Rudy

Rudy is perfectly balanced - tender and heartwarming, but with just enough edge to keep you believing and wondering what's going to happen next. At its core is a love story, underpinned by compelling and authentic central performances, but there's much more to the film than that. I was struck by its meditation on community and the ways in which people desire it and improvise it against the odds. Beautifully shot, it makes the most of Coventry's extraordinary, layered urban environment. There are hypnotic passages where the music and images take over, and moments of almost unbearable suspense. The ending is perfectly judged, closing on an unexpected note of joyful ambiguity. Like all good films, it follows you out into the world and stays with you.

We were treated to a very special and unique experience when the film 'Rudy' was shown at Hollowell Village Hall in October. The VH committee was approached by Rugby based film director Shona Auerbach who, along with her husband, cinematographer, Graeme Dunn, had created the film.

They described the project as a "labour of love" which had taken them 10 years to fulfil.

Shona had collaborated with a colleague to write the film, moved to do so by the experience of losing a loved one, particularly the effect on a young teenager of losing a mother.

Rudy is the fictional teenager in the film, devastated by the death of her mother and left, alone with her grieving father, to care for two much younger siblings.

This may all sound totally miserable, but the film had moments of humour and wonderful portrayals of everyday life.

It showed both Rudy and her father coming to terms with their appalling loss.

It was a treat for the eyes and ears with beautiful photography, ranging from details of domestic activity, to urban skateboarders, to our beautiful countryside. The urban setting used was Coventry and the rural landscape was around Birdingbury and Leamington Hastings.

The music for "Rudy" was written by Japanese composer, Akira Kosemura and was atmospheric and evocative.

The film is being shown in some small cinemas around the country and is currently available on Curzon Home Cinema for £10. The creators of the film are also taking it to local villages in the area. We in Hollowell count ourselves very fortunate to have benefited from this.

It was a real privilege and rare insight to get the opportunity to talk to the makers of this rather special film.

Viv Benjamin.

Rudy is a dramatic film, well acted and telling a story of loss and love on their farm. There is suspense and humour in their lives as the family coped without the father's wife and mother of their three children.

Tension throughout with local picturesque cinematography in and around, Rugby, Coventry and Warwickshire, by Graeme Dunn. The dramatic music added atmosphere and few words to portray the sad story, ten years in the making.

I was engrossed, watching the film in the intimate atmosphere created in the Alex, Rugby with seven others in the cosy, dark room of the old brewery. Good luck to local Director Shona Auerbach for a BAFTA nomination.

Great film that was 10 years in the making. Watched Rudy last night in our village club. This really deserves bigger venues and audiences. A fine cast of new young faces and some older ones some who you will recognise. A lot of teenagers will identify with the younger characters and the same with older audiences and older characters. The meeting of two teenagers from different environments a farmers daughter struggling with the death of her mother and a young city lad raised by his grandmother. They have a shared interest in skateboards but some discover a wider depth in life effecting them both. Fine a screening and enjoy.

A beautiful, absorbing, understated film that follows a teenager dealing with the loss of her mother, whist finding her own sense of self. It is beautifully done, there is no heavy exposition, and no unnecessarily dramatic storylines, rather the story unfolds delicately, through everyday interactions. The screenplay is very assured, and allowed silence and skilful filmography to illuminate the characters where a lesser film would have relied on dialogue alone. Yet it is never less than griping, it makes you care what happened to all the characters, not just the main protagonist, and all the characters are well observed and believable. The performances are all good, but the main character, Rudi, is exceptional and completely anchors the film. All of this is accompanied by a beautiful score and I just feel so frustrated that I saw this is a village hall and that a film which has so much depth,, done with such beauty struggles to get the same exposure as the more formulaic studio films. It certainly outshone any film I have seen at a multiplex this year. Catch it if you can. .