Mid-August Lunch

"What a delightful film; perfect for our first of the season. I hope this sets the mood for the rest of the year."
Magi Swann

The Secret in Their Eyes

An Education

Let the Right One In

"Please never apologise for some members not liking the films. I am never moved to write appraisals but am on this occasion after being annoyed by some of the comments about members voting with their feet. I found it very irritating to hear the constant noise made by those going. Quite honestly, as one of the original members of this society I do not want CFS to be cosy and not show unusual and challenging films. Might as well stay at home and watch some of the middle of the road drivel that appeal to a mass audience. I found the film extremely thought provoking and we talked about it for days afterwards. I am not a lover of ghoulish tales but to me that was not what it was about. That was just surface stuff. For me it was about alienation in a modern world and was deeply sad. It was shot so lyrically too. The cleverness of such images as the globe lights representing the full moon were memorable. Thank you so much committee for providing us with exciting examples of the film genre."
Vivienne Lowe

"This film was the nastiest thing I've seen for many years. Personally I do not see why anybody should want to make and see films such as this and normally I would avoid such drivel like the plague but, expecting a certain standard of selection at the Society coupled with a 15 certificate and a summary that implied it was something superior to a typical vampire horror story, I decided to give a go. It was nothing more than a gory slash-fest and can only have won awards because since the days of Ingmar Bergman gullible people have assumed Swedish films are automatically wonderful. Don't book any more like this please and give us more accurate notes of what to expect."
Alan Stockwell

"Last night I was moved for the first time to mark an 'evaluation slip' after a film. But in selecting 'poor' I wasn't commenting on the quality of the film (well made, excellent acting, interesting social comment) but on the choice of film for the Cranbrook audience. I didn't enjoy it - but I didn't feel comfortable marking it down as 'poor'. (I usually love all the films, to a greater or lesser degree, and don't want to evaluate them)."
Heather Rae

"As requested, we are letting you know that we found the last film unwatchable and did in fact leave. There was no indication in the brochure that it was quite so much of a horror film with so much gratuitous violence. Yes, it said vampire but nowhere did it suggest that those of us who don't like horror films should not view it. We accept totally that the Society should indeed show all sorts of films, but perhaps next year the brochure could be clearer."
Elizabeth and Ross Johnston

The White Ribbon

Mighty Aphrodite

The Concert

The Hurt Locker

A Prophet

Me and Orson Welles

The Wave

Departures

Summary for all films this season

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