Grand Central

[prettyxcool]

Went to the ourscreen and Picturehouses screening tonight. On arrival at Stratford East Picturehouse, they had a guest list to tick you off and then give you physical tickets. So much for being fully booked when I booked, as there was only one ticket available, the screening took place in Screen 4 which could seat at least 100 people, I counted only about 25 people.

This was a rather erotic drama, totally lost on me. It just meanders and goes nowhere, some guy working in a nuclear power station, fears of contamination (it felt like he was trying to get everyone contaminated but may be it was the opposite), and an illicit love affair with a colleague's wife, with a very unsatisfying ending. 5/10

Lovely to see some familiar faces, and catch up with, cliveas, bevvy and her OH.

[cliveas]

Screen 4 which could seat at least 100 people.

It can seat just under 150.

This was a very French (or at least continental European) film. While watching it I found myself ticking off differences between it and what I would have expected from a Hollywood production of the same story. It would actually be a lot easier to say what this wasn't rather than what it actually was and it was very easy to see why audiences used to Hollywood fare could find this unsatisfying. However I actually quite enjoyed it albeit as much for this contrast as for the actual content, although I found the depiction of work at a nuclear power plant very interesting.

with a very unsatisfying ending.

There were two interlocking storylines, one of which was resolved at the conclusion of the film and one of which was left open.

Lovely to see some familiar faces, and catch up with, cliveas, bevvy and her OH.

Yes, indeed!

[eumenides]

15 people at Harbour Lights yesterday ! Once the nudity started all that was missing was our dirty macs. I didn't mind this film but it didn't exactly rock my world either. 6/10.
Looking forward to Smart Ass, Lilting and all the other upcoming ourscreen films though.

[cliveas]

That's one of those interesting cultural differences. This French film included nudity which almost certainly would not have been in an American/British version and here is viewed as shocking or at least noteworthy. However in the only (I think) scene where there was physical violence the camera did not actually show it. I'm pretty confident that it would have been shown in an American/British version and even more confident that there could have been far more and worse violence with no-one here finding it at all noteworthy. It's interesting (or at least I find it so) what we react to and what we don't.

[eumenides]

That's one of those interesting cultural differences. This French film included nudity which almost certainly would not have been in an American/British version and here is viewed as shocking or at least noteworthy. However in the only (I think) scene where there was physical violence the camera did not actually show it. I'm pretty confident that it would have been shown in an American/British version and even more confident that there could have been far more and worse violence with no-one here finding it at all noteworthy. It's interesting (or at least I find it so) what we react to and what we don't.

I think you're spot on about the violence. I was very happy about the cut away from shot when

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Gary was getting pummelled by the husband

as the sounds were enough to conjure up the images. I was more surprised about how the nudity was suddenly introduced especially when the sex that occurred prior to the two leads becoming involved was only heard and not seen

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between Isaac and his pal

and I appreciated the subtlety.

I much preferred Lea Seydoux in Blue is the Warmest colour which of course has far more nudity but shown in context I personally found that far more acceptable. And the story is stronger and the acting far superior.

[stuartboy]

Underwhelming and ultimately unfulfilling. I tried very hard to engage with this movie, but was left feeling that it seemed to just stop. I can't remember being aware of any real nudity (save for the odd glimpse here and there in shower/changing room scenes, but nothing that you don't see at the gym/swimming pool routinely) - even the image of Isaac and his pal was done by sound only. Of course maybe I missed something as I concentrated on reading the words. I've said before and I'll say again that I'm convinced that the viewer of a film in a foreign language reying on subtitles MUST miss some of the detail of what is happening visually whilst they read the subtitles (and mentally try to asign to which character they refer).

Enlightening insight into the realms of a nuclear power station though - it held my interest.

6/10

[prettyxcool]

Underwhelming and ultimately unfulfilling. I tried very hard to engage with this movie, but was left feeling that it seemed to just stop.

That is exactly how I felt!

I can't remember being aware of any real nudity (save for the odd glimpse here and there in shower/changing room scenes, but nothing that you don't see at the gym/swimming pool routinely)

There was one full frontal scene of the girl which seems to linger on for a very long time! Did you drop off stuartboy! Since noticing it is by a female director, was surprised only full nudity for the female part and none of the men! tut! tut!