Movies are the most popular form of entertainment and no one knows this better than the St. Albert Public Library.
The Friends of St. Albert Public Library have scheduled the seventh annual Reel Mondays, a movie subscription series that is screened from January to May at Grandin Theatres.
On loan from the Toronto International Film Festival film circuit, this year’s five movies include Made in Dagenham, Winter’s Bone, Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie, Barney’s Version and The Debt.
“There’s quite a variety. Made in Dagenham forced social change. Winter’s Bone is a human drama. Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie is a documentary. Barney’s Version is the hilarious journey of a man’s life and The Debt is a spy thriller,” says organizer Kathie Konarzewski.
She says the ongoing success of Reel Mondays lies in more than the quality of films viewed. Structured in part with similarities to a book club, the series also encourages people to socialize after the screening. “There’s a party room at Grandin Theatre and usually 25 to 30 people will stay behind to have coffee. It’s not always the same people. But we get to know each other and they help us make decisions.”
One of the movies seriously considered for this line-up was The King’s Speech. “When it became an Oscar contender, it was widened to mainstream theatre and became unavailable to us.”
Below is a quick movie synopsis:
• Jan. 31 – Made in Dagenham: This UK film dramatizes a 1968 strike at Britain’s Ford car plant where female workers protested sexual harassment and discrimination. Directed by Nigel Cole (Saving Grace, Calendar Girls) this film shows a spirited posse of blue-collar women take their grievances to the highest powers in the land. “Our audience is mainly women and they’ll be enthusiastic about this.”
• Feb. 28 – Winter’s Bone: Times are tough for 17-year-old Ree Dolly as she tries to raise two younger siblings after her drug-dealing father is arrested. Things get worse after he signs over the house for his release. If he doesn’t appear at his trial, the family loses the house. Dolly embarks on a quest through the wilderness to hunt down her father and make sure he fulfils his obligations. “It’s low budget — $2 million — but it won two Sundance Film Festival awards. It’s bleaker than the others, but it is powerful.”
• March 28 – Force of Nature: the David Suzuki Movie starts with Suzuki delivering a speech in Vancouver on climate change. The film cuts in and out of the speech retracing his life. “It’s already won the Cadillac People’s Choice Award for documentary.”
• April 18 – Barney’s Version, adopted from Mordechai Richler’s best-selling novel stars Paul Giamatti and Dustin Hoffman. Barney Panofsky, a 67-year-old producer with three marriages under his belt and a litany of mistakes and regrets, decides to tell an account of his life.
• May 30 – The Debt starring Helen Mirren is the story of three Mossad agents in the 1960s dispatched to kill an infamous Nazi doctor. It is 1997 and there are rumours he has resurfaced.
Over 65 per cent of tickets have been sold. Last year The Friends generated $3,000 that went to audiovisual material. This year the society hopes to raise an equal amount that will be targeted to increase author readings.
Shows start at 7 p.m. Season tickets are $40 and single tickets at the door are $10. Subscription tickets are available at the library. Call 780-459-1682 or visit www.sapl.ab.ca.
