Down at the Broadway – November 2013

We’re back with our monthly preview of what’s going on at Nottingham’s largest independent cinema.

PHILOMENA is the Brit movie of the moment and is already be whispered about as a big contender come award season. The Queen director Stephen Fryers is behind the camera for this tale of a down-on-his-luck journalist, played by Steve Coogan (who also co-wrote the screenplay) who picks up the story of an Irish lady who was forced to give up her baby in the fifties and made to live in a convent. Dame Judi Dench takes on the role of the mother trying to track down the son that was taken from her.A dark yet humourous tale that is lifted by two fantastic lead performances. Philomena will be showing from Friday 1 November.

Also airing from the 1st November will the be award winning GLORIA from Chilean director Sebastian Lello.

On Monday 4th you’ll be able to check out the latest adaptation of the Shakespeare classic ROMEO & JULIET, starring Douglas Booth and Hailee Stansfield – True Grit – as the star crossed lovers destined for a tragic end. The film also stars Paul Giamatti and Homeland star Damien Lewis.

There is been much hype around the space based sci-fi flick GRAVITY, which comes to Broadway on Friday 8th, not least the performances of megastar leads George Clooney and Sandra Bullock. The tale of a medical engineer and astronaut who work drastically to try and save themselves after an accident leaves them spinning hopelessly adrift in space has been receiving huge critical praise and mention of a certain gold statue has also been head. Now you can find out why by heading down to catch a screening – for an added bonus you can catch the film in 3D on either the 10 or 13 November.

Also released on the 8th is PROJECT WILD THING, filmmaker David Bond’s self funded documentary in which he attempts to help Mother Nature get the attention it deserves in the demanding modern world, plus Isabelle Huppert and Louise Bourgoin star in Belgian flick THE NUN.

Friday 15th sees the release of SHORT TERM 12 which tells the story of twenty-something year old Grace (Brie Larson) a supervisor at a foster-care facility for at-risk teenagers. Grace is a formidable caretaker of the kids in her charge, but her own difficult past and the surprising future that suddenly presents itself, throw her into unforeseen confusion.

Also available to catch on the 15th is THE BUTLER, Lee Daniels acclaimed adaptation of the life story of Eugene Allen, and African American who spent 34 years as the White House Butler. Starring Forest Whitaker, Mariah Carey, Vanessa Redgrave, Clarence Williams III and Oprah Winfrey this is a fascinating tale of a man who served during eight presidential terms, from 1952-86, baring witness to some of the most groundbreaking social changes in the history of the United States.

Also from Saturday 16 you’ll be able to check out FUTURE OF MY LOVE in the Lounge.

Friday 22nd sees the release of BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR, this French film, from acclaimed director Abdellatif Kechiche, is based on the graphic novel from Jule Maroh and was a huge hit at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, winning the prestigious Palme d’Or. The film tells the story of Adele, charting her ecstasies, longings and losses over a period of several years during which she meets an older women who excites her desires, becoming the love of her life.

Also available from Friday 22nd is COMPUTER CHESS which follows the journey of several young geniuses as they try to create the ultimate chess program to beat a human player.

The final weekend of the month sees the release of the highly anticipated SAVING MR. BANKS which sees Walt Disney promise his children he’d bring their favourite fictional nanny Mary Poppins to the big screen. However Walt soon learns that author P.L. Travers has no intention of allowing her most famous creation to be turned into movie form – fearing the character would be misrepresented. It looks like Walt may be unable to keep his promise to his children, however years later, with books sales falling and the authors finances dwindling, Travers is driven to schedule a meeting with Disney to discuss the film rights. Starring Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks – fresh off the back of a sensational performance in Captain Philips – this promises to be an intriguing tale of how one of the best loved children’s movies of all time finally made it to the big screen.

Also released on 29th is JEUNE ET JOLIE, the story of 17 year old student Isabelle who, having lost her virginity during a brief holiday romance, returns home and embarks on a journey of sexual exploration and self-discovery which sees her embarking on a life of prostitution.

Programmed with senior citizens in mind the SILVER SCREEN showings offer tickets at just £4.50 plus free tea/coffee and biscuits. This months selection will see screenings of ROMEO & JULIET (7 Nov), PHILOMENA (14), THE BUTLER (21), JOURNEY TO ITALY (28).

Those with families can ease the strain on their budgets by heading down to one of the Saturday FAMILY MOVIE MATINEE screenings where tickets are just £3.50 each, this month you can see screenings of WOLF CHILDREN (2 Nov) – a moving tale of love and triumph in which a mother and her two half-wolf, half-human children must move to a rural town to hide the secret of their mysterious lineage.

BOX OF DELIGHTS (9 Nov) is a selection of eight award winning short films from the British Animation Awards, specially selected for 4-7 year old’s. THE BURROWERS, starring Chris Ecclestone, Stephen Fry and Aisling Loftus, will screen on Sat 16 and there is a yet to be announced SPECIAL 3D EVENT on Saturday 23 before CRASH, BANG! WALLOP, a selection of fun films by and four young people wraps up the screenings on Saturday 30.

Those of you with wee nippers that fancy grabbing a movie without the tuts and mutters of your fellow movie viewers can check out one of Broadway’s BRINGING UP BABY! screenings where adults pay just £4.50 and baby’s (up to one year of age) go FREE.

This month you can check out PHILOMENA on Tuesday 5th or GRAVITY on 12th, with both movies having showings at 10.30am and 1.30pm.

On Saturday 2nd the SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT SCREENING will how a showing of the movie WOLF CHILDREN, this is a showing suitable for children on the autistic spectrum, and their families, tickets are just £2 for under 16’s and £3.50 for adults.

As always with the Broadway as well as the newest releases there will be a host of special themed screenings throughout the month, with the Mayhem! Film Festival already underway, others this month are.

DOING THE BUSINESS, a series of films about social and ethical issues in business which has been programmed in conjunction with the International Centre for Corporate and Social Responsibility at Nottingham University Business School.

During this series you’ll be able to see a number of specially selected screenings on Monday evenings, kicking off on 4th with SOMETHING VENTURED, a documentary about the inception of American venture capitalism, this movie includes and introduction by Rob Carroll, a Special Professor at Nottingham University Business School.

Monday 11th will see a showing of WE STEAL SECRETS – THE STORY OF WIKILEAKS, not the flop Benedict Cumberbatch starring movie, but instead a documentary by Alex Gibney about what happens when a small group of people open the intelligence vaults of the most powerful nation on the planet – with an introduction by Francesca West, Policy Director at Public Concern at Work.

On Monday 18th Professor Laurie Cohen from the Nottingham University Business School will introduce a double screening in NALINI BY DAY + THE PHANTOM OPERATOR. Nalini By Day explores the complex issues of globalisation, capitalism and identity through the witty account of her journey into India’s call centres. The Phantom Opeator, meanwhile, is a wry and delightful found-footage film revealing a little-known chapter in labour history: the role of female telephone operators’ central place in the development of global communications.

Finally the series wraps up on Monday 25 with GASLAND PART II a profile on one of the most controversial subjects of the moment hydraulic fracturing, aka ‘fracking’, with an introduction by Daniel Nyberg, professor of Sustainability at the ICCSR, Nottingham University Business School.

THE TELEVISION WORKSHOP is a Bafta-award winning Nottingham based studio that has been responsible for some of the best acting talent to come out of the UK over the thirty years it has been running – plus a great selection of presenters, writers, directors, producers and editors to boot. To celebrate the studio’s big three-oh the Broadway will be screening a series of work featuring some of the workshops formidable talent.

The celebratory weekend runs from 15-17 November and will kick off with a screening of A ROOM FOR ROMEO BRASS, directed by Workshop patron Shane Meadows. This, however, is no ordinary screening but one that captures the spirit of Workshop and will feature an unpredictable live commentary from members of the cast including Vicky McClure, Andrew Shim, Ben Marshall and Ladine Hall.

On Saturday will be screenings of THE BURROWERS and THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES with guest appearances from Aisling Loftus (Arrietty) and Anji Mohnidra (Rani). Hard hitting feature LONDON TO BRIGHTON welcomes back Geogia Groome, whose incredible performance was given at just 13 years old. Finally on Saturday will be a special preview of the electrifying new film STARRED UP, from Jack O’Connell, bringing things right up to date.

Sunday will see the chance to see a selection of classic children’s television programmes that chart the Workshop’s remarkable history – from the 90’s anarchic YOUR MOTHER WOULDN’T LIKE IT to the current CBBC hit THE DUMPING GROUND, with a special appearance from Kia Pegg who plays Jody. Finally there will be a selection of great short films that have featured Workshoppers including award-winners SOFT and SIS with introductions from the directors and actors.

We’ll have more on the 30th anniversary of The Television Workshop on the site over the next couple of weeks.

As always there will be a number of LIVE BY SATELLITE showings from some of the top UK theatres including NT ENCORE: OTHELLO from the National Live Theatre (3 Nov), MET OPERA LIVE: TOSCA from The Metropolitan Opera (10) and RSC LIVE: RICHARD III, starring David Tennant as King Richard, from the Royal Shakespeare Company (13).

On Tuesday 5 November actress Nichola Burley will take part in a Q&A following the screening of FOR THOSE IN PERIL in which she stars alongside Kate Dickie and Michael Smiley.

THE FADE: A CLEAN CUT DOCUMENTARY will screen on Sun 17 as part of Black History Season, the story of four barbers across the world  – in Ghana, Jamaica, USA and the UK – the story interweaves their stories and examines the polarised opposits of their locations. The film will include a post-screening Q&A with director Andy Mundy-Castle.

The BANG! SHORT FILM FESTIVAL kicks off on Wednesday 27 November and we’ll have more on that soon.

Meanwhile the Cafebar will be getting in on the action too with plenty going on.

Starting things off is a DISCOPATH Halloween Party on Friday 1st, this takes place after the preview screening of DISCOPATH (part of the MAYHEM! Film Festival) and will follow the theme of the 70’s slasher.

Thursday 14 sees a rebooted return for the popular gaming quiz 1UP, it’s just £1 a head and there are prizes to be had, while fans of The Doctor will want to check out the DOCTOR WHO THEMED QUIZ on Tuesday 26 – again just £1.

Finally the KinoKlubb gang return on 29 with a showing of John Carpenter’s sci-fi classic THE THING.

As always there is plenty to enjoy this month at the brilliant Broadway, for more information and tickets make sure you head on over to the website.