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Gloucester Guildhall is home to the Gloucester Film Society. The society looks forward to welcoming all who have an interest in good cinema from a range of types, countires of origin and periods; from the classics to the unusual and from recent titles you may have missed at its 56th Season, which starts on 30th September 2008. A fair number of the features in the 2008-09 season were chosen from suggestions made by members.
Don't be put off by "film society", we don't get into deep discussions about the meaning and style of the films, though, should you wish, you are welcome to discuss this in the bar afterwards. We're just keen to see interesting and well made films.
The film society's president is Gloucester born actor, writer and film star Simon Pegg.
Simon had this to say about the Guildhall:-
"I will never forget how proud I was to be able to bring my first
film, Shaun Of The Dead, back home to Gloucester and show it at the
Guildhall. It's a very special memory."
The film society will be screening the programme of films listed below during the 2008/09 season.
All screenings take place at 7.45pm on Tuesday evenings in the Cinema at the Guildhall in Eastgate Street, Gloucester, and will be preceded by and necessary announcements, and a short sequence of advertising and trailers of forthcoming films at the Guildhall. Shows are usually at fortnightly intervals.
We look forward to welcoming old and new members to the 56th season. Membership prices will be announced shortly, and will entitle you to admission to all 12 shows and the chance to buy guest tickets at £4 (to be obtained from the society in advance). You may also obtain a discount on films in the Guildhall's general film programme (subject to exceptions) - please show your membership card at the box office.
Under our arrangement with the Guildhall, GFS shows are open to the public at its regular box office rates (£5.50 full price, £4.50 concession price, £4 Film Society members). GFS membership is excellent value if you want to see 6 or more of the films.
If you need any further information about the society, wish to join or are a member and wish to purchase advance guest tickets, please contact Frank Colls on 01452 538366 or email frank.colls@tinyonline.co.uk. GFS leaflets will be available at the Guildhall and local libraries.
Gloucester Film Society is a member of the British Federation of Film Societies - www.bffs.org.uk/
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2008/09 programme
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October 28th
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The Yacoubian Building - Omaret Yacoubian
Egypt 2006, Dir: Marwan Hamed
Its 1990 and the occupants of a Cairo apartment building live out their various lives. The narrative is mainly soap opera but reflects the uneasy balance of a society wavering between the past and the present, between Islam and the West.
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November 11th
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Jules et Jim
France 1961, Dir: Francois Truffaut
Two young writers (Jules and Jim) are obsessed with a stone carving of a woman. They meet Catherine, the stone figure personified, and are both enchanted. As the years go by, their interwoven lives are beautifully portrayed by Truffaut and his cinematographer.
A memorable performance by Jeanne Moreau.
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November 25th
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Le Jour Se Leve
France 1939, Dir: Marcel Carne
Factory worker François (Jean Gabin) is a cornered man. Also titled Daybreak, this dark film sees a murderer hiding in an attic as the police lay siege. He paces the room, he remembers his past, he smokes, he awates the morning.
A classic of poetic realism.
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December 9th
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Love and Death
France/USA 1975, Dir: Woody Allen
Allen is a Russian aristocrat forced into the army to help fight Napoleon in this spoof of Tolstoy's War and Peace. Joined in the comic adventures by his distant cousin (Diane Keaton), and with great gags and typical Allen philosophising, this early work still holds up
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January 13th '09
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Out of the Past
USA 1947, Dir: Jacques Tourneur
Robert Mitchum plays a laconic private eye hired by a gangster to find his double crossing mistress. The convoluted plot involves greed and deceit, love and murder.
A classic black and white thriller, regarded as one of the seminal works of film noir.
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January 27th
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Bread and Tulips - Pane e Tulipani
Italy/Switzerland 2000, Dir: Silvo Soldini
A woman, annoyed with her unfaithful husband, escapes to Venice and falls in with a crowd of oddballs. The romantic atmosphere inspires her to a new enjoyment of life but the husband wants her back.
An enjoyable bittersweet comedy which was a great success in Italy.
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February 10th
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Twin Sisters - De Tweeling
Netherlands/Luxembourg 2002, Dir Ben Sombogaart
When their parents die in 1925, two 6 year old Dutch girls are separated and sent away to embark on quite different lives. Meeting after some years, they find that they are on opposite sides of a cultural and political divide.
The struggle for reconciliation makes for a fine and engaging film.
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February 24th
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Tarnation
USA 2003, Dir: Jonathan Caouette
A real life self portrait of a young man taken from a range of documentary material - snapshots, Super-8, video diaries, early short films and more.
Caouette's unconventional life with his schizophrenic mother makes for some disturbing scenes, but the techniques, the concepts and the deeper themes are well worth exploring.
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March 10th
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Offside
Iran 2006, Dir: Jafar Panahi
A group of Iranian girls are football fanatics but, in a male oriented society, they cannot attend matches. Disguised, they sneak into a 2006 World Cup qualifier but are soon found out.
A gentle and humorous tale offering a fresh view of a society in the midst of cultural change.
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March 24th
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Bombon: El Perro
Argentina/Spain 2004, Dir: Carlos Sorin
An out of work Patagonian mechanic is given a dog (Bombon) as payment for a favour and his life starts to look up. Many adventures and much fun ensue but things can and do go wrong!
A nicely observed and light hearted film
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