Powerful Documentary to Screen Monday nights at 7:00 PM
February 2, 9, 16 & 23
at The Picture House Bronxville
The Picture House Regional Film Center is proud to present a special Black History Month screening series of Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round, an award-winning documentary that uncovers a powerful and largely forgotten chapter of the early Civil Rights Movement. The feature will screen on Monday nights in February at 7:00 PM in Bronxville, on February 2, 9, 16, and 23.
Directed by Emmy Award–winning filmmaker Ilana Trachtman, the film tells the story of five Howard University students whose peaceful protest on a segregated carousel at Glen Echo Amusement Park in 1960 sparked one of the first organized interracial civil rights demonstrations in U.S. history. When white suburban allies joined Black students on the picket line, a groundbreaking partnership was born – one that drew national attention, provoked extremists, inspired lawmakers, and helped incubate future civil rights leaders, including Freedom Riders.
“This film is a remarkable reminder that meaningful change often begins with young people who are willing to act – and with communities that choose to stand together,” said Clayton Bushong, Executive Director of The Picture House. “Presenting Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round during Black History Month aligns deeply with our mission to create shared community experiences through film while shining a light on stories that continue to resonate today.”
Featuring never-before-seen archival footage and immersive storytelling, the documentary includes voiceover performances by Jeffrey Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Bob Balaban, Peter Gallagher, Dominique Thorne, Alysia Reiner, Tracie Thoms, Lee Grant, and others. Four surviving protesters reflect on the risks they took, the alliances they forged, and the enduring power of collective action.
The film’s title is inspired by Langston Hughes’ poem “Merry-Go-Round,” a poignant meditation on segregation and childhood innocence that echoes throughout the documentary.
FILM DETAILS
2024 | U.S. | English | 89 minutes
AWARDS & HONORS INCLUDE:
- DC Black Film Festival – Best Documentary Feature
- Boston Jewish Film Festival – Audience Award
- St. Louis International Film Festival – Women in Film Award
- Atlanta Jewish Film Festival – Building Bridges Award
- Richmond International Film Festival – Outstanding Merit for Community & Civic Action
- San Antonio Black Film Festival – Best Documentary Feature
Tickets and additional details are available at thepicturehouse.org
