History Film Season 2012
The Past is a four letter word... and it's Film
How do filmmakers capture the past on the big screen? Is it possible to be faithful to the historical record without pandering to market forces? These are just two of the questions that we will pose in our inaugural retrospective film season. This season will showcase differing genres ranging from classical theatre to opera, documentary and modern cinema.
In collaboration with Reading Film Theatre, we will showcase four thought-provoking, historical films from a range of genres, beginning with Kenneth Branagh's powerful adaptation of William Shakespeare's Henry V on Wednesday 1 February. Then over the coming weeks, the public can enjoy the 2006 adaptation of The Magic Flute, Julian Temple's The Filth and the Fury and Gus Van Sant's Milk.
Our aim is to open a dialogue between film, historians and the general public, exploring the relationship between film and how history has been depicted for public viewing. We will do this by introducing each film and leading a Q&A session at the end of each showing. We will discuss the historical context of the film, the film's importance, how history has been captured for a general audience, give general reflections on the historical accuracy of the film and reflect on historical film as a genre.
We have chosen these historically retrospective works from four different genres, (a play, an opera, a documentary and a contemporary biopic), for their ground-breaking style, and their ability to capture the imagination. Before and after the screening, we really want to hear from our audience to spark a lively debate about popular film's ability to educate and engage the general public about important moments in history.
The season will culminate in a free departmental lecture (Wednesday 21 March 2012) on film and history, which will be delivered by one of the foremost scholars of cinema in the country, Professor Jeffrey Richards.
We will begin with Kenneth Branagh's powerful adaptation of William Shakespeare's Henry V, which was chosen specifically for its passion and realism and its exploration of the timeless relationship between love and war. Our second film is the 2006 adaptation of The Magic Flute. The Magic Flute is set in two parallel universes, the battered wastelands of the First World War and a world of fantastical oddities. Opera has been regarded by some as intellectually inaccessible; we will endeavour to demonstrate the appeal, beauty and power of this art form. Julian Temple's The Filth and the Fury is our third screening. This provocative documentary details the emergence of British punk and its impact on Britain and the wider world. Our season culminates with Gus Van Sant's Milk. This powerful biopic documents the political career, and subsequent assassination, of the first openly gay man in the United States to be elected to public office.
The Films
Henry V with Dr Elizabeth Matthew (Wednesday 1 February, 7pm)
The Magic-Flute with Dr Esther Mijers (Wednesday 15 February, 7pm)
The Filth and the Fury with Dr Matthew Worley (Wednesday 29 February, 7pm)
Milk with Dr Jonathan Bell (Wednesday 7 March, 7pm)
(Click on links provided to take you to the specific film showing web page).
Do you have a Question for us?
Have you attended one of our film showings and would like to pose a question about the Film Season to our academic specialist?
If so, filll in the form below and we will endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible.
In conjunction with the Reading Film Theatre .