22nd November 2011. The Ghost (2010); Director: Roman Polanski; Cert 15

This award winning thriller is based on the novel by Robert Harris. After the tragic death of the ghost writer working for British ex- Prime Minister ( Pierce Brosnan), a new writer is hired to compete his memoirs. The project seems doomed from the start as the writer, played by Ewan McGregor, soon finds himself the subject of criminal investigation and the threat of prosecution by the International Criminal Court. Political scandal and evidence of sexual affairs reveal some disturbing discoveries and the realisation that his predecessor may not have died in an accident after all! An edgy and atmospheric thriller showing Polanski at his best.

Xmas Special includes a short film, raffle and mince pies!!!
20th December 2011. Whistle Down the Wind (1961), Director: Bryan Forbes; Cert PG

Nominated for four BAFTA awards, this provocative film has an unusual story line: An injured murderer takes refuge in a remote Lancashire barn where he is protected by three farm children who believe him to be Jesus. The fugitive – called Blakey – does nothing to correct their mistake. Gradually other children in the nearby village become aware that ‘Jesus’ is living amongst them. But when the news reaches an adult the police are called and the fugitive surrenders. The children feel they have betrayed ‘Jesus’ and ask for his forgiveness. Many characters and scenes parallel those found in Christian teachings. Marvellously acted, and depicting the natural innocence of children, the film contrasts childhood idealism with adult pragmatism. The film was adapted into a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber in the late 1990s.

24th January 2012 The African Queen (1951); Director: John Huston. Cert. PG

Set in Africa during the beginning of WW1, this Oscar-winning film stars Humphrey Bogart as Charlie, a coarse and hard-drinking boat captain, and Katherine Hepburn as Rose, a prim missionary. Rose and her brother run a mission which is destroyed in an attack by the Germans, following which her brother dies. She and Charlie then leave the mission in his boat, the ‘African Queen’ and despite disliking each other intensely they soon fall in love. They devise ingenious ways of destroying a German gunboat by converting the ‘Queen’ into a torpedo boat and are faced with other immense obstacles such as dangerous rapids, lack of water and tropical parasites. Based on the 1935 novel of the same name by C. S. Foster, this adventure drama is a truly magnificent film from the Golden Age of cinema.

21st February 2012 Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1967); Director: Mike Nichols. Cert. 15

This powerful film (winner of 5 Academy awards) is set on the campus of a small New England College. George and Martha (played by Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor) are a bitter middle-aged couple who seemingly enjoy engaging in vitriolic verbal battles with each other. A young couple who they invite for drinks get caught up in their marital warfare. The alcohol-fuelled evening escalates into ever more vicious arguments, attempts at seduction, and verbal abuses of George’s and Martha’s putative 16-year old son. Highly controversial, the film challenged the then conventional Hollywood portrayal of marriage as a blissful institution, with outstanding direction and electrifying performances from all the main actors.

20th March 2012 Not Here to be Loved (2005); Director: Stephane Brize. Cert. 15; French (sub-titles)

This charming and perceptive film tells the story of a 50-year-old divorced bailiff who is weary of handling evictions and repossessions, visiting his sour and bitter father, and the general dullness of his life. When he is diagnosed with a minor heart problem and encouraged to take exercise he enrolls in tango lessons, where he meets 40-year-old Francoise who is due to be married to someone else. He and Francoise become close and a subtle story evolves of two people who have never before learned how to love or to be loved. Acted with great depth, this is an intelligent and highly engaging romantic film.

24th April 2012 Accident (1967); Director: Harold Pinter. Cert. 12

Set amongst the spires of Oxford, this film is a study of human weaknesses as six people embark on destroying each other. Stephen (Dirk Bogarde) is a middle-aged Oxford don who is functionally drunk as often as possible and suffering from personal, professional and midlife crises. Two students, William and Anna, travel to his house and have a car accident. William dies but Anna survives, and Stephen tries to shield her knowing she was driving whilst drunk and not having a license. The events leading up to the accident are told in flashbacks, revealing the suspicion and hostility of the protagonists. This engrossing film is beautifully filmed with a masterly screenplay, and many episodes show the rituals of traditional English ways of life.