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To an excellent turn out of discerning film lovers in spite of the unusual cold and snow here, Atta Yaqub, the lead actor of Ken Loach’s Ae Fond Kiss, inaugurated the Brighton International Film Society at the Duke of York’s Picturehouse. Reading out Ken Loach’s message as patron of BIFS, he also remarked how proud he was to be associated with a film society that was committed to good world cinema.
David Miller, the Chair of the British Federation of Film Societies, who was kind enough to drive down at such short notice in such horrible weather, commended BIFS on the great start and assured it of all help from the Federation.
Geetha J., the Chairperson of BIFS, explained the aims of the film society and also the choice of the opening film The Battleship Potemkin (1925) by Sergei Eisenstein. This acknowledged masterpiece from a pioneer filmmaker and theorist is significant cinematically and politically, but more important for a film society, it also triggered the Film Society movement in many parts of the world, including the UK, in 1925. One of the most renowned films in the history of cinema, it faced severe censorship and was initially seen only by film society audiences and trade unionists. The inaugural event was followed by the screening of The Battleship Potemkin to a huge round of applause in the end! Despite its iconic status, many seasoned film-goers exclaimed to us that they had not seen The Battleship Potemkin before, and so appreciated the opportunity to watch this classic film on the big screen for the first time. Many from the audience came over to the pub across the road to a have a chat and also put forward questions to BIFS committee members and to Atta Yaqub who spoke about his experiences of working with Ken Loach and the issues raised by Ae Fond Kiss. Charming and honest, Atta confessed how little he knew of good cinema and of Ken Loach when he was picked up at an audition to play the part of Casim in Ae Fond Kiss! But the experience of working with Ken opened his eyes to what cinema can do and made him think about what he would like to do in cinema. At present, working as a Youth Counsellor at Glasgow, Atta likes to keep it real!
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