Film: Smiles of a Summer Night

Tonight, thought of film again - and The Garden Cinema had a members' suggestion, Smiles of a Summer Night, a romantic comedy by Ingmar Bergman, which looked like an option. Even closer to the office than is the Curzon Bloomsbury! And I've finally bitten the bullet and taken out membership with them too. Well, they must have improved their listings, I'm there so much more often than I used to be..

I left the office a little after 5, which gave me time to eat in Nando's beforehand - where they didn't burn the garlic bread at all, this time! Then got ever so slightly lost - I'm used to heading to Nando's from the cinema, not the other way around! I'm entitled to one free ticket with membership, but couldn't figure out how to avail of it - seems you have to ask at the box office, they do it for you. Happily, he didn't require my membership code, just my name.

Ticket issued, he informed me that it was in Screen 3 - upstairs! First time I've been in that one. And it seems they have a separate bar up there - but it was closed for a private function, so as he informed me, I'd have to get a drink downstairs and bring it back up. As I was doing that, an elderly gent asked whether I'd seen the film before and I said I hadn't - he waxed lyrical about the great cast as we descended together - he was meeting some people at the mezzanine level. Well, great they may be, but I hadn't heard of any of them - and given that they all sound Swedish, that's not a major surprise. Anyway, I got my drink - and completely forgot to claim the £2 discount for membership! Durnit..

I daresay Screen 3 is the largest - certainly seems larger than the others. I was at the end of a row, handily - I did have to push past a couple of people, but it was lovely to have a bit of space for my bags. The screening was preceded by a long speech by the member who proposed it! I'd never been to a member's suggested screening before - didn't know they had to do that. Anyway, just as well it was long - gave plenty of people the chance to take their seats before the film started.

It's 70 years old this year, so made in 1955, but set in a much earlier period, when women still wore corsets and stayed home, unless they were actors - such as the femme fatale in the film, who takes calls from a couple of the male characters. And for all that it's a comedy, and billed as a farce, you'd hardly expect Bergman to be light and fluffy - it has very dark moments, including someone who wants to kill himself, a duel, a doomed love, and much unhappiness of wives at their husbands' infidelities. But there are definitely lighter moments, particularly provided by the maid's shenanigans. Not one I'd choose for a belly laugh, but there are laugh-out-loud moments, and it's very watchable, with very relatable characters. Lovely costumes, too. I enjoyed it.

Asked to bring out our things at the end because of a tight turnaround, I had visions of having to traipse downstairs again with my empty glass - happily, I spotted a table with empties on it, at the edge of the private function, so nipped over and left it there..

Swung by Sainsbury's on the way home - and came across yet another pro-Palestinian protest, people with flags on all sides of the junction. I guess this is a reaction to the ban on Palestine Action. Someone has also pointed out to me that Palestine House is there.

Now heading into a whole heap of Meetup.. Tomorrow.. well, The Hideout is off to Friday 13th Part VIII in the Prince Charles (PCC).. and the organiser offered me a free ticket. Otherwise you couldn't drag me to it, TBH. We're meeting in Victory House beforehand - no time to eat beforehand, I'll have to manage afterwards, somewhere.

On Saturday, back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies, yay - finally getting to do his Beatles walk.

Oh, and I hadn't noticed until yesterday - but The Hideout's sister group, Movie Roadhouse London, is going to Materialists that evening, in the Odeon West End! A romcom, but rather elevated by the fact that it's written and directed by the excellent Celine Song, who gave us the devastating Past Lives a couple of years ago. This one promises to be a lot more lighthearted, with Dakota Johnson as a matchmaker with no time to organise her own love life. Enter the perfect man - Pedro Pascal, who, for my money, was the best thing about Gladiator II! Enter, at the same time - just to complicate matters - her deadbeat ex, Chris Evans, for whom she still has feelings. So, I'll be going to that..

Sunday, I'm dragging myself out of bed, and managing the second half of Lomaz' weekend at Sutton Hoo - not getting to Sutton Hoo itself mind, I'm joining them in Woodbridge. Now, apart from the Stansted Express, it's a long time since I booked train tickets in the UK - and Lordy, what a palaver. Firstly, I found the cheapest on Uber - not to mention I get Uber credit on top, which is nice. Then they calculated I'd have a cheaper ticket with a split fare (thank goodness we have algorithms to figure this out for us - the UK rail network is otherwise incomprehensible!) So, it seems it works out cheaper if I get a ticket to Colchester, and another onwards from there. All in one transaction, and factored into the price. Ok fine. Finally, the final leg of the journey, from Ipswich, is by rail replacement bus - no problem, they've factored that into the ticket too. Oh, and the last going home leaves before 10pm.. one of the reasons I never want to live "just outside" London!

On Monday, back with The Hideout for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, also at the PCC. More 80s slasher fun.. this one stars Dennis Hopper. Coincides nicely with the original film - it was showing in the smaller screen, but had to move into the larger one because of demand, and is showing there right after the original - which I see some of the group are also going to! Handy for the double-bill. Anyway, the timing (to see the sequel) works for me to eat - and I've booked Bella Italia, yum..

On Tuesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for The Comedy About Spies, from the excellent Mischief Theatre. Playing at the Noel Coward Theatre. And as that isn't very far from Bella Italia.. well, I'm sure I'm not going to mind eating there twice in a row!

On Wednesday, back with TAC for A Manchester Anthem, at Riverside Studios.

Next Thursday, thinking film again.. not as close to the office, but it's the closest to home, and I should manage it, if I take the Tube - The Life of Chuck sounds good, and is playing in the Curzon Aldgate. Based on a novella by Stephen King, it's billed as the new It's a Wonderful Life, stars Tom Hiddleston as the adult Chuck, and also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Mark Hamill.

On the 22nd, back with The Hideout for Together - a new body horror about an unsuspecting couple on holiday in the wilderness. Putatively scheduled for the Vue West End, but their listings aren't out yet..

On the 23rd, my monthly ex-colleagues' meeting again, probably at The Phoenix - and probably just James again, as Ivan is distracted by family matters, and there still is no word from Martin.

And on the 24th, back with Lomaz.. dependably busy on weekends, on that day they're off to Dover Castle. This time, Uber didn't seem to recognise the journey - I booked on Trainline instead.