The Test

Circle Cinema is proud to present FREE community screenings of this powerful and timely short film on Wed 6/11! There will be three chances to see the 15min short - first as part of the morning Naturalization Ceremony the Circle will be hosting for new citizens in Tulsa, and then standalone screenings at 2pm and 7pm. Executive Producer Mary Beth Minnis will be in attendance to introduce and take questions with the 2pm and 7pm screenings.

All screenings are free and open to the public, first come first served seating.

About the film: THE TEST is a character-based documentary short that follows the story of Eric Frimpong, a Ghanaian immigrant who works as a maintenance worker at a large retirement community. Eric dreams of bringing his wife and three children to the US, as he hasn’t seen them in eight years. The final obstacle to their long-awaited reunion is passing the US citizenship test. A senior resident couple, Jill and Carl, journey alongside Eric to tutor him to pass the 100-question test that will define his future.

A microcosm of the Great American Experiment, many employees at Goodwin House represent a host of nations — Ghana, Vietnam, Nigeria, and more — who have left family and community in their native countries to pursue a life of political freedom in the US. The residents — who serve as tutors are everyday heroes — are often former teachers, military members, and community volunteers. The destinies of Eric, Jill, and Carl unfold along a shared journey as the residents discover new purpose in their twilight years while empowering a future citizen to start his new life in America.

The stakes are enormous for Eric, who has left behind his home country and family thousands of miles away to build a new life in America. But there are also high stakes for the older adults as well. Jill and Carl’s world has slowly shrunk, so for them, the test is an opportunity to find a renewed sense of purpose and community. But this is about more than studying for an exam: it’s about being there and supporting each other. The relationship that develops is transformational. These two very different groups of people will become family.

About Mary Beth Minnis: Originally from Edmond, Oklahoma, and a proud graduate of The University of Oklahoma, Mary Beth Minnis is now an Austin-based producer and executive producer of award-winning documentaries on topics ranging from refugees to sports professionals, female entrepreneurs, to freedom fighters. Her passion is sharing inspirational stories of resilience and hope.

Mary Beth has a particular interest in stories from Africa and has served on four different films from that region, including producer on Return to Mogadishu (2013); associate producer on Imba Means Sing (2015); associate producer on Mama Rwanda (2016); and producer on Unforgivable (2018). In 2019, Mary Beth served as producer and executive producer with NBA star Steph Curry on Jump Shot: The Kenny Sailors Story which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival. She also served as an executive producer alongside Katie Couric on Refuge (2021), which won Best Georgia Feature at the Atlanta Film Festival.

In 2022, she produced Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom and executive produced the film’s accompanying soundtrack. Featuring Nobel Peace Prize nominee Opal Lee, the documentary aired on PBS and received the 2023 Wilbur Award. She’s currently serving as an executive producer for The Test, a documentary short about a Ghanaian maintenance worker in Virginia preparing to take his U.S. citizenship test.

A member of the Cru Arts & Culture network, Mary Beth’s greatest passion in filmmaking is hearing how stories impact lives and inspire change. Mary Beth is excited for the Tulsa premiere of The Test at Circle Cinema and thanks all those who helped make these screenings possible. For additional information on her work, please visit: www.MaryBethMinnis.com.