ROCKLAND — The Strand Theatre, 345 Main St., will host a special screening of “Girl Rising,” a film created as a global campaign to educate and empower girls. The film will be screened at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 9.

From Academy Award-nominated director Richard E. Robbins, the film spotlights unforgettable girls like Sokha, an orphan who rises from the dumps of Cambodia to become a star student and an accomplished dancer; Suma, who composes music to help her endure forced servitude in Nepal and today crusades to free others; and Ruksana, an Indian “pavement-dweller” whose father sacrifices his own basic needs for his daughter’s dreams. Each girl is paired with a renowned writer from her native country. Edwidge Danticat, Sooni Taraporevala, Aminatta Forna and others tell the girls’ stories, each with its own style, and all with profound resonance.

These girls are unique, but the obstacles they faced are ubiquitous. Like the 66 million girls around the world who dream of going to school, what Sokha, Suma, Ruksana and the rest want most is to be students: to learn. And now, by sharing their personal journeys, they have become teachers.

Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Liam Neeson, Cate Blanchett, Selena Gomez and other A-list actresses contribute voice performances to the film, which features original music from Academy Award winner Rachel Portman, in collaboration with Lorne Balfe.

The film is distributed by Gathr, a web-based service that enables viewers to request screenings of films at their local cinemas. Nano Chatfield is the movie captain for “Girl Rising,” coordinating promotional efforts with the Strand. This film is rated PG-13.

A portion of ticket sales will help fund programs for the girls. Tickets cost $10. To purchase tickets, visit http://gathr.us/screening/3188. For more information, visit rocklandstrand.com or call 594-0070, ext. 5.


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