ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

The DFC is pleased to present Marguerite, winner of the Best Director Prize at the Venice Film Festival, on Saturday, October 26, at the Armour Street Theatre at 7:00 p.m.

 “Marguerite is a dark delight, a cringe comedy that skirts tragedy throughout, examining delusion, entitlement, denial, and the question of whether the truth is essential.” Tom Long, Detroit News

 Directed by Xavier Giannoli, France (2015, 2h09), in French, with English subtitles

Discussion of the film will be led by Jacquelyn Culpepper, Artist Associate (Singing) in the Music Dept. at Davidson College.

 If you are not a Davidson Film Club member, walk-ins ($9, NC Sales tax included) are always welcome, cash or check at the door.  Walk-in students $7. 

 *Walk-ins: Please note that reservations should be made in advance at [email protected]. Walk-ins without reservations are welcome but may have to be seated after members and those with reserved tickets to avoid overcrowding (fire marshal regulations).

*DFC Members: Please let us know at [email protected] if you do not plan to attend this screening so we will know that your seats are available for walk-ins. Refreshments (red and white wine and bottled water) will be made available by the Film Club.

 Film Summary:

The story of Marguerite is placed in 1921 and inspired by the real-life story of Florence Foster Jenkins, an American socialite who seemed to truly believe she was a brilliant coloratura soprano—but who couldn’t hold a tune. Catherine Frot’s rendition of “Der Hölle Rache,” from The Magic Flute, the first song she demolishes in the film, is close to a note-for-note copy of Jenkins’ recorded version. Yes, it’s possible to love something passionately and be very, very bad at it. Nobody knows much about this woman except that she is rich, and that her whole life is devoted to her passion: music. She has been living in her own bubble, and the audience, always coming in for a good laugh, acts as if she was the diva she believes she is. She has the opportunity to sing in public. Can this end well?

 Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer 95%!

 Four Césars: Best Actress, Best Production Design, Best Costumes, Best Sound (plus 7 César nominations, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Editing). Lumière Awards Best Actress and Best Director prize at the Venice Film Festival.

 “Touching, funny, and thoughtful, Marguerite honors its real-life inspiration with a well-acted and ultimately inspirational look at the nature of art and the value of a dream.” Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

“We laugh during Marguerite, but we don’t laugh at Marguerite, because somehow director and co-writer Xavier Giannoli persuades us to see in her the universal tragedy.” Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

 “This is a poignant, simultaneously jubilant and deeply sad championing of singing like nobody’s listening.” Matthew Anderson, CineVue

 “What keeps this together is the glowing, sensitive performance from Catherine Frot, who plays the deluded singer with an earnest grace.” Pat Padua, DCist

Our website www.davidsonfilmclub.com features the whole current series and film descriptions. Have you Bookmarked it?

Please be reminded that members are always free to give their seats to a friend if they cannot make it to a given screening. Just email us at [email protected] to let us know the name of the friend who will be using your seat(s).

We are a non-profit, tax-exempt organization run by volunteers that only exists to bring you fine international fiction films and engage in stimulating discussion about them.

Hope to see many of you on Saturday, October 26, at the screening of this cringeworthy but very touching film!

P.S. If you are on Facebook, please take a moment to “Like” and “Share” with your friends our announcement of this film on the Davidson Film Club page. And thanks for spreading the good word!

 

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/DavidsonFilmClub?skip_nax_wizard=true&ref_type=logout_gear

For more information, contact Alan Singerman, President, Davidson Film Club, 336-751-2746