At the Library

Friday Night Features

The 2012 film "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," starring Judi Dench and Bill Nighy, will be shown at the Darien Library at 6:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14.

This film tells the story of a disparate group of English pensioners for whom retirement takes an unconventional turn when they abandon their homeland, enticed by advertisements for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, a seemingly luxurious sanctuary for "the elderly and beautiful" in Jaipur, India. On arrival, they discover that the hotel falls somewhat short of the romantic idyll promised in the brochure, but they are gradually won over by the ever-optimistic young manager Sonny, and tentatively embark on a new adventure, finding that life can begin again when you let go of the past.

"Footnote," the 2011 film starring Shlomo Bar-Aba and Lior Ashkenazi, will be screened at Darien Library at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14. The movie was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Film category.

It is a story of a rivalry between a father and son, both eccentric professors in the Talmud department of Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The son has an addictive dependency on the embrace and accolades that the establishment provides, while his father is a stubborn purist with a fear and profound revulsion for what the establishment stands for, yet beneath his contempt is a desperate thirst for some kind of recognition. The Israel Prize, Israel's most prestigious national award, is the jewel that brings these two to a final, bitter confrontation.

Book discussions

The Book Discussion Series begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, with Susan Cain's "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking." In this New York Times best seller, Cain, a former Wall Street attorney, challenges what she calls the "extrovert ideal." Our culture, she argues, overvalues the alpha personality -- gregarious and highly verbal -- while ignoring the subtler strengths of the introvert, such as reflectiveness, persistence and sensitivity. Based on five years of research, Cain explores the physiological aspects and psychological advantages of being an introvert.

Upcoming discussion titles are Laura Lamont's "Life in Pictures by Emma Straub" on Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. and "Bring Up the Bodies" by Hilary Mantel on Tuesday, Nov. 27, at 7 p.m.

Library staff members will lead the discussions. Prior reading of the books is not necessary to join.

Panel discussion for mothers

Darien Library will host a panel discussion entitled "When a Mom Starts a Business" on Thursday, Sept. 20, at 10 a.m., moderated by Holly Hurd, founder of VentureMom.com, a website devoted to covering mothers who have their own businesses.

Attendees will learn from entrepreneurial mothers who are operating their own business ventures. The session will help those looking to turn a hobby into a business or take a venture to the next level. Topics will include picking the right name, marketing and using social media to build a brand. After the panel discussion, audience members will have the opportunity to pitch their idea and receive feedback.

The panelists are Stacey Bewkes of The Quintessence Blog, Jennifer St. Jean of the Itty Bitty Bag Company, Jennifer Covello of Fritabello Baby Journals and Gwynne Tibbetts and Bambi Riegel of RT Picture Works.