Alhambra Centenary Celebrations start Wednesday 22nd January 2pm

The actual date of the Alhambra's Centenary is Wednesday 22nd January. To mark this date, you are all invited to a screening of an interview with Nick Simpson, the son of a former manager of the Alhambra, who grew up there in the 1940's and 50's. It is a fascinating record of how the cinema was run and its role in the town. Nick recalls the film 'The Clouded Yellow' being shot in Lakeland and that the crew used the Alhambra to view the rushes. Young Nick was very taken with its glamorous star, Jean Simmons! We will be showing 'The Clouded Yellow' after the interview with Nick, which will start at 2.00pm. We will also take the opportunity to announce the films to be shown from each of the decades of the Alhambra's operation over the Festival week, along with the Programme and Guests for the Film Festival. How can you resist?!

Broken Circle Breakdown - Sunday 19th January 5pm

The first thing to say about this week's film, 'Broken Circle Breakdown' is that it is short-listed for the Best Foreign Film at this year's Oscars. The reason I put this first is that once I describe it you will probably be as surprised as I was.

The story follows the love affair between the lead singer and banjo player of a bluegrass band (in Belgium!) and a tattoo artist. The story could have become too 'schmultzy' and harrowing, but the film plays back and forward in time, so we learn all is not well right at the start. Expect melodrama, sweet music, politics, religion, tears and joy. 'From all this, the director Felix Van Groeningen has created something not just plausible and affecting but sharp and alert in its distress' - Anthony Lane, The New Yorker. Expect also some great acting - the two leads both come in for some great reviews, especially Verrie Baetens - Tim Robey says in The Telegraph 'She ought to be a huge star, and this is exactly where to see her born'.

Papadopoulos and Sons - Sunday 12th January 5:00 PM

Our next film Sunday chronicles the fortunes of Harry Popadopoulos, a north London comestibles magnate "obliged to downsize when he finds that even an empire founded on taramasalata cannot survive a double-dip recession" (The Guardian’s reviewer, along with others, had a field day with food based puns!)

Papadopoulos and Sons is a comedy-drama exploring the stresses of family and business, not to mention the odd ethnic tension with the kebab shop down the road.

Again according to the Guardian "its an ambitious attempt to rewrite Lear for laughter rather than tears. It's a throwback, but relaxed, sweet and funny with it: a first feature that makes an impression by not pushing too hard to make an impression."

Happy New Year From Keswick Film Club

Happy New Year, film lovers - I hope you have had a great Christmas and New Year and you are now ready for our new season!

We start again this Sunday, 5th January at 4.15pm for our usual start of season drinks; this gives you a chance to swap Christmas stories, get a free drink and maybe buy yourself a Spring Season Pass; these will be on sale in foyer for £30 to club members, which makes it only £2.50 per film if you come to them all!

Our first film follows at 5.00pm. Continuing what is almost as long a tradition as the free drinks, we have a French period drama for you. 'Marius' is the first of a trilogy based on Marcel Pagnol novels (the second, 'Fanny', follows as the last film in our Spring Season on 30th March). The trilogy is directed by Daniel Auteuil, who also stars as Cesar, the father of Marius and the title role of the third film. The films are Auteuil's follow up after 'The Well-Digger's Daughter', which was our most popular film in in Spring 2012 season.
In the first film, Marius is helping to run his father's bar in Marseille where he dreams of running away to sea, until he meets Fanny. Will their love be enough to keep Marius' feet on dry ground? The love story is played against a background of humour, giving us a great season starter.

Wadjda - Sunday 22nd December 4:50pm

Our closing film for the season promises to be a real gem. Described as ‘the first Saudi teen rebel girl’s bike movie’ Wadjda has won universal acclaim from the critics. It is the first feature film to be shot entirely in Saudi Arabia and is all the more remarkable for having been made by a female Director, Haifaa Al-Mansour.
It has all the right ingredients, a sassy young lead who kicks out against the constraints of her society (and who is not afraid of using her opponents’ underhand tactics when it suits her) in her attempts to get a bike. A scenario that is just so wrong in so many ways in contemporary Saudi Arabia.

Its a gentle comedy that has a wider message about the role of women in Saudi society.

“Worthy in its own story right, this hundred-twelve minutes is also notable for the non-strident style with which Al Mansour -- cinematically schooled in Cairo and Sydney -- comments on the restrictions on and frustrations of even middle class women in a country in which cinemas are forbidden. Free from ranting or raving, this quiet celebration of joy of the spirit is one first step towards righting centuries of repressive wrong.” Reel Talk Movie Reviews