Light House Film Club

Director: John Crowley

Cert: 12a

Time: 1hr 35mins

Understated and slightly sentimental though it may be John Crowley’s film about the friendship between a grumpy old man and an independent minded youngster is highly enjoyable.

When Clarence (Michael Caine on top form) a retired magician comes to stay at the care home owned by Edward’s parents the latter’s life is disrupted. Unceremoniously removed from his bedroom - to make way for Clarence - he is nonetheless forced to interact with a man whom he finds difficult to like. However as the weeks pass their enmity recedes as each helps the other, Clarence in making the youngster engage with the world of the living and Edward (Bill Milner of Son of Rambow fame) in getting Clarence to confront the death of his wife.   

One might think that a film set in an old people’s home might be rather morbid. Not so, with a number of laugh out loud moments. A further subplot of problems affecting the marriage of Edward’s parents and the impact on him, is also sensitively portrayed. Worth the entrance fee.

Rating: 3/5

Patrons: 14

CA

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