This screening has been cancelled. If you have purchased tickets we will contact you regarding a full refund. Philomena Lee having been forced to give up her son almost 50 years previously, joins forces with journalist Martin Sixsmith on a journey to find him. Starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, directed by Stephen Frears. Philomena, nominated for 4 Oscars and 3 BAFTAs, will be screened on Sunday 15th August at 14:30.
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Philomena
Stars: Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Sophie Kennedy Clark Tickets £7
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The most remarkable thing about Stephen Frears' remarkable film "Philomena" is just how unsentimental and just how funny it actually is. Human Interest stories, the phrase Martin Sixsmith, (played superbly here by Steve Coogan), uses to describe exactly what it is he is doing in taking on the case of Philomena Lee, usually leave me cold for the very reasons Sixsmith describes in the film. But this is no ordinary 'human interest' story but a study of goodness triumphing over evil in a very real sense for surely Philomena Lee, as portrayed here, is a truly good person and the system she found herself fighting, though hardly by choice, namely the Catholic Church in Ireland, is in this instance anyway, evil. It's a heart-wrenching story but told with a good deal of natural humour and a distinct lack of lachrymation, (though you would need to have a heart of stone or no heart at all not to be moved to tears).
The director is Stephen Frears who almost takes a back seat and lets the tale tell itself. The script is by Coogan and Jeff Pope and it beautifully encapsulates the book that Sixsmith wrote about Philomena Lee's search for the son who was taken away from her by Irish nuns and sold to an American couple simply because she had given birth out of wedlock at a time when such 'sins' were considered almost unforgivable. But Philomena never displays bitterness nor does she feel hatred. It simply isn't in her nature and in the end it is she who forgives rather than feel the need to ask for forgiveness. All the performances are first-rate and in the title role Judi Dench is simply phenomenal.
This could so easily have become a display of actorly histrionics but Dench underplays almost to the point of invisibility. We certainly never see Dench up there on the screen but the incredible woman she is playing. Her performance is heart-breaking but then so is the whole film.
The New Royalty Cinema screenings are at the centreCinema in Bourne End Community Centre, Wakeman Road, Bourne End SL8 5SX
For information on the BBFC film classifications: Click Here
The New Royalty Cinema is a community cinema run by volunteers as a fund-raising event for Bourne End (Bucks) Community Association, a charity registered in England and Wales No. 300236
COVID-19 precautions - please read before making a purchase
The normal cinema capacity is 26 tables. For this screening we are restricting to 15 tables to enable tables to be spaced further apart.
Each booking is for 1 to 4 people to be seated at one table. When booking your tickets you will be requested to confirm that other people may sit at the same table as you.
All the tables will have been sanitised before film-goers enter the cinema. Hand sanitising gel will be available and we encourage you to use it. As the cinema is indoors you are advised to wear masks to protect yourself and others whilst moving around. We will ventilate the room as much as possible but this is dependant on the weather.
During the booking process we will take the contact details of everyone who will attend. This will be used for NHS test and trace should it be required. On the day you will just need to give your name to confirm that you have arrived.
We hope that you will find The New Royalty Cinema a safe and welcoming environment in which to watch this film.