Central Cinema is pleased to be hosting a free screening of this warm, plaintive meditation on mortality – starring now-departed legends Harry Dean Stanton and David Lynch – presented by family in memory of Knoxville film enthusiast Cale Williams (2002-2025). Friends and strangers alike are invited to hear a few brief words about Cale and enjoy one of his favorite films.

A 90-year-old atheist (Harry Dean Stanton) has outlived and out-smoked his contemporaries, and as he comes to terms with his own mortality, he searches for ever-elusive enlightenment.

“A sobering and life-affirming meditation on the barebones truths of existence.” – Cale Williams, from his 2025 Letterboxd review of LUCKY

A few words about Cale from his mother Kristin:

Cale reflected on the world around him through many avenues but most often through the arts. He expressed himself through painting, drawing, creating music, playing guitar, photography and spending time journaling while out in the natural world. Over the last several years he specifically found a love for obscure films that evoked emotion or left him to ponder more existential questions. Connecting with the feeling of a film or being pushed to confront an aspect of life or the human condition he had not considered seemed to engage his mind in a way that provoked compassionate thought and empathy.

Films by director, David Lynch, represented much of what he connected with in cinema. He was drawn to the surreal subject matters with a more of a lens on imagery and sound. Lynch adeptly pushed past the boundaries of dialogue found in more traditional films. Cale spent time writing up detailed Letterboxd reviews from the eclectic films he watched and in his poetic and often philosophical summaries gave nothing short of honest critiques. LUCKY was a film that moved him greatly as evidenced by his review.

Friends repeatedly say Cale always listened intently as they worked through their own life challenges and that he had a way of bringing humor into most social gatherings. Against the backdrop of friendships and artistic endeavors, Cale quietly suffered through depression. He lost his battle with this deceptive mental illness on October 19th 2025. He left behind so much beauty in his art and writings. Those who know and love him will forever be grateful for the time that we had with him. Having time together to appreciate a film like LUCKY that speaks so much to the beauty of life and loss feels to us like a meaningful way to honor Cale.

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