The Better Angels
The Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial and USI’s Historic Southern Indiana have partnered with film distributor Amplify to present a special advanced screening of “The Better Angels” at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 5 in Forum I in USI’s Wright Administration Building. Produced by Terrence Malick, “The Better Angels” focuses on Abraham Lincoln’s life and family while growing up in Spencer County, Indiana.
At an isolated log cabin in the harsh wilderness of Indiana circa 1817, the rhythms of love, tragedy and the daily hardships of life on the developing frontier shaped one of our nation’s greatest heroes: Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln is a thoughtful and quiet boy who spends his days at the side of his beloved mother (Brit Marling) while learning to work the land from his stern father (Jason Clarke). When illness takes his mother, Lincoln’s new guardian angel comes in the form of his new stepmother (Diane Kruger), who sees the potential in the boy and pushes for his further education.
Filmed in black and white cinematography, “The Better Angels” sheds new light on the little-explored formative years of the legendary president as well as the women who shaped him into one of most revered men in US history. Based on interviews with Lincoln’s family members, “The Better Angels” is a beautiful, insightful and brilliantly composed feature debut from Malick’s creative protégé, A.J. Edwards.
Free and open to the public, the screening comes to USI two days prior to the films release date in New York and Los Angeles.
