Dean Spanley (August 2012)

chosen by Nigel

The film
An adapted novella, set in Edwardian England. Henslowe Fisk has a difficult relationship with his father, Horatio, who seemingly refuses to acknowledge the deaths of his younger son, Harrington or, subsequently, his own wife. Henslowe meets and is drawn to Dean Spanley, and watches as he almost takes on another personality when drinking Tokay wine. Gradually Henslowe and his ‘conveyancer’ friend realise that the father’s boyhood dog ‘Wag’ has been reincarnated and is now Dean. One evening the four men meet and drink; Dean recalls life as a dog, and explains how he came to leave his beloved master. The story brings fresh understanding and improves the relationship between Henslowe and his father.

What we thought
I came in towards the end of the evening and was told – ‘we all liked it – there wasn’t really anything to discuss’. Go, Nigel! We liked the film’s strong visual style and thought the acting was fantastic – especially Peter O’Toole as father Fisk.

All About My Mother (July 2012)

Chosen by Bruce and Susan

The film
Manuela’s son, Esteban, is on the verge of manhood when he ‘s killed in a car crash. Manuela learns Esteban had yearned to know who his father was. She travels to Barcelona in search of her son’s father - and into the world of transvestite prostitution, the theatre, and drugs. Manuela befriends Rosa, a young nun, who’s pregnant - by Lola, the father of Esteban, who is now dying of AIDS. When Rosa dies in childbirth Manuela adopts her child. At the end of the film there is some redemption when we learn the baby has not inherited the virus, and they return to Barcelona to live with Rosa’s parents.
The director, Almodóvar, dedicated this film "To all actresses who have played actresses. To all women who act. To men who act and become women. To all the people who want to be mothers. To my mother."

What we thought
A film about tough lives, filled with love, pain and rejection. Some of us found it too stilted. Some thought it was heartening. On the first viewing, most of us missed the many visual and thematic references to other films – All about Eve, A Streetcar Named Desire, Opening Night.

Submarine (June 2012)

Chosen by Tony and Lucy

The film
1986: Oliver Tate is a teenager in Swansea living with his deeply unhappy parents. His father’s depressed and his mother’s chasing – and being chased by – the odious neighbour, Graham. School’s nasty and brutish, dominated by bullies and with ineffectual teachers. Rather unexpectedly, Oliver is picked up by the girl he adores and doesn’t expect to be noticed by – Jordana. In an angst-ridden plot shaped by dark humour, boy meets girl, loses girl, and gets her back again. Probably.

The response
We enjoyed this film’s slightly unreal realism: the horrible school scenes, the 1980s fashions, the pain of the teenager trying to get it right, missing the mark, trying again. The submerged emotions and currents. And, not knowing whether Oliver and Jordana get back together or not; whether they will eventually escape Swansea or not; and whether his parents will really cope in the future.

Two days in Paris (May 2012)

Chosen by Juliet and Andi

The film
Frenchwoman Marion returns from New York with her American boyfriend for two days. Jack is unsettled by Marion’s quirky family, her friends and former lovers; Marion wrestles with her own insecurities about love, relationships, and her impulsive nature. One stressful, tearful evening they seem on the verge of splitting up, at the last minute realising it’s worth sticking together rather than running away from each other. The film was written, produced, directed and edited by the lead actor Julie Delpy who claimed:’ It's a very modern story about the complexities of being a woman and not being completely consumed by your partner."

The response
A couple of us had watched the film previously and found it funny and relevant; the second viewing seemed flatter and shallower. Even so, it touched on relevant issues of identity, emotional distance and commitment. A couple (of the men?) thought the film didn’t work and was no more than a Julie Delpy promotion, trying unsuccessfully to emulate Woody Allen. Bruce was incensed by the taxi driver, in a scene he interpreted as unnecessarily racist – others disagreed, seeing the scene as an illustration of the realistically dark side of a romanticised city, and Marion’s feistiness.

Tinker Tailor Solder Spy (April 2012)

Chosen by Danny and Catherine

The film
A modern (2011) film reeking of the 1970s: espionage in the cold war; death behind the iron curtain; the constrictions of a private boy's boarding school; dark tension in the streets of London. Based on John Le Carre's novel, it received three Academy Award nominations including Best Actor for Gary Oldman (George Smiley).

Hidden (March 2012)

Chosen by Jeani and Tom

The film
An Austrian-French 2005 film (originally Caché). Georges is a tv literary chat-show host, his wife Anne works in publishing and their 12-year-old son Pierrot is 'on the verge of puberty'. They begin to receive surveillance videotapes of their home, delivered anonymously. The tapes become more complex and lead George to the home of Majid, who he knew as a child. It emerges that Majid's parents had worked for George's wealthy family. They died in the Paris massacre of Algerians in 1961, and George's parents planned to adopt Majid; but six-year-old George became jealous and manipulated his departure. To this day, George is defensively guilty about this episode.

The response
What a memorable film! One of us 'didn't like it'; some had mixed views; some enjoyed it. But is that how we judge a film? Everyone was intrigued by the plot; the characters; the agonisingly long, lingering shots. Confused, powerful-victim-in-denial-Georges; bemused, angry, distant Anne; deeply unhappy Majid. How do their confusions translate to their sons' lives? (We might think we know, until the final lingering shot which confuses the viewer even more). Who's watching whom? When are we - the viewer - watching 'reality' and when are we watching a 'film'? Whether it's how one is feeling, or a major human rights abuse such as the Paris massacre of Algerians in 1961- how complicit is anyone in hiding the truth?

Pleasantville (Feb 2012)

Chosen by Nigel

The film
Introverted geek David and his extrovert, shallow sister Jennifer find themselves transported to 'Plesantville', a black-and-white 1958 sitcom. They agree to stay 'in character' but can't help bringing insights, new thinking and thus - gasp! - colour to the town. Along with liberated sexuality, the townspeople also discover restrictive laws, racial ('colour') segregation and hate crimes. Once the most resistant citizen becomes 'coloured' equilibrium is restored - with a comfortable amount of uncertainty. David and Jennifer also find themselves - he has learnt how to stand up to bullies and returns to the modern world; she realises she wants an education and stays behind, at least for now.