Thursday 26th January 2012– 7.00 for 7.30pm

"The Way Back"
(2010)

Director Peter Weir’s harrowing epic is based on the book by Slawomir Rawicz, in which seven prisoners escape from a Russian gulag in Siberia in 1941 and set out on a gruelling 4,500-mile trek to freedom across some of the world’s harshest terrain. Along the way they meet a teenage orphan girl (beautifully played by "The Lovely Bones" star Saoirse Ronan), who joins them. Their efforts are almost certainly doomed, and not all will reach their destination, yet they would rather die as free men than as Stalin’s prisoners. Jim Sturgess, Colin Farrell and Ed Harris all give fine performances, and the scenery is breathtaking. As a technical achievement the film is astonishing.  Director of Photography Russell Boyd takes us from icy Siberian wilderness through snowy forest, empty desert and eventually to the Himalayas.  The film is not only visually stunning but also unexpectedly moving and resonant, and stands as a major achievement by one of the greatest directors of our time. “Visually magnificent and totally enthralling -The Daily Telegraph.133 mins.

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Thursday 23rd February – 7.00 for 7.30pm

“Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy”
(2011)

Swedish Director Tomas Alfredson's marvellously chill, moody, layered, atmospheric, highly involving and critically acclaimed adaptation of John Le Carré's Cold War thriller features a delicate performance from Gary Oldman as British spymaster George Smiley. Rehired in secret by the government, his task is to find the Soviet double agent whom they fear is working in the British Secret Intelligence Service. This is a beautifully crafted, dense puzzle of anxiety, paranoia, and espionage, with a first-rate supporting cast

including Colin Firth, John Hurt and Benedict Cumberpatch.“One of the best-looking, best-acted spy movies we've seen in a long while”-Film 4.  “What a treat this film is, and what an unexpected thrill”-The Guardian.  “A superb adaptation of John le Carré's brilliant, intricate Cold War spy novel, the film is a triumph”- Daily Telegraph.  128 mins.

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Thursday 29th March – 7.00 for 7.30pm

“A Canterbury Tail”
(1944)

Powell and Pressburger’s strange and haunting WW2 updating of Chaucer impresses as an affectionate and lyrical celebration of a disappearing England, dreamily capturing the Kent countryside and the need to retain our links between past and present. It is also a study of a rural community resistant to change, personified in the film by the local JP (Eric Portman). Two army sergeants, one British (Dennis Price), one American (Sgt.John Sweet) and a landgirl (Sheila Sims) arrive in his Kentish village near Canterbury  and set out to discover the identity of a mysterious character who is pouring glue on the hair of local girls who fraternise with servicemen. Now held in great affection, this is a quirky, strangely appealing, sweet and melancholy piece of highly creative wartime film-making which also captures a lost age and innocence. Not to be missed. 119 mins.

Thursday 26th April – 7.00 for 7.30pm

“True Grit” (2011)

Joel and Ethan Coen’s remake of the 1969 John Wayne western is a more faithful version of Charles Portis’ tale of Mattie Ross (a highly-praised performance from newcomer Hailee Steinfeld), an  exceptionally mature and level-headed 14-year-old from Arkansas, who sets out to track down her father’s killer with the help of  an ageing, boozy, one-eyed US Marshal named ‘Rooster’ Cogburn (Jeff Bridges), with occasional interference from Texas ranger, La Boeuf (Matt Damon). Beautifully photographed by Roger Deakins, this is an impressive film full of fine performances, particularly from 13-year-old Haille Steinfeld. “Solid, classy entertainment with something for practically everyone, from casual film fans to Coen brothers obsessives” -Film 4.  “Terrific: tough, exciting, funny, gorgeous and bewitchingly acted, this is darn close to perfection”- Empire Magazine. 110 mins.

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Thursday 31st May – 7.00 for 7.30pm

“The Young Victoria” (2009)

We celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee weekend with a screening of the story of the early life of the only other British monarch to achieve a Diamond Jubilee. Director Jean-Marc Vallée takes the helm for this look at the turbulent early years of Queen Victoria (a radiant performance by Emily Blunt), who was crowned at the age of 18, and her fairytale marriage to Prince Albert (an excellent Rupert Friend), whose untimely death would later prompt  her into a life of mournful seclusion. Sterling support is given by Paul Bettany (as Lord Melbourne), Miranda Richardson and Jim Broadbent, who head a fine ensemble cast. Graham King and Martin Scorsese have produced a film, penned by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes, which strives for complete authenticity.“Friend, as Albert, is this film's secret weapon - ardent, subtly proud, a little shy, and a man with an intellectual philosophy he intends to preserve. The film glows as it gets to know him, and your resistance, like Victoria's, melts away”- Daily Telegraph.  105 mins.

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Thursday 28th June- 7.00 for 7.30pm

“Morris A Life With Bells On ” (2009)

Jerry Crossley and Kits Coty Morris show us the real thing (ie: Real Live Morris Dancing) before introducing Lucy Akhurst and Charles Thomas ­Oldham's hilarious labour of love about an avant-garde Morris dancer’s  struggle to evolve Morris into the 21st century – a film that says as much about English quirky obsessiveness as it does about morris dancing. Filmed in Dorset and Wiltshire and also featuring Derek Jacobi, Sophie Thompson, Greg Wise, Ian Hart and Naomie Harris, the film was shunned by distributors, yet became a word-of-mouth hit, playing to packed village halls across the south-west, and is now a UK cult film success.  "a sophisticated faux-naive film that combines the style of “Best in Show”, “The Full Monty”,” Zoolander” and “Babe” ... Oldham has managed to walk that tightrope between irony and sincerity and come down squarely on the side of heart”- Ken Russell, The Times. 100 mins.

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Thursday 26th July- 7.00 for 7.30pm

“Cool Runnings ” (1993)

This splendid feel-good movie from the Disney studios is based on the true story of a Jamaican bobsleigh team who enter the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. Director Jon Turtletaub gives us an amiable, good-natured and uplifting film, with charming performances from John Candy and his charges as the coach and team.  “A hugely entertaining comedy guaranteed to have you cheering on the underdogs”, said the Radio Times Film Guide, who award the film a four-star rating. “A perfect balance of humour, emotion and insight”- Variety. This is the committee’s choice to celebrate the start of the 2012 Olympics. 94 mins.

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