By Jess Benninger ’26, staff writer
LVC students had the opportunity to learn more about Islamic culture at this year’s first showing of the Muslim Film Series.
On Tuesday, Sept. 20, students viewed the film “Camino a La Paz” in the Zimmerman Recital Hall. The film, written and directed by Francisco Varone, tells the story of how two Argentinian men of different cultures were brought together in unique ways. The two men met under strange circumstances but developed a life-changing brotherhood.
From confessing their darkest dreams to being tied to a tree together, the men went through a transformative journey.
Following the film, Dr. Carmen Garcia-Armero, associate professor of Spanish, and community member Yasir Ahmed led a discussion about religion and community. Like Sebastian, one of the main characters in the film, viewers learned about the intersection between Hispanic and Islamic culture and discussed the significance of learning about different religions.
“Religion is so inclusive,” Kyah Star, a first-year medical laboratory science major, said. “It changed Sebastian’s life.”
Over delicious tres leches cakes that Ahmed generously provided, attendees talked about the meaning and history of the film, as well as analyzed how the film benefits LVC as a community.
Students shared personal stories about the communities they have found at LVC, such as singing in a choral ensemble and playing sports with new students who they are unfamiliar with. These sentiments demonstrated the film’s central theme: community can always be found, even among those with differences.