Mostly British Film Festival

Schedule Of Events

Friday February 7, 2025

3:00 pm - Made in England

Martin Scorsese speaks with such passion in his documentary about Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s work, it is contagious. Audiences will be inspired to list films from the director-writer team like “The Red Shoes,” “I Know Where I’m Going,” and “Black Narcissus” to explore later. Scorsese is almost single handedly responsible for rescuing these wondrous movies from obscurity, becoming Powell’s close confidante late in his life and the cupid behind his marriage to Scorsese’s long-time film editor Thelma Schoonmaker. It is especially touching to see clips illustrating how Powell and Pressburger influenced his own films including “Raging Bull” and “The Age of Innocence.” You come away dazzled by the potential of cinema as it passes from one generation to the next.

UK 2024 (131 minutes)

5:30 pm - I Know Where I’m Going

Powell directs this inspired romance between a spirited and ambitious 25-year old (Wendy Hiller) and a naval officer (Roger Livesey), who is not meant to be her intended. She travels from her Manchester home to the Hebrides, her sights on marrying a wealthy, much older industrialist. When bad weather postpones the final leg of her journey she meets the officer in a Scottish seaside town. While sheltered together, her plans dramatically change course. The film is replete with delightful local lore (and Gaelic language!), curses, family rivalries, Viking legends and a young Petulia Clark in a brief role. Not least of all are glorious scenes of Scotland’s celebrated islands. “One of the 10 best films of all times,” according to critic Molly Haskell. Presented in a new 4K Restoration.

UK 1945 (91 minutes)

7:30 pm - Shoshana

This riveting, intelligent, romantic thriller directed by Michael Winterbottom is set in late 30s Palestine under the British Mandate during the ruthless conflict between the Irgun (Zionist paramilitary group) and the British occupiers. Inspired by true events, the title character lived in Tel Aviv at that time. This powerful love story between Shoshana, a Polish Jew and fervent Zionist (a compelling Irina Starshenbaum) and a British police inspector (the impossibly handsome Douglas Booth from “The Riot Club” and “Jupiter Ascending”) heightens the realities of the dangerous political divide. Both lovers are deeply committed to their causes as well as to each other. You root for the young couple with all your heart. Can they make it work? A Zoom interview with the prolific director Michael Winterbottom (“Welcome to Sarajevo” and “The Claim”) will be conducted by festival artistic director Ruthe Stein.

UK 2024 (119 minutes)

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Date: February 6-13, 2025