China filmmaker to present documentary on Kosovo with “A Cup of Sugar” at Railroad Square Cinema

China filmmaker Luke T. Harwath will present a documentary film on Kosovo and its relationship with the state of Iowa. (Contributed photo)

Join this special one-time screening and Q&A with the filmmaker of a documentary that explores the strange relationship between Kosovo and the state of Iowa.

Central Maine Filmmaker, Luke T. Harwath, will be hosting a one-time screening of the documentary “With a Cup of Sugar” at Railroad Square on May 22, at 7:15 p.m.

Having been the frequent battleground for political and cultural unrest, Kosovo has emerged from war to become Europe’s newest country. In a fight for the future, Kosovo must bolster its war-torn image and forge meaningful relationships across the world if it is to survive. One of these relationships is with the U.S. state of Iowa.

View the trailer for the film at the bottom this page, or on Youtube using the link: https://youtu.be/6Qbz_Er3EB8

Q&A with Filmmaker Luke T. Harwath to follow the screening of the film.

Harwath, who lives in Central Maine, was provided unprecedented access in Kosovo and spent years filming the documentary. He says, “Information about Kosovo tends to focus primarily on tear-gas in parliament, rows with Serbia, or a handful of extremists that have since been dealt with. It paints a picture of instability and a country that’s not ready to participate in a dialogue with the rest of the world. That picture is incomplete and leaves out the majority of the story.

“I wanted to create a clearer picture of the nation as it exists today from a number of different perspectives. Kosovo is here to stay. At the same time, it’s important to be honest about the challenges faced today in Kosovo, because there are some heavy obstacles that it faces if it is going to continue its steady work toward a bright future.”

On Kosovo’s relationship with Iowa, Harwath says, “The relationship between Kosovo and the state of Iowa is well recognized in certain circles, but perhaps not to the general public. This relationship demonstrates, for any small nation, the importance of establishing genuine, mutually-beneficial connections in order to ensure stability.”