107 films later & this is it. The last cinema trip of 2025. Much like last year, ive made the pilgrimage up to crawley to see my last film, this isnt in imax though. This is a necessity. Sentimental Value is likely to give Stallen his first ever oscar, so this is must watch viewing for me, to see if he deserves it. I did sit there for a while going i feel crap, its cold its wet do i need this & the long drive there & the long drive back past 11pm, but i need to see this even if i feel crap beyond belief.

Trailers, H is for Hawk, Hamnet, no other choice, Rental Family & the secret agent (finally i was wondering when i would see this).

Id say the audience for this screening was film fans after awards season, it wasnt completely sold out but it was a proper mix bag of people knowing they need to watch this to be up to date for the end of awards for sure.

& then the film started… what a way to end the film watching year.

I cried hard at the end of this film, i really did. I did cry at points throughout the film as well but the ending bit with the sister & the realising, as someone who has a younger sister that hurt a lot. I just wanted to call her & ask to pop in for a hug on my way home (even though it was late in the evening & she had people over) Yea it made me realise that no one understands me the way she does & vice versa. I told her this the other week about this film & she said you should have just turned up. That meant a lot.

No when i saw this i was certain Stallen was getting the oscar, not after last weeks baftas less so however he did still completely own it & he was so good. I mean everyone else was in this film. I likes how it was at points split between the languages too (& it was brought up as to should your film really be in english, i liked that). Im so glad they are all getting recognition & i love how it all just felt organic & natural. Often with foreign language film you sometimes lose some emotions due to subtitles but here it worked.

I liked how ever section of the film felt like a little chapter & there were a few points where we learnt the back story. At times it did feel a little jarring that it just suddenly ended or we didnt need things at certain points of the story. A few felt a little too forced & i was glad they dropped them for act 3. It did take me out of the film a few times. I think with the concentrating reading the subtitles & watching the film was just like hang on a second peoples. There was a lot to take in.

The family dynamic was very much a modern one, showing how love can be & not be there at the same time, its so cleverly done. It also really doesnt hide from its mental health struggles im glad it did that, & shows how those you think have no idea actually really can see it all.

That opening of her doing her play, exceptional. Really really good. Thats why shes getting so much love, yes shes so good in the rest of the film but that moment, goose bumps.

The back garden video brilliant I laughed at that, it was some light relief at times.

This is rightly one of the films being talked about a lots for award seasons. Its going to be very interesting to see how it plays out on the night, but yea this is rather special. Go into this film expecting to cry & feel emotionally drained at the end of it.

& that was cinema club 2025 done & dusted. 107 films later. A golden year where all 5 of my most anticipated were buzzer nominations. I have been spoiled this year.