The Marin County Free Library will screen "Won't You Be My Neighbor?," the acclaimed 2018 documentary about Fred Rogers, free of charge on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the Civic Center Library in San Rafael.
The screening runs from 3 to 5 p.m. in Room 427 at 3501 Civic Center Dr. An optional community discussion follows the film.
Directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville, the documentary traces the philosophy and legacy of the cardigan-wearing Presbyterian minister who hosted "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" on public television for more than 30 years. The film features archival footage and reflections from Rogers' contemporaries and castmates on his message of empathy and acceptance.
The documentary earned $22.6 million at the U.S. box office in 2018, making it the highest-grossing American documentary that year, and holds a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 255 reviews.
In a Focus Features retrospective marking the film's fifth anniversary in June 2023, Neville described its guiding idea: "Kindness is not a naive notion like believing in unicorns and rainbows or something. It's like oxygen: It is vital, and needs to be nurtured."
One of the documentary's most memorable sequences captures Rogers' 1969 testimony before Sen. John Pastore, who was prepared to slash public broadcasting's budget in half. After six minutes of Rogers explaining the value of social and emotional education for children, Pastore declared the effort worthy of its $20 million in funding.
The film is rated PG-13 with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes. ADA accommodations are available upon request.
Residents can find the event listing on MarinArts.org or the Marin County Free Library's events calendar. For questions, contact library staff member Dan Oleson-Wheeler at (415) 473-6057.
Upcoming community events:
- Tuesday, Aug. 25, 3–5 p.m. — "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" free documentary screening, Civic Center Library, Room 427, 3501 Civic Center Dr., San Rafael
