Come and enjoy mince pies, mulled wine, music and a light-heartedly depressing family Christmas film - and stay afterwards for a live music treat from MeandthetwinS!

‘Leading French film-maker Arnaud Desplechin has gathered an all-star cast headed by Catherine Deneuve and Mathieu Amalric for this wickedly funny and outrageous spin on a family reunion drama. Deneuve plays the matriarch who needs to gather all the family together not just for Christmas but for reasons of her own. As the disparate members gather together in the Northern French city of Roubaix, old tensions and affections re-awaken. The cast give terrific performances, and Desplechin orchestrates them all to create an exciting and original film that had critics on both sides of the Atlantic entranced.’

Winner of the Prix Spécial du 61e Festival, Cannes 2008

The Guardian reviewer, Phillip French, claimed that, “Dramatically, it [A Christmas Tale] resembles those joyless, downbeat, yuletide editions of EastEnders that involve death, fornication and redemption as the characters get drunk under the Christmas tree, indulge in bloodletting revelations and let off fireworks in the snow.”  Now, there’s a reason why these episodes of EastEnders get such high ratings at Christmas-time: drama, entertainment and an escape from the excessive expectations of a Merry Christmas!

Other reviewers say:

“One of the most intriguing directors working in France......a film to ponder and to savour… a wealth of classy French stars.” [Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian]

“A beautifully cast, tragic-comic ensemble piece” [Lisa Nesselson, Screen International]

“Consistently engaging...fine performances…Deneuve and Amalric are especially impressive” [Geoff Andrew, Time Out]

View the trailer: http://www.newwavefilms.co.uk/view-film-detail.html/?viewListing=MTY=&cat=2

PLUS… Friends of the Star and Shadow, MeandthetwinS, will be playing a special LIVE set after the film – especially for you, especially for the Star and Shadow, especially for A Christmas Tale!  Stay and enjoy drinks and tunes in the bar and celebrate a great year at the Star and Shadow.

See: www.myspace.com/meandthetwins

£4/£3

Doors open at 7pm, film starts at 7.30pm.