Events

Film Night: A House United

This month we're doing something different. Instead of our usual discussion format, we're hosting a screening of A House United, the new documentary produced by and featuring Braver Angels.

The film is directed by Joseph Sim, whose previous documentary, A Road Trip Across a Divided America, crossed the country asking how we lost connection with our neighbors. A House United turns to the answer: it is an introduction to the largely unknown ecosystem of roughly 10,000 bridge-building organizations already at work across the country, and to the people doing that work.

East TN is taking part in the Nationwide Screening Campaign, running October 1 through November 15. We'll allow the first 15 minutes for people to arrive and do introductions, then we'll show the film which lasts 55 minutes, and then we'll spend the remaining time having a discussion based on the film's themes.

We are asking for a $10 donation to support the filmmakers and Braver Angels. Half of every ticket stays with Braver Angels: 40% comes directly to the East TN Alliance and 10% supports Braver Angels nationally. The rest supports the filmmakers and the partner organizations that helped make the film possible. The donation is optional--we are dedicated to keeping our TN Braver Angels events free and accessible to all.

A screening is more than a fundraiser. Braver Angels cites a peer-reviewed study (Blair et al., 2025) finding that watching a documentary of this kind delivers roughly 76% of the depolarizing effect of attending an in-person bridge-building workshop. 

So bring someone: the neighbor who thinks Braver Angels sounds interesting but has never wanted to commit to a whole workshop, or the family member you argue with. A film gives people a shared experience to react to, which is an easier place to start than a cold room and a set of ground rules.