An eclectic range of films, a handful of popcorn, a large projector screen and a room rearranged to create the special atmosphere of a mini-cinema. The BISC film nights have become a little known treasure in the BISC diary and greatly enhanced by the added insight provided by Elvyn Griffith’s extensive knowledge of film history.
The films chosen have been from a variety of different cultures and produced in response to changing historical circumstances. From the more recently produced “The Shawshank Redemption,” exploring themes of hope and fear in terrifying and unjust circumstances, to the moving and controversial film “Life is beautiful” by Roberto Benigni, set in a concentration camp where imagination serves to make life more bearable. The film “Chocolat” was served with real hot chocolate with vanilla and spices. Other films chosen might not naturally be a first choice for a modern audience, for example Orson Well’s classic film noire “The Third Man” set in post-war Vienna.
On the other hand, the films have not always been controversial or educational. To watch and delight in the infectious joy and exquisite art of a Nineteen Fifties Hollywood musical in “American in Paris” has in itself provoked a sense of awe and a surprisingly rich depth of conversation and reflection. Why is such glamour and entertainment less popular for an audience in the twenty first century Western Europe?
So whether you’re there to enjoy the pop corn or to improve your English in a relaxed atmosphere, the BISC film nights look as though they are here to stay.
“It’s better than going to the movies with a bunch of strangers” commented one Polish student. Films and discussion are a great way to build relationships, to really get to know how somebody views the world and what their passions and questions are in life. Future film nights will undoubtedly require exposure to film from other continents. If you could choose three films to provoke discussion and debate, what would you choose?
