{"id":3755,"date":"2025-07-20T17:31:07","date_gmt":"2025-07-20T16:31:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chesterfilmsociety.co.uk\/?page_id=3755"},"modified":"2026-04-10T10:37:33","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T09:37:33","slug":"2025-2026-programme","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.chesterfilmsociety.co.uk\/?page_id=3755","title":{"rendered":"2025\/2026 Programme"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Our films are hosted at Chester Picturehouse<\/a><\/strong> in their 218-seat Screen 1<\/strong> and are shown in the original language with English subtitles where necessary.
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 on the production of your 2025\/26 Chester Film Society membership card (either digital or printed).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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18th September 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’m Still Here<\/strong>
Cert 15 | 2h 17m | Original title: Ainda Estou Aqui<\/em>
Country: Brazil, 2024
Director: Walter Salles
Stars: Fernanda Torres, Valentina Herszage, Selton Mello
Language: Portuguese (with English subtitles)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Please note that this film be will be shown in Screen 3<\/strong>
Brazil 1971: a country in the grip of a military dictatorship. A mother is forced to reinvent herself when her family’s life is shattered by an act of arbitrary violence. Based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s best-selling memoir. “Carried along by Fernanda Torres’ superb performance, I’m Still Here poignantly explores a nation’s upheaval through one family’s search for answers.” (Rotten Tomatoes)<\/em>
In Portuguese | Cert 15
More on IMDB<\/a> | Watch the trailer on YouTube<\/a> | Film notes for I’m Still Here<\/a> (pdf)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Audience Score: 8.63<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comments:<\/strong>
Excellent; Beautiful film; Powerful; Well acted; Soundtrack good; Sad; Incredible
Good and Great choice
A beautiful film well portrayed by the amazing characters and well acted
A story to be known by all; Emotional but an incredible film<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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9th October 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Misericordia<\/strong>
Cert 15 | 1h 42m | Original title: Mis\u00e9ricorde
Country: France, 2024
Director: Alain Guiraudie
Stars: F\u00e9lix Kysyl, Catherine Frot
Language: French (with English subtitles)

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A man visits his childhood village for the funeral of a family friend and upends the lives of the local eccentrics in the French director’s weird and earthy return to form. “Navigating a diabolical story with fleet-footed tonal mastery, Misericorida is another superb foray into the dangers of desire” (Rotten Tomatoes)<\/em>
More on IMDB<\/a> | Watch the trailer on YouTube<\/a> | Film notes for Misericordia<\/a> (pdf)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Audience Score: 6.8<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comments:<\/strong>
Didn’t like the violence, but an intruguing film with unexpected turn to the plot.
Well cast. Good camera work.
The fungi did it!
Could only be a French film!
Very weird, but very French!
Enjoyable
Truly bizarre!!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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30th October 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Girl with the Needle<\/strong><\/strong>
Cert 15 |2h 3m | Original title: Pigen med n\u00e5len<\/em>
Country: Denmark, 2024
Director: Magnus von Horn
Stars: Vic Carmen Sonne, Trine Dyrholm, Besir Zeciri
Langauge: Danish (English subtitles)
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Copenhagen 1919. A young woman worker finds herself unemployed and pregnant. She meets Dagmar, who runs an underground adoption agency. A strong connection grows, but her world shatters when she stumbles on the truth behind her work. “Threading its grim tale through sumptuous black-and-white photography, <\/em>The Girl with the Needle is a haunting parable made with superb craft.” (Rotten Tomatoes<\/em>)
More on IMDB<\/a> | Watch the trailer on YouTube<\/a> | Film notes for The Girl With The Needle<\/a> (pdf)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Comments:<\/strong>
Excellent – how much can one woman endure?
Harrowing, amazing, acting.
Gripping and disturbing.
Black and white very effective.
Interesting. Shocking twist
Frightening
Beautifully made.
Pretty bleak subject matter!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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20th November 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Santosh<\/strong><\/strong>
Cert 15 | 2h 8m |
Country: India, 2025
Director: Sandhya Suri
Stars: Shahana Goswami, Sunita Rajwar, Nawal Shukla
Language: Hindi (English subtitles)
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Newly widowed Santosh inherits her husband’s job as a police constable in the rural badlands of Northern India. When a girl’s body is found, she’s pulled into the investigation under the wing of charismatic feminist inspector Sharma. “Shahana Goswami bristles with unforgettable intensity in <\/em>Santosh, a nervy procedural that asks the hard questions about a culture’s social hierarchy.” (Rotten Tomatoes)<\/em>
More on IMDB<\/a> | Watch the trailer on YouTube<\/a> | Film notes for Santosh (pdf)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Audience Score: <\/strong>7.79<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comments:<\/strong>
Very disturbing. Realistic scenes of India.
Need time to process it.
Intriguing insight into police corruption\/butchery.
Realistic film inbetween a documentary and a feature.
Very interesting portrayal of what life is like for the majority of Indians compared to the elite.
A sombre watch.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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11th December 2025<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Marching Band<\/strong>
Cert 15 | 1h 43m | Original title: En fanfare<\/em>
Country: France, 2025
Director: Emmanuel Courcol
Stars: Benjamin Lavernhe, Pierre Lottin, Sarah Suco
Language: French (English subtitles)

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Two long-lost brothers, an orchestra conductor and a worker at a struggling factory, find common ground in their talent and love for music in this French comedy-drama. “This film may not surprise, but it\u2019s a sincere and uplifting tale that is in tune with the spirit of underdog crowd-pleasers Brassed Off and The Full Monty.” (Linda Marric)<\/em>
More on IMDB<\/a> | <\/a>Watch the trailer on YouTube<\/a> | Film notes for The Marching Band (pdf)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Audience Score: <\/strong>8.83<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comments:<\/strong>
Best Chester film I’ve seen in quite some time!
It had everything!
Funny and heartbreaking in equal measure. Loved it but made my heart ache.
Heartwarming and wonderful – OK, plot a bit preposterous, but it didn’t matter – music carried film along.
Optisimsm always wins<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Part Two of the 2025-26 Season<\/strong>
The second half <\/strong>of our brand-new programme is due to begin from Thursday, 8th January 2026, journeying through Germany, France, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, Palestine, and the USA, exploring themes of resistance, connection, identity, and reinvention. From historical dramas to thrilling tales and tributes to cinema itself, each screening is hand-picked to offer something unique and thought-provoking. View or download the Part 2 flyer<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

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8th January 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dead of Winter
<\/strong>Cert 15 | 1h 38m |
Country: USA, Germany, 2025
Director: Brian Kirk
Stars: Emma Thompson, Judy Greer, Marc Menchaca
Language: English<\/p>\n

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A woman, travelling alone through snowbound northern Minnesota, interrupts the kidnapping of a teenage girl. Hours from the nearest town and with no phone service, she realises that she is the young girl’s only hope.\u00a0
More on IMDB <\/a>| Watch the trailer on YouTube<\/a>| Film notes for Dead of Winter<\/a><\/p>\n

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Audience Score: <\/strong>7.1<\/p>\n

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Comments:
<\/strong>Amazing!
Stunning cinematography, realistic, and story was not what I expected.~
Thin plot, too much violence, and the premise was poor.
Gruesome story, but very well filmed. Emma Thompson does a great role. Not a type of movie I would normally choose to watch.
Gripping film with two female protagonists for a change. Great to see an older woman in the lead.
Very tense and atmospheric, but a bit one-dimensional.<\/p>\n

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22nd January 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vermiglio<\/strong>
Cert 15 | 1h 59m |
Country: Italy, 2025
Director: Maura Delpero
Stars: Tommaso Ragno, Roberta Rovelli, Martina Scrinzi
Language: Italian<\/p>\n

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Set in a small, mountainous village in the waning years for World War II, a series of dramatic, consequential events unfold after the arrival of a taciturn Sicilian soldier. \u201cHas the feeling of a tale passed down through generations\u201d Grand Jury Prize at Venice IFF 2024.
More on IMDB<\/a> | Watch the trailer on YouTube<\/a> | Film Notes<\/a><\/p>\n

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Audience Score: <\/strong>7.7<\/p>\n

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Comments:
<\/strong>Beautiful scenery
Very slow at times, but very picturesque
Great cinematography and very authentic, but incredibly slow
Raw, emotional. Excellent casting with very natural performances, but very slow
A powerful story and compelling snapshot into rural mountain life during the war
Every frame in Vermiglio is like a painting and the characters felt very real. Greatly enjoyed the chance to see it in the cinema when i probably wouldn’t have seen it otherwise!<\/p>\n

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5th February 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dreams<\/strong>
Cert 12A | 1h 50m |
Country: Norway, 2024
Director: Dag Johan Haugerud
Stars: Ella \u00d8verbye, Selome Emnetu, Ane Dahl Torp
Language: Norwegian<\/p>\n

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Part of the Oslo Stories Trilogy, dealing with the complexity of human relationships. A 17-year-old girl documents the crush she had on her French teacher, which leads to her mother and grandmother debating the publication of her work. Golden Bear at Berlin IFF 2025
More on IMDB<\/a> | Watch the trailer on YouTube |<\/a> Film Notes<\/a><\/p>\n

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Audience Score:\u00a0<\/strong>8.5<\/p>\n

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Comments:
<\/strong>Beautifully written. Brits could never be this emotionally open.
Makes you remember how self-absorbed you were as a teenager
Loved the imagery of the nan climbing Jacob’s Ladder. Hope she reached the Swedish hunk!
Wonderful evocation of young love. Married and elderly wisdom from Grandma.
An amusing little Ditty
Sensitive
Elongated. Interesting and evocative, but became boring\/self indulgent<\/p>\n

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19th February 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

When Autumn Falls<\/strong>
Cert 12A | 1h 44m |
Country: France, 2025
Director: Fran\u00e7ois Ozon
Stars: H\u00e9l\u00e8ne Vincent, Josiane Balasko, Ludivine Sagnier
Language: French<\/p>\n

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Michelle, a retiree in Burgundy, expects her grandson Lucas but a mistake ruins her plans. Her friend\u2019s son is released from prison, reviving Michelle’s purpose. A twisty, bittersweet story about age, youth, the past and the art of breaking the rules.
More on IMDB<\/a> | Watch the trailer on Youtube<\/a> | Film Notes<\/a><\/p>\n

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Audience Score:<\/strong> 8.26<\/p>\n

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Comments:
<\/strong>A mushroom stew and two tarts. What a brilliant, dark meal of a film!
<\/strong>Atmospheric, thought-provoking, emotive.\u00a0
Fungi most fowl!
It\u2019s complicated, delightful, and nuanced.
Loved it!
A touching but unusual web of love and affection. Everyone covers up a possible crime, but out of it, love can flourish. Poignant and well-played.\u00a0A superb film with so much going on. Well acted and leaves much unresolved.\u00a0
Joyless
Gentle & heartwarming
Excellent. Unexpected at times. Extremely well acted and believable apart from the ending!
Love and loss is a stormy sea
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5th March 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Late Shift<\/strong>
Cert 12A | 1h 44m |
Country: Switzerland, 2025
Director: Petra Volpe
Stars: Leonie Benesch, Sonja Riesen, Alireza Bayram
Language: German<\/p>\n

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Floria, a dedicated nurse, tirelessly serves in an understaffed hospital ward. However, today her shift becomes a tense and urgent race against the clock. Powered by a wonderful central performance by Leonie Benesch, this is a must-watch for its terrifying timeliness.
More on IMDB<\/a> | Watch the trailer on Youtube<\/a> | Film Notes<\/a><\/p>\n

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Audience Score: <\/strong>8.31<\/p>\n

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Comments:
<\/strong>So depressing
Probably the most important film I will see all year
Best film I have seen in years
A film everyone should see
Sobering. Moving. What an insight into the nursing world.
Deeply moving
Awful music and terrible end, but it was an excellent portrayal of a real heroine.
Harrowing<\/p>\n

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9th April 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Palestine 36<\/strong>
Cert 12A | 2h 0m |
Country: Palestine, 2025
Director: Annemarie Jacir
Stars: Jeremy Irons, Robert Aramayo, Liam Cunningham
Language: Arabic and English<\/p>\n

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This historical drama explores the beginnings of the Palestinian people’s revolt against British colonial rule in the 1930s, as unrest grows during a pivotal period for the region. \u201cA vehement reminder of what doesn\u2019t get taught in British schools\u201d.
More on IMDB<\/a> | Watch the trailer on Youtube<\/a> | Film Notes<\/a><\/p>\n

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Audience Score: <\/strong>8.6<\/p>\n

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Comments:
<\/strong>Shocking and powerful
Excellent as a film and explanation of how we’ve arrived at the current situation
Deeply moving and necessary watch. Thank you for screening this.
Heartbreaking
A beautiful film that conveyed incredible emotion. So well depicted and just shows what too many of us is history not well known.
A very difficult watch – but a necessary one. Haunting.
Still happening after all these years. The injustice is shocking.<\/p>\n

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23rd April 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nouvelle Vague<\/strong>
Cert 12A | 1h 46m |
Country: France, USA, 2026
Director: Richard Linklater
Stars: Guillaume Marbeck, Zoey Deutch, Aubry Dullin
Language: French<\/p>\n

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Shot in the fashion of its title\u2019s namesake, this is a tribute to the French New Wave and a charming retelling of one of cinema\u2019s most storied debuts: Jean-Luc Godard\u2019s Breathless. \u201cTransports us to a black-and-white vision of the creative milieu of 1959 Paris\u201d
More on IMDB<\/a> | Watch the trailer on Youtube<\/a><\/p>\n

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

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Our films are hosted at Chester Picturehouse in their 218-seat Screen 1 and are shown in the original language with English subtitles where necessary. Film Society membership costs only \u00a310 for the season, and member tickets for each film must be bought in …<\/span> Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3755","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\/3755","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\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chesterfilmsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3755"}],"version-history":[{"count":94,"href":"https:\/\/www.chesterfilmsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3755\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4141,"href":"https:\/\/www.chesterfilmsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3755\/revisions\/4141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chesterfilmsociety.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}