Caldbeck Area Film Society

Caldbeck's Friendly Friday Films 2023-24

We're pleased to announce the first films in our new season starting in September.

The first one is "Lunana - Yak in the Classroom", a film set in the Himalayas of Bhutan. It's a simple but engaging story of a teacher sent against his will to teach in the highest school in the world but then falling for the charms of village life. This was voted the best film at Keswick Film Festival in February and is a great story beautifully told.

Following that we have Bill Nighy in "Living", then "Eight Mountains" with one of our popular meals. The December film is a bit of festive silliness with Daniel Craig as a bumbling (but cunning) detective in "Knives Out".

We've had a few cold evenings in the hall, so we are pleased that the Parish Hall is planning on improving the heating and insulation this Autumn.

As we write this there is the news that the Empire cinema chain has closed down - the second this year - and Caldbeck is not immune from losing customers. We had very small audiences for some films last year and unless numbers pick up we cannot afford to keep showing films at loss. So please do come along and support us - and bring your family and friends.

All films are at Caldbeck Village Hall with a 7.30pm start time.

Films are £5 on the door.

2023/24 Programme

September 15th: Lunana – Yak In The Classroom

The film is set in the Himalayas of Bhutan and is a simple but engaging story of a teacher sent against his will to teach in the highest school in the world. Predictably he falls for the charms of village life which leads to some difficult decisions to be made. This was voted the best film at Keswick Festival in February and is a great story told beautifully but unsentimentally.

October 20th: Living

From the opening footage of 1950s London, this is a simply exquisite film. Bill Nighy gives a great performance and truly makes you feel for the character at his times of need. It's a heart warming story about the choices that you make in life and what gives life meaning. By far one of the best 2023 Oscar movies and needs more credit than it got.

November 17th: The Eight Mountain with meal

The Eight Mountains is a spectacular film, raw and moving, beautifully paced and shot. This emotionally complex Italian drama is a compelling glimpse into the inextricable bonds of friendship and the relationship between humans and nature.

December 15th: Knives Out

The circumstances surrounding the death of crime novelist Harlan Thrombey are mysterious, but there's one thing that renowned Detective Benoit Blanc knows for sure -- everyone in the wildly dysfunctional Thrombey family is a suspect. Blanc must sift through a web of lies and red herrings to uncover the truth. "A terrific, authentic, modern-day Agatha Christie-style whodunnit...with an all-star cast."

January 19th: Alcarras

'Alcarràs' is a poignant, slice-of-life drama about a family of peach farmers in a small town facing the challenges of modernity and capitalism. It's a heartwarming tale of family, community, and the importance of passing down legacies.

February 16th: The Quiet Girl

A meditative drama about how an introverted Irish girl spends a lifechanging summer away from her troubled home and learns some poignant lessons about grief and family love.

"This is a movie about the extraordinary power of people who have the patience and generosity to listen to the soft-spoken, the uncertain, the insecure"

March 15th: The Gravedigger's Wife

Guled and Nasra are a loving couple living near Djibouti. However, they are facing difficult times - Nasra urgently needs an expensive operation. Guled is already working hard as a gravedigger to make ends meet: how will they find the extra money and can they keep their family together? With the stunning background of Djibouti, it's a gentle humorous film with grace notes of irony and wit.

"This is a big-hearted film with a strong sense of storytelling and full of shrewdness and charm."

April 19th: Women Talking

A shocking revelation in an isolated religious community drives the women together to make decisions about their own lives and their children. They will and cannot do nothing.

"With one of the best-written screenplays of the year, and a knockout cast, this is a striking look at women's lives and the emotional weight of making a dire decision for the future."

Films £5 on the door. Cards accepted. Contact Sally Vaux or Roger Gook for details or to be added to the CAFS mailing list.

You can now also find Caldbeck Area Film Society on Facebook.