{"id":3111,"date":"2024-08-09T11:42:57","date_gmt":"2024-08-09T10:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chesterfilmsociety.co.uk\/?page_id=3111"},"modified":"2025-07-20T17:31:54","modified_gmt":"2025-07-20T16:31:54","slug":"2024-2025-programme","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.chesterfilmsociety.co.uk\/?page_id=3111","title":{"rendered":"2024\/2025 Programme"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Our films are now hosted at Chester Picturehouse<\/a><\/strong> in their 218-seat Screen 1<\/strong>. Film Society membership costs only \u00a310 for the season, and member tickets for each film must be bought in person, either in advance or on the night, for \u00a35.00 on the production of your 2024\/25 Chester Film Society membership card (either digital or printed).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thursday<\/strong> 19th<\/sup> September<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Promised Land<\/strong> (2023, Director: Nikolaj Arcel)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2hr 7m (Denmark, Sweden, Norway) Cert: 15<\/p>\n\n\n\n

18th century Denmark, Captain Ludvig Kahlen (Mads Mikkelsen), a proud and ambitious but impoverished war hero, aims to cultivate a barren land, build a colony for the King, and gain a noble title. Joined by a couple fleeing ruthless nobleman De Schinkel, Kahlen faces natural challenges and bandits. As a community forms, De Schinkel vows revenge, leading to a violent and intense confrontation. More on the IMDB<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audience Score: 8.3<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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AUDIENCE COMMENTS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glass wine glasses and comfy seats!
Too much blood for me really but the rest was really well done
Beautifully filmed and directed. Strange story of a man\u2019s obsession
I did find the violent scenes disturbing at the time but they needed to be there. An excellent film!  Really good to learn about a new bit of history for me!
A strong start
Gosh! Something for everyone – except small children and impressionable adults!!
Completely gripping!
So sad, so bloody
Great film, Great seats, great vibes
Overlong, ending contrived but maybe true – violent and bloody – grand start
Grim but good
Dull plot, saved by some good performances
Much better venue – Great!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A person who gave it 10 – Although I was completely distraught throughout and wouldn\u2019t watch it again – beautifully shot
The person who gave it 2 –  circled ‘I loathed it\u2019
The person who gave it 4 – Too cliched!  Dreadful script :(Everything thrown in the mix. Monty Python v Ingmar Bergman – Cheer up Mads!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Thursday<\/strong> 10th<\/sup> October<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Origin of Evil<\/strong> (2022, Director: Sebastien Marnier)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2hr 3m (France) Cert: 15<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A woman on the verge of financial collapse attempts to impersonate her imprisoned lover and con her wealthy, estranged father and his new family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See our film notes<\/a> which will be made available at the screening. More on the IMDB<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audience Score: 7.65<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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AUDIENCE COMMENTS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enjoyed the music and the setting
Too long sadly
Excellent acting performance
Disney for Adults (gave 8)
Sometimes I found Laure a bit obviously acting
Pure entertainment
What a shower!
Brilliant! Twist upon twist
She would not have made such a mistake at the end
Loved the twist
A pleasantly weird film. Excellent acting
Amazing film – fabulous cinematography, gripping and excellent (crazy!) characters
Superb!
Creative, cringeworthy, callous<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>Thursday<\/strong> 31st<\/sup> October<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sorcery<\/strong> (2023, Director: Christopher Murray)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1hr 40m (Mexico, Germany, Chile) Cert: 15<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the remote island of Chilo\u00e9 in the late 19th century, an Indigenous girl named Rosa works with her father on a farm. When the foreman brutally turns on Rosa\u2019s father, she sets out for justice, seeking help from the king of a powerful organization of sorcerers. See our film notes<\/a> which will be made available at the screening. More on the IMDB<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audience score: 6.7<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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AUDIENCE COMMENTS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Worse soundtrack ever.
Great film and soundtrack.
Thought provoking .
Great Halloween choice
Too much rain !!
Disjointed and poor ending
Slow and unpredictable
Profound , powerful, ponderous.
Don’t mess with the locals !!
No laughs, brutal.
Grey palette of rain and music.
Eerie and atmospheric.
Glad I don’t live there
Spellbinding but puzzling
I love magic realism !
PRIMAL !
Wonderful cinematography<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>Thursday<\/strong> 21st<\/sup> November<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mami Wata<\/strong> (2023, Director: CJ \u2018Fiery\u2019 Obasi)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1hr 47m (Nigeria, France, UK Cert: 12A<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Captivating and dreamlike. A bold exploration of faith and cultural change. When outside elements threaten harmony in a village, two sisters must fight to save their people and restore the glory of the mermaid goddess to the land. More on the IMDB<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audience score: 6.5<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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AUDIENCE COMMENTS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Demanding , delightful
Loved the physical adornment especially the shells
Muddled plot fell asleep at important moments
Shambling narrative
Slow, odd too much sea
Great to see film from West Africa
Terrifying
No to guns yes to beautiful photography
Very atmospheric. Glad women won in the end!
Great special effects at the end<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>Thursday<\/strong> 12th<\/sup> December<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Good Boss<\/strong> (2021, Director: Fernando Le\u00f3n De Aranoa)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1hr 56m (Spain) Cert: 15<\/p>\n\n\n\n

B\u00e1sculas Blanco, a Spanish company manufacturing industrial scales in a provincial town, anxiously prepares for an imminent visit from a committee that will decide if they deserve a local Business Excellence award. Striving for perfection, the company’s owner, Blanco, races against time to solve employee issues, crossing numerous boundaries. See our film notes<\/a> which will be made available at the screening. More on the IMDB<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audience score: 7.76<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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AUDIENCE COMMENTS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brilliant
Took time to develop.
An insufferable character !
Was going to give it 9 but on balance an 8 was right (ha ha!)
Gracias!
Javier superb
Clever dialogue
Extremely witty but heavy handed
Predictable!
Loved the security guard!
Bit long
Desperate lives
Couldn’t keep up with plot but great music
Great performances loved the use of lighting for dramatic effect
Raced along from one excruciating scene to the next<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Thursday<\/strong> 9th<\/sup> January 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All We Imagine As Light<\/strong> (2024, Director: Payal Kapadia<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1hr 58m (India) Cert: 15<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This film dramatizes many of the challenges faced by single women living in Bombay, and underscores their resiliency. All of the women here are nurses at the same hospital, but there the resemblance ends as each has her own particular set of problems and, one could say, solutions. Desire, fear, regret and stolid patience are the emotions that continually alternate as the story quietly unfolds. First Indian film to receive the prestigious Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024. More on the IMDB<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audience score: 7.4<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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AUDIENCE COMMENTS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fell asleep, too slow, some poor acting, what on earth was the point?
Dull!
Good acting, boring story
Slow
Too Loud
3 individuals from different backgrounds find friends, which is an old trope, but culturally different for me, I liked it, my partner not so much.
Bewildering, sad
Charming and Gentle
Less material wealth more human touch
Beautifully shot, well rounded female characters, didn\u2019t disappoint, just to note the film was mostly in Malayalam with Hindi Marathi dialogue
Mesmerising
Wonderful
Lots of wisdom and beautifully acted<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Thursday<\/strong> 30th<\/sup> January 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Echo<\/strong> (2023, Director: Payal Kapadia<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1hr 42m (Mexico) Cert: 12A<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A darkly rich natural imagery and crystalline sound combine to create a poetically forceful impression of the small Mexican village that gives the film its name. Between the landscapes we see and the sounds we hear \u2013 of galloping hooves, bleating animals and distant thunder \u2013 human narratives wriggle in, highlighting the role of women in a rural society that seems to exist somewhere outside time. More on the IMDB<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audience score: 7.<\/strong>82<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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AUDIENCE COMMENTS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insightful (5 people used this word )
FARM LIFE   ROCK HARD
Tender & affecting
Informative 
Beautiful & without judgement
Miserable 
Honest hunter gatherer  stuff
Too long, nodded off
Cracking scenery
Another barrel of laughs
Too fractured<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Thursday 20th<\/sup><\/strong> February 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In The Mood For Love<\/strong> (2000, Director: Wong<\/a> Kar-Wai <\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1hr 38m (Hong Kong) Cert: PG<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set in Hong Kong, 1962, a newspaper editor moves into a new building with his wife. At the same time, a beautiful secretary and her executive husband also move in to the crowded building. With their spouses often away, they spend most of their time together as friends. They have everything in common from noodle shops to martial arts. Soon, they are shocked to discover that their spouses are having an affair. Hurt and angry, they find comfort in their growing friendship even as they resolve not to be like their unfaithful mates. Presented in the 4K restoration,  this nostalgia-soaked depiction of old Hong Kong has never looked better. From the soft mint lamps to verdant potted planters, and on every lipstick-red curtain, mustard-yellow carpet, and jade-green office wall: every single shot in In The Mood For Love <\/em>is a vision to behold. More on the IMD<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audience score: 7.<\/strong>6<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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AUDIENCE COMMENTS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BEAUTIFUL
Full bowl of sweet and sour angst
Sad, bizzarre 
Wonderful dresses. Her wardrobe must be the size of a small country 
Boring , pretentious 
Confusing and pointless
Terrible ending 
Confused by Cambodia 
Elegiac masterpiece 
Watching paint dry !
Sexy, hypnotic 
Baffling travelogue
Claustrophobic
Enigmatic 
Clever not to show spouses 
Too slow <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Thursday 13th<\/sup> March 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crossing<\/strong> (2024, Director: Levan Akin<\/a> <\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1hr 46m (Sweden\/Turkey\/Georgia) Cert: 15<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lia, a retired teacher, made a promise to find out what happened to her long lost niece Tekla. When Lia learns from Achi, a neighbour, that Tekla might be living in Turkey, they set off together to find her. In Istanbul they discover a beautiful city full of connections and possibilities – but looking for someone who never intended to be found is harder than they thought. Until they meet Evrim, a lawyer fighting for trans rights. More on the IMD<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audience score: 8.84<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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AUDIENCE COMMENTS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brilliant!
Love the setting but story boring
Odyssey of discovery for characters and us
Interesting glimpse of different world 
Both sad and joyful.
Good music and heartfelt relationships
Haunting and thoughtful<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Thursday 10th<\/sup> April 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Favourite Cake<\/strong> (2024, Directors: <\/a>Maryam Moghadam<\/a> & Behtash Sanaeeha<\/a> <\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1hr 37m (Iran) Cert: 12A<\/p>\n\n\n\n

70-year-old Mahin has been widowed for 30 years and her two children live abroad. She is living a lonely life in Tehran. But one day, she decides to join her friends for the afternoon tea and finds a new spark in her heart. She meets someone who makes her feel alive again, and the evening brings unpredictable surprises and memories. More on the IMD<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note: As required by the Film Society Constitution, we will hold a (very short) Annual General Meeting before this film. This wil be to present the accounts and formally elect the Committee<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audience score: 8.2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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AUDIENCE COMMENTS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most enjoyable and interesting
An interesting insight into life in Iran.
Amusing, but thought-provoking
A strange love story
Funny, sad, and a real insight
I loved it – a perfect end to the season!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our films are now hosted at Chester Picturehouse in their 218-seat Screen 1. Film Society membership costs only \u00a310 for the season, and member tickets for each film must be bought in person, either in advance or on the night, …<\/span> Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3111","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chesterfilmsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3111","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chesterfilmsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chesterfilmsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chesterfilmsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chesterfilmsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3111"}],"version-history":[{"count":83,"href":"https:\/\/www.chesterfilmsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3111\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3771,"href":"https:\/\/www.chesterfilmsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3111\/revisions\/3771"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chesterfilmsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3111"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}