FILMS 2012 / 13 - Berwick Film Society

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Wednesday 5th December 2012 at 7.30pm
Monsieur Lazhar (12A)
Canada 2011 (UK release 2012) I 1hr 34min
Dir: Philippe Falardeau I Cast: Mohamed Fellag,
Sophie Nélisse, Émilien Néron I Language: French
with English subtitles I Awards: Oscar Nomination
2012 Best Foreign Language Film, 13 wins + 5 other
nominations
A tender portrait of an Algerian refugee hired as a
replacement teacher in a Montreal elementary school
where the children are coping individually with a
recent tragedy. Experiencing grief of his own may not
prepare him for the challenges his questioning young
pupils present.
This compassionate drama based on a play by Évelyne
de la Chenelière deals intelligently with stark realities
yet modestly remains utterly charming (and often
amusing) throughout.
“An Oscar nominee at this year’s Academy Awards and for
good reason, Falardeau’s film is moving, smart and sensitive.
Terrific stuff, in short” Patrick Peters, Empire Magazine
Wednesday 16th January 2013 at 7.30pm
The Fairy (La Fée) (PG) S
France/Belgium 2012 I 1hr 33min
Dir & Cast: Dominique Abel, Fiona Gordon, Bruno
Romy I Language: French with English subtitles
A hapless hotel clerk is visited by an unlikely fairy who
grants him three wishes. On this wisp of a plot the
comic duo spin an ingenious sequence of visual gags
and fantasies which invokes the spirit of the silent
film comedians. The cast includes a myopic waiter,
a strangely conceived baby, a team of female rugby
players and a long-suffering West Highland terrier.
Does this offbeat, sometimes surreal comedy work for
you? Take a chance!
“... A series of elaborately crafted, audaciously executed sight
gags that showcase the duo’s Keatonesque acrobatic prowess
and gawky grace ... The Fairy is an idiosyncratic flight of fancy
– an oddly fastidious blend of slapstick, circus, dance and
trompe l’œil illusionism”
Jonathan Romney, London Film Festival.
S denotes BFS Mid Month Select screening
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