Plans are well advanced for our 2019-2020 season. We believe this will be our 74th year, although we did miss one or two seasons in the middle somewhere when the committee fell apart (it happens). The film selection panel has chosen the main programme for next year. This time there will be 13 new films announced in advance, plus two to be chosen in the course of the season to [cont'd.]
It was good to see members at the recent Cheltenham International Film Festival. It was an ambitious event, with a total of 31 feature films of various lengths, genres, vintages and provenances being shown around the town. The venues used included Cineworld, the Parabola Arts Centre, the Frog & Fiddle and the Wilson Art Gallery. There were visits from Mike Leigh, Steven Berkoff, Josie Rourke, Carl Hunter and several Polish [cont'd.]
The jet-black comedy of Under The Tree was not to everyone’s taste. It achieved an appreciation score of 74.66 per cent. Here are some of the comments: “Very dark but hugely entertaining.” “Entertainment from start to end.” “It’s hard to beat the Icelanders for really good violence.” “Icelandic humour at its best.” “Loved the dark humour.” “As black as they come!” “Black, black, dark, dark – and funny!” “Very funny. [cont'd.]
There was a warm response to Cold War, which scored 88.21 per cent. Some comments: “A brilliant film in every way. Superb.” “Perfect piece of film-making.” “One of the best films I’ve ever seen. Spirited, visually beautiful, so moving.” “By far the best film of the season.” “Best film this season. Refreshing to see a film in b/w.” “Atmospheric and enchanting. Wonderful black and white.” “Loved the black and white, [cont'd.]
The Other Side of Hope was well liked, achieving an appreciation score of 80.71 per cent. Here are a few of the comments: “A subtle blend of humour and politics with an extremely powerful ending. Telling!” “A true mix of dark and light, cruel and kind. Brilliant.” “A serious topic handled so sensitively and touchingly, with humour. Lovely.” “The right balance of humour and pathos (unlike some recent films at [cont'd.]
The Third Murder received mixed reviews and an overall appreciation score of 70.77 per cent. Here are a few of the comments: “Best this year.” “Really interesting procedural crime drama. Really makes you think.” “A fascinating puzzle of truth, motive, justice, society.” “A complex investigation into the nature of truth.” “Gripping, thoughtful and enigmatic.” “Undoubtedly the most enigmatic/perplexing/moving film ever seen.” “Amazing filming, capturing all the emotion.” “Powerful story, well [cont'd.]
Sad to see that Bibi Andersson has died at the age of 83. Some CFS members will have seen her in The Seventh Seal recently, but she was cast in no fewer than 13 Ingmar Bergman films, graduating from ingenue to tortured soul in the process. Recommended: Wild Strawberries, Persona and Scenes from a Marriage.
Plymouth Arts Centre lost funding last year and is having to relocate its cinema to a new venue in the city’s College of Art. It’s currently trying to raise funds through the Crowdfunder website. If any CFS members have a connection with film in Plymouth and would like to help the city’s only indy cinema to reach its target of £20,000, there is more information on its Crowdfunder page.
Sad to see that Nic Roeg has died. As well as directing the brilliant Don’t Look Now, Walkabout and many others, he was also the cinematographer on John Schlesinger’s wonderful Far From The Madding Crowd and François Truffaut’s Fahrenheit 451, which we showed last year.
After a long and frustrating hiatus, the Gloucester Guildhall once more has a website. As well as details of forthcoming films and other attractions, the site allows you to buy tickets online. For those who don’t know it, the Guildhall, in Eastgate Street, shows a range of art-house, foreign-language and non-commercial films as well as more populist fare. The site can be found at gloucesterguildhall.co.uk.
Cheltenham Film Society can be contacted by email (cfs@cheltfilmsoc.org.uk) or telephone (07528 746750). We are also on Facebook and Twitter.
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