In this newsletter:
1 Joint event with Abindon Twinners’: LIFE IS A LONG RIVER: March 26th
2 Members’ views on our normal start time – update
3 Annual informal members meeting: May 14th
1 LIFE IS A LONG QUIET RIVER (La vie est un long fleuve tranquille) – France, 1988, 90 mins, Cert. 15, dir. Etienne Chatiliez
This cult French comedy marks the end of our 2014-5 season. The screening, on March 26th, is also our annual joint presentation with ADTTA (Abingdon & District Twin Towns Assocation). There are one or two changes in the format of the evening this year:
- Admission is included in your current membership – nothing extra to pay for the film. Guests and one week attenders – usual charges apply (£5 and £6 respectively).
- Food (bread & cheese etc) and soft drinks will be available and you are asked to contribute a sum on the evening for these – we aim to at least cover the costs (and proudly have as many split infinitives as we can hopefully fit in).
- You are very welcome to bring wine or beer etc – no need to bring glasses.
- Doors will open at 7pm, but please note that we have decided not to have two “snacking” sessions, as previously. The wine and cheese party part of the evening will be before the screening. The brief introdcution and film will certainly not start before 7.45 (the advertised time), but may begin a little later.
About the film: David Parkinson, giving the film a four star review in the Radio Times, wrote: “A breaker of box-office records and the winner of a clutch of Césars (the French Oscars), this offbeat and often hilarious debut feature seems a prime candidate for a Hollywood makeover. That it has been spared such a fate is primarily due to the subtleties underlying the black comedic surface, which would confound even the most astute American director. These acerbic asides on class, education and parental expectations superbly complement the broader humour about mixed-at-birth babies”.
Final point: It would be a great help if a small number of people joined in with the clean-up at the end of the evening. It shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes or so. After the last social event, just before Christmas, one or two people found themselves doing it all, which didn’t seem right.
We hope lots of members and guests will turn up to mark the end of yet another season and, while doing so, enjoy a very satisfying film and some good company.
2 Members’ views on our normal start time – update
As you know, we have asked you to tell us if you would prefer our normal start time to be 7.30pm rather than 7.45pm; or if you are horrified by the very idea. At the moment we have had responses from about half our members, so we need more. Please email info@abfilms.org.uk with your comments on this issue or add them to your reaction slip on March 19th, when we show the recent biting American comedy, Nebraska.
3 Annual informal members meeting: May 14th
This is to provide an update on our plans for 2015-6 – our 40th anniversary season. There will be a newsletter confirming the details nearer the time, but it’s always an informal occasion – with refreshments – at which members can react to and influence the selection group’s plans, which should be pretty well developed by mid-May.