One Maryland One Book Movie Matinee – Quest: An Intimate Portrait of an African-American Family
Music, family, and community are core themes in the 2026 One Maryland One Book selection, No Sense in Wishing by Lawrence Burney.
The same themes are at the heart of Quest: An Intimate Portrait of an African-American Family, a documentary that tells the story of a family in Philadelphia. An Official Selection at the Sundance Film Festival and Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, Quest will deepen your exploration of how music, family, and community intersect.
Adults (ages 18+)
Please note: this unrated documentary contains profanity and themes related to substance use, gun violence, and grief. Viewer discretion is advised.
Quest: An Intimate Portrait of an African-American Family
2017
1hr 44min
Summary: This New York Times Critics' Pick, filmed with vérité intimacy for nearly a decade, is a moving portrait of the Rainey family living in North Philadelphia. Beginning at the dawn of the Obama presidency, Christopher "Quest" Rainey, and his wife, Christine'a "Ma Quest" raise a family while nurturing a community of hip hop artists in their home music studio. It's a safe space where all are welcome, but this creative sanctuary can't always shield them from the strife that grips their neighborhood.
Epic in scope, QUEST, is a vivid illumination of race and class in America, and a testament to love, healing and hope.
This program is inspired by the One Maryland One Book 2026 selection No Sense in Wishing by Lawrence Burney.
While you do not have to read the book to attend this program, we encourage you to consider it! Starting August 20, free copies of the book will be available at all KCPL locations while supplies last. The book is also available to be borrowed with your library card. To place a hold on a copy of No Sense in Wishing (available in multiple formats), visit our catalog.
About One Maryland One Book
One Maryland One Book (OMOB) is Maryland’s first-ever statewide community reading project and is the signature program of the Maryland Center for the Book at Maryland Humanities. Initiated in fall 2008, this year-long project culminates with three months of public programs and is designed to bring together diverse people in communities across the state through the shared experience of reading the same book. Readers are then invited to participate in book-centered discussions and other events at public libraries, high schools, colleges and universities, museums, bookstores, and community and senior centers.
One Maryland One Book is a program of Maryland Humanities. For more information, please visit One Maryland One Book.
Sponsors & Partners of One Maryland One Book
One Maryland One Book is sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities, Institute of Museum and Library Services, Maryland State Library Agency, Deutsch Foundation, Baker Foundation, BGE An Exelon Company, and Baltimore County Commission on Arts and Sciences.