I picked this book up at a bookstore recently. One of my better choices. This is a lovely read.
Canadian writer, David Gilmour, was working as a freelance journalist and broadcaster whilst writing this work. It is autobiographical in nature and almost diary like in its form. The subject is his relationship with his son, Jesse, who goes through a difficult adolescence.
Jesse can’t stand being at school and is at an age when he can leave. David offers him a deal that a lot of kids would only dream about. He will let him leave school, and he doesn’t have to look for a job. He can even sleep in till midday or even longer if he wants to. The deal is that together they form their own film club, and each week they are to sit down, watch and discuss at least three movies. Jesse, of-course, accepts the deal. Dad is happy, he believes that the intimacy which the Club will generate will help him guide his son through the trials of adolescence and see him get to the other side, adulthood, in one piece.
David’s inspired Club ends up lasting three years. The films that they end up seeing together include Citizen Kane, Showgirls, Pulp Fiction, Last Tango in Paris, The 400 Blows, Ran, Singin’ in the Rain, The Exorcist and Basic Instinct.
One of the first films David shows his son is the late Francois Truffaut’s film (The 400 Blows), a film about a troubled adolescent boy. Dad makes the point that Truffaut, one of France’s greatest ever film directors, was a bit of of a lost soul as an adolescent and got himself into a fair amount of trouble.
Whilst the film discussions between father and son are interesting and even enlightening, the book’s focus is clearly on the challenges which Jesse faces. His choice of women, who don’t treat him all that well, stress his father out no end. As does his naivety, his dabbling in drugs and his excesses with alcohol which sees him spend some time in hospital. Gimour’s writing is authentic and involving.
Since its publication in 2007 Gilmour’s THE FILM CLUB has been translated into some 24 languages.
Recommended, THE FILM CLUB is available at the usual online outlets.
Featured image – Father and son, David and Jesse Gilmour.
David Gilmour THE FILM CLUB
Ebury Publishing, an imprint of Ebury Publishing
A Random House Group Company
ISBN 9780091924522