Reel Talk returned to David Lean Cinema on Wednesday 9 September for its third edition – and this time, it was a full house!
Our sociable film club, run in partnership with David Lean Cinema (with support from Disauthority) brings together local film lovers for more than your average trip to the cinema. There’s a pre-film conversation, a post-film discussion, activities, drinks and plenty of opportunity to chat to the people around you.
And with Steven Soderbergh’s The Christophers as our third film, there was lots to talk about. The darkly funny art-world drama stars Ian McKellen, Michaela Coel, James Corden and Jessica Gunning and follows a young art restorer who is hired to complete a series of unfinished paintings by a once-famous artist. But, as she discovers, there’s rather more at stake than simply finishing some paintings.
Talking The Christophers
Once again, Pilar hosted our pre and post-film conversations, joined by post-production editor Louis and BAFTA award-winning actor (and David Lean Cinema Patron) Joanna Scanlan.
The Christophers gave them plenty to get their teeth into. The film touches on some pretty big themes: art, authenticity, criticism, ambition, ageing, success and legacy. There were questions about who gets to decide what has value, and discussions about what happens when your best work is behind you, and how much of yourself you should put into the creative work you care about.
We were especially struck by Louis’s thoughts on authenticity and the importance of staying true to yourself, alongside Joanna’s reflections on giving your all to the creative projects you’re passionate about while also learning to surrender to the outcome.
As ever, though, the conversation wasn’t just happening on stage…
The audience gets involved
One of the things we love about Reel Talk is hearing the different perspectives that come from having a room full of people who have all watched the same film – but haven’t necessarily seen it in the same way.
One audience member wondered whether Soderbergh might, in some ways, have been reflecting on his own career through the character of Julian. Like the fictional artist, Soderbergh has enjoyed huge success and had a particularly significant period in his career in the 1990s. So was the film’s exploration of ageing, relevance and what happens after your biggest successes also a filmmaker thinking about his own legacy?
Another audience observation picked up on the way the experiences of the film’s two artists seem almost to run back to front. The younger artist, played by Michaela Coel, faces criticism very early in her career, which leaves her reluctant to put her own work out into the world. Julian, played by Ian McKellen, has experienced the other side of that journey: he had his moment of fame and recognition, only to have it taken away later in life. Two artists at very different stages of their careers, both wrestling with criticism, confidence, recognition and the value of their work.
And that’s what makes these conversations so interesting. As Pilar put it afterwards:
“Love talking films with Louis, Joanna and everyone in the room. So many fresh takes, different angles and industry insights.”
From the cinema to the bar
After the film and the post-screening conversation, guests headed to the bar to continue chatting, grab a drink and get involved with our Reel Talk activities.
Some started gently, with our (One) Word Review Board, where guests were challenged to sum up The Christophers in just one word.
Others headed to the Video Rental Store, opening up our VHS boxes to discover questions tucked inside them. Conversations were incentivised with a prize – congratulations to Carmina who won herself a pair of cinema tickets for a film of her choice.
And this time, we introduced a new take on our usual Postcard Collage station…
Mini-Masterpieces
One of the central themes running through The Christophers is legacy – what we leave behind, who gets remembered and who gets to decide whether something is valuable. So we decided to take that idea off the screen and put it onto canvas.
Our Mini Masterpieces station invited guests to create a small work of art in response to one simple question: What will you leave behind?
As the evening went on, the canvases began to accumulate and, almost without us planning it, a little gallery started to form around the bar.
Every piece offered a different interpretation of the question. Some were personal, some playful, some abstract – and together they became a visual reminder that everyone has their own idea of what matters and what is worth leaving behind.
Some guests took their Mini Masterpieces home with them, while others became part of our temporary Reel Talk gallery.
Making space for the next generation
We’re also keen for Reel Talk to be a space where people at the beginning of their creative careers can meet and hear from those already working in the industry.
For each event, we allocate a number of free tickets to 18–25-year-olds with an interest in film and the creative industries.
This time, it was lovely to welcome students and alumni from Croydon College, Talawa Theatre Company and Legacy Youth Zone.
From the conversations we had afterwards, it sounds like the evening gave some of them plenty to think about when it comes to their own creative futures.
And that’s exactly what we’re hoping Reel Talk can do.
Not simply show great films, but bring local people together around them – to share ideas, hear different perspectives, discover something new and maybe leave with a little more confidence in their own creative voice.
Until next time…
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for Reel Talk 3 – to Pilar, Louis and Joanna for another brilliant set of conversations, and to David Lean Cinema and Disauthority for helping us make it happen.
And, of course, thank you to everyone who got involved – whether you contributed a one-word review, rummaged around our video rental store, shared your thoughts from the audience or created a Mini Masterpiece. A final thank you to Olive Tree Productions for the below video that captures the event.
The next Reel Talk is scheduled for Weds 2 December but what film should we screen next? Leave your thoughts on our Instagram post.
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EAST CROYDON COOL 