SCREENING INFORMATION
| 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, PA 18015
*Ages 25 and under & senior discounts apply at the box office only.
National Pen Pal Day: 84 Charing Cross Road w/ Talkback by Judith Umlas
1987 | PG | 1 hr 40 mins
Directed by: David Hugh Jones
Starring: Anne Bancroft, Anthony Hopkins, Judi Dench
Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins sparkle in this touching drama about a trans-Atlantic romance that begins when a vivacious New York writer with a passion for literature writes to a London bookstore in search of rare English classics. A reserved Englishman answers her request–thus beginning an extraordinary relationship that spans two decades.
Please join us after the film for a live conversation with Judith Umlas, author of Soulmates and Strangers: A Friendship That Lasted a Lifetime.
Judith Umlas
Judith W. Umlas is the author of Soulmates and Strangers, a personal memoir based on letters her mother wrote to her French pen pal between 1936 and 1937. It was published by Handler and Wagreich in 2022. It’s based on over 70 years of correspondence between the two young women that illuminates their perspectives on world events and personal triumphs and tragedies beginning with World War II and continuing throughout their lives. This deeply personal narrative offers insights into connection, survival, and the power of letters to bridge cultures, languages, and continents. The book has led to Judith training groups in Epistolary Insights: Learning French Language and History Through Letters, and numerous community speaking engagements.
Ms. Umlas is also the author of The Power of Acknowledgment, an inspirational, motivational, and action-oriented book which drives home the need for acknowledgment. It also applies these principles to leadership skills, growth and development in the workplace, as well as in everyday life. Following the publication of this book, Ms. Umlas wrote Grateful Leadership, Using the Power of Acknowledgment to Engage All Your People and Achieve Superior Results, and You’re Totally Awesome, the Power of Acknowledgment for Kids.
Ms. Umlas has trained over 100,000 people on the Power of Acknowledgment and Grateful Leadership, including executives of the NYC Police Department, the U.S. Department of Justice, the World Bank and hundreds of corporations and government agencies – all to outstanding reviews. When she teaches the value of acknowledgment and gratitude, participants from her seminars learn the seven major principles of acknowledgment, develop key skills for delivering effective and authentic acknowledgment, identify the vast number of people worthy of acknowledgment, and establish an understanding that acknowledgment is a key factor in developing employee loyalty and engagement, improving relationships and enhancing self-worth.
Grateful Leadership, The Power of Acknowledgment and Soulmates and Strangers are Judith’s passions, her missions, and her purpose!
