RANCHO MIRAGE, CA – Do trees talk amongst themselves? That’s one of the concepts raised in the first of three films to be shown amid a stand of palo verde trees as Sunnylands Center & Gardens reopens for its 16th season on Sept. 9.
On Sept. 11, just two days after reopening, Sunnylands revives its free Films in the Gardens series with the screening of three movies inspired by the ongoing exhibition, Curating Canopy: Trees at Sunnylands.
The movies, to be shown on three consecutive Friday evenings, are:
- September 11 at 7:30 p.m. – The Hidden Life of Trees (2020)—When Peter Wohlleben published his book, The Hidden Life of Trees, in 2015, it quickly climbed bestseller lists. The forester wrote vividly about his belief that trees can communicate with each other, a thesis explored in the documentary based on the book. (IMDb) Rated: PG. Run time: 1 hour 21 minutes.
- September 18 at 7:30 p.m. – Big Fish (2003)—A frustrated son (Ewan McGregor) tries to determine fact from fiction in his dying father’s life. (IMDb) Rated: PG-13. Run time: 2 hours 5 minutes.
- September 25 at 7:30 p.m. – At Eternity’s Gate (2018)—Starring Willem Dafoe, the film examines the life of painter Vincent van Gogh when he lived in Arles and Auvers-sur-Oise, France. (IMDb) Rated: PG-13. Run time: 1 hour 51 minutes.
Sunnylands Center & Gardens is located at 37977 Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage.
Gates for movie showings open at 6 pm. Films begin at 7:30 pm. Admission and parking are free. Reservations are not required. Carpooling is strongly encouraged. Please note that parking at the gate or along Bob Hope Drive will not be permitted.
No seating is provided. Filmgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and small picnics. Large coolers, alcohol, smoking, and pets are not permitted.
Films in the Gardens is presented in partnership with the Palm Springs International Film Society.
Sunnylands’ 16th season starts Sept. 9. Guests are welcome to stroll in the gardens, relax at the café, or see the film, A Place Called Sunnylands, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Admission and parking are free. Wellness activities, such as yoga, tai chi, and bird walks, begin in November.
Tickets to tour the historic Sunnylands estate in September are on sale at www.sunnylands.org/tours. The photo exhibition, Curating Canopy: Trees at Sunnylands, will remain on display for a second season.
The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands
The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands is a nonprofit operating entity that hosts high-level
retreats and convenings on serious issues facing the nation and the world. Programs offered through
Sunnylands Center & Gardens educate the public about the history of Sunnylands, its architecture, art
collections, cultural significance, and sustainable practices.
Media Contact: Ken Chavez, kchavez@sunnylands.org, 760-501-5712