up North Films.

Sponsor

In “Pelkie,” three generations of current and former residents weave attachments to people, places, and events into a portrait that blends community and ethnic identity in a small town of Michigan's Upper Peninsula called Pelkie. Much has changed in the idyllic dairy farming community, and although traces of Finnish ancestry remain, Pelkie is now a more ethnically diverse community.

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Please bring your lunch and join Bridge Culture Club to discuss the film on Zoom from noon to 1 p.m. 

You’ll have an opportunity to submit questions for Loukinen during the event, which will be moderated by Bridge Michigan membership and engagement director Amber DeLind.

To receive an invitation and Zoom link to this discussion, please complete this event registration form

Here’s our schedule

  • Film announced: May 6
  • First discussion questions on the film posted on Bridge Culture Club closed Facebook group: May 24
  • Second discussion questions on the film posted on Bridge Culture Club closed Facebook group: May 31
  • Third discussion questions on the film posted on Bridge Culture Club closed Facebook group: June 7
  • Live Zoom discussion: Noon to 1 p.m. June 12

How to get the film

For Bridge Club members: We will provide an e-version of the selected film as a membership benefit when you complete the request form that we emailed to you on May 1. If you’re not already a member: Join today for as little as $1 and support our nonprofit newsroom

If you are not a Bridge Club member but would like to rent or buy the film you can order “Pelkie” from Up North Films and buy or rent on several other streaming platforms.

Sponsor

How to take part in the online discussion

Please join our closed Facebook group by clicking here to participate in weekly discussions of the film in the lead-up to our Zoom event. Bridge Michigan staff will approve your membership in this closed group. 

Over the next several weeks, we will post discussion questions about the film, and group members will be invited to interact with our team and with one another. See the box above for a schedule.

Participation in these weekly discussions is not required to participate in the Zoom discussion.

We look forward to discussing the film with you on June 12.

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