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12 page daily nebraskan monday,eprll2, J 979

Sally Field shows,depth in realiSticMoirma lie9

! By Peg Sheidrick gent commercials. Like nearly everyone else in townshe works at the textile mill, In a year when the emphasis seems to be but unlike everyone else, she occasionally on epic thrills and topical chills, Norma speaks out against the inhumanity of the down-to-eart- Rae is the kind of h, authen- management. Outside, work, her only tic character study that can get lost in the escapes are TV, drinking and sex, and all shuffle. Hill reruns. of them are too of M 4 But Norma Rae's life when The movie is set in an impoverished changes a New York raised labor southern mill town in the sweltering heat Reuben, organizer, of last summer and focuses on the effort comes onto the scene. Through Reuben to unionize the local textile workers. The and the union, Norma Rae finds the way to and and ultimate- film setting could hardly be more mun- channel her anger energy t could dane compared to other recent releases. ly accomplishes what Reuben never have. She becomes a cross between Moses and with cour- Joan of Arc, fighting her battles ' i .. .. ' L . .7. age and resourcefulness which is seldom al- lowed a screen heroine. plays the role with ferocious credibility. First rate performance The role seems a natural for someone But Norma Rae is far from dull, thanks like Jane Fonda, but is hardly what one to a good director, an intelligent script and would expect from a former flying nun. an absorbing performance by Sally Field in : Pieldt however, gives a first rate perfor- the title role. mance as the hero- m unschooled, toughened ine whose quick wits and uncompromising , who directed - last year's . will are her only hope for triumph over the underrated Casey's Shadow, makes, ex- stifling, numbing grind of factory life. ' cellent use of a strong' cast and authentic Field proves she's capable of much more ft locations to create Norma Rae's a than cute and hugging Burt world, looking X V' v sleepy village whose awakening to a sense Reynolds. self-wort- h of parallels Norma Rae's own Ron Leibman plays Reuben with skill, X development. although his character is so overwhelming- and noble borders on a ft . ly sincere he para- 4 f Realistic ' r . . f 0 setting gon. is good as Norma's hus- ambiance tex- f Ritt captures the of the band who loves her enough to accept her v Ifiti tile factory in all its noisy, dehumanizing activities, eventually without feeling threat-- Ritt chose to film on loca- ,jfx- oppressiveness. , ened. The supporting cast is very tion in Opelika, Ala. The resulHs a por- behevable trait more convincing than any studio The film's only problem is that it's could manufacture, a gritty, steamy world about fifteen minutes too long. It builds to-on- e C of peeling paint and unkempt beauty. peak quite well, but fails when trying for another. Even so, Norma Rae is a fine, is laced with natural humor The script full study of a fascinating woman. and believable characters. Harriet Frank, Norma Rae is claying at the Douglas Photo courtesy 20th Cantury Fox Jr. and based their screen Three. Sally Field as labor organizer Norma Rae play on the story of a real southern 4' woman, and the story rings true through- out. Norma Rae is the best developed char- acter, but even among the lesser roles there are very few stereotypes. Festival ofArts to be celebrated indoors I Opting for more than sudsy sentimen- Local artists will have tality or easy cliches, Ravetch and Frank a chance to "The Festival of Arts is part of a cele- pleased with this she their arrangement, said, tell their tale with integrity and authenti- display works during the Festival of bration of the Week of Art," Hall said. "It because they didn't have to tear down their Arts at 7 -- city as they create Norma Rae, one of the Pershing Auditorium, April and 8. is to encourage artists in the area." booths at night and they didn't have female characters -- most interesting in quite . worry about the rain ruining their crafts; awhile. Jackie Hall, executive director of Lin- The type of crafts displayed will a" Unique character coln Community Arts Council, said that Last year the festival was held on 15th vary great deal. According to Hall, one of the Norma Rae Webster is a feisty, inde- the festival this year will include 172 and N streets two but extending blocks, most unusual this year is a taxidermist, pendent young widow, the kind of "work- booths with artists from the local area and due to bad weather it was moved Per- into There will be 15 informative booths on the ing mother" youTl never see on the deter-- nine other states. shing, Hall said. Many of the artists were different arts, such as the dance companies m Lincoln. ,

Entertainment from a variety of bands Rush's ehea dedicated will be part of the celebration. The Ger- vymetm'oredtess man Americans from Russia will have an ethnic food stand outside the auditorium By Casey McCabe Some of the band's original material though on such songs as "Closer to The selling runzas, coffee and homemade rye bread. - showed promise, but as things began to bog Heart he noticeably shyed away from the The sounds produced by Rush and down, they fell back on a lOninute drum high end of his range. . ' ht with, clowns, the Theatre Kickin in their Thursday night perfor- solo mat finally-caug- the: audience's At some points in the show, the Along Arts group's -- For Youth will mance at Pershing Auditorium were un- energy. The novelty soon wore off, but a sound became almost a drone, and a few provide a booth for young children to at and listen stories mistakably loud and heavy metal. ,v blitzing finale of guitar mania was almost bored fans began to leave early ; But for the stay to J 1 Hall said this will be a sort enough to earn the group an encore . . . al- dedicated fans, Rush lengthy set gave them of babysitting: While that sort of fare has always been service ror parenu wno wisn to wander '5 most. all came for. they . with local concert the imin? . i v i popular goers, Area concert goers wi3 have a bonanza among tne booms. and nature the : spired repetitive f night Headlining the evening' was; Rush, a the next few months: music dimmed the initial enthusiasm the of three-piec-e Canadian outfit. Tfcopch the - Lincoln "Many of the local artists are wefl in attendance. lv " 4,500 veterans of toms htss k Jcthro TuH, AfirJ 21, Bob Deaney Sports known to the public is wefl as those from being ffem&pheres)t Ru&Y sbc5 tdxtiosr. Complex. the surrounding ttita,n JhtTvUd; Everyi saw little rariaace, and ths bsni inesibcrs Oasha thing Is original and handmade, nothing is themselves cemed - leg; thaa csthpyd. Ifcrbie Hancock, April 3, liusic Box. imported. And-som- e of the artists will be -- : ' rj Selections induicd To . Aerosmith, Civic Auditorium. selliag their crafts -i ; OOQQDSDS-C'CUb- Tzsszgs Bsscok April 3, v Tarewell to. Kba??CkaefTo Jht Atlanta Rthyfcm Section, April 14, Gvic ... Heart" and mztsrvlfram their best known Auditorisnt. la addition, there wffl be an art rafile as 1 work 2112 well uHantphetet ?.7 Roxy Uudx,ApriI 15, Uvdc Box. fponsored by the Lincoln Community Arts ' George Carlin, April 20, Mode Hall. CoundL Hckeu wi3 be one dollar and Opening act for Rush was the Omaha Lif-so- n, Some cnpresiTe leads from Akx Yes, April 24, Gvic Auditorium. eight Items done local artists wffl based Kickin'; The by be band, group seemed to a dry ke fog, and an occasional fire Doobie Brothers, April 26, Civic Auditor- - rallied off. flail said thai the items be themselves more than the range enjoying bomb on stzs returned (he band to their, ;..funi.:. .. from oil paintings to ascratchboardr. audience was, as they performed their rightful setting and got some fists in the air Diana Ross, May 2, Civic Auditorium. while 5 material going throui the . from ?' 1 motions; the audkflce.Titidi smed ruicta ilcGim'OarkIIillman, .May II. Music Admission Is free to the festival on Le.hurl-- y April expected of a heavy metal outfit, J "for of from ths -i-- ; , . ;, jome bto glory bLThs IM. J fc7, 10 am. to 8 pm. and April 8, 10 am. to Civic i Moody Bluesrilay 12, Aumtorium. 5 Drawings for the raffle will be ; ftiiLm to their knees, rubbisz emtar strina toarin? vnealt of Gej!iv Th?v rmvf.l. 4 Rod Stewert: pin. April i Is Jcne 12. Chic Auditorium. 8 at 4:30 and winners do cot need to waH to ; pin. 2jdnt the prodvux.fttdbitkj, etc : td ih most e!:ctiidty;pf.tVe erzzlr.l Eric Clapton, June.JS, Chic Auditorium; ... ''..