Rebel with a Clause, a grammar docu-comedy, attracted hundreds of language lovers and grammar nerds to the Bryn Mawr Film Institute despite frigid temperatures and one of the region’s largest snowstorms in years, writes Denali Sagner for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The film follows language expert Ellen Jovin as she travels across the country with her makeshift “Grammar Table.” From behind this, she engages passersby in discussions over their queries, comments, and concerns regarding the English language, ranging from the correct use of a semicolon to the punctuation of “y’all.” What begins as an amusing grammar refresher soon becomes a meditation on shared humanity in America, even during deeply polarizing times.
“I love that she’s bringing joy to the word,” said Katie McGlade, a retired communications professional from Ardmore.
A four-time author on writing and grammar, Jovin explores her cross-country experiences in her latest book, Rebel with a Clause: Tales and Tips from a Roving Grammarian.
Brandt Johnson, a writer and filmmaker and Jovin’s husband, directed and produced the film. The Bryn Mawr screening was the first public showing of the film in the Philadelphia area.
Read more about the screening of the grammar-centric documentary at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
