Catherine Max tells us which films she’s loved at film club, and which Audrey Hepburn movie forced her to walk out.
You can follow Catherine on Twitter @ catherine_max.
What was the first film you saw at film club?
Elia Kazan's A Streetcar Named Desire, with Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando. I'd only lived in the area a few months when I spotted this screening. I knew I wanted to join!
What’s been your favourite film at film club?
This is almost impossible, as I've loved seeing many different films for many different reasons: the aesthetics of Satyajit Ray's The Big City or Robert Altman's McCabe & Mrs Miller; the socio-political bite of Andrea Arnold's Fish Tank or Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing; the expressionism and surreality of F.W. Murnau's Faust or Jan Svankmajer's Alice. But Bill Forsyth's funny and poignant Gregory's Girl made a great 'film club film'. Everyone was smiling as they left.
What’s been your least favourite film at film club?
I walked out of Two for the Road, though I tried to stick with it out of courtesy to Nigel and Wayne. Great cast but 'dated' to put it kindly. It's essentially one sexist joke on repeat. (For the record, Nigel likes this film, Wayne does not).
Which film that you voted for are you most annoyed has lost the vote?
I'm never annoyed by the votes. One of the joys of the club is being encouraged to see films you might not choose for yourself. Disappointed sometimes (I'm only human, see next question).
What’s a favourite film of yours you’d love to see at film club?
Casablanca. It lost the vote once but would be a perfect Tufnell Park Film Club film, for multiple reasons. (It lost the ‘old flames’ themed vote to Paris, Texas)
Tell us a theme and three choices you’d put up for the vote.
'Culture and transition'. These are three of my favourite books, but I only know one of the films. I'm intrigued to see how the others have been adapted: The Leopard (Visconti), The Garden of the Finzi Contini (De Sica) and Things Fall Apart (Pohland).
What’s your earliest memory of going to the cinema?
It's more about the experience than any particular film. We used to go to the Granada in Harrow which is now Grade II listed. It had a Wurlitzer organ - only played on special occasions by then (1970s). And, of course, there was always a short film before the main feature plus those hilariously amateur local ads: 'Medway Cars', anyone?
What was the last film you saw outside film club and would you recommend it?
Parasite at the Phoenix, East Finchley. Deserved all its plaudits. Extraordinary combination of funny and disturbing, and beautifully shot.
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