Mar 29th   
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner**      
(GB 1962)     
British Lion/Bryanston/Woodfall. 104m. bw

A rebellious new inmate at a borstal reflects on his life when the establishment discovers that he can run well.
Compelling working class drama, one of the few British films to really tackle head-on the clash with the system, although it leaves some of its supporting characters and sub-plots behind (told from its protagonist's sole perspective) come the gripping conclusion. 

Written by: Alan Sillitoe, from his short story.
Producer/Director: Tony Richardson.
Starring: Tom Courtenay, Michael Redgrave, James Bolam, Avis Bunnage, Alec McCowen, Topsy Jane, Julia Foster, Joe Robinson, Dervis Ward, Arthur Mullard, John Thaw, James Fox, Peter Madden.
Photography: Walter Lassally.
Music: John Addison.
Editing: Anthony Gibbs.

THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER.  Tom Courtenay flanked by some future TV stars. From left, James Bolam, John Thaw, Derek Fowlds.

Mar 25th
Tartuffe**   
aka: Herr Tartuff

(Ger 1925)
UFA. 66m. bw. silent

A grandson being cheated out of an inheritance gets his own back by projecting the parallel story of the hypocritically religious Tartuffe who is worming his way into a glamorous household.
Ingeniously filmed with modern bookends, and lavishly made in its 17th century comedy aspect, although pared down heavily from Moliere's original, but still enjoyable.

Written by: Carl Meyer. 
Producer: Erich Pommer.
Director: F.W. Murnau.
Starring: Emil Jannings, Lil Dagover, Werner Krauss, Lucie Hoflich, Andre Mattoni, Rosa Valetti, Herman Picha.
Potography: Karl Freund.

Preceded by:
British Movietone News  (1948)
(Cup 4th Round: The Giantkillers Win Again [Colchester United v. Bradford Park Avenue])

Mar 15th
Jeanne Dielman* (15)
Sub-Title: 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles

(King Street Cinema, Ipswich)

(Bel/Fra 1975)
Paradise Films/Unite Trois. 201m.

Domestic routine for a widowed mother and part-time prostitute, who reflects on her humdrum life and ultimately turns murderous.
Honouring the Ipswich film theatre's 50th anniversary with the quintessential type of film for this arthouse venue; not so much a fly-on-the-wall drama as a constant static camera surveillance on its main figure (in some ways, in the manner of Tokyo Story), defying Hitchcock's maxim that drama is life "with the dull bits cut out." Here, all the dull bits are included to emphasize the character's emotional imprisonment, for over 3 hours to boot! Feminist critics took it to heart, so that seemingly out of nowhere it was recently voted No. 1 in the Top Ten Films Ever Made.

Written and Directed by: Chantal Akerman.
Producers: Corinne Jenart, Evelyne Paul.
Starring: Delphine Seyrig, Jan Decorte.
Photography: Babette Mangolte.
Music: Various (from radio).
Editing: Patricia Canio.

JEANNE DIELMAN, 23 QUAI DU COMMERCE, 1080 BRUXELLES. Three hours (representing 3 days) sitting in the company of Delphine Seyrig, recently polled as the Greatest Film Ever Made - for reasons best known to those critics that voted for it.

Mar 11th   
Marriage Story**   
(US 2019)   
Netflix/Heyday Films. 138m.

A New York couple's marriage on the rocks is hurled into the divorce courts when against their better natures they decide to hire Los Angeles lawyers.
Long and talky but compellingly so, a Kramer Versus Kramer for the modern age with added influences of Woody Allen (and in turn from him, Ingmar Bergman) and excellent general performances, excruciatingly pointed in its drama as soon as the devious lawyers enter into the fray.

Written and Directed by: Noah Baumbach.
Producers: David Heyman, Noah Baumbach.
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver, Laura Dern, Alan Alda, Ray Liotts, Azhy Robinson, Julie Hagerty, Merritt Weaver, Martha Kelly, Wallace Shawn.
Photography: Robbie Ryan.
Music: Randy Newman.
Editing: Jennifer Lame.

Preceded by:
Peculiar Patients' Pranks* 
(US 1915. 12m(excerpts). bw. silent; One of the first of Roach's Lonesome Luke series recently found retrieved the archives, using actors in the developing stages of their careers.; w: Dollt Twist; p, d: Hal Roach; s: Harold Lloyd, Snub Pollard, Bebe Daniels.)

PECULIAR PATIENTS' PRANKS. Harold Lloyd back in the days before he found the rounded glasses that made his name.