CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Second Sunday Cinema's free films for Sunday, Oct. 12, provide the strongest of contrasts between the extremes in wealth and poverty.

The films to be shown Oct. 12 are “The Queen of Versailles” and “Bonsai People.”

The venue is the Clearlake United Methodist Church at 14521 Pearl Ave.

Doors open at 5:45 p.m. The first film starts at 6 p.m.

Admission is free.

In the US, billionaires Jackie and David Siegel and family live in an “overcrowded” mansion of 26,000 square feet. But they are building a 90,000 square foot palace just because, as David says, he can.

Only 30 minutes of “The Queen of Versailles” will be shown.

Meanwhile in Bangladesh, the poorest of women lack the tiny amount of funds required to put a roof without gigantic holes in it on their hovels. 

But M. Yunus, who founded the Grameen (or village) Bank, loans funds to poor women so they can launch tiny businesses and use the profits to feed, clothe and educate their children. Or to keep the rain out. 

This film, “Bonsai People,” is in uplifting and inspiring contrast to the crass overconsumption of the Siegels.

For more information call 707-889-7355.

I’d guess everybody reading this has felt the guilt of getting rid of belongings that meant more to somebody else than they did to you.

Here’s a poem by Jennifer Maier, who lives in Seattle. Don’t call her up. All her stuff is gone.

Rummage Sale

Forgive me, Aunt Phyllis, for rejecting the cut
glass dishes—the odd set you gathered piece
by piece from thirteen boxes of Lux laundry soap.

Pardon me, eggbeater, for preferring the whisk;
and you, small ship in a bottle, for the diminutive
size of your ocean. Please don’t tell my mother,

hideous lamp, that the light you provided
was never enough. Domestic deities, do not be angry
that my counters are not white with flour;

no one is sorrier than I, iron skillet, for the heavy
longing for lightness directing my mortal hand.
And my apologies, to you, above all,

forsaken dresses, that sway from a rod between
ladders behind me, clicking your plastic tongues
at the girl you once made beautiful,

and the woman, with a hard heart and
softening body, who stands in the driveway
making change.

American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation ( www.poetryfoundation.org ), publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Poem copyright 2013 by Jennifer Maier from her most recent book of poems, Now, Now, University of Pittsburgh Press, 2013. Poem reprinted by permission of Jennifer Maier and the publisher. Introduction copyright 2014 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006. They do not accept unsolicited manuscripts.

GONE GIRL (Rated R)

No, I haven’t read the book. Just about everybody else, it would seem, has devoured Gillian Flynn’s thriller novel “Gone Girl” with exceptional passion.

My reading preferences tilt primarily to nonfiction, everything from politics and history to sports and culture.

Apparently, I am missing out on the Gillian Flynn phenomenon, and as a result, I am unable to form an opinion as to whether the screenplay is faithful to the book.

The educated guess is that the film is, indeed, true to the source material, if for no other reason than Flynn adapted her story for the big screen.

“Gone Girl” is directed by David Fincher, whose resume includes films from “Fight Club” to “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.”

Amusingly, the press notes don’t mention his extensive biography, only pointing out that Fincher directs movies, television, commercials and music videos, with the caveat that “he hopes that people like them, but if they don’t, it is not for lack of effort.”

Lack of effort is not a problem for Fincher’s “Gone Girl,” nor is it an impediment for the actors, with Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike, front and center as married couple Nick and Amy Dunne, the latter a semi-celebrity for having been the inspiration for a popular series of children’s novels in which she’s known as Amazing Amy.

The origin story for Amy and Nick Dunne begins in New York, when their attraction to each other plays out with a sexual intensity that seems a little perverse, as if their acts of passion foretell trouble ahead at some point.

In one of many flashbacks, we see them engaged in a quick tryst in a dark corner of a public library.

The early years of marriage were apparently blissful, with Nick a major magazine writer and Amy gliding along as the sexed-up “cool girl” who never developed her own persona as the result of growing up in the long shadow of her alter-ego, the impossibly perfect “Amazing Amy.” And yet, her nebulous identity looms large when the mystery kicks in.

In the present day, Nick and Amy have relocated to his Missouri hometown, drawn to the Midwest for family reasons and due to the economic downturn, which has caused Amy to leverage her trust fund into a highly-mortgaged property in a town for which she has little interest for the long term.

Meanwhile, Nick is teaching at a local college and running a local tavern with his supportive sister Margo (Carrie Coon), a refreshingly opinionated straight-talker who has her brother’s back when the going gets tough.

And the going gets tough rather quickly on the occasion of the couple’s fifth wedding anniversary, when Nick comes home after a morning walk and visit to his bar.

He finds broken furniture and signs of a struggle. His wife is missing and nothing suggests her vanishing is not out of the ordinary.

Two local detectives (Kim Dickens and Patrick Fugit) are on the case, and at first, they treat Nick’s concern for his missing wife with fitting belief. After traces of blood are found on the kitchen floor, Nick becomes the prime suspect.

To make matters worse, within a matter of a few days, Amy’s disappearance becomes the object of media frenzy and the townsfolk volunteer for search parties and candlelight vigils.

In the public eye, Nick comes across as a husband not sufficiently apprehensive about his missing wife.

The negative power of tabloid journalism comes impressively to the fore when a national TV talk show host (Missy Pyle) endlessly speculates about Nick’s culpability in the unexplained departure of an attractive woman who is a sympathetic figure, no doubt as the result of her literary alter-ego’s continuing popularity.

On the other hand, Nick’s media persona is not pretty. He appears somewhat petulant and resentful, holding back secrets.

Moreover, his relationship with Amy’s parents is distant and vaguely hostile. Appearing at a vigil in front of a large missing poster with Amy’s picture, Nick is more uncomfortable than appropriately distraught.

Public opinion moves swiftly to confirm the suspicion of the police that Nick is the culprit. The two detectives take great interest in Amy’s diary, which paints an unflattering picture of Nick’s past behavior.

The media storm becomes even more intense when Nick has no other choice than to hire high-powered defense attorney Tanner Bolt (Tyler Perry).

Even a sharp lawyer is unable to keep Nick from flailing in the media spotlight. On the other hand, Amy’s vanishing becomes a kind of hall of mirrors in which tantalizing and savage secrets lead to more of the same.

At this point, it would be impossible to say more about what is happening for fear of disclosing any of the many twists and turns that hold real surprises.

“Gone Girl” offers many questions: Who is Nick? Who is Amy? How did they come to this state of affairs in only five years of marriage?

The film has plenty of voice-overs that offer both Nick and Amy the opportunity to put forth their sides of the story.

“Gone Girl” is a riveting multidimensional mystery thriller, alternately perverse and disturbing and chilling in the depravity of bloody events that are shocking and astounding.

“Gone Girl” is likely to be as appealing to movie audiences as to readers of the best-selling novel.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum in Kelseyville hosts the next First Sunday of the Month Fiddlers Jam on Oct. 5.

Although there will be fiddlers galore, you are likely to find some guitars, a bass, a mandolin or two, an accordion, an autoharp, or even a drummer.

It’s always a surprise who shows up to play and from what communities they have come. 

In September there were 15 musicians and more than 100 people in the audience.

Celebrating Americana music, you will be treated to “old timey” tunes and some singalongs. Come ready to clap your hands, tap your toes, and get up and dance.

The fun begins at the museum at 11 a.m. with the fiddlers playing in the barn from noon through 2 p.m.

Donations benefit the Ely Stage Stop and the Old Time Fiddlers Association.

This free, family friendly event can be enjoyed by all, young and old alike.

Come early to enjoy all of the latest museum acquisitions and displays. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on one of our beautiful picnic tables. 

Buy tickets for the next table to be raffled off and also for a surprise basket to be raffled during the fiddling that day.

Enjoy the music with beverages and tasty treats provided by the docents. Bring your own wine and sip it in Ely Stage Stop wine glasses that are available for purchase.

The stage stop, operated by the Lake County Historical Society, is located at 9921 Soda Bay Road (Highway 281) in Kelseyville.

Current hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday. Fiddlers Jams occur the first Sunday of every month.

Visit www.elystagestop.com or www.lakecountyhistory.org , check out the stage stop on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elystagestop or call the museum at 707-533-9990.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Main Street Gallery invites you to join other art lovers to an exciting First Friday Fling reception on Oct. 3, when the gallery will feature new work from five artists.

The event will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the gallery, 325 N. Main St. in Lakeport.

Featured this month include the winner of the Kelseyville Pear Festival Poster Contest, Ruth Morgan, who is showing her whimsical three-dimensional and wall art.

Richard Schmidt has wonderfully executed paintings of cowpokes displayed with his handcrafted barn wood frames.

Debbie Jorgenson delights the eye with her delicate work in pastels, while, Marcie Long’s art is a contrast of large and colorful paintings.

Carolyn Hawley returns with an astounding collection of varied art forms.

Continuing in the gallery are Terry Durnil with paintings that capture the heart of the Western landscape and its people in pastels and acrylics, and Jack Southwick, who works his magic in expressive acrylic paintings.

Also continuing in the October show are Judy Cardinale with beautifully executed landscapes and “critters”; Stephen Rotter with work in pastels, photograph and sculpture; and Susan Johnson with paintings in pastels and watercolor.

Rounding out the show are the fine drawings, paintings and three-dimensional art of Peter Shandera and the large abstract work of Shelby Posada in mixed media.

“Autumn in Lake County” is October’s theme show in the Linda Carpenter Student Gallery.

Also on display will be a few pieces of art from the estates of Samuil Marcu, Stephen Seitz and Gerald Thompson to entice you to the upcoming auction to be held at the Soper Reese Theatre on Sunday, Nov. 16.

Meet the artists and enjoy the fine flavors of Red Lava Wines while Michael Barrish will entertain with sounds of “Original Country.”

For more information call the gallery at 707-263-6658.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Friday, Oct. 3, Watershed Books will host award-winning local author, Steve Bartholomew, as his latest work, “The Inventor,” is celebrated. 

A tale of old San Francisco, “The Inventor” tells of Jeremy Fantom, a disgruntled cub reporter whose life is changed when he meets Worrell, the strange inventor and his beautiful daughter Hollyhock.

Steve Bartholomew will be at Watershed Books, 305 N. Main St. from 3 to 5 p.m., with readings, good conversation and refreshments.

Then join festivities at Main Street Gallery's First Friday Fling at 325 N. Main.

For more information call 707-263-5787.