This one-off screening of Through the Night at the iconic The Ritzy was a really special one, which made for a wonderful return to the cinema for Together Films.
The screening was followed by a Q&A with three inspirational women, chaired by Nina Malone who runs Dope Black Mums. She spoke to entrepreneur Tokunbo Koiki and lawyer Coleen Mensa about how their own experiences of motherhood and caring services in the UK related to the US experience portrayed in the Through the Night.
“Child-carers are grossly undervalued. Nunu was nurturing the children and their parents. She was a caregiver to everyone… except herself. This is a story that is everywhere. What can we do to support this woman, and these mothers who can’t afford It?”
“The responsibility of bringing up the planet falls on women”
Audience member
Highlights from the special Q&A
This one-off screening of Through the Night at The Ritzy was a special one. Throughout the film the audience were laughing, crying and talking amongst themselves as they collectively went through the motions. During the Q&A, the panel led a discussion on how their own experiences of motherhood and caring services in the UK related to the US experience portrayed in the film. The conversation was heartfelt and animated with much involvement from the audience who shared their experiences of being parents, care workers and youth workers – and the limitations that come with that when trying to “do it all.”
The main takeaway of the discussion was to give mothers love and support; allow them to relinquish the guilt of not being able to do it all; give them the confidence to ask for help; give them space and time to think about and care for themselves. Generational change is coming if we do it together. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child.
Watch snippets from the Q&A at The Ritzy…
Host your own screening
The main takeaway from the event at The Ritzy was to give mothers love and support; allow them to relinquish the guilt of not being able to do it all; give them the confidence to ask for help; give them space and time to think about and care for themselves. Generational change is coming if we do it together. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child.
You can spark conversation in your community too. As a community organisation or government agency, you can screen the Through The Night and guide meaningful discussions.
