“Bike Vessel” at Normal Theater
Date & Time
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Cost
Free
Phone
Pulled pork, ribs, and liverwurst sandwiches — these are a few of the Southern delicacies filmmaker Eric D. Seals grew up eating alongside his father, Donnie Seals, Sr. But after facing death and undergoing the first of three quadruple bypass operations, the elder Seals decided to completely overhaul his life. “Bike Vessel” chronicles Donnie’s new chapter after becoming an avid cyclist, and follows the two men as they set out on an epic bike ride from St. Louis to Chicago.
A cinema-verite, participatory documentary following Seals and filmmaker Eric as they cycle from St. Louis to Chicago, “Bike Vessel” also utilizes archival footage/photographs and animations to take viewers to Seals’ previous unhealthy life and health complications, while giving audiences an intimate look inside a Black working-class family in the Midwest.
By the end of the film, viewers will understand where Seals once was in his health journey, how he made a full recovery, and his everyday commitment and struggle of never going back to where he once was.
“Bike Vessel” screens at the Normal Theater in support of the Town of Normal’s Bicycle Friendly Community initiative, and is free to attend. Donnie Seals, Sr. will be in attendance during the screening and will participate in a Q&A session following the film.