October 7th 2011
My Afternoons with Margueritte (France 2010). 82 mins. Dir: Jean Becker. Cert 15
Sponsor: The Gogan Family
Remember Jack Lemmon & Walther Matthau, cinema's original 'odd couple?' Well, here comes another version. Germain is a semi-literate odd-job man with an eccentric mother, while Margueritte is an elderly woman he meets in a park. She goes there to read, he goes there to count and talk to pigeons (yes, really!) As their friendship develops, he reveals his lack of education and Margueritte uses her love of books to help him overcome his handicap. The characters are everything in this film and in the hands of Gerard Depardieu (Germain) & Gisele Casadesus (Margueritte) they make this a charming entertainment.
Starring: Gerard Depardieu, Gisele Casadesus
October 28th 2011
Of Gods and Men (France 2010). 121 mins. Dir: Xavier Beauvois. Cert 15
Sponsor: The Lincoln Academy
This film won the Grand Prix at Cannes in 2010 and it's easy to see why. Set in Algeria it's the story of a group of Cistercian monks who have to decide whether to stay and serve the community that has grown to depend on them or save themselves in the face of life threatening events. It's a beautifully realised work, based on a true story, that explores issues of faith, commitment and common humanity, with a final sequence that lingers long in the memory.
Starring: Lambert Wilson, Michael Lonsdale, Olivier Rabourdin
October 29th 2011 (Saturday)
London River (UK/France 2009). 88 mins. Dir: Rachid Bouchareb. Cert 12A
Sponsor: Helptoday - Fuel Injection Engineers
The first film to explore the London bombings in July 2005 is a sensitive account of the lives of 2 people from completely different backgrounds who are brought together when trying to find out what has happened to their children. Elizabeth is a farmer from Guernsey, Ousmane a forester originally from Mali but now a resident in France. Fear and suspicion are gradually gradually replaced by shared respect as they are united by events. This moving story is enhanced by the skill of Rachid Bouchareb's direction.
Starring: Brenda Blethyn, Sotigui Kouyate
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