Programme 2005 / 2006

Thirty Seventh Season

7th September, 2005 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
5th October, 2005 THE STATION AGENT
19th October, 2005 THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
16th November, 2005 THE MISSING
7th December, 2005 FINDING NEVERLAND
18th January, 2006 AE FOND KISS...
Saturday 28th January, 2006 See "News"
8th February, 2006 LOOK AT ME
8th March, 2006 RED LIGHTS
5th April, 2006 NOWHERE IN AFRICA

Programme from 2002/2003
Programme from 2003/2004
Programme from 2004/2005
Programme from 2006/2007
Programme from 2007/2008
Programme for 2008/2009

7th September 2005 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (USA 2004) was replaced by A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT

MICHAEL RADFORD has directed an elegant reworking of Shakespeare’s play concentrating on the complex motivation of a Shylock convincingly portrayed by AL PACINO. He successfully overcomes the handicap of his star status with a restrained but powerful performance. JEREMY IRONS and JOSEPH FIENNES provide British support.

5th October 2005 THE STATION AGENT (USA 2003)

TOM McCARTHY’s debut feature is an American independent film which follows the tradition of low budget indie movies in exploring the complexities of small-town American life, concentrating on character rather than spectacle and observation rather than action. It scored a deserved success at the Sundance Festival in 2003.

19th October 2005 THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES (UK/USA/France 2004)

In 1952, medical student Ernesto Guevara (later known as Che) set out with a friend on an unpredictable Norton to explore South America. WALTER SALLES, the master Brazilian director, tells the story of the adventures of the contrasted pair in a charming, enlightening and visually compelling road movie. The extremes of society they encounter are subtly revealed against a background of the extremes of the physical geography.

16th November 2005 THE MISSING (USA 2003)

This is one of a number of good modern Westerns which have been made recently. Big-time director RON HOWARD remembers his own early acting involvement in the genre with a classic theme and a thrilling reconstruction of the times. But CATE BLANCHETT and TOMMY LEE JONES give a depth of characterisation reflecting modem insights.

7th December 2005 FINDING NEVERLAND (USA 2004)

An account of how J.M.Barrie came to write Peter Pan. MARC FORSTER has made an unashamedly emotionally charged fantasy of a film appropriate to the subject. He has collected a fine cast including JOHNNY DEPP, KATE WINSLET, DUST1N HOFFMAN and JULIE CHRISTIE (effortlessly scene-stealing).

18th January 2006 AE FOND KISS ... (UK/Germany/Italy/Spain/France 2004)

KEN LOACH takes on the theme of racial tensions which most recent films have tried to explore with a light touch. Loach is never less than serious and realistic with plenty of ominous warnings to make us pause, but this Scottish love story is presented with enough delicacy, humour and warmness of heart, in typical Burns style, to give us all hope.

8 February 2006 LOOK AT ME (France/Italy 2004)

AGNES JAOUI stars with her husband JEAN-PIERRE BACRI in their own film, which won them a screen-writing prize at Cannes, about a successful Parisian novelist and publisher whose self-centred arrogance is fawningly accepted by lesser mortals. In spite of all his over-weight aspiring-singer daughter longs for his approval. Witty and French.

8th March 2006 RED LIGHTS (France 2003)

Taut and French. CEDRIC KAHN takes this Georges Simenon novel back from the States to France. A domestic road movie slowly turns into a nightmare. JEAN-PIERRE DARROUSSIN, normally a reliable support player, takes his chance to hog centre-stage as his character self-destructs under the cold gaze of the icy CAROLE BOUQUET.

5th April 2006 NOWHERE IN AFRICA (Germany 2001)

Winner of the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2003, it is based on an autobiography by a German Jew. A young lawyer moves from Germany to Kenya with his wife and daughter before the outbreak of war. Although safe from the Holocaust their problems are by no means over. Directed by CAROLINE LINK.

Last Year's Programme