Harrogate Film Society

https://www.harrogatefilmsociety.org/event-details/i-swear

I Swear | 2025 | 15 | Dir. Kirk Jones | UK | IMDb 8.4 | English | 120 mins

An emotional rollercoaster of a film detailing the true story of John Davidson , a young man growing up in the 1980s with Tourette’s Syndrome. This was a very much misunderstood condition at the time, and John was harshly treated by members of his own family and people in his neighbourhood. School life was tough for him too. . Brilliantly played by BAFTA-winning actor Robert Aramayo, the film mirrors the highs and lows, the laughter and the tears of a young man who cannot control his tics and outbursts of bad language. His life is difficult until he meets Dottie , played by Maxine Peake, who encourages him to be more comfortable with himself and helps him to get a job, and to mentor other young people with Tourette’s. An uplifting film.

· Screen 5 downstairs
· Doors open 6.45pm
· New season social so wine or soft drink included
· Welcome from our chair Paula Stott @ 7.30pm
· Free parking after 6pm if you DISPLAY an orange parking voucher, available from the Odeon lobby
· Unreserved seating - several wheelchair spaces available but please get in touch to reserve one if required
· We invite every viewer to score the film afterwards using a token system in the lobby.

Entry is free for HFS members who have paid an annual subscription via our website. Membership costs just £52.50 for all 15 films and just £30 if you are lucky enough to be under 25! Join on the Harrogate Film Society website.

Tickets for non-members will be available from 1st September for this film online and also on the night.

Frida | 2024 | 12A | Dir. Carla Gutierrez | Spain | 87 mins | IMDb 7.5 | Art Documentary/Animation | subtitled
Presented by Harrogate Film Society in partnership with the Friends of the Mercer Gallery.
A raw and magical journey into the life of iconic artist, Frida Kahlo, told in her own words from diaries, letters, essays and interviews. Vividly brought to life with lyrical animation inspired by her unforgettable artwork.
Creative, colourful and – crucially – predominantly told through the words of its subject as recorded in her illustrated diary, this engaging documentary about the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo is a beguiling and rather beautiful tribute to her spirit and originality.
https://www.harrogatefilmsociety.org/event-details/frida

• Seating limited to 64 so we recommend you book in advance.
• Ticket price includes a glass of wine.
• Screen 3.
• One wheelchair space - get in touch to reserve this - at contact.harrogatefilmsociety@gmail.com
• Doors open at 6.45pm and the film will start after the introduction @ 7pm.
• All seating is unreserved.
• Free parking in Odeon car park but you must display a parking voucher available from Odeon staff.

https://www.harrogatefilmsociety.org/event-details/the-secret-agent

The Secret Agent | 2025 | 15 | Dir. Kleber Mendonça Filho | Brazil | IMDb 7.2 | Subtitled | 161 mins
The Secret Agent reflects the maturity of Brazilian cinema and the strength of a generation of filmmakers who have changed the way the country is viewed on the international stage. The success of Walter Salles's I'm Still Here, which reignited Brazil's presence at the Oscars and we screened last year, means this new film is surrounded by expectations, comparisons, and challenges. And perhaps that is precisely why The Secret Agent is not a film that will please everyone.
The Secret Agent delivers a visually rich and ambitious political thriller set in Brazil during the late 1970s under a repressive military dictatorship. The film immerses you in its atmospheric period world, with a compelling central performance and a story that blends political tension, personal stakes, and moments of surreal intensity.
The film tells an intense, heavy story set during a period of Brazilian history rich enough to spawn countless narratives. And despite its long runtime, it's always magnetic and gripping thanks to its incredible direction, cinematography, and, above everything else, the performances.
Some may be frustrated by the slow pace, the prolonged silences, the casual violence or the open ending. But it is precisely in these details that the beauty of The Secret Agent lies. Mendonça does not want to shock; he does not want to give everything away on a silver platter. He wants to provoke reflection; he wants the viewer to leave still processing what they saw - and what they felt. The discomfort the film causes is not necessarily a flaw; it was probably his intention.
The film is bold, with quirky fascinating characters, and yet aware of its importance. A film about memory, resistance, and belonging. A portrait of a man trying to escape himself, and of a country trying to forget what cannot be forgotten. With precise direction, an engaging script, and remarkable performances, O Agente Secreto is undoubtedly one of the great milestones of recent Brazilian cinema.

· Screen 1 upstairs
· Doors open 6.45pm
· Welcome from our chair Paula Stott @ 7.15pm
· Free parking after 6pm if you DISPLAY an orange parking voucher, available from the Odeon lobby
· Unreserved seating
· We invite every viewer to score the film afterwards using a token system in the lobby.

Entry is free for HFS members who have paid an annual subscription via our website. Membership costs just £52.50 for all 15 films and just £30 if you are lucky enough to be under 25! Join on the Harrogate Film Society website.

Tickets for non-members will be available from 1st September for this film online and also on the night.

https://www.harrogatefilmsociety.org/event-details/how-to-make-millions-before-grandma-dies

How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies | 2024 | 12A | Dir. Pat Boonnitipat | Thailand | IMDb 7.9 | Subtitled | 125 mins
This is an entertaining and heartfelt dramedy exploring family dynamics set in modern-day Bangkok. Beautifully shot by first time film director Pat Boonnitipat, the cinematography highlights the vivid colour and lush backdrops of Thailand. However, despite the exotic setting this film is eminently relatable in it’sexploration of both the day-to-day issues and deeper themesaffecting modern families.
The film centres around the elderly and ailing (grandma) of the title with a house in a good district of Bangkok. Younger members of the family try to curry favour with her in order to secure a greater piece of her inheritance. The film faces the decline of grandma and explores the clash of values and growing relationship with her grandson.
What works so well is that the larger themes of life, death and legacy are grounded in scenes of daily life in and around Bangkok and indeed by the ordinariness of Grandma herself – the wise matriarch who sees more than others realise. Both of the leads are first time film actors and give authentic and tender performances.
The priorities of members of the family at different ages and stages are explored, as well as how, who and what we value in life shifts over time. Also, the themes of sibling rivalry, greed, love and devotion, caregiving, intergenerational wealth, and the meaning of life are universal, so there is something here that everyone can relate to.
How to Make Millions Before Your Grandmother dies was a huge critical and commercial success both in South-East Asia and internationally. In 2025 it was Thailand’s submission to the Oscars and the highest grossing film at their box office too. Unashamedly sentimental in parts, with an emotive piano score to match, this film is as uplifting as it is tragic, with emotional reactions to it going viral around the world. Don’t miss this chance to see it on the big screen and experience your own reaction.

· Screen 1 upstairs
· Doors open 6.45pm
· Welcome from our chair Paula Stott @ 7.15pm
· Free parking after 6pm if you DISPLAY an orange parking voucher, available from the Odeon lobby
· Unreserved seating
· We invite every viewer to score the film afterwards using a token system in the lobby.

Entry is free for HFS members who have paid an annual subscription via our website. Membership costs just £52.50 for all 15 films and just £30 if you are lucky enough to be under 25! Join on the Harrogate Film Society website.

Tickets for non-members will be available from 1st September for this film online and also on the night.