New life in Cinema Obscura’s eighth season

Wiveliscombe’s film society, Cinema Obscura returns for a fresh season of eight films on Sunday 23rd September. Established in 2000, Cinema Obscura was awarded "Best New Film Society" by British Federation of Film Societies and has a deserved reputation in the area for showing some of the most interesting films currently available anywhere. Their new programme of films includes some films being shown for the first time in the South West . The films chosen promise to be just as entertaining and challenging as those in previous Cinema Obscura seasons.

The season commences with The Lives of Others (Leben der Anderen, Das) cert 15, current Oscar winner of Best Foreign Film in. Set in 1980s East Berlin, prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall - the first cracks in communist Europe are beginning to appear. Successful young playwright Georg and his celebrated actress girlfriend Christa-Maria are suspected of dissidence and placed under close Stasi surveillance. Soon the agent assigned to their case begins to question his own attitudes to freedom and the role of art as he comes to admire Georg’s courageous stance against the authoritarian regime.

The Lives of Others is an intensely gripping thriller and moving love story which manages to merge the personal and the political in a powerful indictment of a corrupt totalitarian society where democracy is a dirty word. The film was also credited by the head of the vast Stasi archives, Marianne Birthler, of vividly depicting the moral corruption and petty inhumanity of the communist state.

The Lives of Others is an excellent introductory film to Cinema Obscura - which old and new members are sure to enjoy. Mark Reynolds Cinema Obscura’s chair says "We have put together a season of great and thoughtful films which members and their guests will take pleasure in seeing - as well as allowing discerning audiences to appreciate what cinema past and present has to offer"

Cinema Obscura meets at The New Theatre, Wiveliscombe Primary School - doors will open from 7pm with the main feature commencing at 7.30pm.

Full season membership is £25 (couples £45) with guest entry being £4.00.

The Full Season

• 23rd September: The Lives of Others (15)
• 14th October: Ten Canoes (PG)
• 18th November: Golden Door (Nuovomondo) (PG)
• 16th December; In Bed With Santa (PG)
• 20th January: A Prairie Home Companion (PG)
• 17th February : Water (15)
• Sunday 16th March: When a Women ascends the Stairs (PG)
• The final film on 13th April will be chosen by the season’s membership.

Full details of this new season of films from Eddie Gaines tel: 01984 624657 or Mark Reynolds tel: 01643 831080