Our movies for 2021

Movie Club list for 2021

Date: 27 Feb (Sylvia’s birthday 26th)

It Might Get Loud (2008)

Explores the careers and musical styles of prominent rock guitarists Jimmy Page, the Edge and Jack White.

Paul Elliott of Classic Rock magazine describes the movie as “a bold, unique and insightful exploration into the lives of three very different guitarists with three very different stories to tell”. “All highly mouth-watering stuff”.

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Rocketman (2019)

Young Reginald Dwight changes his name to Elton John and collaborates with singer-songwriter Bernie Taupin to become one of the most iconic figures in pop history. Set to his most beloved songs, it’s the epic musical story of Elton John, his breakthrough years in the 1970s and his fantastical transformation from shy piano prodigy to international superstar. (Rotten Tomatoes)

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Date: 24 April

Mississippi Burning

After three Civil Rights workers, who were organizing a voter registry clinic, go missing in Mississippi’s Jessup County, the FBI deputes Agents Rupert Anderson and Alan Ward to investigate. After the duo encounter hostility at the hands of the county police and other males, more agents are brought in. This leads to a media frenzy, with Clayton Townley proclaiming openly that this community is an Anglo-Saxon democracy, an example of successful segregation that has been able to withstand the onslaught of integration, and total non-acceptance of Jews, Papists, Turks, Mongols, Orientals, Asians, and Negros. While differences crop up between investigative tactics of the two agents, the Ku Klux Klan, aided by the police, target the fearful African-Americans, brutally torturing them and setting their houses on fire. With the entire local community – both black and white – refusing to come forward with any information – the FBI must now consider using other methods to try and find out what really happened to the three workers.

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The Translators 

Les traducteurs (2019 thriller)

Against the backdrop of the upcoming release of the third volume in the best-selling DEDALUS trilogy, an international literary sensation that has put Angstrom Publishing on the map, nine hand-picked translators find themselves confined in an impenetrable concrete bunker. Now, as the ruthless publisher, Eric Angstrom, has planned everything down to the last detail to maintain the confidentiality of the precious manuscript, the elite team of exceptional polyglots has one short month to simultaneously translate four hundred and eighty pages from French into nine different languages. However, when the first ten pages of the novel somehow leak online, and someone blackmails Angstrom to pay an extortionate ransom, a dangerous hunt for the inconspicuous culprit will put in jeopardy not only the future of the publishing house but also the very lives of the nine, equally suspicious translators. Will they make it out alive? IMDb

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Date: 26 June

A Hidden Life (2019, language: German)

Based on real events, A Hidden Life is the story of an unsung hero, Franz Jägerstätter, who refused to fight for the Nazis in World War II. When the Austrian peasant farmer is faced with the threat of execution for treason, it is his unwavering faith and his love for his wife, Fani, and children that keeps his spirit alive. (IMDB)

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Vitus (2006, language: SwissGerman) 

Undeniably gifted and talented in every way, Vitus showed crystal-clear indications of nothing less than pure genius, even from the tender age of six, when he displayed a special fondness for playing the piano. Of course, his parents wouldn’t let such profound talent go to waste – but, the more they both pushed a now twelve-year-old Vitus to pursue a career in music, the less “real” the young musical genius would become. In the end, only Vitus’ grandfather is his true ally; however, can he show him how to be a truly normal kid of his age? (IMDB)

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Date: 28 August

Amy (2015)

Amy is a 2015 British documentary film about the life and death of British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse.

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Pixar’s Soul (2020)

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Date: 23 October

Philomena 2013

In light of the recent formal apology by the Irish Prime Minister, for the horrific treatment of young single mums in the Mum and Baby Homes as outlined in a 3,000 page report, I thought it could be appropriate to revisit this one.

When former journalist Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan) is dismissed from the Labour Party in disgrace, he is at a loss as to what do. That changes when a young Irish woman approaches him about a story of her mother, Philomena Lee (Dame Judi Dench), who had her son taken away when she was a teenage inmate of a Catholic convent. Martin arranges a magazine assignment about her search for him that eventually leads to America. Along the way, Martin and Philomena discover as much about each other as about her son’s fate. Furthermore, both find their basic beliefs challenged

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Adam’s Rib (1949)

Comedy, Drama, Romance

Director: George Cukor

Assistant District Attorney Adam Bonner is assigned to prosecute a woman who tries to shoot her unfaithful husband. The DA and Bonner both expect a quick win. But neither planned on Bonner’s wife and fellow attorney, Amanda Bonner, of defending the woman on the basis of “equal rights under the law,” which Ms. Bonner insists would vindicate a man who would try to kill the lover of his unfaithful wife. Ms. Bonner shows throughout the court case that the law and society treat women different from men, and that any person would resort to violence if pushed sufficiently far. Mr. Bonner insists that regardless, no individual can take the law into his or her own hands, or chaos would ensue.