Chertsey Film Society - Our 2009-2010 Season
Friday 11 September
In Bruges
A stylish and gritty comedy noir follows two sardonic hit men to Bruges as they lie low after bungling a job in London. Starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as the two killers and Ralph Fiennes as their psychopathic boss in Martin McDonagh's fiendishly clever plot. The film is riddled with barmy characters, unusual twists and slapstick violence all leading to an unpredictable conclusion.
18 - 2008 - UK/USA - 107 min - Dir: Martin McDonagh
Friday 2 October
I've Loved You So Long
After 15 years in jail, Juliette (Kristin Scott Thomas) meets her much younger sister Lea, and goes to stay at her home with husband Luc and family. The two sisters hardly know each other, and must work through a difficult re-union in which family and society prejudices are exposed as we gradually learm more about Juliette's crime and the reasons behind it. Many award nominations and a BAFTA winner.
12A - 2008 - France/Germany - 117 min - Dir: Phillippe Claudel
Friday 23 October
Dean Spanley
The gently humorous story of a son and his elderly father. Fisk Senior (Peter O'Toole) is deeply set in his ways and stubbornly refuses to mourn the loss of his other son in the Boer War. At a lecture on reincarnation they encounter Dean Spanley, whose unusual abilities when under the influence of Tokay wine intrigue Fisk Junior, and are to have a profound effect on his father.
U - 2008 - NZ/UK - 100 min - Dir: Toa Fraser
Friday 13 November
Summer
The spirited teenage years of two friends contrast starkly with their bleak adult lives where Shaun (Robert Carlyle) looks after the wheelchair-bound Daz. Shaun spends a lot of time thinking back, especially to one summer at the lake with his first love Katy. But as Daz's health worsens, Shaun must also come to terms with the difficult events in the past that led to their present situation.
15 - 2008 - UK/Germany - 83 min - Dir: Kenneth Glenaan
Friday 11 December
Burn After Reading
A neatly constructed comedy about the American "intelligence" community in Washington DC. The memoirs of an embittered former agent (John Malkovich) fall into the hands of two dim-witted gym employees (Frances McDormand & Brad Pitt), who see them as a "get-rich-quick" opportunity. With George Clooney as an oafish serial womaniser jogging his way around the plot, events just spiral way out of control.
15 - 2008 - USA/UK/France - 96 min - Dir: Ethan Coen & Joel Coen
Friday 8 January
Slumdog Millionaire
The acclaimed story of a Mumbai teenager from the slums who becomes a contestant on the Indian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire". Interrogated under suspicion of cheating, events from his life history explain why he knows the answers. Graphically illustrates both the poverty and riches of modern day India. Won eight Oscars and is well worth a repeat viewing if you've already seen it.
15 - 2008 - UK - 120 min - Dir: Danny Boyle & Loveleen Tandan
Friday 22 January
Fugitive Pieces
The moving story of Jakob, orphaned in the Second World War but rescued and adopted by an archaeologist - who raises him in Greece and then after the war in Canada. As a young man, past experiences continue to haunt him, particularly not knowing the fate of his beloved sister. Through writing and time spent back in Greece he struggles to come to terms with all that happened to him and those he loved.
15 - 2007 - Canada/Greece - 104 min - Dir: Jeremy Podeswa
Friday 12 February
In the Loop
Hugely enjoyable and exuberant political satire written by Iannucci which breaks new ground in British film comedy. Starring Peter Capaldi as the hilariously abusive spin doctor from the parent TV series, it details the run-up to an Iraq-like intervention by governments on both sides of the Atlantic. The US side is 'held up' by James Gandolfini of "Sopranos" fame, as a General urging restraint.
15 - 2009 - UK - 106 min - Dir: Armando Iannucci
Friday 5 March
Cherry Blossoms
This compelling film follows Rudi and Trudi as they visit their self absorbed children, she in the knowledge of his bleak prognosis. However, things take an equally tragic turn as Rudi awakes to find Trudi dead. Overwhelmed with grief, Rudi embarks on a voyage to Tokyo in an attempt to understand and realise his wife's dreams. A quiet, beautiful film about the duality of love and death.
15 - 2008 - Germany/France - 127 min - Dir: Doris Dorrie
Friday 26 March
Return to Goree
The Senegalese musician Youssou N'Dour travels from America, via Europe and back to Africa with multi-ethnic accompanists to perform a concert at the seaside slave castle in Dakar. The mixture of African, Latin, gospel, rock and pop music is a testament to the fact that the slaves found a way to nourish their souls and somehow survive despite a cruel system determined to crush their spirits.
2007 - Switzerland/Luxembourg - 110 min - Dir: Pierre-Yves Borgeaud
Friday 9 April
The Class
Drama about a dedicated teacher working in an inner-city Parisian school. His class is full of challenging adolescents with strong personalities, from differing ethnic and social backgrounds. The tension in the classroom scenes highlights many questions about how education can address the needs of a multi-cultural generation, with the viewer left to draw their own conclusions.
15 - 2008 - France - 128 min - Dir: Laurent Cantet
Friday 30 April
State of Play
This tribute to investigative journalism is a version of the popular and highly regarded TV mini-series of the same name. It stars Russell Crowe as an old-school reporter who uncovers a political conspiracy linked to two suspicious deaths, and Helen Mirren as his not always supportive editor. The film is a rare example of a successful Hollywood adaptation of a British TV original.
12A - 2009 - USA/UK/France - 127 min - Dir: Kevin McDonald