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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 2, 1979)
I page 12 daily nebraskan monday,eprll2, J 979 1 Sally Field shows, depth in r ea li Stic Moirma lie9 1 '5 i 1 i i By Peg Sheidrick ! In a year when the emphasis seems to be on epic thrills and topical chills, Norma Rae is the kind of down-to-earth, authen tic character study that can get lost in the shuffle. The movie is set in an impoverished southern mill town in the sweltering heat of last summer and focuses on the effort to unionize the local textile workers. The film setting could hardly be more mun dane compared to other recent releases. But Norma Rae is far from dull, thanks to a good director, an intelligent script and an absorbing performance by Sally Field in the title role. m Martin Ritt, who directed - last year's underrated Casey's Shadow, makes, ex cellent use of a strong' cast and authentic locations to create Norma Rae's world, a sleepy village whose awakening to a sense of self-worth parallels Norma Rae's own development. Realistic setting Ritt captures the ambiance of the tex tile factory in all its noisy, dehumanizing oppressiveness. Ritt chose to film -on loca tion in Opelika, Ala. The resulHs a por trait more convincing than any studio could manufacture, a gritty, steamy world of peeling paint and unkempt beauty. The script is laced with natural humor and believable characters. Harriet Frank, Jr. and Irving Ravetch based their screen play on the story of a real southern 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. Opting for more than sudsy sentimen tality or easy cliches, Ravetch and Frank tell their tale with integrity and authenti city as they create Norma Rae, one of the most interesting female characters in quite awhile. Unique character Norma Rae Webster is a feisty, inde pendent young widow, the kind of "work ing mother" youTl never see on the deter- Rush's ehea By Casey McCabe The sounds produced by Rush and Kickin in their Thursday night perfor mance at Pershing Auditorium were un mistakably loud and heavy metal. ,v While that sort of fare has always been popular with local concert goers, the imin? spired and repetitive nature f the night music dimmed the initial enthusiasm of the 4,500 in attendance. lv " OOQQDSDS-C'CUbrj gent commercials. Like nearly everyone else in townshe works at the textile mill, but unlike everyone else, she occasionally speaks out against the inhumanity of the management. Outside, work, her only escapes are TV, drinking and sex, and all of them are too Hill of reruns. But Norma Rae's life changes when Reuben, a New York raised labor organizer, comes onto the scene. Through Reuben and the union, Norma Rae finds the way to channel her anger and energy and ultimate ly accomplishes what Reuben never could have. She becomes a cross between Moses and Joan of Arc, fighting her battles with cour age and resourcefulness which is seldom al lowed a screen heroine. Sally Field plays the role with ferocious credibility. First rate performance The role seems a natural for someone like Jane Fonda, but is hardly what one would expect from a former flying nun. : Pieldt however, gives a first rate perfor mance as the unschooled, toughened hero ine whose quick wits and uncompromising . will are her only hope for triumph over the stifling, numbing grind of factory life. Field proves she's capable of much more than looking cute and hugging Burt Reynolds. Ron Leibman plays Reuben with skill, although his character is so overwhelming ly sincere and noble he borders on a para gon. Beau Bridges is good as Norma's hus band who loves her enough to accept her activities, eventually without feeling threat- , ened. The supporting cast is very ' behevable The film's only problem is that it's about fifteen minutes too long. It builds to one peak quite well, but fails when trying for another. Even so, Norma Rae is a fine, full study of a fascinating woman. Norma Rae is claying at the Douglas Three. M 4 t . ' . i .. .. ' L . . .7. X ft ' ,jfx- ..... fit I i V' v X f v ' r . . f ft . f 0 4 C Festival of Arts Photo courtesy 20th Cantury Fox Sally Field as labor organizer Norma Rae 4' to be celebrated indoors I Local artists will have a chance to display their works during the Festival of Arts at Pershing Auditorium, April 7 and 8. Jackie Hall, executive director of Lin coln Community Arts Council, said that the festival this year will include 172 booths with artists from the local area and nine other states. "The Festival of Arts is part of a cele bration of the Week of Art," Hall said. "It is to encourage artists in the area." Last year the festival was held on 15th and N streets extending two blocks, but due to bad weather it was moved into Per shing, Hall said. Many of the artists were vymetm'oredtess dedicated Some of the band's original material showed promise, but as things began to bog down, they fell back on a lOninute drum solo mat finally-caught the: audience's energy. The novelty soon wore off, but a blitzing finale of guitar mania was almost enough to earn the group an encore . . . al most. . . Headlining the : evening' was; Rush, a three-piece Canadian outfit. Tfcopch the veterans of toms htss k being ffem&pheres)t Ru&Y sbc5 tdxtiosr. saw little rariaace, and ths bsni inesibcrs themselves cemed - leg; thaa csthpyd. Selections induicd Tzsszgs To Bsscok . Tarewell to. Kba??CkaefTo Jht Heart" and mztsrvlfram their best known work 2112 as well uHantphetet 1 ? .7 ' Opening act for Rush was the Omaha based band, Kickin'; The group seemed to be enjoying themselves more than the audience was, as they performed their material while going throui the motions; expected of a heavy metal outfit, Le.hurl-J Some cnpresiTe leads from Akx Lif son, a dry ke fog, and an occasional fire bomb on stzs returned (he band to their, rightful setting and got some fists in the air . from the audkflce.Titidi smed ruicta ?' "for jome bto of glory from ths bLThs . ftiiLm to their knees, rubbisz emtar strina toarin? vnealt of Gej!iv Is Th?v rmvf.l. 4 2jdnt the waH to prodvux.fttdbitkj, etc : td ih most ; e!:ctiidty;pf.tVe erzzlr.l though on such songs as "Closer to The Heart he noticeably shyed away from the high end of his range. At some points in the show, the group's sound became almost a drone, and a few bored fans began to leave early ; But for the dedicated fans, Rush lengthy set gave them all they came for. Area concert goers wi3 have a bonanza the next few months: - Lincoln Jcthro TuH, AfirJ 21, Bob Deaney Sports Complex. Oasha Ifcrbie Hancock, April 3, liusic Box. Aerosmith, April 3, Civic Auditorium. Atlanta Rthyfcm Section, April 14, Gvic Auditorisnt. Roxy Uudx,ApriI 15, Uvdc Box. George Carlin, April 20, Mode Hall. Yes, April 24, Gvic Auditorium. Doobie Brothers, April 26, Civic Auditor- ;..funi.:. -.. Diana Ross, May 2, Civic Auditorium. ilcGim'OarkIIillman, .May II. Music IM. -i-y ; J , . ;, Moody Bluesrilay 12, Civic Aumtorium. Rod Stewert: Jcne 12. Chic Auditorium. Eric Clapton, June.JS, Chic Auditorium; pleased with this arrangement, she said, because they didn't have to tear down their booths -at night and they didn't have . worry -about the rain ruining their crafts; The type of crafts displayed will vary a" great deal. According to Hall, one of the most unusual this year is a taxidermist, There will be 15 informative booths on the different arts, such as the dance companies m Lincoln. , Entertainment from a variety of bands will be part of the celebration. The Ger man Americans from Russia will have an ethnic food stand outside the auditorium selling runzas, coffee and homemade rye bread. - . ' ' - Along with, clowns, the Theatre Arts -For Youth will provide a booth for young children to stay at and listen to stories J Hall said this will be a sort of babysitting: service ror parenu wno wisn to wander among tne booms. . i v . "Many of the local artists are wefl known to the public is wefl as those from the surrounding ttita,n -JhtTvUd; Everyi thing Is original and handmade, nothing is imported. And-some of the artists will be -selliag their crafts .-i : ' -; -v ... la addition, there wffl be an art rafile f ponsored by the Lincoln Community Arts CoundL Hckeu wi3 be one dollar and eight Items done by local artists wffl be rallied off. flail said thai the items range from oil paintings to ascratchboardr. Admission Is free to the festival on April 5 fc7, 10 am. to 8 p m. and April 8, 10 am. to 5 pin. Drawings for the raffle will be April ; 8 at 4:30 pin. and winners do cot need to : fwffi ... ''..