Challenging the traditional image of the London port drinking establishment, the pomp and ceremonial type stuff, David Kennard’s documentary delves into the history of the mercantile trade between the two countries and moves to Northern Portugal, to the wonderful, moving scenes of Oporto and the hills surrounding the Douro. The British vintner-merchants who maintain their hold in Porto contrast with local farmers who work the rugged terrain of these vineyards, testifying to the huge disparity between the world of owners/distributors and vineyard workers. You will be riveted even if you don’t drink port. Joint 1^st place, Rhode Island Film Festival Appearance by filmmaker

UK, 2016 (86 minutes)

With dialogue and screenplay adapted from the hit stage play, this Greek /Lebanese love story set in suburban Sydney revolves around Alex, a Greek Orthodox schoolteacher who falls for Lebanese Muslim lawyer, Eve.  Since they both live with their parents, and Eve is committed to an arranged marriage, the parents are involved and having none of it. Shock horror takes off with hot blooded temper tantrums spicing up the dialogue. Strong, at times hilarious, performances make this a winning and fun multicultural rom com.

Australia, 2015 (131minutes)

The famed British film editor Anne V. Coates began her career as an assistant on “The Red Shoes” in 1948 and two years ago was an editor on “50 Shades of Grey.” In between she was nominated for five Academy Awards and won an Oscar for “Lawrence of Arabia.” Just this year awarded an honorary Oscar known as “the Governor’s Award” by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, she was introduced at the ceremony by Nicole Kidman and presented with her Oscar by Richard Gere. Miss Coates’ other films include “The Pickwick Papers,” “The Horse’s Mouth,” “Beckett,” “In the Line of Fire” and “Unfaithful.” She edited “Out of Sight” and “Erin Brokovich” for director Steven Soderbergh.

Miss Coates will be interviewed by the distinguished British film historian David Thomson, author of the definitive “The New Biographical Dictionary of Film.”

In conjunction with this interview Mostly British will screen Miss Coates’ film “Murder on the Orient Express,” an adaptation of Agatha Christie’s whodunit from the 1930s, set almost entirely inside the famous train. Albert Finney stars as Hercule Poirot who while on vacation finds himself solving a murder in one of the train cars. The star-studded cast includes Lauren Bacall, Jacqueline Bisset, Michael York, Sean Connery, Richard Widmark and Ingrid Bergman, who won an Oscar for her role.

UK, 1974 (128 minutes)

An Evening with Anne V. Coates 7:30 p.m.
Murder on the Orient Express (UK, 1974, 128 minutes) 9 p.m.

Steve Coogan proved in “Philomena” that he can do drama as well as comedy, and he is impressive in this Apartheid courtroom drama as a jaded lawyer who takes on a seemingly hopeless case of a prison guard in South Africa charged with multiple murders. As the attorney probes  into this case he comes to believe the accused has been traumatized by his job as a security guard overseeing executions.  Winner best narrative feature, Woodstock Film Festival  

South Africa, 2016 (80 minutes)

A compelling coming-of-age drama from New Zealand, “The Rehearsal” starts with a country boy named Stanley (James Rolleston, star of “Boy”) auditioning for a prestigious Auckland drama school. You immediately see what the teacher sees: Stanley is a star. This winning  film, based on the first novel by Mann Booker Prize winning author Eleanor Catton, follows Stanley and other recruits through their first year as they struggle with inner conflicts, and Stanley is forced to make a moral decision about whether a steamy scandal in his girlfriend’s family is fair game for him to dramatize in a school project.

New Zealand, 2016 (102 minutes)

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