Author Archives: Bob Foale

Newsletter 30 June 2003

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Following the successful ‘Short Season of 5 Films’ held in April and May of this year, the
Committee met recently and agreed to present a further season of 10 films, beginning in November and running through to April 2024. The dates for your diary will be:

Tuesday 14 November
Thursday 7 December
Wednesday 17 JanuaryTuesday 23 January
Wednesday 14 FebruaryThursday 29 February
Wednesday 13 MarchThursday 28 March
Wednesday 3 AprilWednesday 17 April

As soon as film titles can be matched to these dates, we will let you know. Many of you will
already be aware that, as for the short season earlier this year, the number of contemporary films available for hire and licensing by clubs like ours is now extremely limited as most are ‘streamed’. Sadly therefore, it is no longer practical to provide a list of films from which members can make a preferred choice, as we have done in the past. However, please do get in touch with me or with our Membership Secretary, Malcolm Reid, if you would like to recommend a title: it just might be available!

I’m sure you will also be aware that since 2019, when we last presented a Film Club programme, costs have risen considerably. Based on present membership numbers and the total costs of hiring our venue – The Studio in Chelmsford – and paying the licensing fees for the films, the Membership Fee for 2023-24 to cover these costs will be £70: the guest ticket will be £12. If you have been to any cinema recently, I feel sure you will see that the increased membership fee still represents extremely good value for money for our 10 films. Even the guest price compares favourably with The Studio’s charge for films (£13 to £16.50 plus £1.50 booking fee).

Given the Club’s present, modest, reserve fund, it is vital that current membership numbers be maintained and, hopefully, increased if the Club is to have a future. As a committee, we will do everything we can to reduce our costs – for example, in the way we publicise the programme.

I do hope you will be able to continue your membership and encourage as many new members as you can to join as we embark on our new season, our 34th in Chelmsford. I look forward to hearing from you and will be in touch with you again shortly.

Best wishes

Peter Bunyan – Chair of Committee

pfbunyan@btinternet.com

Audience Feedback for Saint Omer

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There were 10 reaction slips returned following the screening of this film.  The responses were:

  • ‘Excellent’: 6 votes
    • Excellent Film. Difficult subject matter masterfully conveyed – want to say a lot more but
    • stuck for words. Shouldn’t watch when pregnant!
    • Very moving. Full of questions, including what it can be like going from a colonised country
      to the colonising country and keep sanity. Very strong about what being a woman is like.
      Many thanks to the Film Club & the director. Also, all subtitles clear, unlike the Almodóvar
      film.
    • A fantastic film, very thought provoking. It’s why we need a film club.
    • Interesting food for thought – childbirth changes women.
    • Fascinating: a film we, the audience, have to work as hard at as the jury in the trial. And Nina Simone at the end! Great end to the ‘Short season’.
  • ‘Very Good’: 2 votes
    • A challenging, thought provoking and strangely haunting film. Superb performances from Rama and Laurence.
  • ‘Good’: 1 vote
    • Although I found the court scene absorbing, I wanted a less open-ended end.
  • ‘Satisfactory’: 1 vote
    • Not my cup of tea, this film.
  • ‘Poor’: 0 votes

Plus one comment (via email) without any indication of a score:

  • A though-provoking film, two views of the Black, African, experience in White Europe. If a quick fish through the films that happen to be available are of the level of the three I’ve seen in this short season, then the Film Club should really keep going!

We are always interested to receive any additional comments people may have on this film and welcome all contributions to this forum.

If you did not leave comments after the screening, but still wish to do so, you can leave them in the “Leave a Reply” box.

Saint Omer (Tuesday 9th May)

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-1267Days -12Hours -18Minutes -11Seconds

Our Next Presentation: Saint Omer

Chelmsford Theatre Studio – Tuesday 9th May @ 8PM (Doors open 7:00)

Laurence Coly, a Senegalese woman, is on trial in St. Omer for causing the death of her 15-month-old child by leaving her on a beach to be swept away by the tide. Roma, a budding novelist, is interested in the case, for personal reasons, and travels from Paris to observe the trial.