Barossa Film Club will show its last film for the 2018 season, with the screening of the British drama “Amazing Grace”. One man’s role in the long battle to outlaw slavery in the United Kingdom sets the stage for this historical drama from director Michael Apted. In 1784, 21-year-old William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd) was elected to the British House of Commons, and soon established himself as a politician with a conscience. Several years later, his close friend William Pitt (Benedict Cumberbatch) became prime minister, and together they made a bold plan to introduce a bill banning slavery before the English legislature. Wilberforce was aided by anti-slavery activists Olaudah Equiano (Youssou N’Dour) and Thomas Clarkson (Rufus Sewell); however, pro-slavery hard-liners Lord Tarleton (Ciarán Hinds) and the Duke of Clarence (Toby Jones) spearheaded a hard-fought opposition to the legislation, and despite Wilberforce’s best efforts, his bill went down in defeat. In 1797, Wilberforce left politics due to poor health and a battered spirit; staying at the country home of his friends Henry and Marianne Thornton (Nicholas Farrell and Sylvestra Le Touzel), he became acquainted with Barbara Spooner (Romola Garai), a beautiful woman with progressive views. Spooner became deeply infatuated with Wilberforce, and she encouraged him not to give up on his noble goals; with her help, Wilberforce launched a second campaign to persuade England’s lawmakers to end the slave trade.
A great cast and beautiful cinematography capture the look and sound of a sumptuous age, and an important period in history. “Amazing Grace” will screen at Faith College Wine Centre from 7.30 pm on Friday 9th November. Admission is free for Club members and membership is obtainable at the door. A trailer is viewable on the Barossa Film Club website. Enquiries 8564 8225.

​​CANADIAN COMEDY “CLOUDBURST” SCREENING
Barossa Film Club presents 2011 Canadian romantic comedy “Cloudburst”, directed by Thom Fitzgerald.  This hilarious road movie co-stars Oscar-winning actresses Brenda Fricker and Olympia Dukakis as Dot and Stella, a crackerjack lesbian couple on the run from a nursing home. You'll laugh so hard you'll cry. Stella and Dot have been together for 31 years and have faithfully accompanied one another through life's ups and downs. Now in their seventies, Stella is hard of hearing and Dot is legally blind. Dotty's prudish granddaughter, Molly (played by Genie Award-winner Kristin Booth), decides the best place for Dot is a nursing home that will provide all the necessities. This forces Stella and Dot to make a bold decision: they will leave their hometown and make their way to Canada, where same-sex marriage is legal. It's a last-gap bid to stay together. En route to Canada, they pick up a young hitchhiker, Prentice, played by newcomer Ryan Doucette. A small-town boy turned modern dancer, he is returning to Nova Scotia to visit his dying mother. Despite his bravado, Prentice is a confused and wounded soul who has much to learn from Stella and Dot as they wage their own unexpected battle - after three decades, can they keep their family together?
Winner of 30 best-picture awards, “Cloudburst” will be shown at the Faith College Wine Centre on Friday 19th October, with a short film at 7.30 pm, a break for refreshments and then the main feature.  Entry is free for Barossa Film Club members, and membership is obtainable at the door.   A trailer of the film can be viewed on the Film Club website and further details from Imelda Carson n 8564 8225.