Christ Church

Christ Church “Cinema Paradiso”
Movie Nights!

6:30pm, Third Thursday of the month (except December and April). Various movies raise interesting, important and provocative questions about contemporary life and religion. Discussion and refreshments. All welcome! Where? Christ Church Parish Hall, 7 Wentworth Street, Windsor, NS. Contact: David Curry 798-2454.

2010

Thursday, October 21st: “The Merchant of Venice”

This 2004 movie of Shakespeare’s play about justice and mercy is the first full-length sound film version in English. (Previous versions were mostly videotaped television productions.) Directed by Michael Radford and starring Al Pacino as Shylock and Jeremy Irons as Antonio.

Thursday, November 18th: “Amazing Grace”

The epic story of the decades-long campaign led by English MP William Wilberforce to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire. When he first proposed abolition, Wilberforce was faced with powerful opposition and public ridicule, but he refused to give up. Albert Finney gives a riveting performance in a supporting role as John Newton, composer of “Amazing Grace”. A powerful and inspiring movie about a man who changed the world.

2011

Thursday, January 20th: “The Apostle”

Perhaps the greatest achievement of Robert Duvall’s long and illustrious career in movies. Duvall wrote, directed, and stars in the story of Sonny, a beloved charismatic preacher in Texas who commits a crime of passion when his wife has an affair. Sonny flees to the Louisiana bayous where he re-baptises himself “The Apostle E.F.” and persuades a retired local minister to work with him in starting a new church.

Sonny dedicates himself to the Lord’s work with his new flock, but his past won’t go away.

Thursday, February 17th: “Casualties of War”

A tense and morally challenging film directed by Brian DePalma and based on an actual incident in the Vietnam War. Angry at being denied extended leave after surviving several enemy attacks, Sergeant Tony Meserve (Sean Penn) orders his squad to kidnap and rape a Vietnamese peasant girl. Only Corporal Henry Eriksson (Michael J. Fox) refuses to participate. Later, despite Eriksson’s attempts to save her life, she is shot and killed.

When Eriksson tries to report the brutalities committed by Meserve and other squad members, he is rebuffed by military superiors who would rather he just kept quiet and forgot about it. Eriksson’s continued efforts to expose the wrong endanger his military career and, ultimately, his life.

Thursday, March 17th: “The Spitfire Grill”

A young woman released from prison arrives in Gilead, Maine, looking for a new start. She tries to do a good job as a waitress at The Spitfire Grill, but the townspeople remain distrustful of her. A touching film with small-town charm about overcoming prejudice and suspicion.

Thursday, May 19th: “Shadowlands”

The extraordinary story of how Oxford don and confirmed bachelor C.S. Lewis met and married American divorcee Joy Gresham. The marriage was meant as one of convenience, allowing Gresham to remain in England, but they fall in love and, for the first time, Lewis’s life is filled with passion. Then, Joy is diagnosed with cancer and Lewis discovers that great love leaves one vulnerable to great pain.

Directed by Richard Attenborough and starring Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger.