Everybody may be focusing on the seasons festivities but that doesn’t mean that you can’t still mark a few interesting things in the diary to get the new year off to an interesting start. And two dates to jot down are the next showings at the Swindon Film Society which has again picked some great cinematic experiences with which to entertain, educate and generally broaden the audiences minds.
SHOPLIFTERS
Showing 8th January 2020
121 mins, Cert. 15, Japan, Crime/Drama
A Japanese family living on inadequate incomes avail themselves of the fruits of shoplifting to make ends meet. After one of their sessions, Osamu and his son come across a little girl in the freezing cold. At first reluctant to shelter the girl, Osamu’s wife agrees to take care of her after learning of the hardships she faces. Although the family is poor, barely making enough money to survive through petty crime, they seem to live happily together until an unforeseen incident reveals hidden secrets, testing the bonds that unite them…
It’s all beautifully done, if seemingly aimless; for most of its two-hour runtime, the joy of the movie lies mostly in watching these fine actors build their beautifully flawed and lived-in characters. – Leah Greenblatt, Entertainment Weekly
FOXTROT
Showing 22nd January 2020
113 mins, Cert. 15, Israel, Drama
A desolate military checkpoint is manned by four young Israeli soldiers who endure the hours of boredom that occur between cars arriving for inspection. Meanwhile, at home, Michael and Dafna experience gut-wrenching grief when army officials show up at their home to announce the death of their son Jonathan. Michael becomes increasingly frustrated by overzealous mourning relatives and well-meaning army bureaucrats. While his sedated wife rests, Michael spirals into a whirlwind of anger only to experience one of life’s unfathomable twists – a twist that can only be rivaled by the surreal military experiences of his son.
