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For Immediate Release

“Save Davidson” Hosts Special Viewing of Little Pink House, a Movie about an Epic Eminent Domain Battle

Theme of movie ties to last year’s fight in Davidson to protect citizen-owned land for a park and at a higher level, citizen concern over Town government over-stepping authority. 

DAVIDSON, NC – Save Davidson, a social welfare nonprofit that got its start last year when it was formed to fight to preserve the Beaty Street Property as a park, continues to offer educational events as part of its mission. As part of raising awareness about eminent domain cases, the organization is hosting a special viewing of “Little Pink House” at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30, at Our Town Cinemas in Davidson.

The event will begin with an introduction by Save Davidson and conclude with a Q&A discussion. Advance ticketing is required. A limited number of press passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

“We are thrilled to have a screening in Davidson.” says Denise Beall, co-founder of Save Davidson. “This is a famous case that all Americans who care about our land liberties should know about. We are pleased to offer this event as another way to bring our community together. It just so happens to coincide with the recent announcement by the Town of Davidson of the newly formed Beaty Street Task Force.”

Citizens, along with Save Davidson, had pushed for a task force to begin guiding the process of citizen involvement in ensuring the Beaty Street property becomes a park. The property was the subject of an intense fight in Davidson last year when the then-board and mayor proposed developing it against an agreement it had with its original seller, who specified that the land be used for a “park, playground or other recreational purposes.”

“The issue struck a nerve in this community and though it wasn’t the type of eminent domain case of government taking land from an individual, it was an example of government trying to take land from citizens,” says Beall.

The task force will be made up of 15 citizens, including Beall and others who were active in speaking out in support of preserving the land for a park. The private viewing of the movie is a fundraiser for Save Davidson so it can support future park projects and continue to educate and advocate for important community issues.

About the Movie

Little Pink House stars two-time Academy Award nominee Catherine Keener (Get Out, Capote, The 40-Year-Old Virgin), Emmy nominee Jeanne Tripplehorn (Big Love, The Firm, Grey Gardens), and Callum Keith Rennie (Fifty Shades of Gray, Warcraft: The Beginning, Memento). The screenplay is adapted from Jeff Benedict’s book, Little Pink House: A True Story of Defiance and Courage. Little Pink House is based on a true story, a small-town EMT named Susette Kelo (Catherine Keener) leaves a bad marriage, and starts over in a new town. She buys a rundown cottage in New London, Connecticut, refurbishes it with her bare hands, paints it pink, meets a great guy (Callum Keith Rennie), and exhales. Then she discovers powerful politicians are bent on bulldozing her blue-collar neighborhood to make way for condos and office buildings designed to benefit the new corporate headquarters of pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer. (Execs are eager to expand their facilities because they have high hopes for a soon-to-be-released drug called Viagra).The redevelopment effort is spearheaded by Dr. Charlotte Wells (Jeanne Tripplehorn)—ambitious and accomplished, she’s the closest thing the gritty town has to a celebrity. With the help of a young lawyer named Scott Bullock (Giacomo Baessato), Susette emerges as the reluctant leader of her neighbors in an epic battle that goes all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, inspires a nation, and helps millions of Americans protect their homes. Movie information at littlepinkhousemovie.com

About Save Davidson

“Save Davidson” started as a Facebook group and has grown into a nonprofit with various channels of engagement on Town of Davidson issues including in-person events and social media platforms.

Find more information at savedavidson.org. Follow Save Davidson on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Receive updates via e-mail; write savedavidson@gmail.com to add your name to the list.

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