The first film in a double bill showing ( The Death of Stalin (15) follows this film at 8.15pm ). The double bill ticket price is £7.00
2017 ( UK ) ( Comedy, Drama )
DIRECTOR: Sally Potter
STARRING: Timothy Spall, Kristin Scott Thomas, Patricia Clarkson
This is a superior cinematic canapé from British writer/director Sally Potter. Shot in cool black-and-white, it sees a newly appointed shadow health minister (Kristin Scott Thomas) throw a celebration party for her nearest and dearest, only to uncork a whirlpool of secrets, lies, sex, drugs and singed vol au vents. The characters are given a tremendous amount of life in a series of excellent performances. Patricia Clarkson displays perfect comic timing as the sardonic April, and Janet’s apparently ever loyal husband Billy (Timothy Spall) sits there, drinking and looking catatonically stricken. Something is clearly very wrong.
‘The Party’ uses its single setting to claustrophobic, dramatic advantage. The dialogue is bitterly funny, even while dealing with the darkest of subject matters, touching on politics, family, fidelity and sexuality while maintaining a breezy comic tone. And amid the middle-class intellectual squabbling there’s a palpable sense of tension and danger.
To sum up, ‘The Party’ is a biting comedy with outstanding performances from the whole cast.
(1hr 11min)