FILMS 2025

Posted Saturday 8 February 2025

Save this page as a favourite: https://live.org.au/films-2025/
It is updated every Saturday morning with information on the next film.
Click on the favourite when you want to see the next film information.
If your email program marks my message as SPAM you still get the information.

THE FILM
The film for Friday 14 February is The Lives of Others.
The film is in German with English subtitles. It is 2 hours 12 minutes long.

FILM DESCRIPTION
In 1984 East Berlin, an agent of the secret police conducting surveillance on a writer and his lover finds himself becoming increasingly absorbed by their lives.
The film is in German with English subtitles.

ONLINE PARTICIPANTS
You can see the film during the week on the following link.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17_dr6X6lVyyn438ka3TsK-DI4pUWYHd8/view?usp=sharing
If, when clicking on the link, you get an error message, just try again.
The film will be deleted around 9am on Saturday 15 February.

ZOOM DISCUSSION
Join the ZOOM film discussion at 10am on Friday 14 February.
The link is labelled 5B10 FILMS 2025 on the following page:
https://www.u3app.org.au/on-line-course-links/

FACE-TO-FACE PARTICIPANTS
The film will be screened at 1:45pm in the MKC Hall on Friday 14 February.
A film discussion will follow the showing of the film.

BOTH GROUPS
There is a 20 minute documentary on the making of the film.
Watch it during the week as we won’t have time during class.
You will find it on the following link.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Al9bX5towvl52GFNmXSL6birGeqjdSK8/view?usp=drive_link

ONLINE APOLOGY
If you can’t make it on Friday please register an APOLOGY online.

EXTRA INFORMATION
Information that follows below is optional to read. Some people prefer knowing nothing about a film before seeing it. Others prefer to know more. It is completely up to you.

DETAILED SUMMARY (From ChatGPT)

The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen) is a 2006 German drama film directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. Set in East Berlin in 1984, five years before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the film explores the oppressive surveillance culture of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) through the lives of its citizens and the secret police known as the Stasi.

Plot Summary

Captain Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe) is a highly skilled and loyal officer of the Stasi, specializing in surveillance and interrogation. A true believer in the socialist regime, Wiesler is assigned to monitor Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch), a successful playwright who appears to be a model citizen of the GDR, loyal to the state. However, the real reason for the surveillance is not state security but the personal interest of Minister Bruno Hempf (Thomas Thieme), who desires Dreyman’s girlfriend, the famous actress Christa-Maria Sieland (Martina Gedeck).

Wiesler sets up an extensive wiretapping operation, bugging Dreyman’s apartment and listening in on his private life from a hidden attic. As Wiesler becomes increasingly absorbed in the couple’s lives, he is struck by their intellectual depth, emotional intimacy, and artistic passion—qualities absent from his own sterile existence. Gradually, his ideological convictions begin to erode.

Dreyman, initially apolitical, becomes disillusioned with the regime after a close friend, blacklisted director Albert Jerska, commits suicide due to professional ostracism. Motivated by grief and anger, Dreyman secretly writes an anonymous article for Der Spiegel about the GDR’s alarming suicide rates—a taboo topic that could have severe repercussions if discovered. Wiesler, now emotionally invested, subtly intervenes to protect Dreyman, falsifying reports and hiding incriminating evidence from his superiors.

Meanwhile, Christa-Maria struggles with her own moral compromises, engaging in a degrading affair with Minister Hempf to secure her acting career. Under pressure from the Stasi, she betrays Dreyman by revealing the location of the hidden typewriter used for the article. However, Wiesler manages to cover up the evidence just in time, saving Dreyman from arrest. Tragically, Christa-Maria, overwhelmed by guilt, dies in a car accident shortly after.

Years later, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Dreyman discovers the extent of the surveillance he was under. Reading the Stasi files, he realizes how Wiesler had protected him. In a final act of gratitude, Dreyman dedicates his new novel, “Sonata for a Good Man,” to Wiesler, who has since been demoted to a menial job as a postman. The film ends with Wiesler purchasing the book, touched by the acknowledgment, yet quietly walking away, reflecting the silent heroism of his actions.

Themes

Moral Awakening and Redemption: Wiesler’s transformation from a loyal Stasi officer to a protector of freedom illustrates the power of empathy and art to awaken conscience.
Surveillance and Control: The film critiques the invasive nature of totalitarian regimes, showing how constant surveillance corrodes both the watched and the watchers.
The Power of Art: Dreyman’s writing and Jerska’s music symbolize resistance, showing how creativity can survive even under oppression.
Betrayal and Guilt: Characters grapple with personal and political betrayals, illustrating the moral compromises people make under repressive systems.

Reception and Legacy

The Lives of Others received widespread critical acclaim for its nuanced storytelling, strong performances (especially by Ulrich Mühe), and its powerful commentary on life under dictatorship. It won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2007, as well as numerous other international awards. The film is often praised for its suspenseful yet deeply human narrative, standing as one of the most significant German films of the post-reunification era.

IMDb – The International Movie Data Base has this information.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405094/

TRAILER – YouTube has the following trailer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3_iLOp6IhM

WIKIPEDIA – Here is an extended description of the film.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lives_of_Others

QUESTIONS – Please send me any questions using this CONTACT FORM

David Robinson, FILMS 2025 Tutor, U3A Port Phillip

Posted Saturday 1 February 2025

FILM
The film for Friday 7 February is The Teacher Who Promised the Sea.
The film is in Spanish with English subtitles. It is 1 hour 45 minutes long.

ONLINE
You can see the film during the week with the following link.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p8Te-8Rk1XyCeGSehxVIs3AldWY03EXM/view
If you receive a “can’t play” error message wait a few seconds and try again.
The film will be deleted around 9am on Saturday 8 February.

The ZOOM film discussion link is on the following page.
https://www.u3app.org.au/on-line-course-links/|
The ZOOM discussion starts at 10am on Friday 7 February.

FACE-TO-FACE
The film will begin at 1:45pm in the Mary Kehoe Centre Hall on Friday 7 February.
A film discussion will follow the showing of the film.

DESCRIPTION

Inspired by true events, this drama follows a teacher whose progressive outlook transforms the lives of a group of young students on the eve of the Spanish Civil War, but places him in the crossfire of local authorities.

Idealistic Catalonian teacher Antoni Benaiges is appointed as the new schoolmaster of a small, isolated village in the province of Burgos. With an innovative approach, he soon wins over his reluctant pupils, a group between the ages of six and twelve who are used to being taught by the strict local priest. Inspiring his young charges to hope and to broaden their horizons, Antoni even promises to show them the ocean for the first time.

75 years later, Ariadna is attempting to uncover what happened to her great grandfather – a man who disappeared during the war – leading her to discover the emotional story behind Antoni’s promise.

The film was released in Spain in 2024. It is an eloquent and deeply moving tale of the power of education and the importance of never forgetting the lessons of history.

IMDB – The International Movie Data Base has brief film information.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11887316/

TRAILER – There is a film trailer on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Huyvw5F8Ey0&ab_channel=PalaceFilms

WIKIPEDIA – Here is an extended description of the film.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Teacher_Who_Promised_the_Sea

QUESTIONS – Please send me any questions using this contact form

David Robinson, FILMS 2025 Tutor, U3A Port Phillip

Posted Saturday 25 January 2025

Save this page as a favourite: https://live.org.au/films-2025/
It is updated with the next film information on Saturday morning.

FILM
The film for Friday 31 January is Match Point (2004)
The film is directed by Woody Allan and set in London.
I chose it because I thought it was about tennis.
As a tennis player years ago I thought it was “topical”.
It has little to do with tennis except it touches on “LUCK”.
We can discuss “LUCK” after you have seen the film.

ONLINE
You can see the film during the week on the following link.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A8l7rX7Uya9Yt-EEjSb0Ekkga9xkYMwT/view?usp=sharing
The film will be deleted around 9am on Saturday 1 February.
Join the ZOOM film discussion at 10am (sorry, the email had 10pm) on Friday 31 January using this link.
Note that this is a different link in 2025 than the one we used in 2024.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A8l7rX7Uya9Yt-EEjSb0Ekkga9xkYMwT

FACE-TO-FACE
The film will be shown at 1:45pm in the Mary Kehoe Centre Hall on Friday 31 January,
A film discussion will follow the showing of the film.

EXTRAS
Information that follows below is optional to read. Some people prefer knowing nothing about a film before seeing it. Others prefer to know more. All I can say is I found this film “disturbing” as I had a strong emotional response. We can discuss if you also felt the same in the class discussion.

SUMMARY

Match Point is a psychological thriller film written and directed by Woody Allen, released in 2005. The film is a gripping exploration of morality, ambition, and chance, set against the backdrop of London’s high society.

The story follows Chris Wilton, a former professional tennis player from a modest background, who becomes a tennis coach for the wealthy. Through this position, he befriends Tom Hewett and begins a romantic relationship with Tom’s sister, Chloe.

While dating Chloe, Chris becomes infatuated with Nola Rice, Tom’s American fiancée, who is struggling to find her footing as an actress. As Chris navigates his way into the upper class through his relationship with Chloe, his obsession with Nola threatens to unravel his carefully constructed life.

Themes that the film delves into:|
Morality and Luck: The role of chance in shaping life and moral consequences.
Ambition and Class: The lengths people will go to climb the social ladder.
Deception: Lies and betrayal play a pivotal role in the narrative.

Match Point was widely praised for its dark and intelligent storytelling. Critics lauded it as one of Woody Allen’s best works in years, particularly for its Hitchcockian suspense. Scarlett Johansson’s performance received special acclaim, earning her a Golden Globe nomination.

TRAILER – The International Movie Data Base has this trailer.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416320/

WIKIPEDIA – Here is an extended description of the film (with spoilers).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Match_Point

QUESTIONS – Please send me any questions using this CONTACT FORM

David Robinson, FILMS 2025 Tutor, U3A Port Phillip

Posted Monday 25 November 2024

The first film to be shown in 2025 is yet to be decided.

However information on the film will be posted above on Saturday 25 January 2025.
There will be a film description, reviews, insightful articles, short documentaries, interviews with directors and actors, why and how the film was made. Read it all, or not at all. Maybe you’d prefer to watch the film before deciding. It’s up to you.

Class members will receive an email on Saturday 25 January 2025. There will be a link to the film, along with a ZOOM link for those who wish to participate ONLINE in the ZOOM discussion session at 10am on Friday 31 January. FACE-TO-FACE participants will need to be seated in THE HALL at the Mary Kehoe Centre for a screening of the film on Friday 31 January 2025 at 1:45pm.

Below are some of the films shown in 2024. I don’t keep records of every film shown as I have been showing 40 different films a year since 2016. But these films will give you an idea of what to expect.

To book your place LOGIN to the U3APP website then click on 5B10 FILMS 2025

David Robinson, FILMS 2025 Tutor, U3A Port Phillip

Posted Sunday 17 November 2024

FILMS 2025 – Weekly Film Screenings and Discussions

This webpage is the way I communicate with you every Saturday during term.
Saturday is when I update this page with information about the film for the week.
Every new post will appear at the top of this page.

TWO WAYS TO PARTICIPATE

FACE-TO-FACE – Screenings are held at 1:45 pm every Friday at the Mary Kehoe Centre Hall. Stay afterward for a class discussion. We have a new, quality cinema projector, and an improved sound system. There is ample seating for all.
ONLINE – Watch the film at home on your computer or smart TV, at a time that suits you. Join the Zoom discussion at 10 AM on Friday. All films are free to watch, just one click, no logging in. The films are sourced from the Port Phillip Library.

BOOKING DETAILS

There is only one class in 2025.
Participate FACE-TO-FACE or ONLINE, or swap between them at any time.

Bookings open at 11 am on Friday 13 December 2024. There is ample seating for all when you participate FACE-TO-FACE. The ONLINE option has no restrictions on class numbers. This class has NO waitlist. Everyone gets into this class.

To book your place LOGIN to the U3APP website then click on 5B10 FILMS 2025

David Robinson, FILMS 2025 Tutor, U3A Port Phillip

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FILMS 2025