The Lighthouse International Film Society will screen the documentary “The History of Concrete” at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29 at the Long Beach Foundation of the Arts and Sciences in Loveladies.
Tickets are $12 online at lighthouseff.com, or $15 at the door. LIFS members get in free.
Concrete is the most widely used building material and the most-manufactured material in the world.
It has a long history – concrete floors were found in the royal palace of Tiryns, Greece, which dates roughly to 1400 to 1200 BC. The Romans used it extensively from 300 BC to AD 476. The Colosseum was built largely of concrete; the Roman Pantheon, which like the Colosseum is still standing, was built in 128 AD and has the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world.
But how could concrete possibly be funny?
“A film about concrete shouldn’t be this funny, strange, or moving,” says the LIFS, “but (director) John Wilson makes it irresistible. From the creator of HBO’s ‘How to with John Wilson,’ ‘The History of Concrete’ turns an everyday material into a sharp, surprising look at creativity, change and the things people build to last. Nominated for the 2026 Critics Choice Documentary Award for Best Documentary Feature. Don’t miss one of the year’s most original documentaries – reserve your ticket now and see it on the big screen.”
The New York Times described it as a “weird, fun movie.” The Hollywood Reporter called it “hilarious.” It has earned a 97% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The LIFS screening is sponsored by Wally’s LBI, the LBI Foundation, and the Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission. The LIFS is the year-round offshoot of the Lighthouse International Film Festival.
