The automobile and the movies grew up together. Both promised freedom, excitement, mobility, and a chance to become someone different. As Hollywood and Detroit came of age, the car became one of Hollywood's most powerful symbols.

Through film clips and behind-the-scenes stories, this talk examines how movies have used automobiles to reflect American ideas about freedom, youth, masculinity, status, rebellion, technology, and the open road. From the Iron Man to the Flintstones, from Stephen King’s Christine to Marty McFly, from Ford to Ferrari, we'll explore what our favorite movie automobiles tell us about America, and ourselves.

Kris Hambrick is a Seattle-based educator and public speaker specializing in film and popular culture history. Kris teaches continuing education courses through UW OLLI and Edmonds College and has presented film-history programs for museums, community organizations, senior centers, and educational institutions throughout the Seattle area.

In previous lives, Kris has been an actor/producer of Star Trek and Star Wars plays, informal science educator at Pacific Science Center and Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery, and a producer of a podcast about film adaptations. In all their talks, they bring a passion for the subject and an inclusive, interactive format.