In keeping with Remembrance Day the Williams Lake Film Club will screen the film The Cuckoo next Tuesday.
During November we select a film which refers to Remembrance Day and this time the film comes from Russia.
Quite a few people have approached me and asked me why I do not bring great films like The Cuckoo to Williams Lake any more. Then they would come.
Really? If you did not come to see so many of our great offerings, you truly missed some of the best films available.
But I do like to make you happy – so we will show the much requested film this coming Tuesday.
Hope to see you there!
The Cuckoo takes place in September 1944. The land is torn apart by war, a Finnish sniper labeled a coward is chained to a rock ordered to shoot as many enemies as possible.
Not long after, a disgraced Russian Captain, en route to his court martial, is injured in an accident. Wounded and emotionally tortured, they are taken in by Anni, a young, resourceful war widow, who offers shelter. None of them understands the other’s language.
Isolated, the three unlikely companions — a Finn, a Russian and a Lapp — overcome both comic and tragic misunderstandings to a passionate three-way relationship.
This is not your regular war movie with horrible scenes of blood and guts. This is a film about human beings who mourn the days and friendships they had before the war, who are hurt in their soul. Anni helps them to recover through laughter, work, companionship, and through some real magic, magic brought about by a warm, caring person.
The cinematography is wonderful. You will see Lappland as you may never have seen it before. Anni is played by an inexperienced 22-year-old actress, but she is so great that I am sure you will not forget her. I never have.
Great news. At the end of October the Williams Lake Film Club donated $2,000 to the LDA, Williams Lake Chapter for Students with Learning Disabilities.
This supports one-on-one tutoring. Want to know more about this program? Want to help? Call me at 250-398-9149. The Cuckoo will be screened Tuesday, Nov. 17, in the Gibraltar Room at 7 p.m.
