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PIFF 42 Official Selection

Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin

Directed by Arwen Curry

United States • 2018 • 68 mins. • In English

Showtimes & Past Screenings

Ursula K. Le Guin (1929–2018) is one of America’s finest writers. Early in her career, she sought to break the gender barrier in male-dominated science fiction and did so thrillingly, quickly racking up awards and writing a long string of unforgettable novels like The Earthsea Trilogy, The Left Hand of Darkness, The Dispossessed, and The Lathe of Heaven. Through her writing, Le Guin offered readers a glimpse into new forms of life, questioning the dominant narratives of her time (and ours) and offering a staunchly anti-capitalist, utopian view of human, plant, and animal life. Le Guin and her beloved husband Charles lived in Portland since 1958, becoming two of the city’s most cherished residents. First-time director Arwen Curry’s loving, grounded portrait of Le Guin probes deep into her life and work, offering a primer for the uninitiated and new avenues of interpretation and moments of nostalgic joy for her innumerable longtime fans.

Filmography: First feature

Sponsored by Adelsheim Vineyard and Morel Ink

Appears in: 42nd Portland International Film Festival, PIFF 42: Documentary Views

The Northwest Film Center recognizes and honors the Indigenous peoples of this region on whose ancestral lands the museum now stands. These include the Willamette Tumwater, Clackamas, Kathlemet, Molalla, Multnomah and Watlala Chinook Peoples and the Tualatin Kalapuya who today are part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, and many other Native communities who made their homes along the Columbia River. We also want to recognize that Portland today is a community of many diverse Native peoples who continue to live and work here. We respectfully acknowledge and honor all Indigenous communities—past, present, future—and are grateful for their ongoing and vibrant presence.