Hollywood vs The World: Film Discussion Club With Matthew Harris John Hurt and the Anti-Western Sat 31 Jan, 2-5pm £10 The Western has long been Hollywood's founding myth - cowboys, frontier justice, manifest destiny. But what happens when filmmakers turn the genre inside out? This session pairs Hollywood's vision of the West with international cinema that challenges, subverts, or outright rejects American mythology. Featuring the late Sir John Hurt's work in films that question heroism, violence, and the stories we tell about conquest and civilisation. Expect brutal revisionism, moral complexity, exhausted colonialism and a reckoning with the genre's darker frontiers. The Modern Femi-Cine Sat 21 Feb, 2-5pm £10 In 2023 two wildly different feminist triumphs emerged: Greta Gerwig's confetti-coloured cultural phenomenon Barbie and Justine Triet's austere Palme d'Or winning Anatomy of a Fall. One uses fantasy and humour to examine women under patriarchy, the other uses courtroom realism to expose gendered judgment. Both became critical and commercial successes, proving feminist cinema works across different screens - from blockbuster spectacle to arthouse ambiguity. We'll explore how these films tackle female identity, performance, and power, and ask: does the medium shape the message effectively? The Millennium Ghost Story Sat 21 Mar, 2-5pm £10 Hollywood loves horror that sells - jump scares, twists, monsters to defeat. But the ghost story tradition, particularly outside America, understands that hauntings aren't about exorcism, but more about excavation. Digging up ugly truths and surfacing guilt from the past. This session contrasts Shyamalan's The Sixth Sense with Guillermo del Toro's The Devil's Backbone - both featuring children who can see what adults can’t and both from the turn of the millennium. One offers cathartic closure through a clever twist; the other uses ghosts as witnesses to fascist violence and unburied history. When do we let ghosts rest, and when must they remain to haunt us? What to Expect Each session includes selected clips highlighting key elements from both films, guided focus points on specific themes and techniques, and open discussion where we explore contrasts, connections, and what these pairings reveal about how different cinemas approach the same areas. Whether you're a dedicated cinephile or simply curious about how stories travel across cultures and traditions, these sessions offer a chance to see familiar films in a new light and discover international cinema that challenges Hollywood's dominance. Written and presented by Matthew Harris Matthew Harris is an accomplished filmmaker and educator with 25 years of award-winning experience in video production and media. As the founder of The Blah Blah Company, he combines creative vision with practical expertise to deliver results. Matthew holds a BA Hons in Video Production and more recently an MPhil in Screen Media and Culture from the University of Cambridge. His extensive teaching background spans multiple positions in Further and Higher Education, where he has provided students with both technical skills and artistic insight. His recent film, "A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies," has garnered international recognition, showcasing at festivals worldwide and earning an official selection at the Norwich Film Festival 2024. This practical industry experience informs his teaching approach, offering students relevant, current perspectives on filmmaking craft. With a passion for innovation and a commitment to nurturing emerging talent, Matthew brings both academic rigor and real-world production knowledge to his role as a practical filmmaking tutor. Programmed in partnership with the Sir John Hurt Film Trust.