I'm glad to see this: Cinema Sundays at the Charles continues its 43rd series this Sunday with I.O.U.S.A. , the excellent documentary about the national debt produced by Agora Financial of Baltimore, the research firm and publisher of investment newsletters. This doc has been called the Inconvenient Truth on our national debt. During a Midday interview with Addison Wiggin, the Agora partner who has been promoting the film, I asked whether he had approached The Charles about showing his film, and I don't think he had at that point. It seemed like the perfect venue. Now, Baltimoreans have a chance to see it on a big screen. The press release from The Charles calls I.O.U.S.A. "perhapss the scariest film ever presented at Cinema Sundays."

Here's the official synopsis of the film:

I.O.U.S.A. boldly examines the rapidly growing national debt and its consequences for the United States and its citizens. As the Baby Boomer generation prepares to retire, will there even be any Social Security benefits left to collect? Burdened with an ever-expanding government and military, increased international competition, overextended entitlement programs, and debts to foreign countries that are becoming impossible to honor, America must mend its spendthrift ways or face an economic disaster of epic proportions. Throughout history, the American government has found it nearly impossible to spend only what has been raised through taxes. Wielding candid interviews with both average American taxpayers and government officials, Sundance veteran Patrick Creadon (Wordplay) helps demystify the nation’s financial practices and policies. The film follows U.S. Comptroller General David Walker as he crisscrosses the country explaining America’s unsustainable fiscal policies to its citizens. With surgical precision, Creadon interweaves archival footage and economic data to paint a vivid and alarming profile of America’s current economic situation. The ultimate power of I.O.U.S.A. is that the film moves beyond doomsday rhetoric to proffer potential financial scenarios and propose solutions about how we can recreate a fiscally sound nation for future generations. Pointedly topical and consummately nonpartisan, I.O.U.S.A. drives home the message that the only time for America’s financ ial future is now.


Here's the official synposis for Cinema Sundays:

Precisely at 9:45 on a given Sunday morning, while birds chirp in the most musical manner, the doors at the Charles Theatre swing open to reveal a lobby replete with tasty bagels, hot coffee and friendly volunteers ready to serve them to you. All of our volunteers have been pre-tested for a complete lack of morning grouchiness and provide the nicest serv ice.

Guarded carefully by the enormous lobby penguin (which desperately needs a name) bagels, coffee and scintillating yet improvised conversation continues until 10:30. At precisely 10:30:07 some brief opening remarks by yours truly will be followed by a few remarks from our guest speaker who will never do either of two things. First he or she will never ever give away the plot of the film and second the speaker will not go on too long…especially if the film is one of those 2.5 hour Soviet era documentaries on the Romance of the Seven Tractor Drivers.

Following a brief admonition not to talk during the film and a recommendation to sublet your cell phone to a starving student from the third world the screening will take place. Upon completion of the screening a robust question and answer session featuring our guest speaker will include your fascinating observations upon the recently screened movie.

This flowery description barely describes the sublime joy and excitement which is Cinema Sundays. If there is a better way to spend Sunday mornings it simply hasn’t occurred to me….yet!

Jonathan Palevsky
Host of Cinema Sundays and completely reachable at JPalevsky@aol.com

Please feel free to visit us at… Http://www.cinemasundays.com


Tickets: $15 at the door.
Or buy a mini-membership.
1711 N. Charles St.
410-727-3464
info: Karen@cinemasundays.com