Dinner and a Movie: 20 Days in Mariupol
by Karen Pecota

One of my favorite things to do during the Sundance Film Festival is to attend a film screening at the the Sundance Mountain Resort and have a meal at one of the restaurants on the premises either before or after the film. The resort is about a 40 minute drive from Park City, Utah (the home of the Sundance Film Festival), toward Provo, Utah. This venture is a nice day trip.

Nestled in a narrow valley, tucked away at the bottom of an intimate ski hill that was discovered and built-up by Sundance Institute founder, Robert Redford, one finds The Sundance Mountain Resort. The Timpanogos mountain range that protects the resort on either side is breathtaking. It's majestic and peaceful with vibrant nature all around. The rustic setting, beautiful landscape and the smells of nature is my Utah happy place.

The resort is home to the infamous Sundance Institute teaching labs that take place annually since the '80s. It remains to be seen if these labs will continue to have a home on the premises because Redford recently sold the 2,600-acre resort to Broadreach Capital Partner and Cedar Capital Partners. The new owners have pledged, and are dedicated to carrying on Redford's commitment to sustainability, style and respect for the land. The long-term plan is to preserve Redford's legacy on the premises with responsible development and conservation of the land.

Tickets to a screening at the Sundance Mountain Resort are not easy to come-by but once secured one feels so lucky! I received two tickets to a 3:00 pm screening for the film 20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL and obtained a reservation for two at The Foundry Grill for dinner after the movie.

My husband skied in the morning that day. I screened two films before noon, and then by 1:30 pm we were on our way to the Sundance Mountain Resort for dinner and a movie. Or, you could say we were heading for a memorable date night!

So much snow that had fallen in Utah this January. Upon our arrival, the Sundance Mountain Resort showcased beautiful imagery of a winter wonderland. Snow banks six-feet-high lined almost every pathway. Simply beautiful. But, daunting too.

The Movie: 20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL

Filmmaker Mstyslave Chernov collaborates with his two colleagues from the Associate Press (AP), Vasilisa Stepanenko, and Evgeniy Maloletka, all photo journalists and videographers to give the world a birds-eye-view of what their Ukrainian countrymen endured of a city under siege by the Russian Army in 20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL. See review on page.......

The Dinner: The Foundry Grill

After the movie we walked to The Foundry Grill. The hostess seated us at a table for two in a small fireside room. As we watched the snowfall outside our cozy setting we felt warm and safe.

We discussed the incredible contrast of what we just witnessed in the film with the devastation and tragedy in Mariupol vs. our protected little cozy ambiance of beauty, great food and out of harm’s way. Sitting in a lap-of-luxury, we were sincerely humbled. We prayed before we ate that the Lord would miraculously provide food for the Ukrainians in need.

Our conversation over dinner was thought provoking. We discussed many scenes in the film, recalled aspects and facts that were shared from the Q and A (question and answer) after the film with the filmmakers; and talked about our personal conversation with the still photographer, Evgeniy Maloletka, who is from Mariupol. Our horizons were broadened.

We shared thoughts of our gratitude, as a couple, to attend the Sundance Film Festival and deemed it a privilege. The films we screen expand our minds with knowledge on world events or social issues. We listen to stories on the world stage and question what it all means. The extraordinary storytelling, via the silver screen, gives one so many things to ponder. We enjoy being challenged in this way. We like to discuss our responsibility and question, "What can I do about this?" To share such incredible memories is a part of our couple story, and part of an unforgettable life journey.