Year: 2020

Movie of the Week: ‘Two Days, One Night’

Jeff Mitchell

With millions and millions out of work, AHFW looks to Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne’s gripping masterpiece about one woman’s (Marion Cotillard) struggle to keep her job in “Two Days, One Night” (2014). “Two Days, One Night” (2014) – Rightfully nominated for a Best Actress Oscar, Marion Cotillard plays Sandra, a woman in dire emotional and financial stress.  Her employer lets her go (under conflicting circumstances), but she reluctantly fights to keep her job and pleads her case to 16 co-workers over the course of a weekend.  Writers/directors Jean-Pierre and Luc…

‘The Secret Garden’ doesn’t quite bloom

Jeff Mitchell

“The Secret Garden” – After a prolonged, winding political road, India gained independence from Great Britain in 1947. This historical moment scooped up Mary Lennox (Dixie Egerickx), a 10-year-old girl living in India at the time.  This young Brit – nestled in the lap of financial luxury as a child ex-pat – suddenly lost her parents.  She also gained her independence, but in the most unwanted way.   Now, this newly orphaned girl baths, sleeps, and eats on her schedule, but she soon discovers that proper sustenance, direction, and boundaries become…

Movie of the Week: ‘Waking Ned Devine’

Jeff Mitchell

Do you need an escape?  With COVID still disrupting nearly everything these days, why not virtually get away to Ireland?  Tullymore, actually, and you can meet Jackie, Michael and the whole town in “Waking Ned Devine” (1999).  This hilarious and heartwarming comedy is AHFW’s Movie of the Week! “Waking Ned Devine” (1998) –  In the little Irish town of Tullymore (population: 52), someone won the national lottery!  But who?  Jackie (Ian Bannen) did not strike gold, but he hopes that the lucky ticket holder will share some of the winnings…