‘Breaking Balls’ will get showing in Mentor

Atlas Cinemas Great Lakes Mall theater will host a oneweek run of the film-festival hit “Breaking Balls,” beginning Jan. 12 at 7:30 p.m.

The film was shown at the 2017 Cleveland International Film Festival, where it sold out three screens in one night. It was also shown at the 2017 Chagrin Documentary Film Festival.

The documentary was directed by Wickliffe native John Vourlis, a Cleveland State film instructor and USC film school alum.

“Breaking Balls” is a 75-minute documentary that follows three individuals involved in the game of bocce with the background being the 30th Anniversary Cleveland Challenge Cup of Bocce tournament. The Challenge Cup is one of the largest bocce events in North America, and is held every year at the Wickliffe Italian-American Club the last weekend of August.

The film will run Jan. 1218 twice daily at the Great Lakes Mall Stadium 16 theater.

Vourlis and several of the stars of the documentary will be in attendance for the Jan. 12 premiere.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to have ‘Breaking Balls’ showing on the big screen one more time, especially here in Cleveland,” said Vourlis.

Said Chris Baxter, director of operations at Atlas Cinemas: “Atlas Cinemas is committed to serving the local community. We are proud to feature this amazing documentary made locally by the talented filmmaker John Vourlis. Through the theatrical screening folks will get a real inside look at the competitive world of bocce, told by the people that live it in our community.”