Hello to all of you on the *Divided We Fall: Americans in the
Aftermath*newsletter list. And a special welcome to all of you new
members! We hope to
be a ray of sunshine in the dismal world of email that clouds your daily
productivity. Enjoy!

*THE END IS THE BEGINNING
*Full story:
http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2006/09/end-is-beginning-phoenix.html

Yes, it's true – *Divided We Fall* is actually out in the world. After five
years, two stages of production, and nearly ten months of editing,
*DWF *finally
made its World Premiere in September, followed by premieres in New York and
Boston! Here's the scoop:

First to *Phoenix*, *Arizona*. On September 14, the Phoenix Sikh community
hosted the film's premiere as part of the five-year memorial for *Balbir
Singh Sodhi*, the first person killed in hate violence after the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks. Balbir Sodhi's story was the impetus for Valarie Kaur to
begin the journey that would eventually become *DWF.* The premiere was a
moving and memorable experience, both for our film team and the people who
joined us – 450 people who came from as far as St. Louis just to be part of
the World Premiere.

Complete with a red carpet lined by Sikhs greeting people, Indian food for
all, and a carpenters' union hall donated by the Phoenix Police Department,
it was a night filled with an uncommon energy. Law enforcement, city
officials, news cameras, reporters, and other members of the greater Phoenix
community joined us in an event wonderfully planned by our friend, advisor,
and inspiration *GuruRoop Kaur Khalsa* (who also appears in *DWF*).

Most importantly, we were joined by the *Sodhi Family* – who have shared
their lives, their grief, and their stories with us over the years –
including *Herjinder Kaur Sodhi*, Balbir's widow, whom Valarie finally meets
in India at the end of her journey and the end of our film. They sat in the
audience alongside *Gary Gietz*, Director of the Arizona Interfaith
Movement, and hundreds of others who were part of what happened in Phoenix
and Mesa five years earlier, watching their stories unfold on the screen for
the first time.

After the screening, Valarie and Director Sharat Raju – joined by crew
members *Editor Scott Rosenblatt *, *Composer Eric Santiestevan*, and *DWF
Dialogue Project Co-Leader Irene Yeh* – received a standing ovation. The
Sodhi Family expressed their warm gratitude that the film kept alive the
memory of Balbir Sodhi and what he stood for. There were tears, hugs,
laughter, and hope.

The premiere was a singularly unique moment in the life of a film that has
been lifted up and supported by so many people's voices, struggles, and
hopes. We are more than honored to have shown the film in Phoenix first,
before anywhere else. Thanks to *Jaswant Singh Sachdev and family* and all
our friends in the Phoenix community for a humbling and inspiring evening
and an auspicious sendoff for *DWF* into the world.

And, the next stop in the world… New York City!

*I SEE NO STRANGER*

Full story: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2006/09/i-see-no-stranger-nyc.html

As part of the *Spinning Wheel Film Festival 2006 – New York*, *DWF* made
its NYC premiere at the beautiful *Rubin Museum of Art* in the Chelsea part
of town.   Alongside a new groundbreaking exhibit on early Sikh devotional
art called "I See No Stranger" (read its glowing review in the *New York
Times* in September), *DWF* screened before an audience of nearly 200
friends, family and others – including *Manpreet Singh* and *Amardeep Singh
Bhalla *who appear in the film. Amardeep has been one of our heroes as he
fights the good fight for civil rights everyday in his job as Legal Director
of the Sikh Coalition.

Also joining us were *Jas, Chitranjan,* and *Anika Brar*, Valarie's family
who opened their home to us during both stages of NYC production. Associate
producers ( a.k.a. Sharat's family) *Tonse*, *Vidya,* and *Manu Raju* made
the drive from Maryland with friends *Rachana* and *Archana Mehta* to check
on their investment (read: supporting Sharat's independent film habit). We
were treated to a surprise visit from our West Coast sound production man *Tim
Forrest *as well as *DWF Dialogue Project Co-Leaders Jessica Jenkins
*and *Chris
Byrnes* who made the trip down from Boston. We were honored to have the
support of fellow filmmakers *Tami Yeager* and *Kevin Lee, *who donated
important footage to the film, and so many of our friends from college
and even high school (that's you *Brynn* *Saito* and *Wyeth Hansen*!).

And what would a New York premiere be without a few celebrities? Namely *Sakina
Jaffrey* and *Kal Penn* – both stars of Sharat's previous film *American
Made* who went on to descend into obscurity or something… (Actually, catch
Kal as star of the movie *The Namesake* this fall and Sakina on the new show
"Heroes" on NBC!)

In a unique theater that could have come out of a Pottery Barn catalogue,
our New York premiere was full of energy and liveliness. Once the lights
came on after the screening, there was a rousing standing ovation once again
as Sharat and Valarie came to the stage for a Q&A. Thanks to all who joined
us in Manhattan, and a special thanks to the wonderful Rubin Museum staff
and *Harmeet Bharara*,* *festival organizer, for* *an unforgettable New York
premiere.

The *DWF *train kept a-rollin' up north for our third screening in less than
two weeks. Onward to … Boston!

*PERHAPS A MOSAIC*

Full story: http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/2006/10/perhaps-mosaic-boston.html

This documentary, as most of you know, captures the complex issues of a
post-9/11 world and discrimination, religion, identity, pluralism, security,
all wrapped up in the perennial questions: Who counts as American?   Are we
a melting pot or perhaps a mosaic? And what better place to discuss these
issues than in a college classroom?

To that end, *DWF* officially begins its college tour. What better place to
start than in the biggest college town in America: *Boston*. Our first stop
on the tour was *Tufts** University*, hosted by *Linell Yugawa, Director of
the Asian American Center. *

With more than 200 people, mostly students and professors, *DWF* screened in
a lecture hall packed to the gills. We noticed many in rapt attention,
taking notes in spiral bound ledgers. We didn't have the heart to tell them
that there would be no test at the end.

Joining us was *DWF* story consultant and personal life consultant to
Valarie (read: her roommate) *Deonnie Moodie*, as well as close advisors to
the production, *Michelle Goldhaber*, *M. Christian Green,* and *Kathyrn
Lohre* representing the Harvard Pluralism Project. And of course there was
family too -  *Cinematographer Matthew R. Blute's *father *John
Blute*surprised us!

Afterwards, Valarie and Sharat answered questions from the students, who
were thoughtful and bright, eager to discuss issues beyond the scope of the
film. At the end, the students rose and applauded the film.

A third screening, a third standing ovation. We're trying very hard not to
let it get to our heads… oh, what the heck – let's enjoy it while it lasts…

After our premiere, the campus was buzzing with reactions to the film.  So,
a few weeks later, we were invited back to Tufts for a follow-up discussion
with the students – a moving night where students shared their own stories.
As always, you can read all the juicy details on Valarie's film blog "Into
the Whirlwind": http://valariekaur.blogspot.com

Thanks again to *Linell Yugawa *for inviting us to be part of the
conversation at Tufts and all the thoughtful students who opened a space for
real dialogue.   And a special welcome to the scores of you at Tufts who
have joined the newsletter list! You have set a high standard for our
expectations for future college audiences.   Speaking of which – here is our
upcoming schedule for October, complete with a college tour in Illinois,
including our *Chicago* premiere!

*UPCOMING SCREENINGS*

For the complete film tour schedule: http://dwf-film.com/tour.html

*New York City*
*Tuesday, October 17 at 8:30 p.m.

*Women in Religion Conference
The Interchurch Center
475 Riverside Drive
New York, NY

Site: http://www.womeninreligion2006.org
Filmmakers present for Q&A
Admission: $10 at the door

*Illinois –University Tour
October 27-31
*
*Friday, October 27 at 7 p.m. - Illinois Premiere
*Illinois Wesleyan University
1312 Park Street
Bloomington, Illinois 61701

*Monday, October 30 at 7 p.m. (time tentative)
*Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Carbondale, Illinois

*Tuesday, October 31 at 5 p.m. - Chicago Premiere
*University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Filmmakers present for Q&A after each screening
Free Admission
More details forthcoming. Keep checking in at http://dwf-film.com/tour.html

*ONWARD*

Please join us somewhere this year – New York, Illinois, Florida,
Washington, DC, California or maybe across the ocean in the UK! We're
excited to share this film with you, whether you've recently joined or have
been with us since the beginning. If you would like to host the film in your
home town or college, contact us directly and we can make it happen:
i...@dwf-film.com

Thanks for being a part of the growing *DWF *family! More tales from the
road to come…

Divided We Fall: Americans in the Aftermath

Produced and Directed by Sharat Raju (sha...@dwf-film.com )

Produced, Written and Created by Valarie Kaur ( vala...@dwf-film.com)

Visit www.dwf-film.com and
valariekaur.blogspot.com<http://www.valariekaur.blogspot.com/>
.

(End of the road for you? Respond with REMOVE in the subject and we will do
so.)