THE WILD PEAR TREE 

Director – Nuri Bilge Ceylan, 
188 mins, Drama / Turkey / 2018
/ Unclassified

Sinan, a young graduate, is desperate to become a writer. He returns to the Turkish village where he grew up hoping to publish his first novel, but although home looks wonderful when he is away from it, being there reminds him of its irritations, not least his father’s debts. Director Ceylan’s wide shots of rolling hills in sun-dappled light, slowly immerse you in family, countryside, art, politics and the social divide. A masterpiece!

Cannes Film Festival, Palme d ‘Or nominee, 2018

HILLARY: OCEAN TO SKY

Director – Michael Dillon, 106 mins, Documentary / New Zealand / 2019 / Rated PG

After his triumph on Everest Edmund Hillary took a jet boat voyage up the Ganges from the ocean to its source, followed by a climb up Akash Parbat (Sky Mountain) in the Himalayas. Filmed using handheld 16mm cameras, his documentary catalogued the expedition, and the altitude sickness that almost killed Hillary. Hillary considered this the “best, the most memorable expedition”. Join him and marvel!

OLDER THAN IRELAND

Director – Alex Fegan, 81 mins, Documentary / Ireland / 2015 / Rated M

How does it feel to be 100 or more? Most of the thirty Irish centenarians we meet in this landmark documentary seem to agree that – with the exception of doing things more slowly– it doesn’t feel much different. Watch and learn from their never far below the surface sense of humour, their clear-eyed view of the world – and their refreshingly optimist outlook.

LUXOR

Director – Zeina Durra, 85 mins, drama / UK / 2020 / Rated M

Hana, a refugee doctor in Jordan, has come to the ancient Egyptian site at Luxor to recover from the traumas of war, and to reassess her role as a human being. She chances on old flame Sultan (Karim Saleh). They reconnect, they skirt around the obvious, they almost say the things that need saying. A visual and emotional masterpiece in an exotic setting. Follow the hugely talented Andrea Riseborough (Hana) as she seeks healing from the horrors of war.