A selection is given below

REBECCA - SEPTEMBER 2009

In the Bar with Jeremy Caddy

It was good to see an almost packed house for last month's showing of the great classic, Rebecca, directed by Alfred Hitchcock. At the end of the evening members of the audience were reluctant to leave the cinema - they seemed to want to savour the experience that they had just had! When we eventually got to the bar the conversation about the film was in full flood.
Although some members felt that the film was now quite dated most were enamoured by the acting, the cinematography and the suspense created by Hitchcock. For those who had not seen the film - or read the book by Daphne du Maurier - it was a thrilling evening. For those who knew the plot or had seen the film before it was a marvellous evening of nostalgia.
Altogether, a great film and shown, most appropriately, as part of Bracknell Film Society's 50th Year celebrations.

TOKYO SONATA - JUNE 2009

In the Bar with Jeremy Caddy -

In contrast to May's classic film, the Film Society, in June, showed a very contemporary Japanese film, Tokyo Sonata. This received mixed reactions from the small audience - but provoked a lot of discussion immediately outside the cinema before we even got into the bar! Some members loved the slow, lingering pace of the film but for others the evening was too long and drawn out. We would all have loved to have had someone with first hand experience of Japan to answer the many questions we had about life in a Japanese city. For example, were the pressures felt by all members of the family portrayed in the film characteristic of Japanese culture?

Thoughts about the ending of the film were divided almost equally among members. About half thought the ending was a dream and that all the members of the family had died whereas others strongly believed that the hopeful ending was real! For me, the playing of Debussy's Clair de la Lune was a magical and moving moment that brought calm to the end of a tragic story. The carefully written programme notes, produced by Ros Stephenson, needed to be read and re-read to help us all understand the thinking behind this film but overall it was a very satisfactory evening and an excellent choice by the Society.

NANOOK OF THE NORTH - MAY 2009

In the Bar with Julia Vickers

Our members' 50th anniversary selection for May, the 1922 silent classic Nanook of the North, was a very special event in that we were fortunate to have pianist Jillian Jenkins to provide a live piano accompaniment. The audience was full of praise for how Jill approached presenting music that matched the mood of the film. The film itself was acclaimed as a remarkable record of a vanished way of life and an absorbing piece of documentary filmmaking. The achievement in photography (especially in such inhospitable conditions) and skilful editing were felt to have made for a beautifully composed film that never dragged and held the viewers' interest throughout.
Amazement was expressed at the harshness of the lives of Nanook and his family, yet the closeness of the extended family unit resulting from this was remarked upon as being very positive. The inter-reliance on each other for daily survival did not seem to get in the way of children being allowed to play and behave as children.
Two audience members from the North of the UK were pleased finally to have a shared family saying explained to them - 'You look like Nanook of the North!' - used to describe someone huddled in a heavy coat, hood pulled around their face ready to brave the cold weather.
Altogether a much-appreciated choice by the film society.

THE SILENCE OF LORNA - APRIL 2009

In the Bar with Jeremy Caddy

Last month we screened two films, the first was a 9 minute short called Cubs that received mixed reactions from members. It was easy to dislike this film because of the senseless cruelty and loutish behaviour of the street gang. Putting this aside, it was felt that this was an interesting film about street life and involved some clever photography. One member spotted, in the credits, that no animal had been harmed in the making the film - this made us all feel better!

The second film was The Silence of Lorna and this again was controversial and produced some lively discussion in the bar after the showing. Nearly everybody was in praise of the lead actress - Arta Dobroshi - who must have appeared in virtually every shot and was outstanding in the way she portrayed the emotions of a young women caught up in a drama of sham marriages, an unexpected pregnancy and ruthless mobsters. The film was all engrossing and kept most members on the edge of their seats but some found the plot confusing and several were upset at the abrupt ending. Overall, however, it was felt that this was a worthy film for the Society to have chosen and the programme notes assisted greatly in helping us to understand the thinking behind the plot and the film's production.

TAKING LIBERTIES - JANUARY 2009

In the Bar with Jeremy Caddy

Last month the Society screened two films, a short entitled Spider and a contentious documentary, Taking Liberties. Most people enjoyed Spider even though virtually the whole auditorium jumped out of their seats at the end and the climax of the film! During the next 105 minutes they had the opportunity to calm down as they watched a sobering film about the legacy of the Blair years on this country's civil liberties. For some members this film made a deep impression and also left a few fuming. Some felt it was rather biased and one member said that it had a "good message but was a bad film". Nevertheless, although the audience was modest, nearly everybody enjoyed the evening and we all went home with a lot to think about!