Part 1 (Sept to Dec 2024)
Our films are now hosted at Chester Picturehouse in their 136-seat Screen 2. Film Society membership costs only £10 for the season, and member tickets for each film must be bought in person, either in advance or on the night, for £5.00 on the production of your 2024/25 Chester Film Society membership card.
Thursday 19th September
The Promised Land (2023, Director: Nikolaj Arcel)
2hr 7m (Denmark, Sweden, Norway) Cert: 15
18th century Denmark, Captain Ludvig Kahlen (Mads Mikkelsen), a proud and ambitious but impoverished war hero, aims to cultivate a barren land, build a colony for the King, and gain a noble title. Joined by a couple fleeing ruthless nobleman De Schinkel, Kahlen faces natural challenges and bandits. As a community forms, De Schinkel vows revenge, leading to a violent and intense confrontation. More on the IMDB
Audience Score: 8.3
AUDIENCE COMMENTS
Glass wine glasses and comfy seats!
Too much blood for me really but the rest was really well done
Beautifully filmed and directed. Strange story of a man’s obsession
I did find the violent scenes disturbing at the time but they needed to be there. An excellent film! Really good to learn about a new bit of history for me!
A strong start
Gosh! Something for everyone – except small children and impressionable adults!!
Completely gripping!
So sad, so bloody
Great film, Great seats, great vibes
Overlong, ending contrived but maybe true – violent and bloody – grand start
Grim but good
Dull plot, saved by some good performances
Much better venue – Great!!A person who gave it 10 – Although I was completely distraught throughout and wouldn’t watch it again – beautifully shot
The person who gave it 2 – circled ‘I loathed it’
The person who gave it 4 – Too cliched! Dreadful script :(Everything thrown in the mix. Monty Python v Ingmar Bergman – Cheer up Mads!
Thursday 10th October
The Origin of Evil (2022, Director: Sebastien Marnier)
2hr 3m (France) Cert: 15
A woman on the verge of financial collapse attempts to impersonate her imprisoned lover and con her wealthy, estranged father and his new family.
See our film notes which will be made available at the screening. More on the IMDB
Audience Score: 7.65
AUDIENCE COMMENTS
Enjoyed the music and the setting
Too long sadly
Excellent acting performance
Disney for Adults (gave 8)
Sometimes I found Laure a bit obviously acting
Pure entertainment
What a shower!
Brilliant! Twist upon twist
She would not have made such a mistake at the end
Loved the twist
A pleasantly weird film. Excellent acting
Amazing film – fabulous cinematography, gripping and excellent (crazy!) characters
Superb!
Creative, cringeworthy, callous
Thursday 31st October
Sorcery (2023, Director: Christopher Murray)
1hr 40m (Mexico, Germany, Chile) Cert: 15
On the remote island of Chiloé in the late 19th century, an Indigenous girl named Rosa works with her father on a farm. When the foreman brutally turns on Rosa’s father, she sets out for justice, seeking help from the king of a powerful organization of sorcerers. See our film notes which will be made available at the screening. More on the IMDB
Audience score: 6.7
AUDIENCE COMMENTS
Worse soundtrack ever.
Great film and soundtrack.
Thought provoking .
Great Halloween choice
Too much rain !!
Disjointed and poor ending
Slow and unpredictable
Profound , powerful, ponderous.
Don’t mess with the locals !!
No laughs, brutal.
Grey palette of rain and music.
Eerie and atmospheric.
Glad I don’t live there
Spellbinding but puzzling
I love magic realism !
PRIMAL !
Wonderful cinematography
Thursday 21st November
Mami Wata (2023, Director: CJ ‘Fiery’ Obasi)
1hr 47m (Nigeria, France, UK Cert: 12A
Captivating and dreamlike. A bold exploration of faith and cultural change. When outside elements threaten harmony in a village, two sisters must fight to save their people and restore the glory of the mermaid goddess to the land. More on the IMDB
Thursday 12th December
The Good Boss (2021, Director: Fernando León De Aranoa)
1hr 56m (Spain) Cert: 15
Básculas Blanco, a Spanish company manufacturing industrial scales in a provincial town, anxiously prepares for an imminent visit from a committee that will decide if they deserve a local Business Excellence award. Striving for perfection, the company’s owner, Blanco, races against time to solve employee issues, crossing numerous boundaries. More on the IMDB