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KEEPING MUM
SHOW DATE: 9/17
SPEAKER(S): Gavin Witt
Here's some information about the film:
Directed by Niall Johnson and written by Niall Johnson and Richard Russo. Starring Rowan Atkinson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Maggie Smith and Patrick Swayze. 2005 UK. Running time 103 minutes. Rated R
Here is the official Site complete with trailer.
http://www.keepingmumthemovie.com/
Description
Walter Goodfellow, the vicar for the small English country parish of Little Wallop, has allowed his marriage to Gloria go stale and he is so detached from his family that he has not taken notice that his 17-year-old daughter Holly is going through a succession of inappropriate relationships with unsuitable boyfriends and his son Petey fears going to school due to being bullied. Out of desperation for affection, Gloria begins to fall for the advances of Lance, the American golf pro that is giving her "private" lessons. The problems upsetting the family start to fade away after Grace Hawkins, the new housekeeper, arrives and starts tending to matters as an older, and rather darkly mysterious version of Mary Poppins.
Our speaker this week is Gavin Witt dramaturge from Center Stage. You may remember him from such Cinema Sundays films as The Dying Gaul and The Proposition. Something lighter for Gavin this time…not too many bodies. During the Q & A feel free to ask Gavin about Center Stage’s new production of Checkov’s (Should be Chekhov no?) Three Sisters. In this new adaptation one of the sisters (Masha) does actually make it to Moscow. Unfortunately, while Masha does arrive in Moscow she is murdered by her Uncle Vanya and dumped on by a seagull.
But I digress! Keeping Mum, which appears to be a cross between Mary Poppins and Psycho, will be great Cinema Sundays fare. Certainly we started off our series in great form with Half Nelson. This film, which sparked some great conversation, covered just about every relevant social issue known to man. I want to thank Mike Giuliano for doing his usual perceptive job in analyzing the film and I also want to thank Nathan Corbett for coming down to entertain and delight us. We are all looking forward to Nathan’s work in The Wire this season.
HALF NELSON
SHOW DATE: 9/10
SPEAKER(S): Mike Giuliano
Here's some information about the film:
Directed by Ryan Fleck and written by Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden. Starring Ryan Gosling, Shareeka Epps, Anthony Mackie and Monique Curnen. 2006 USA. Running time 106 minutes. Rated R
Here is the official Site complete with trailer.
http://www.halfnelsonthefilm.com/
Description
Dan Dunne (Ryan Gosling) is a young inner-city junior high school teacher whose ideals wither and die in the face of reality. Day after day in his shabby Brooklyn classroom, he somehow finds the energy to inspire his 13 and 14-year-olds to examine everything from civil rights to the Civil War with a new enthusiasm. Rejecting the standard curriculum in favor of an edgier approach, Dan teaches his students how change works – on both a historical and personal scale – and how to think for themselves.
Though Dan is brilliant, dynamic, and in control in the classroom, he spends his time outside school on the edge of consciousness. His disappointments and disillusionment have led to a serious drug habit. He juggles his hangovers and his homework, keeping his lives separated, until one of his troubled students, Drey (Shareeka Epps), catches him getting high after school.
From this awkward beginning, Dan and Drey stumble into an unexpected friendship. Despite the differences in their ages and situations, they are both at an important intersection. Depending on which way they turn – and which choices they make – their lives will change.
Our speaker for this week’s film is none other than the ace of the staff, the incomparable Mike Giuliano. I can’t think of a better way to begin this season’s series. Mike has already seen the film and has proclaimed it perfect Cinema Sunday’s fare.
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