Our next film takes place on:
Tuesday 27th November
Little Theatre
7.45pm

The Farewell: Brecht's Last Summer

Jan Schütte/Germany/2000/89 minutes

Preceded by a short.

On one of the last days of an exceptionally hot summer in 1956, Bertolt Brecht prepares to leave his tranquil lakeside house in Brandenburg for Berlin and the upcoming theatre season.

Most of the many women in his life are there: his wife, daughter, old lovers and latest flames, including a beautiful young actress and a woman whose affections and body he shares with her political activist husband.

The serenity of the countryside stands in stark contrast to the deep, volatile emotions of the characters: love and hatred, jealousy and egomania, betrayal and dashed hopes.

In Jan Schütte’s fascinating and absorbing film, Brecht, superbly played by Josef Bierbichler, struggles to make plans for a future that fate is about to cut short.

The most influential German dramatist and poet of the 20th century, Brecht first attracted attention in the Berlin of the 1920s as the author of provocative plays that challenged the tenets of traditional theatre, including his collaboration with Kurt Weill, 'The Threepenny Opera'.

Brecht was forced to flee Germany in 1933 because of his leftist political beliefs and opposition to the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler. After 14 years in exile in Scandinavia and the United States, where he failed to make a breakthrough either as a scriptwriter in Hollywood or as a playwright on Broadway, he returned to Eurpope in 1947. Two years later he moved to East Berlin and remained there until his death.

Artificial Eye

Trivia

Director Jan Schütte refused to let the cast leave the location for the five weeks that The Farewell was being shot.

Pyramid & Parr Hall , Warrington are proud to present Barry Norman's Favourite Films on Thursday, 29 November at 7.30pm.

Barry Norman, the ultimate authority on movies, has interviewed some of the best-loved stars of the silver screen. In this highly amusing evening Barry reveals the secrets of the silver screen and their antics on and off set. 

Tickets are priced £14. However as a local film society, Pyramid & Parr Hall would like to offer CFS an exclusive opportunity to purchase 5 full priced tickets and get the 6th free!  Tickets are priced £14 so taking advantage of this offer means a saving of £2.34 per ticket!

Please note that tickets are selling out fast is, so please book now to avoid disappointment. For tickets and information, call the box office on 01925 442345 quoting ref: Film Society to obtain your discount.

Please visit http://www.chesterfilmfans.co.uk/mailing_list/news_071125.htm for an online version of this issue.