Film: Summer in the Forest in cinemas from 23 June

An extraordinary new documentary film, Summer in the Forest, about a special Catholic community in France, is arriving in UK cinemas later this month. The film about Jean Vanier and the first L'Arche community he founded will be released in the UK on 23 June. The film tells the story of the search for love and friendship by the intellectually disabled members of the the L'Arche communities in France and Bethlehem. It is comic, touching and moving.

As one critic said "it is extremely rare for a film to have the power to change lives. This one really might."

It will be shown at cinemas around the UK listed on the website: www.summerintheforest.com

For those unable to go, you will be able to download the video from the website at a special reduced price for parishioners. You will need to quote a Parish discount code SUMMER2017.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor commented: "It is a moving portrait of life in a community where God's love for the vulnerable is lived out."

Like countless others Philippe, Michel, Andre and Patrick were labelled 'idiots', locked away and forgotten in violent asylums, until the 1960s, when the young philosopher Jean Vanier took a stand and secured their release - the first time in history that anyone had beaten the system. Together they created L'Arche, a commune at the edge of a beautiful forest near Paris and a quiet revolution was born.

Now in his 80s, still at L'Arche and revered by some as a living saint, Jean has discovered something that most of us have forgotten - what it is to be human, to be foolish, and to be happy.

For more information and to book, see: www.indcatholicnews.com/news/32613

See the trailer here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUAFzYGCrS4