Sun 11 Apr: "Bright Star" - ChOC's film of the month

Romance and romantic love. "A literate, lyrical love story in the age of Hollywood crass."

In the Memorial Hall, bar from 6.45, film from 7.30. Cert PG, 108 mins.

This new film from Jane Campion was given 5 stars by the Telegraph, who said: 'Director Jane Campion has a knack for portraying female characters so intimately that she seems to get beneath their skin … An exquisite piece of film-making about the doomed romance between the poet John Keats and his neighbour Fanny Brawne.'

The Guardian loved it too: 'Campion brings to this story an unfashionable, unapologetic reverence for romance and romantic love, and she responds to Keats's life and work with intelligence and grace … This film looks unselfconsciously beautiful … Poets, like musicians, need silence above all, and much of the film is played out in a deeply quiet calm.'

Rolling Stone said: 'The film, shot by the gifted Greig Fraser, is a thing of beauty to match the snippets of Keats we hear on the soundtrack. But the film would remain a concept without the right actors to give it flesh and blood. Whishaw lets us into Keats' secret, anguished heart. And Cornish is glorious, making Fanny a force of womanhood able to take on Brown (Schneider is a sharply witty irritant) when he tries to break the connection between her and her beloved. Cornish catches the fertile mind that Fanny poignantly tries to nurture, knowing she'll grow closer to Keats by deciphering the words that possess him. A literate, lyrical love story in the age of Hollywood crass. I must be dreaming.'

'Campion's best film since The Piano' Independent on Sunday

'Abbie Cornish is magnetic ... Ben Whishaw is magical' The Times Online

'Fluent, witty, moving and credible' Financial Times

'Elegant, gorgeously shot movie' Sunday Express

Tickets £4.50 on the door or in advance from Cotswold Frames, Evenlode Books and News and Things.

For up to date information on all ChOC films, go to www.chocfims.info

Posted by Jon Carpenter | Link