I don’t remember exactly when it started, what I do remember, was that Kent and I were about to watch June Newton’s Helmut by June documentary at home and he decided to fry some Chinese dumplings with red cabbage. I thought, why don’t we invite our good friend, fashion photographer and film maker Brett Hilder to join us!
It turned out to be a joyous night of food; wine and watching more than one fashion photographer documentary, as we then watched David Bailey and Annie Leibovitz after Newton.
That led us to our second movie night gathering, this time, we were invited back to Brett’s near by apartment and we watched a 2006 Chilean film Pretendiendo (Pretending) – AKA ‘Ugly Me’ in the US – which was Brett’s selection.
By the end of our third gathering, our Movie Club was formed and from then on, we had a routine: any Sunday night that suits us all and we all bring our favourite dishes.
The happiness our Movie Club has brought me is immense. I guess that being a world movie fan is just one of the reasons. The thing is, it’s very laid back, I have never taken a single picture during our gathering or felt the need to Instagram it; nor sharing anything about it on Facebook. In other words, I’ve been completely there to indulge in every minute of it!
We have conversations without being interrupted by smart phones. We enjoy each other’s company the way it was before the social networks took over.
So, why reveal my ‘best kept secret’ on my blog after all? Well, besides wanting to share my joy around, I want to encourage everyone I know to embrace life and friendship and spend less time sitting in front of our PCs or playing with our tablets and/or phones.
Fellow Movie Club friend Ben, who is an oil painter and a violinist; who, doesn’t live a social networking life has joined our regular movie gathering. The picture above, which was taken at Brett’s Habana Story – Cuba Photo Exhibition and Book Launch back in July at Badger & Fox Gallery, captured our current Movie Club members by our friend Nyk Sykes, from left to right: Kent, myself, Brett and Ben.
There was time when we were away; busy; sick; tired or preferred to be alone. Overall, we have done our best to keep our Movie Club going.
Here I’d like to show you a list of films (in order of the date we watched) that our Movie Club has played so far. In my coming post, I’ll reveal the details of my (above) ensemble…
So, here they are:
- Pretending (2006 Chilean)
- To Rome with Love (2012 American)
- 7 Days in Havana (2012 Spain; France & Cuba co-production)
- Black Swan (2011 American)
- Death in Venice (1971 Italy & France co-production)
- The Leopard (1963 Italian)
- The Spirit of the Beehive (1973 Spanish)
- Jane Eyre (1996 America; England; France & Italy co-production)
- Black Orpheus (1959 Brazil & France co-production)
- The Conformist (1970 Italy; France & West Germany co-production)
- A Place in the World (1992 Argentine)
- The Hi-Lo Country (1998 American)
- Camarón: When Flamenco Became Legend (2005 Spanish)
- My Name Is Anna Magnani (1980 Italian documentary)
- Claudia Cardinale (Italian documentary)
- 2046 (2004 Hong Kong)
- Curse of the Golden Flower (2006 Chinese)
- Day for Night (1973 French)
- Contempt (1963 French)
- The Beauty of the Alhambra (1989 Cuban)
- The Duellists (1977 British)
vivalaViv 
Movie nights with friends are so precious themselves in order to be interrupted … I agree with you !!! Your film list is so interesting! I will check out the films I don’t know!!! Wish you an easy-going Sunday … xoxo!!!
findawaybyjwp.com
“Precious” – that’s exactly right Jo! Yes please do check out our Movie Club selections, they are mostly selected by Brett and are great films indeed. X
Lovely words as always Vivienne about a special time of real connection you all have; long may it continue.
Awww.., it’s so lovely to hear from you Greg. How’s life? We must catch up soon! X
A wonderful moment Vivienne
And I cherish every minute of it…
Great
Aww I wish I had a movie club!
https://danielasoriano.com/
I highly recommend it Daniela! 🙂
Sounds so wonderful! Love get-togethers like that – especially this time of year! Good for the soul 😉
-Clarissa @ The View From Here
Yes indeed Clarissa. Art and friendship are the food for our soul… 🙂
Reblogged this on Crazy Pasta Child.
Thank you so much Penney. X
Thank you for writing a great blog.
I am checking now all your recommendations in list 🙂 very nice post and it has to be a good time as you mentioned. 🙂 Kisses :-*
Katharine-fashionisbeautiful
Awww.., I’m so pleased to hear that Katharine. 🙂 I hope that you would enjoy any of these fabulous films as much as we did! X
Such a beautiful moment and very lovely words.
Ann-Marie | http://facetocurls.com
Thank you Ann-Marie. X
Hi Viv, Great way to bond, small and intimate, a list of intelligently entertaining choice of films, am certain these must be accompanied by awesome wine and comfort food…lovely Sundays ❤
Absolutely Margie. 💖 As Brett is heading to Cuba in coming February, we will surely miss him.., but our intimate movie gathering must continue. What would my Sunday be without the Movie Club?!!!
I don’t know many of your films on your list but thank you for sharing. I have seen the Chinese film which was very good and read Jane Eyre of course. Movie night is a wonderful idea.
Thank you for your feedback Sue. Our Movie Club continued on Christmas Day! Brett; Kent and I enjoyed Angelina Jolie’s By the Sea and we were also entertained by the latest James Bond film Spectre. X
Is there anything better than enjoyning Sunday night with Friends?Probably not..I think it is such a wonderful idea and until now I have never thought about forming a movie club as well.I watched some of the movies from your list as well,I will try to have a look at the ones I have not
I’m so pleased to read your feedback! This is exactly what I’m aiming for – to encourage and inspire people to have ‘real contact’ with friends through activities like the old days without the internet and smart phones. I’d love to hear from you if you decided to form your own Movie Club, that would be so great!!
Happy 2017! X
Yeah is true,technology has been contributing to our development but at the same time has been making us grow appart from each other.