Connectivity: Storming Caesars Palace

The Carsey-Wolf Center’s 2025-26 feature series, Connectivity, explores the evolving meaning of connection in contemporary society, reimagining the term as both a technical feature of media and a humanistic value crucial to social life. The series showcases diverse documentaries and films that engage with pressing historical and social justice issues, highlighting stories that shed light on marginalized experiences and urgent global challenges. Notable films include *Storming Caesars Palace*, directed by Hazel Gurland-Pooler, which details Ruby Duncan’s fight for welfare rights in Las Vegas, weaving personal narratives with feminist civil rights themes, followed by discussions on its relevance today. *The Burning: The Untold Story of Africa’s Refugee Crisis* by Isabella Alexander-Nathani uncovers the human cost of EU migration policies, illustrating the perilous journeys undertaken by African refugees. *Star Wars: A New Hope*, a cultural touchstone since its 1977 release, is celebrated in a special screening, reflecting on its impact on global cinema and audiences. Lastly, *Riceboy Sleeps*, directed by Anthony Shim, offers a poignant exploration of diasporic identity through the relationship of a Korean mother and her son navigating life in Canada. Each event includes post-screening discussions, enriching the audience’s understanding of the films’ contexts and significance. Together, these works initiate critical dialogues on connectivity, culture, and the human experience in a rapidly changing world.