Film About Roberto Clemente's Life To Premiere At Strand Theater
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - He is a legend in the world of baseball and here in Pittsburgh.
Roberto Clemente was one of the greatest players to ever take the field as a Pittsburgh Pirate.
This weekend, the seats at the Strand Theater in Zelienople will be filled with people to learn about his life both on and off the field.
There is no doubt No.21 changed baseball and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The right fielder set records and broke barriers, but some argue Clemente's accomplishments outside of baseball, were by far his greatest.
"It was really never about playing baseball for the money. He wanted to take that money and use it to help others and he ended up giving his life to do that," Ron Carter with the Strand Theater Initiative said.
Clemente's generosity is the main focus of a new film set to premiere at the Strand Theater this Saturday and Sunday, which is the weekend of Clemente's birthday.
The movie, called, "Baseball's Last Hero: 21 Clemente Stories" was written by California-based filmmaker and Pittsburgh native, Richard Rossi.
"We have the exclusive Pittsburgh premiere for this film. So, not only are we excited to have that premiere in and of itself, but it also kind of entrenches the Strand as a part of the Pittsburgh cultural landscape, just is something we've been trying to reach for a long time," Carter said.
The film is a love story at its core, but it also touches on the struggles Clemente faced as a Puerto Rican superstar.
Many of the scenes in the movie feature Pittsburgh spots like the Incline.
"They very cleverly worked in actual footage from the games, as well as what they shot here in the city and so very much, it's an authentic look at Roberto and an authentic look at the city as well," Carter said.
Sunday's showing is already sold out, but there are still a few tickets left for the Saturday afternoon show.
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