A Little Something Extra (2024), France, Written and Directed and starring popular French comedian Artus.

 

A Little Something Extra 2024 (French Comedy)

Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre

Thursday January 15,

Door Open: 6.30 pm

To escape the police, a son and his father find refuge in a summer camp for young adults with disabilities. They pose as a resident and his teacher. This gives rise to a wonderful human experience which changes them forever.

A predictable, saccharine, manipulative and contrived movie- while also being genuinely funny and occasionally quite moving – It has its heart in the right place.

Directed by and starring popular French comedian Artus.

Rotten tomatoes Review by Graeme Tuckett 4/5

REELS WINE SELECTION

“A Little Something Extra”

Wine themes:

#A Father and Son on the Run

#Criminals on the Lam

#People with Disabilities – a group that can suffer with being insulted and called names

REDS

Pertaringa, McLaren Vale “Under Cover” Shiraz, 2023

“19 Crimes” Nuriootpa Cabernet Sauvignon

“The Sticks & Stones”, McLaren Vale,

Tempranillo, Tinta Cao, Souzao, Touriga Nacional, 2021

NON-REDS

“The Family”, Trentham Estate, Vermentino 2025

“19 Crimes” Nuriootpa Moscato

“Tread Softly” Sauvignon Blanc 2025

REELS Film Society DVD Collection Sale

 

The committee has decided to offer its DVD collection for sale to members. All movies are pre-2024.

This is your opportunity to purchase some of your favorite DVDs at a bargain price. 

The collection will be on sale for $5.00 each or 3 for $10.00 on Thursday night, 18 December 2025, before the commencement of the movie.

Purchase your favorite DVDs, and watch them at your leisure whenever you like. They would also make the perfect Christmas gift for a loved one. 

The Holdovers (2023), USA, written by David Hemingson and directed by Alexander Payne.

"The Holdovers"

Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre

Thursday December 18,

Doors open: 6.30pm 

The Holdovers is a 2023 American Christmas comedy drama film written by David Hemingson and directed by Alexander Payne.

The movie is a remake of Marcel Pagnol's 1935 French film Merlusse and was named one of the top 10 films of 2023 by the American Film Institute.

The Holdovers was filmed in Massachusetts and is set in 1970, at Barton Academy, an all-male boarding school. 

Paul Giamatti stars as a teacher and former student of Barton. He is equally unpopular with students and other staff at the school and is forced to supervise five students left on campus (or “Holdovers”) during the Christmas holiday break.

REELS WINE SELECTION

“The Holdovers”

Movie / Wine theme:

Five students are “held over” at their boarding school over the Christmas break

This month’s wines have all been 

#heldover - from the Reels Wine selections of previous months in 2025.

ENJOY!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR

The Monk and the Gun (2023) Bhutan, directed, written and co-produced by Pawo Choyning Dorji

The Monk and the Gun

Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre

Thursday November 20,

Doors Open: 6.30 pm

"The Monk and the Gun" was written and co produced in 2023 by Pawo Choyning Dorji, the writer-director of “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom” which we screened in January 2024, with a high general approval of the Reels society members and a star rating of 4.6.

“The Monk and the Gun” is again filmed in the writer’s home country of Bhutan. The story is set during the historical period of 2006 – 2008 when the Bhutanese king abdicated the throne to allow the country’s first democratic election to take place.

Mock elections are being held throughout the country to teach people how to vote and in the town of Ura, the venerated Lama orders his young monk to get him 2 guns so he can “make things right”.

Meanwhile, an American collector is in the country, on the trail of a valuable antique rifle, and the paths of the two inevitably cross.

REELS WINE SELECTIONS

“The Monk and the Gun”

Movie / Wine themes:

# Bhutan – a highly mountainous country

# A revered Lama sitting up on the hill above the village and his obedient Monk

# A Policy of Gross National Happiness

REDS

Sevenhill “Inigo”(Clare Valley) Shiraz, 2022 *

“Sacred Hill” De Bortoli Cabernet Merlot

Nepenthe “Altitude” (Adelaide Hills) Pinot Noir 2022-4

NON-REDS

Sevenhill “Inigo”(Clare Valley) Riesling 2023 *

Vasse Felix (Margaret River) Classic Dry White 2018

(“Felix” means Happy)

“One for All” (NSW) Strawberry Lemon Sorbet Moscato 2023

*Sevenhill winery started by monks

President's report for October 2025 AGM

 President’s Report for October 2025 AGM

 

This time last year, after both the president and vice president retired, the plea went out for someone with computer skills and another committee member. I am very pleased to report that Hoveida and Susie answered that plea.

 

Catarina and Susie have enjoyed and spread enjoyment, to you all through playing Heads and Tails before each movie. As the only extroverts on the committee, they have embraced this challenge with gusto.

 

Hoveida has patiently helped maintain the Reels website and sent out notices, just what every committee needs - (a computer whiz). You would have seen Hoveida when she was offering Persian tea and sweets at our August movie night.

 

This last year (Oct 24 – Oct 25) has seen an average star rating of 4.1, a very good result by any film society standards.  Getting 4 people on the selection committee to agree on ANY movie is remarkable. Starting with up to 60 movies, down to 15 and then finding the film distributers is truly hard and time consuming but satisfying and rewarding. We love it.

 

All committee members have agreed to carry on next year, they are all quiet high achievers, whose actions speak louder than words.  Our membership is still healthy; we may not be bigger than BEN HUR but are still in the top 3 regional film societies of SA and Victoria. This year has seen a marked increase in 3-month membership (around 30)

 

The SRHT is an excellent venue for us and will be back to its best shortly, when the elevator is back in operation.  Five movies this calendar year have been digital and thanks to Marcus (always), have all gone to plan.

 

Thanks to not only to the committee, but to Hoveida, Leeanne, Andrew, Mark, Cathy and John Martin Brown.  Our gratitude also extends to our Public Officer Graham Adams and our Auditor Doug Mullen. Thank you all for being involved.

 

The committee wishes to thank all members for being part of a successful Film Society.

Hope to see you all next year.

 

 

Regards,

 

Graham Carpenter

Reels Film Society

Mount Gambier South Australia

 

Join us for the AGM and watch Charcoal, Carvão

Charcoal, Carvão (2023) Argentine Brazilian, Written and directed by Carolina Markowicz

Charcoal, Carvão

Venue: The Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre

Date: Thursday OCT 16

Doors Open: 6.30pm

 

Set in rural Brazil ‘Charcoal’ focuses on the family of Irene and her husband Jairo and son jean. Jairo earns money seasonably by burning charcoal but also has a drinking problem.   They struggle to cover medical costs for bedridden grandfather Firmino, who after a stroke can no longer walk, talk or breathe without additional oxygen.

One day a new district nurse Juracy arrives who makes Irene an unusual proposal. To “replace” Firmino with a much more lucrative lodger. An Argentinian crime “jefe” named Miguel who has faked his own death and needs to lie low for a while.

Markowicz maintains a tight grip on the tone of this movie, keeping it on the biting point between black comedy and agonising suspense.

 

(Leslie Felperin- The Guardian)

Charcoal wine list

Movie / Wine themes:  

 # Charcoal    (Very nearly black)

 # South America

# A Peasant family living with a Criminal hiding in their midst

REDS

Cat amongst the Pigeons “Flyway” (Barossa) Shiraz, 2024

“19 Crimes”  (South Eastern Australia) Cabernet Sauvignon

“Tension” La Ribera (Argentina) Malbec Petit Verdot 2024

 

NON-REDS

“Trapiche” (Argentina) Oak Cask Chardonnay 2022

McGuigan “Black Label” (NSW) Sauvignon Blanc 2025

“One for All” (NSW) Moscato 2023

Mad about the Boy: The Noel Coward Story (2023) Written and directed by Barnaby Thompson

 

Mad about the Boy: The Noel Coward Story

Venue: The Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre

Date: Thursday September 25^th

Doors Open: 6.30pm

 

Premiered in 2023 and directed by Barnaby Thompson.  Mad about the Boy is a contemporary documentary narrated by Scottish actor Alan Cumming that tells the story of the life and career of talented and gregarious writer and performer, Noel Coward.

By the age of 30 Coward was the highest paid writer in the UK. He rose from poverty to stardom while keeping his sexuality a secret.  The variety and quality of contemporaneous archives combined with  readings taken from Noel Cowards personal journal , recorded by Rupert Everett makes an entertaining and enjoyable story. 

Mad About the Boy cleverly celebrates Noel Cowards’ talent and his contribution to the development of music, theatre, cinema and comedy.

 

Please note that nomination forms for membership on the Reels Committee will be available at the end of the movie prior to the AGM in October . New members are encouraged to nominate and will be  very welcome. 

“Mad About the Boy” Wine List

Movie / Wine themes:  

 # Mad       (like the title)

 # Noël Coward’s Plays  

-        Their Style: witty dialogue, glamorous settings, satirical portrayals of upper-class British society

-        Prolific writing (over 50 plays) including “London Calling” and “Still Life”

REDS

Watervale “Barking Mad” (Clare Valley) Shiraz,  2019/20

Claymore “London Calling”  (Clare Valley) Cabernet Malbec 2023

“Swanning Around” (Riverland)  Pinot Noir 2023

 

NON-REDS

“Riposte” (Adelaide Hills) Sauvignon Blanc 2022

“Choosy Beggars” (Margaret River) Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2024

(The label picture tells the story – Jolly good, what?)

“Still Life” Hardy’s (NSW) Moscato 2025