FILM
FROM ABOVE, CLOCKWISE: New documentary I Am Greta; Exhibition on Screen returns with a study of the life and work of Frida Kahlo; Saint Maude is a fantastically dark and twisted horror film
Back in motion
A haunting psychological horror story, a powerful drama about family brutality, plus Greta, Frida, and Chekhov – SOPHIE-CLAIRE MACLEOD previews this season’s best cinema releases
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aint Maud is a new tense, terrifying horror film hitting the big screen soon. Maud (Morfydd Clark) is a shy young nurse; her impressionable personality has led her to pursue the path of absolute devotion to Christianity, spurred on by an obscure trauma in her past. Now, having been charged with the hospice care of Amanda (Jennifer Ehle), a retired dancer in the late stages of cancer, Maud’s faith quickly inspires an obsessive need to save her ward’s soul, no matter the cost. Writer and director Rose Glass has created a fantastically dark and twisted story. She plays on the audience’s understanding of a psychological condition and Godly intervention, leaving us constantly guessing and intrigued. The intense story is not just about horror, but is an in-depth look into the life of someone who is truly devoted and how it affects their world view. Receiving high praise from critics, this heart-stopping horror will leave you feeling haunted. Herself is the outstanding new drama from Mamma Mia! and The Iron Lady director Phyllida Lloyd. Sandra (Clare Dunne) is a young mother who is struggling to provide a warm, safe and happy home for her two daughters, as her controlling husband, Gary (Ian Lloyd Anderson), tries to use force to keep the family together. With the council unwilling to provide housing for her and her children, Sandra decides to build a house from scratch herself. With basically no money, Sandra uses her ingenuity to build her ambitious dream.
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With the support of her friends and the love of her daughters, Sandra finds the strength to do what she must to keep her daughters safe. Although Sandra is doing it all herself, contrary to the title, the film highlights how her community of friends help her through the struggles she faces. It’s a beautiful film of people uplifting each other and supporting those in need, reminding us that there is good in the world, even when times are tough. Clare Dunne’s performance is
“It’s a beautiful film of people uplifting each other” incredibly moving, and you can tell she cares about the character and her journey. Her vulnerability and strength makes the story completely believable. For all the pain and hurt Sandra goes through, there’s joy and love surrounding her to help her through. For the art lovers, Exhibition on Screen returns with EOS: Frida Kahlo, a study of the life and work of the Mexican-German painter, famous for her self-portraits. It’s an intimate look at her vibrant paintings and how she became an icon of the 20th century. Idiot Prayer: Nick Cave Alone At Alexandra Palace is perfect for all music lovers. Playing a collection of stripped back songs, Nick Cave recorded this stunning
performance in June 2020, just as the UK was starting to emerge from lockdown. Conceived as a reaction to lockdown, this performance serves as a souvenir from a strange and precarious moment in history. The new documentary I Am Greta comes to cinemas for one day only with an exclusive recorded Q&A. Following the life of young climate activist Greta Thunberg, the film uses never-before-seen footage that shows her rise in prominence and her global impact that sparked the school strikes around the world. Starting from her solo strike outside the Swedish Parliament, it’s astonishing to see how far her words have reached. The stunning production of the Chekov classic play Uncle Vanya also comes to the big screen. Following the critically acclaimed opening earlier this year in London, Sonia Friedman’s fantastic production was abruptly halted when lockdown was enforced. This hybrid of film and theatre is a production like no other theatre performance you’ve seen before.
Sophie-Claire McLeod is duty and marketing manager at The Little Theatre, 1–2 St Michael’s Place; tel: 01225 466822; www.picturehouses.co.uk
