Light House Film Club

Director: Laurent Cantent

Cert: 15

Time: 2 hrs 8 mins (French with subtitles)

They say that education is wasted on the young an assertion which this film, about life in a tough, multi ethnic Parisian school, only serves to confirm. Based on the autobiographical novel by Francois Begaudeau (who also stars in the film) Laurent Cantent’s documentary gives a warts and all account of a year in the life of a French teacher battling to keep his flock on task. 

It is a depressing tale of recalcitrant teenagers, whose non-existent appreciation of the norms of acceptable behaviour, stretches his goodwill to the limit. And in so doing it demonstrates how a teacher (a skilled practitioner) has his existence reduced to the role of child minder. I can only think that there are better ways to spend the money.

The film however also provides some object lessons in how not to manage conflict, as one particularly difficult miscreant slides ever closer to expulsion. It is clear that some of the more progressive methods that the school adopts are totally inappropriate and I would also suggest a course on handling disciplinary interviews.  That aside one is left feeling “what’s the point?”  If ever a film confirmed that education should be compulsory up to age 14, after which children should be free to choose, it was this.  

Rating 3/5

Patrons:  45

CA

Director: Kelly Reichardt

Cert: 15

Time: 1 hr 20 mins

Based on the short story “Choir Train”, by Jon Raymond, this is typical art house fair. It focuses on Wendy Carroll, en route to Alaska, where she hopes to find lucrative employment in a canning factory and with that the beginnings of a new life with her dog Lucy. But when her car breaks down in Oregon, the thin fabric of her financial circumstance comes apart. Caught shoplifting she gets separated from her dog and subsequently loses all contact with her.  The remainder of the story follows her efforts to find her whilst facing up to the fact that her car is a dud and she doesn’t have the funds to repair it.

The basic story is sparse and little if anything happens. Yet it still successfully portrays issues surrounding generosity and compassion and in so doing reveals the limits and depths of the help people can offer in times of difficulty. Michelle Williams is also superb as the forlorn Wendy but we know so little about her that one feels slightly cheated when things end rather abruptly. Perhaps that’s the point.

Rating 3/5

Patrons:  8

CA

Director: Armando Iannucci

Cert: 15

Time: 1 hr 46 mins

Released in the midst of the Damien McBride smear saga, writer/director Armando Iannucci has touched the zeitgeist in a way he could never have envisaged when he was creating this wonderfully prescient comedy.

Those of you familiar with the TV series The Thick of It, will already be familiar with Malcolm Tucker (brilliantly played by Peter Capaldi) the foul mouthed master of control and spin who bears an uncanny resemblance to Alistair Campbell - he has seen the film but didn’t find it particularly funny.  

The story follows the political machinations which led to a US / British sponsored war in the Middle East. And in so doing it shows the depths to which politicians, their advisors and the military will stoop to climb the greasy pole and save their own skins.  All are skewered none more so than Simon Foster (Tom Hollander) a hapless British Secretary of State who, like a child seeking attention, backs the war in order to engineer a central role in the affair.  

No one escapes with their reputation intact and whilst one must not forget that it is farce I suspect that it’s closer to reality than anyone is prepared to admit.  A must if you enjoy politics and current affairs.  

Rating 4/5

Patrons:  14

CA

Director: Tom Hooper

Cert: 15

Time: 1 hr 37 mins

The years 1973-74 were not the happiest in the life of one Brian Howard Clough. It all started when Ol’ Big ‘ed, as he liked to be known, decided to commit career suicide by calling the bluff of the Derby County board and offering up his resignation. Much to his surprise, they accepted and he departed (along with a collaterally damaged Taylor), under a cloud. Having left the frying pan he then jumped into the fire when, some ten months later, he accepted the job as Manager of Leeds United, a team for whom he only had contempt.  That this should also end in tears, after a mere 44 days, was probably evident to everyone bar Clough, whose sizeable ego somewhat blinded him.

The Dammed United, based on the brilliant David Peace novel of the same name, tells the story of this turbulent period together with how Clough and his erstwhile assistant Peter Taylor came to reach a position of pre-eminence in the footballing world.  The film is a period delight, depicting perfectly the down at heal look of football in the seventies.  And Michael Sheen  plays Clough with an eerie physical and verbal perfection, aided by a wonderful script packed with coruscating one liners - Clough was noted for his verbal put downs. Add to that excellent performances by Timothy Spall (Peter Taylor), Colm Meaney (Revie) and Jim Broadbent as the put upon Derby Chairman, Sam Longson and you have the makings of a fine film.

Whilst the subject matter might not appeal to everyone, if you do like football and are old enough to remember the seventies, it’s a complete delight.

Rating 4/5

Patrons:  Circa 40

CA