The Hedgehog at Corrie Film Club

The eponymous hedgehog of this 2009 French film, directed by Mona Achache, is a prickly concierge who lurks in her quarters under an expensive block of flats. It was taken from the best-selling novel called The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery, and will be shown at Corrie and Sannox Hall on Sunday 14th October, starting at 8.00 pm.

Renée Michel, the grumpy concierge, played by Josiane Balasko, has more intelligence and sensitivity than anyone thinks, but nobody realises it until the arrival of a new tenant called  Kakuro Ozu, a wealthy Japanese widower. The only person who takes the slightest interest is 11 year old Paloma, who carries a camera wherever she goes and regards her parents as so terminally boring that she contemplates suicide on her 12th birthday. Despite being essentially a spoilt brat, Paloma has the same watchful eye on her surroundings as the goldfish that circles its bowl, and the film develops a high degree of wit and charm.

This showing, which begins at 8.00 pm, is the first in the Film Club’s new series of films, each one to be shown in Corrie Hall on the second Sunday of the month. Membership of the society brings you a handsome 3-fold programme of the year’s offering, and the modest annual contribution of £15 helps to pay for the purchase of the DVDs, which are then made available to members for personal borrowing to watch at home. Visitors who are not members are equally welcome, however. Admission is free, though a small contribution towards the running expenses of the hall are always welcomed.

www.arranart.com/corriefilmclub.html