“A Stunning Story, Compelling, Entertaining” - Chicago Tribune

Winner 7 Best Feature Awards at Festivals in California, Chicago, New York, Warsaw and India.

Join the Northern Michigan premiere of award-winning feature Old Heart in Traverse City, Michigan at the Milliken Auditorium, Dennos Museum Museum Center North Central Michigan College. The film screens April 16 (Thursday) at 5 p.m. followed by a 6:30 p.m. audience conversation with codirector Kirk Wahamaki, producer/screenwriter Roger Rapoport and stars from the film. This event is sponsored by Rondi Fry.

Adapted from Peter Ferry’s award winning novel, Old Heart tells the story of black soldier Tom Johnson fighting the world's greatest racist as part of the segregated American Army. He works with a Jewish translator, Sarah van Praag, to smuggle food and supplies from liberated southern Netherlands to starving residents of northern cities trapped behind Nazi lines. They also fall in love.

Sixty years later, in the summer of 2005, Tom foils his family’s plan to move him to assisted living by secretly flying to Amsterdam. With his children in hot pursuit, Tom is determined to find Sarah, the love of his life.

Old Heart's focus on how people cross cultural boundaries to find common ground makes the film especially timely. A tribute to elder independence, Old Heart also explores the hidden history of the black soldiers in World War 2's only integrated American Army unit, the Red Ball Express. After the war General Patton said his forces would not have made it to Berlin without this critical 6,000 truck supply team dominated by courageous black soldiers.

Old Heart has won dozens of festival awards for acting, editing, cinematography, screenwriting and costuming. A lesson plan available with the film is being used in schools in America and Europe.

"A Stunning Story, Compelling, Entertaining" - Chicago Tribune

“Fabulous. The cinematography led by David Darling is excellent. The editing by Gene Gamache is first class. Powerful performances from Jamelle Sargent as the young Tom and Eva Doueiri as the young Sarah.” - Tony Moore, Indy Film Library

There is more information here. Contact rogerdrapoport@me.com with questions or call (231) 720-0930 (voice only).