The new Reel on the River season begins this month with a film from the UK on Jan. 19.
Pride is about a band of coal miners from Welsh and a group of lesbians and gays from London who form an alliance in response to Margaret Thatcher’s hard rule in Britain in the 1980s.
By 1984, new-wave music had taken over the clubs, Thatcher’s government was battling mining unions, and London’s queer communities were perfecting artful activism. Into that mix walks Mark (Ben Schnetzer). Out, proud, and always ready for a righteous battle, he can’t accept that any one form of oppression should outrank another. Overcoming the reluctance of his ragtag band of friends — who would mostly rather party than protest — he brings them together to form Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners.
Other movies part of the winter series are Whiplash, Mommy, Monsoon, and Force Majeure.
Whiplash, a film from the USA, will be on the screen on Feb. 2. It is a cautionary tale about the pursuit of excellence.
In his second feature film, writer-director Damien Chazelle pits revered and feared jazz conservatory instructor Terence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons) against drumming prodigy Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller). Vying for a core position in Fletcher’s elite ensemble, and aspiring to no less than greatness, Neyman will do anything to secure first chair. Before long, reason is abandoned and civility deserted, and the blistered and bleeding Neyman succumbs to Fletcher’s abusive teaching techniques. But Neyman has a couple of surprises up his sleeve, and things will get progressively nastier — both on and off the stage — before their scorching musical showdown.
Canadian films Mommy and Monsoon will be played on Feb. 16 and March 2 respectively.
Mommy (French with English subtitles) is a story about a single mother who brings her teenage son home from a government institution for troubled youth. And when a shy neighbour takes an interest in the pair, a surprising trio develops.
Monsoon is a visually stunning meditation on the annual rains that descend upon India and the impact it has on the country’s economy, agriculture and society.
The final show in the series, Force Majeure, takes place March 23. The film is from Europe (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and France) and contains English subtitles. It is about a family that is faced with a sudden and shocking avalanche threat while they are on a ski vacation in the French Alps. Although life and limb are preserved, the marriage bond between the two parents may be shattered.
All films are shown on Monday evenings at 7 p.m.at SilverCity at the Junction Mall. A series pass for all five films is $35 or single tickets can be purchased at the door for $10. Passes are now available at Shopper’s Drug Mart in Mission and at Jazz-Ma-Tazz in downtown Abbotsford.
Reel on the River is a local, not-for-profit group of film enthusiasts. The group focusses on showing Canadian, independent, foreign and documentary films which would not normally be shown locally. Films are made available to Reel on the River by Film Circuit. For more information, visit reelontheriver.ca.
