FRIDAY 25 MAY
Doors: 7.30pm  Film: 8pm
The Party (15)

Janet hosts an intimate gathering of friends in her London home to celebrate her high profile political appointment. After her acerbic best friend and others arrive, some with dramatic news to share, an announcement by Janet's husband provokes a series of revelations. 

As the sophisticated soiree starts to unravel, a night that began with champagne soon ends up with arguments, shouting and fights. Starring Kristin Scott-Thomas Patricia Clarkson and Cillian Murphy. 

Brilliant fun.    

---

Review

Review by Kevin Maher (The Times)

Don’t you just hate it when you’re having a dinner party in north London to celebrate your promotion to the opposition front benches and your husband reveals that he’s having an affair? Then your lesbian best friend announces that she’s pregnant with IVF triplets and the husband of your other friend turns up, fully armed, with the intention of killing someone?

This is the scatterbrained premise, stunningly played and deftly executed, of The Party, the funniest film that writer-director Sally Potter (Orlando) has made. At 71 minutes long, it’s a breakneck one-act dash, with rapid-fire ruminations on God, the health service and the trouble with money and built around a towering turn from Kristin Scott Thomas as the newly promoted shadow minister.

There are scenes where Scott Thomas plays several competing emotions simultaneously, often through grimaces alone, but with masterful aplomb. What do we want? More Scott Thomas comedies! Now! 

Director: Sally Potter
Writer: Sally Potter 
Starring: Kristin Scott Thomas, Timothy Spall, Patricia Clarkson, Cillian Murphy 
Running Time: 71 mins

Other Reviews

Rotten Tomatoes - 92%
The Guardian - ★★★★
The Telegraph - ★★★★
The Independent - ★★★
The Times - ★★★★