Elders’ Breakfast Club in Beaufort, South Carolina are already unlikely movie stars – southern life

Every Wednesday morning at 7:30 am a group of men gather for breakfast at the Blackstone Cafe at Scott Street in Beopher, South Carolina. They vary at age – Steve Lanier has just entered their eighties while Ray Stocks is 100 years old. Many men served in the military; The group covers all wars from World War II to the present. Combined, they have 980 years of life experience.

And these are stories that are worth sharing.

This is the heart behind “Borfort Breakfast: Travel Through Life” A new short documentary produced and directed by Raymond Smith by Modos Media with his son, Andrew, the film’s editor and a photography director.

“Borfort: Life Travel Travels” opens with a group of men who enjoy company together every week-a long-term tradition in the small town, Robert Devoah, 98, shares on a camera where men were gathering and talking over a glass coffee. Their breakfast club covers all sorts of topics, providing a little “history lesson” from the elders of the younger men in the group.

“We share a culture of respect, of learning -you can share who you are and help them grow, but much more importantly, you are growing by listening to them,” says the 80 -year -old Lanier in the movie.

Eleven men are presented at Borfort: Travel Through Life, each with their own words of wisdom, as interviewed in their homes: WR “Squet” von Harten, Pat Gareth, Guy Maxuini, Steve Lanie, Mike Keiserling, Merle Mullancs, Ray Stocks, Carter Swanson, Robert Deloach, Daryl Fergusen and Tom Mikell. They speak on topics and life lessons that they remember from their own parents, including intercession, kindness, responsibility and hard work.

The film airs on the 19th Annual International Film Festival Beaufort, which lasts until February 23, 2025 at the Center for the Arts of South Carolina Beopher. With its local connection and timely message for turning listening to the elders, the screening of the film – a viewing on Saturday, February 22 – has already been sold out.

“This movie is for eldersis not a phrase often used in our society-some see the elderly as a “date of sale” or irrelevant, “Smith with Southern lifeS “In this movie we see a combined 980 -year experience, learning and wisdom of a group of older men who join each other every week to share breakfast and their stories and thoughts. We see their energy, humor and care for all of us. ”

According to Island’s package, Smith explained that while the documentary includes many veterans, it is not focused only on wartime. The idea was first brought to Smith by film executive producer Richard Sribnik-Doctor, who lives part-time, northeast of Beopher on Lady Island.

After encountering men in Blackstone one Wednesday, Sribnik approached Raymond and Andrew with the original idea of ​​sharing stories from World War II, Korea and Vietnam. For Smith, there was a greater opportunity to reveal wisdom from the breakfast table.

“[Our elders] Encourage us to be better for each other and to show that small gestures can have a surprising impact, sometimes even on a global scale, “Smith told SlS “So, the next time you see a more adult person who sits alone, just greet and you can be surprised at what you will learn.”

This is associated with a key lesson that men themselves share in the movie. “Take a look at,” says the 92-year-old Skate von Kharten on screen. “Enjoy what you have. Be nice to others. Be kind to yourself. If you get tired, sit down and rest. If you want to go, go … Be happy, be kind, be productive and don’t complain. This is what this 92-year-old says. ”

The director also works on sharing the short documentary on Scetv, the state network for public education.

This is a good reminder – whether you are able to catch the screening or not – to appreciate words and memories that are so quickly lost from generation to generation, with thoughtful questions and deliberate listening. You may want to digitize some of your old family photos to walk along with Nana and Grandpa’s stories.