Movie lovers rejoice, new film screenings are coming to the winter edition of The Great Neck Arts Center’s Furman Film Series.
Kicking off the series next Thursday, Nov. 21, is an exclusive showing of “Philomena,” starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan. “Philomena” has won awards at both the Hamptons and Toronto film festivals, and opens in theaters later this month.
It is a bonus presentation for series subscribers only, in addition to the five films in the series. Subscriptions are available for $75 and $65 for seniors.
“Philomena” is based on the 2009 investigative book by BBC correspondent Martin Sixsmith, “The Lost Child of Philomena Lee.” The story focuses on the efforts of Philomena Lee (Dench), the mother to a boy conceived out of wedlock and given away for adoption in the United States, something her Irish-Catholic community didn’t have the highest opinion of. In following church doctrine, she was forced to sign a contract that would not allow any sort of inquiry into her son’s whereabouts.
After starting a family years later in England and, for the most part, moving on with her life, Lee meets Sixsmith (Coogan), a BBC reporter with whom she decides to discover her long-lost son.
The following film, “Just a Sigh,” starring Gabriel Byrne and Emmanuelle Devos, screens on Thursday, Dec. 12. An official selection of the Tribecca Film Festival, the film tells the story of a stunning actress, making a quick trip to Paris, who meets a mysterious English stranger. Drawn towards him, she follows him, and ends up spending a few romantic hours with him before having to face what could be a new life.
The award-winning films, shown at Great Neck’s BowTie Squire Cinemas before their general release, are all followed by an audience discussion with someone who starred in the movie, was involved in its production, or is an expert on the topic being covered in the picture.
Other presentations are scheduled for Jan. 9, 23 and 30, as well as a date to be announced. All screenings begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to all films in the series are just $75, and $65 for seniors. Individual tickets to previews, which include the audience discussions that follow, are $15, and $10 for students, when purchased in advance, $20 at the door. For further information about the series and to purchase tickets, call The Arts Center at 829-2570.
