South West Viewing Dayon at Matthews Hall, Topsham, Devon 29 October 2006
Over 80 delegates made the trip to Topsham just outside Exeter
for the South West Group's Autumn Viewing. It was the day the clocks went
back so, unusually, most people arrived in time for the event in the Matthews
Hall, formally a cinema that started out as the Rex in 1928 before becoming
the Tivoli after the war until the 1960s. Topsham Film Society, was launched
in 2004 to bring cinema back to the town and now has over 200 members and
a very strong committee that provided the organisation for the day's viewing.
The diverse programme of new releases, shown in the main auditorium and in
the Council Chamber upstairs, was well received with 5 of the 6 features
scoring more than 75%. Although Ken Loach's 'The Wind that Shakes the Barley'
did well, the surprise hit of the day was 'Photos to Send' a stunning documentary
by Deirdre Lange on work of American photographer Dorothea Lange. The film
has not received much of a release in the UK but was 'discovered' by Barry
Fowler of the SW Society, Reel People, who voted it their top film last season.
It is hoped that a DVD copy of the film can be struck for wider distribution
of this sublime and beautiful film. Apart from the selection of films, the
catering at the Globe Hotel down the road proved a great success and contributed
to another memorable SW Viewing. - Brian Clay
Paul Schilling adds: "Hats off to John, Annabel, Michael, and all
the other hard working Topsham committee members! Not forgetting Liz, Norman
and co at the lovely Globe Hotel."
REACTIONS (What is an RI? -
click here.)
| Title |
Distributor 35/DVD |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
Tot |
RI |
| PHOTOS TO SEND |
Dierdre Lynch * |
22 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
30 |
92 |
| ENRON: The Smartest Guys in the Room |
Lionsgate |
16 |
16 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
40 |
78 |
| THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY |
Pathé/Filmbank |
13 |
16 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
34 |
78 |
| BE WITH ME |
Peccadillo Pictures |
12 |
7 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
26 |
76 |
| OFFSIDE |
Artificial Eye / BFI |
10 |
26 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
43 |
76 |
| ECHO PARK L.A. |
Metrodome/Filmbank |
0 |
8 |
7 |
4 |
1 |
20 |
53 |
| Shorts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The Love Train |
- / Eva Bennett |
13 |
10 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
31 |
79 |
| El Carminante |
- / Debra Smith |
7 |
8 |
9 |
3 |
0 |
27 |
68 |
| Election Night |
- / Cinema 16 |
5 |
12 |
10 |
2 |
1 |
30 |
65 |
| Snow |
- / BFI |
6 |
7 |
7 |
1 |
3 |
24 |
63 |
| The Gift |
- / Jessica Langford |
1 |
9 |
5 |
6 |
1 |
22 |
53 |
| The Grain Chest |
- / Christopher King |
4 |
5 |
10 |
13 |
3 |
35 |
46 |
* At present, Photos to Send is only available on 35mm or VHS;
BFFS SW are looking into the possibility of a DVD being made available given
the interest in this title. For full details of distributors and contacts
download -
distributors pdf
file (22 Kb)
Programme notes on the feature films are available as pdfs -
details.
 |
Societies Represented: Batcombe, Bath, Beer, Blandford Forum,
Bournemouth & Poole, Bradford on Avon, Clapton & Wayford, Dartmouth,
Dorchester, Exeter, Holsworthy, Looe, Lyme Regis, Newent Community Cinema,
Shaftesbury Arts Centre, Stroud & District, Swindon, Tetbury, Tiverton,
Topsham, Weston super Mare, Wotton under Edge, Yeovil Cinémathèque.
(23 Societies) |
 |
 |
THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY - Ken Loach's controversial film set
in Ireland in 1920. Cannes Palme d'Or winner 2006. |
|
 |
PHOTOS TO SEND - Deidre Lynch's moving documentary on the celebrated
American photographer Dorothea Lange was the highest rated film at its premiere
last season at Reel People, Kilmersdon. |
 |
OFFSIDE - Jafar Panahi's perceptive comedy illustrates the fight for
women's rights in Iran with this tale of a football-mad young girl. |
|
 |
BE WITH ME - three inter-woven tales of Singapore life based around themes
of love and companionship acclaimed at Cannes last year. |
 |
ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM - The amazing story of the fall
of Enron starring George W Bush et al. |
|
 |
ECHO PARK L.A. - described by The Big Issue as 'quietly superior beautifully
observed and incredibly well-acted tale'. |
plus six new shorts and the famous FSW Quiz
Organised by Topsham Film Society and the South West Group, sponsored by
Lyme Regis Film Society. Many thanks to Lyme Regis Film Society who have
made a very generous donation to the SW Group to help us in our continuing
funding crisis.
