Films

Full of heart and humanity this is the realistic story of Tori and Lokita, a pair of very young people from Africa struggling to survive with any semblance of dignity in Europe. Pressurised and pulled in all directions, they become the victims of a system which seeks to ruthlessly exploit the powerless for it’s own gain.

A “coming of age film for grownups who still feel like they haven’t grown up”, Julie is a young woman struggling to navigate adult life – never quite seeing things through in her ever-changing professional life and especially her personal and love life. Winner of Cannes Best Actress, Renate Reinsve is outstanding as the troubled lead. Will she discover who she really is?

Following Donya’s evacuation from Afghanistan ,where she worked as a translator for the US army, she is living alone in the town of Fremont, California. Donya has a lonely existence in an apartment block with other evacuees and she works in a Chinese fortune cookie factory. When Donya is surprisingly promoted to writing the fortunes she takes the opportunity to change her life.
This is a gentle story full of heart and off beat comedy.

The Old Oak is set in a once thriving mining village now in rapid decline. There’s a deep sense of injustice pervading the community which is exacerbated by the unexpected arrival of a number of Syrian refugee families. This becomes the flashpoint for angry xenophobic tensions and views which are vented openly in the local pub and directly to the refugees. It takes the empathy and friendship of the struggling pub landlord to inspire hope and the beginnings of change.

An award winning French legal drama. Sandra a successful author is suspected of murdering her aspiring writer husband, Samuel. What ensues is a fascinating court room thriller. It explores the troubled marriage of the couple whilst their visually challenged young son faces a moral dilemma as the main witness. Sandra, while her own secrets are exposed must prove her husbands fall was an accident and that she is not responsible.

Arriving in Prague, just a few weeks before WW2 starts, Nicholas Winton (Anthony Hopkins) sees the plight of many refugee families and children. He spurs a small group of people, including his Mother (Helena Bonham Carter), to act. This timely intervention had a dramatic affected saving hundreds of lives, the consequences Nicholas could have never foreseen. Over 50 years later the story is brought to the public’s attention on an episode of Esther Rantzen’s TV show That’s Life

Hirayama lives a blissful contented life balancing his job as caretaker of Tokyo’s public toilets with his love of music, literature and photography. However, his regimented daily routine is interrupted by a series on unexpected encounters which force him to reconsider his past. This is a delightful and life-affirming story by Wim Wenders, with a wonderful soundtrack. Winner of Best Actor in Cannes.

It’s the 1920s and in a quiet little English hamlet, someone has been sending foul-mouthed, anonymous letters to a well-respected Christian woman who still lives with her parents. The main suspect is a young, free-spirited, crude Irish widow who lives next door. Based on a true story, Olivia Coleman, Jessie Buckley and Timothy Spall bring this colourful episode in history to life in this comedy drama.

One night in a London tower-block, Adam (Andrew Scott) has a chance encounter with a mysterious neighbour, Harry (Paul Mescal), which changes his everyday life. As their intimate relationship develops, Adam revisits memories of his past and is drawn back to his childhood home where his parents (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell), appear to be living. Adapted from a Japanese novel and nominated for 6 BAFTAs.

Returning to his home town in rural France a successful Parisian artist needs someone to tame his wild large garden. Advertising for local help and completely by chance an old school friend who he hasn’t seen for years turns up. Spending time in each other’s company their old friendship is renewed. The artist is impressed by his friend who intrigues and amazes him with his honest and simple view of the world.