Intriguing mix of films as screen season starts
Castle Menzies near Aberfeldy has long held a reputation as the most haunted castle in Scotland, with its turbulent history and close involvement with the Jacobite rebellions of 1715 and 1745.
On Saturday evening the ghosts must surely have been gladdened as the ancient building echoed once again with the lively sound of Jacobite songs.
Perth-based PlaidSong duo Syd House and Nicola Cowmeadow gave a concert to raise funds for the Archibald Menzies Memorial Appeal, and an enthusiastic audience listened to and sang along with well-known melodies and lyrics composed by Carolina Lady Nairne, a staunch Jacobite and a contemporary of Menzies.
Concert organiser Fran Gillespie said: “Donations at the door totalled well over £800, taking our funds now to a level where we can go ahead with restoring the grave of the Scottish plant collector Archibald Menzies. We are extremely grateful to Nicola and Syd for giving up their time to entertain us and help the appeal.
“Everyone who was there said how very much they enjoyed the evening.” An Italian classic, a Palm D’Or winner and a film that ended with a director having a fatwa placed on her are among the offerings at the autumn programme of the Perth Film Society.
The action will kick off on Thursday, September 6 when Swedish comedy drama The Square (15) is shown at Perth Concert Hall.
This flick, which won the coveted Palm D’Or at the 2017 Cannes Festival, is by Ruben Ostlund and follows the tale of a contemporary arts curator who starts to doubt his place in the world after the theft of his phone. Wine and nibbles will be available for the opening night.
The group then takes a cinematic trip to Russia on Thursday, September 20, again at Perth Concert Hall for the showing of Loveless (15).
The film is the tale of a couple going through a divorce who must team up to find their son who has disappeared during one of their bitter arguments.
A Cannes Jury Prize winner in 2017, the film is directed by Andrey Zvagintsev. The showing will be followed by the society’s AGM.
On Thursday, October 4 the action moves to the Joan Knight Theatre for French fell-good film Aurore (I Got Life) (15).
Separated from her husband, Aurore has just lost her job and been told she is going to be a grandmother. When she runs into the great love of her youth she puts her foot down and refuses to be relegated to the scrap heap. From director Blandine Lenoir.
Lynne Ramsay’s psychological drama, and only British film in the programme, You Were Never Really Here (15) is next up at Perth Concert Hall on Thursday, October 25.
Traumatised veteran Joe, unafraid of violence, tracks down missing girls for a living. When a job spins out of control, his nightmares overtake him as a conspiracy is uncovered leading to what may be his death trip or his awakening.
A Fantastic Woman (15), from director Sebastian Lelio, picked up the foreign language Oscar earlier this year and is sure to go down a storm at the Joan Knight Studio Theatre on Thursday, November 1.
The Spanish work is the story of a transgender nightclub singer who comes under suspicion when her much older lover dies suddenly.
After being harassed and threatened by his vengeful relatives, she must defend both her rights as a significant other and as a human being.
Perth-based PlaidSong duo Syd House and Nicola Cowmeadow
Things will take a Middle Eastern twist on November 15 when In Between (15) is shown at Perth Concert Hall.
Director Maysaloun Hamoud had a fatwa placed on her after making the film, which follows three Palestinian women living in a Tel Aviv apartment trying to find a balance between traditional and modern culture.
Finally, on December 6, there is a chance to revisit a classic at the Joan Knight Theatre.
Italian film La Strada (PG) won the first ever foreign language Oscar for director Federico Fellini in 1957.
Now considered a classic, La Strada follows the story of carefree Gelsomina who is sold to a travelling circus entertainer, consequently enduring physical and emotional pain along the way.
All the films cost £6 on the door. Season tickets cost £35.70 for all seven films and concessions will be £29.75.
Tickets are handled by Horsecross on 01738 621031 or at www.horsecross. co.uk