Movie featuring local resident Gara Lonning is opening

Gara Lonning is shown in the middle

A movie featuring a Decorah woman that was filmed six years ago in western Wisconsin will finally open in movie theatres on Friday.
 
"Fort McCoy" is a fact-based story set during Fort McCoy's period as a POW and relocation camp.   Kate Connor stars in the movie and also wrote, co-directed and co-produced the movie based on her family's experiences.  
 
But Decorah residents will be most interested to know that Gara Lonning, a Decorah native, plays Connor's daughter in the movie.  She won her role over child actors who auditioned in California, Chicago and Canada.
 
The drama was filmed largely at the Norskedalen historic site near Coon Valley, Wisconsin in 2008.
 
The 100-minute long movie will open Friday at two theaters in California, then will be shown starting Thursday,  September 4th at the Marcus Cinema in La Crosse and at the Ho-Chunk Marcus Cinema in Tomah.