A special screening was given at the Kino in Lion Street on Monday January 16, of a new film The Carer. Your first thought might be that it is about a care home and could be depressing. It is totally the opposite and with a Shakespearean theme. Brian Cox is superb as the grumpy old actor, and Coco König, as the young aspiring Hungarian drama student who becomes his carer, is very good. She was only 18 when they filmed and because of finance constraints and time availability of Brian Cox they had to shoot it in six weeks. The relationship between the young girl and declining actor is touching and as the relationship changes, wonderfully uplifting.
There are some other great performances by well known faces and the Director was Janes Edelenyi of Hungarian origin.
Charlotte Wontner, the producer, answered some questions at the end explaining that it was quite difficult to juggle the time, the actors they wanted and the promised money. They thought of having Scotland as a backdrop but in the end they decided to film at Boughton Monchelsea, near Maidstone.
It seems that the PR machinery has worked in terms of putting La La Land at the top of the list of what to see. But I would say if people want to choose one film to see this and next week it should be The Carer. It is funny, honest about ageing, with Shakespearian language and excellent acting.
Photos: CineFile distribution 2016