All films 8pm, Admission €8/ €5 concession, season membership €1.50
07/10/2010 - Nowhere Boy Review
14/10/2010 - A Prophet Review
21/10/10 - Chicko Review
28/10/10 - Welcome Review
04/11/10 – A Single Man Review
18/11/10 – The White Ribbon Review
25/11/10 – The Merry Gentleman Review
02/12/10 – Lion’s Den Review
07/10/10 - Nowhere Boy
Debut feature film from British artist Sam Taylor Wood. Growing up in Liverpool in 1955, and raised by his aunt and late uncle, John Lennon is a smart, spirited, but directionless, teen who skips school, steals records, and is told he’s going nowhere. Having brought rock music into the "house of Tchaikovsky," John widens the rift with Aunt Mimi when he seeks out his estranged mother, to whom he forms an immediate attachment. Full of energy and sexuality, his mother encourages John’s interest in music, inflaming the rivalry with her sister, Mimi. In opening the door to a painful past, John seeks refuge in music—a journey that leads to The Beatles.
Its Fab! First rate, a crowd-pleaser beyond question” The Times
14/10/10 – A Prophet
At the outset of his six-year prison sentence, Malik El Djebena, a 19-year-old French Arab, appears no match for the brutal system. Unable to sidestep the rival Corsican and Arab factions, he’s swiftly brought into the Corsican fold by its kingpin, Cesar, who compels him to kill an Arab prisoner. But Malik gradually ingratiates himself with Cesar, learning the language and turning informant. When the influential Cesar secures “leave days” for Malik (to do his bidding), he unwittingly sets up his own downfall. Malik’s criminal persona matures, and servitude turns to mastery.
“The movie of the year” Toby Young, The Times
21/10/10 - Chicko
Chiko wants to make it all the way up to the top. He and his best friend, Tibet, think that money, power and respect is all that counts for two young guys of Turkish
background in the suburban ghettos of Hamburg.
Chiko uses his ruthless wits to catch the attention of Brownie, the drug lord who controls everything the two friends dream of. Chiko fights for Brownie’s trust and respect and eventually becomes Brownie’s right hand in the local drug underworld.
But when Tibet crosses violent Brownie, Chiko finds himself in a dangerous situation. Everything he has risked his life for is at stake: his reputation, his status, and his friendship with Tibet.
“It's hard to take your eyes off Moschitto's bulldog-like antihero - with his dangerous lips and furtive power plays, he makes Vincent Cassel in Mesrine look like Dale Winton's camper twin.” The Times
28/10/10 – Welcome
Welcome is an emotionally affecting drama about intersecting lives, unlikely friendships and the hope of new beginnings. Bilal, (Firat Ayverdi), a 17-year-old Kurdish refugee, has spent the last three months of his life traveling across Europe so he can reunite with his girlfriend, who recently emigrated to England. But his journey comes to an abrupt halt when he is stopped in Calais, on the French side of the Channel. Deciding to swim across, Bilal goes to the local swimming pool to train, where he meets Simon, (Vincent Lindon), a middle-aged swimming instructor in turmoil over his imminent divorce. Despite their differences, the two men discover that they have much in common, and a strong bond emerges between them. Simon takes Bilal under his wing, realizing that he too must risk everything to reach happiness.
04/11/10 – A Single Man
Set in Los Angeles in the early sixties – this is the story of George Falconer, a middle-aged British college professor who is struggling to cope after the death of his partner Jim. Unable to deal with the present, George encounters a series of events that help him to discover if there is any meaning in his life without Jim. George is comforted by his close friend Charley, a 48- year-old beauty dealing with her own demons. A young student of George’s called Kenny is starting to come to terms with his identity, and stalks George because he recognises in him a kindred sole. A Single Man is a romantic story of love interrupted, the isolation that is an inherent aspect of the human condition and, ultimately, the significance of the seemingly insignificant moments in life.
“A sorrowful beauty infuses every frame of this remarkable debut feature from fashion designer Tom Ford… The film is stunningly visualized, with Ford achieving a feeling for light and texture to rival Wong Kar-wai’s… (Julianne)Moore is explosively good… But the filmbelongs to (Colin) Firth. Uncanny at showing the heart crumbling under George’s elegant exterior, he gives the performance of his career. Ford is a true visionary, but it’s his humanity that gives the love story a ravishing, bruised grandeur.” Peter Travers, Rolling Stone.
18/11/10 – The White Ribbon
A village in Protestant northern Germany. 1913-1914. On the eve of World War I. The story of the children and teenagers of a choir run by the village schoolteacher, and their families: the baron, the steward, the pastor, the doctor, the midwife, the tenant farmers. Strange accidents occur and gradually take on the character of a punishment ritual. Who is behind it all?
“Shows the master of austere rigour at the very height of his powers” The Times
25/11/10 – The Merry Gentleman
A woman leaves an abusive relationship to begin a new life in a new city, where she forms an unlikely and ironic relationship with a suicidal hit man (unbeknownst to her). Enter a worn, alcoholic detective to form the third party in a very unusual triangle as this story begins to unfold.
“An edgy, intelligent crime drama. Michael Keaton’s directing is perfect. A superb cast. This is one to see!” Jeffrey Lyons WNBC
02/12/10 – Lion’s Den
After Julia is sent to the penitentiary for the murder of her lover, she gives birth to a son. Bringing up a child in prison is difficult, but Julia understands that the only thing that matters to her is this new being that accompanies her now, that there is no life for her beyond that of her child. Her fellow inmate Marta becomes her ally; her mother Sofía, her opponent. The duel between Julia and her mother expresses the dilemma of what is better for the child, to be brought up next to his mother in prison, or without her, but in freedom.