On July 15, AFSA invites all members to a free screening of the 1949 film State Department: File 649. This slightly-campy classic – starring William Lundigan, Virginia Bruce, and Jonathan Hale – is one of the very few films that actually makes an attempt to portray life in the Foreign Service without irony. It tells the story of two members of the Foreign Service stationed in Mongolia and their dealings with a warlord who has sinister intentions.

In an article in this month’s issue of The Foreign Service Journal, Donald M. Bishop takes a humorous look at how the 1949 film relates to modern-day life in the Foreign Service, and discusses how “Foreign Service viewers of the film may also erupt in laughter at the bulky tape players in the language course at FSI; gasp at the short list of names on the AFSA Memorial Plaque; and wonder what it was like to serve in one of the consulates in China where the entire staff consisted of a consul, a vice consul, a secretary and a Foreign Service National.”

To read the entire article, "It Deserved an Oscar," from the July-August issue, click here.

Members are welcome to bring their own movie snacks, but popcorn will be provided. This movie screening will take place at AFSA headquarters, 2101 E St NW, and begins at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15. (The movie's running time is 86 minutes so the screening will conclude by 6:30 p.m.) Please RSVP to events@afsa.org.