Award-Winning Film “Old Heart” to Screen at the Library of Michigan on May 14

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There are some stories that do not fade with time. They wait quietly in the heart, patient as memory, until life gives them one more chance to be seen. On Thursday, May 14 at 6:30 p.m., the Library of Michigan will host a free public screening of the internationally acclaimed feature film Old Heart, an emotional World War II drama centered on love, sacrifice, racial history, and elder independence.

Produced by the nonprofit Heartland Independent Film Forum, the film was shot in West Michigan and the Netherlands and features 23 Michigan actors alongside Dutch actress Eva Doueiri in her screen debut. The film has earned eight Best Feature awards on the international film festival circuit, along with more than two dozen honors recognizing acting, directing, cinematography, editing, costume design, and screenwriting.

Adapted from the novel by Michigan author Peter Ferry, Old Heart follows Private Tom Johnson, an 85-year-old World War II veteran determined to return to the Netherlands to reconnect with Sarah van Praag, the Dutch Jewish translator he fell in love with during the Hunger Winter of 1944–45.

But this is more than a love story.

The film also shines a light on the overlooked history of the Red Ball Express, the only integrated American military transport unit serving during World War II. Through Tom’s journey, Old Heart explores race, memory, aging, dignity, and the enduring power of unfinished love.

Following the screening, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a post-film conversation featuring:

* Terry Sabo, Director of Michigan Veterans Affairs

* Zaneta Adams

* Edward Gaines, lead actor

* Kirk Wahamaki, co-director

* Roger Rapoport, producer and screenwriter

The screening is free and open to the public.

Event Details

What: Old Heart Public Screening

When: Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Library of Michigan

Cost: Free Admission

For more information, visit:

Old Heart Movie Official Website. Event information is also available through the Library of Michigan. Some films entertain. Some films educate. And every once in a while, a film reminds us that history is not as distant as we think. Sometimes it still breathes inside the people carrying it.