Talking About Trees, the twelfth film of our 77th season achieved an overall appreciation score of 57%. Some members found this poignant and moving while many others found the film too slow and uninteresting. Some of the comments submitted:
- A poignant and moving film. A fascinating insight into film making, loving friendships and a society that denies choice – and it was funny!
- Engaging insight into the hard and frustrating challenges faced by Sudanese cinema. A witty script, acting and characters brought a warm charm to this fateful story. Thoroughly enjoyed.
- I loved it. What an absorbing and touching film. A little like ‘Waiting for Godot’ wondering if they would ever be successful but their resignation to the situation was also palpable. A film just as much about male friendship as the effects of religious dictatorships and the desire to simply share the love of film.
- A wonderful and uplifting film that gave an interesting insight into the daily lives of the inhabitants of Sudan. The film showed a group of inspiring individuals attempting to reintroduce cinema under such difficult conditions with such warmth and humour. But how good those film makers must feel to know the documentary and its important message is being shown to such a wide audience without the fear that the van will break down. Loved the quote at the end of the film, except I can’t quite remember it now.
- Really enjoyed it, although I was unsure how much was documentary, how much scripted (but it didn’t matter really). Felt rather like a cinematic Buena Vista Social Club.
- Beautifully unintrusive documentary showcasing the wit, love and sadness of a group of elderly film makers denied expression of their craft by a deeply inhumane religious / political dictatorship. I was captivated throughout by the subjects, what they were trying to do, and the people they encountered doing it.
- How lucky we are to have a relatively free civil society and Film Society.
- Sweet, elegiac, nostalgic and hopeful. I felt it was wonderful to learn a little bit about Sudan which is out of the news now.
- I felt it was a little slow, but enjoyed the interaction between the 4 characters, and the hope that they shared in trying to archive something dear to their hearts.
- Really enjoyed the relationship and interaction of the four friends but felt it was a tad too long for it’s story.
- I enjoyed this. It was a slow film but the 4 former film makers were such lovely gentle characters and very upbeat given what they had been through. An eye opener.
- An illustration of the power of friendship, experience, maturity – and the mobile phone! The battle against an oppressive political ruling system is illustrated quite gently using cinema as the vehicle. The people triumph.
- I liked the film and found it very interesting, but it was also quite soporific!!
- A very slow start and I didn’t feel engaged. However, as the film progressed I became more involved. I liked the humour and dedication of the characters and the subtle comments of life under the regime.
- A little boring and self centred. Irritating from subtitled Sudanese to barely audible English.
- An interesting film about the challenges of film makers and wider society living under a repressive regime, but not really enough substantive action or story line for my taste.
- A charming documentary which apart from highlighting the dire state of cinema in Sudan, was really about the friendship between the 4 men. It was clear early on that they weren’t going to be able to screen a film – especially one by Tarantino. The attempts to get permission (by the only female in the film) was Kafkaesque. One admired their persistence and feared for their well-being in the face of yet more evidence of the Islamist iron fist. However, I found the film slow-moving and not really engaging, which was a shame.
- Though interesting to learn about the Sudanese film industry and a glimpse of the culture I found the film rather boring.
- After many years of CFS membership, this is the first time a film has sent me to sleep.
- Dreary, too dark, poor sound, funny in parts, would not recommend or see again.
- Didn’t engage with characters, not particularly interesting storyline, disappointing.
- Totally boring film. Poor dialogue. Poor storyline. I left the theatre before the end.
- Maybe a worthy subject, but the film was unentertaining & sent me to sleep.
- A little bit of education on life in a different country, but told in a slow and mundane way.