Sarah's Key

[ejwrank]

Glad to see Beate and OH at Greenwich as we stumbled to our seats in the dark. Hard to understand what Brain of Britain thought it a good idea for part of the cinema to be in total blackness before the film started.

I thought that the historic part of the film was gripping but felt that the more modern bits were weak and let the film down. When Julia started her journey to NY and then Italy and hadn't bothered to properly explain it to her own daughter--well that seemed out of character. I had really high expectations so overall I felt disappointed but that's what comes with looking forward to a film too much.

I was very happy to tell the woman who sat near us to be quiet. She came in after the film had started and then decided to eat from the noisiest bag of crisps ever made during a very quiet section of the film. And of course she had to sit next to us!

[sharkgirl]

Amazingly Norwich Cinema City was full well before time and turning people away, never seen that before, I don't think it helps when there are members priority tickets as well as SFF tickets issued for the same screening, if I had been sensible enough to have looked at previous postings on this subject I wouldn't have bothered going in the first place, ah well, live and learn, went shopping instead which was far more enjoyable on a sunny day than a gloomy film, so all's well that ends well.

If it's a Sunday morning Picturehouse screening a certain quota of the tickets is always for members and a certain quota is for SFF. The SFF tickets were bookable before the members tickets btw so there is no point complaining about them. People who get there in time won't be turned away.

Don't think I was actually complaining, just surprised because I have never experienced it before at Norwich, c'est la vie, I was there around 10.45 which is normally more than early enough because from past experience they usually run late. The people behind me were actually members who thought they wouldn't bother with the member tickets because they had SFF tickets and they let members ahead of them, I don't think they complained either, it was a nice day and no one seemed really bothered by it but I will remember for future visits.

[Beate]

I thought that the historic part of the film was gripping but felt that the more modern bits were weak and let the film down. When Julia started her journey to NY and then Italy and hadn't bothered to properly explain it to her own daughter--well that seemed out of character. I had really high expectations so overall I felt disappointed but that's what comes with looking forward to a film too much.

I kind of agree. You needed the modern bits to connect to the story but I am not sure what Julia's pregnancy had to do with anything.

[shmile]

saw this at a pretty packed clapham
at first i wasnt expecting much from this film but i absolutely loved it. loved the touching storyline and the hint of history into which i love
it was very moving and i thought was very sad when she eventually got to her brother in paris

9.9/10

[jeanelle]

I thought that the historic part of the film was gripping but felt that the more modern bits were weak and let the film down. When Julia started her journey to NY and then Italy and hadn't bothered to properly explain it to her own daughter--well that seemed out of character. I had really high expectations so overall I felt disappointed but that's what comes with looking forward to a film too much.

I kind of agree. You needed the modern bits to connect to the story but I am not sure what Julia's pregnancy had to do with anything.

[spoiler]I believe it's a Jewish custom to name a new baby after a relative that has passed away. This keeps the name and memory alive, and in a metaphysical way forms a bond between the soul of the baby and the deceased relative. It is also great honour to the deceased. So this was a vehicle in the story for Julia to do this for the original Sarah.[/spoiler]

[Locky_football]

Amazingly Norwich Cinema City was full well before time and turning people away, never seen that before, I don't think it helps when there are members priority tickets as well as SFF tickets issued for the same screening, if I had been sensible enough to have looked at previous postings on this subject I wouldn't have bothered going in the first place, ah well, live and learn, went shopping instead which was far more enjoyable on a sunny day than a gloomy film, so all's well that ends well.

If it's a Sunday morning Picturehouse screening a certain quota of the tickets is always for members and a certain quota is for SFF. The SFF tickets were bookable before the members tickets btw so there is no point complaining about them. People who get there in time won't be turned away.

Don't think I was actually complaining, just surprised because I have never experienced it before at Norwich, c'est la vie, I was there around 10.45 which is normally more than early enough because from past experience they usually run late. The people behind me were actually members who thought they wouldn't bother with the member tickets because they had SFF tickets and they let members ahead of them, I don't think they complained either, it was a nice day and no one seemed really bothered by it but I will remember for future visits.

I was at Norwich and managed to see the film. We arrived pretty early and were amongst the first in there. It was in screen 3 which is one of the smaller screens so I wasn't surprised people were turned away.

We really enjoyed the film. Definitely worth a watch.

[jem&theholograms]

Also saw this at Clapham this morning. After watching the trailer I expected it to be a bit like Oranges & Sunshine, as in looking into a historical atrocity and trying to find people and the truth, and generally making you appalled at what human beings can be capable of. As it was so focussed on Sarah's family, I found the end result quite different to Oranges actually and way more traumatic. The story and the humanity they portrayed it with was quite wrenching, but I'm glad I saw this film - very well done.

My only negative was that the flow of the story didn't fully work for me, the modern bits an Italy etc, especially towards the end, felt a bit rushed and disjointed compared to the historic tension in the earlier part of the film. But I don't think it distracted from the overall story.

[spoiler]After all the build up, I found the news of Sarah's death quite rushed and almost blink and you'll miss it (though maybe that's just me). Without going for drawn out misery, I think they could have made that bit slightly bigger.[/spoiler]

[hopeprince]

Saw this at Clapham too, first time I have been there. Its was nice to see something emotional and it kinda felt like two entirely separate movies. Almost had me in tears but it would have been remarkable if they had tied up all the loose ends properly and i agree with the fact that parts were rushed and didnt feel in-character but it was a very emotional journey. 8/10

[rawsalsa]

I can't really add much to what's already been said, however overall I thought this was an excellent film that drew me to tears and despite the slight inadequacies of the depiction of the modern relevancies to the topic area is one of the best films I've seen this year. 8.5/10.

[rawsalsa]

I also saw this at Clapham, which is not a picturehouse that I frequent often, however I thought the vibe there was excellent.