March 1 Simone Weil film event

[Sherilee Diebold-Cooze]

An Encounter with Simone Weil
Screening and Dialogue with Director

How do we pay attention to the pain and suffering of others?

This is the starting point of Julia Haslett's amazing documentary on Simone Weil, an extraordinary French philosopher, activist, and mystic. Born into an agnostic Jewish family in France, Simone Weil became involved in deeper philosophical and social issues at a young age. She also had three deep spiritual experiences which awakened in her a profound religious imagination.

Although she had found safety in New York in the early years of the war, she returned to England to join the French resistance. She developed a life-threatening illness, but refused appropriate medical attention and adequate food in solidarity with those who suffered under the Nazi regime in France. She died in 1943.

This award-winning, Canadian documentary by Julia Haslett discusses the life and commitments of Simone Weil. Haslett focuses on Weil's observation that "Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity" and asks how did she pay attention to the suffering all around her. She then explores what Weil has to teach us in light of the suffering of others in the 21st century.

You may watch the trailer for the film at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOCE_d2R5lw

Please post this flyer where appropriate (bulletin boards, course web sites, etc). Please forward this information to those you think would benefit from it (students, colleagues, friends, family, organizations, religious communities, etc.).

Sponsored by: University of Waterloo Women's Studies, History Department, Department of Religious Studies and the Sexuality Marriage and Family Department and Religious Studies Department of St. Jerome's University


An Encounter with Simone Weil tells the story of French philosopher, activist, and mystic, Simone Weil (1909-1943)--a woman Albert Camus described as "the only great spirit of our time." Weil spent most of her too-short life advocating for the rights of the socially and politically disadvantaged. Come to a screening of this award-winning documentary followed by a discussion with its director, Julia Haslett.

Thursday, March 1, 2012, 7 p.m. Parking $4 coin entry only.
Siegfried Hall, St. Jerome's University at the University of Waterloo

This event is free and open to the public.

David Seljak

Chair, Department of Religious Studies
University of Waterloo

200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, ON  N2L 3G1

Cell (preferred): 226-747-5812
Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 31004


See printable poster here:  http://arts.uwaterloo.ca/sites/ca.arts/files/eventposters/Weil%20Screening%20poster%202012.pdf



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