Well, if there is one thing I strive for, being the cinema programmer at An Lanntair, it’s variety. And that’s what we’ve got this June.
First, I know that there’s a lot of families out there that are loving coming back to the cinema, so I’ve tried my best to get as much as I can for the weekend screenings.
We’ve two Disney films for you: ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ and ‘Cruella’. One is an animated fantasy adventure with dragons fighting monsters to save humanity, and the other is a dark live action prequel to the villain for ‘101 Dalmatians’. Both look equally compelling, but ‘Cruella’ is definitely for the older children; hence the 12A rating.
Speaking of families, there is a very interesting documentary that’s screening on July 1: ‘Amber and Me’. It’s about twin sisters who are away to start school together, but Amber has Down’s Syndrome, while Olivia does not. It is a very interesting, heartfelt film directed by their father, and shows the challenges that they have in school, but also their changing relationship as sisters.
If that interests you and you would like to help more, they have a Go Fund Me page to raise funds to send the film to as many primary schools as possible. The link is here: School packs for Amber and Me film.
We also have a one-off screening of ‘Fargo’ which I can’t believe is celebrating it’s 25th Anniversary! If you don’t know this classic Coen Brother film, then I advise you to come see it, I guarantee that you’ll be amazed by it twists and turns and see why it was up for seven Oscar nominations. And if you have seen it before, then you’ll know that seeing this on the big screen is reason enough for this special re-release.
We have also got a couple of long-awaited sequels for the horror aficionados out there: both the sequel to the surprise hit ‘A Quiet Place’ and the continuing saga of the Paranormal Investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren in ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It’.
‘A Quiet Place part II’ is a direct continuation from the first film and follows the Abbott family as they venture into the outside world of silence and discover that it’s not only the creatures attracted by sound that they have to worry about.
While ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It’ has the Warrens investigating a claim that a murderer was possessed by demons when they committed the deed. Based on the Warrens memoirs, it brings up lots of questions about what the truth is about the supernatural.
But we also have drama too.
‘Minari’ is a film about a Korean-American family that move to rural Arkansas to start their own farm, with the resilience they have to succeed in their own American dream, helped along the way by their sly, but loving, foul-mouthed grandmother. This film won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance and was up for Best Picture at this year’s Academy Awards.
Meanwhile ‘First Cow’ is also a historical drama about someone moving to rural America to follow their dream. It tells the tale of two men who build up a successful bakery business by surreptitiously stealing milk from the first cow in the Oregon Territory. A lightly comic drama, this film builds the suspense throughout, and shows a sensitive depiction of male friendship.
And finally, for the music lovers out there. We have a one-off screening of ‘Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry’. Not only is this a behind-the-scenes documentary about the creation of her first album, it also has footage of her live concerts, and how she feels about the ever increasing pressures of fame that her success brings.
So, I hope that you find something there that you will enjoy; but suggestions are always welcome.