Butterfly in the Sky

October 6, 2022 | 7 PM

SIFF Uptown Cinema

A delightfully nostalgic journey back to the groundbreaking television show “Reading Rainbow”, revisiting its nearly 25 years on the air, and the immense impact it had on its viewers and creators alike.

From the opening notes of its infectious theme song, “Reading Rainbow” set a new standard for children’s television, talking directly to children from the screen with a generous, non-patronizing tone as it introduced millions of children to the world and importance of books, and immersed them in documentary-style adventures with the show’s charismatic host, Levar Burton, as their guide. Perhaps most importantly, the show allowed kids to speak directly to other kids about their favorite stories, in their own words. Directors Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb skillfully weave together archival footage with current-day interviews of Burton, the creators, and the now-adult kids to reveal the concepts behind the beloved show, how influential it remains today, and how it can still teach us all to “fly twice as high.”