Into Film Clubs
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With autumn and the school year now back in full flow, there's never been a better time to hunker down with a big box of popcorn and take in the delights and complexities of the fresh releases on the cinema calendar. This month sees new entries into two incredibly popular children's animations and also two documentaries which take a deep dive into important social issues of our times. Amongst other films, October looks to be a prime month for a cinema visit.
Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie - in cinemas 13th October
Also playing as part of the Into Film Festival - find out more through this link
A favourite franchise for younger children all around the world, this action-packed animation is a colourful and fast-paced film based on the hugely popular animated series of the same name. Adventure City is home to the PAW Patrol, a group of search and rescue dogs who make sure everyone in the city stays as safe as possible. When a magical meteor suddenly crash lands in the city, the PAW Patrol suddenly find themselves with superpowers and become The Mighty Pups! Skye, the smallest member of the team, is overjoyed at her newfound powers but she, along with the rest of The Mighty Pups, suddenly find themselves caught up in a battle with their arch-rival Humdinger and a mad scientist. These two villains are desperate to steal the dog's powers, meaning The Mighty Pups will have to band together to stop them and Skye must prove that even the smallest heroes can have the biggest impact.
Silver Dollar Road - in cinemas 13th October
From esteemed documentary filmmaker Raoul Peck, director of the acclaimed I Am Not Your Negro (available to stream for free on Into Film+ now), comes this timely, difficult but valuable film about Black oppresion in America from the perspective of land law and citizenship. It follows the decades-long plight of a Black family in North Carolina and their long, legal battle to maintain control over their coastal property. Digging into the complexities of history and the broken promises of Reconstrcution, 'Silver Dollar Road' is an enterprising perspective on hidden oppression and a great conversation starter for young people.
Trolls Band Together - in cinemas 20th October 2023
Also playing as part of the Into Film Festival - find out more through this link
Filled with recognisable songs and eye-popping animation, this third entry in the Trolls franchise tackles the importance of family, friends and a support system to help us through the tough times.
After a long time pining for each other, trolls Poppy and Branch are finally a couple and are enjoying spending more time together than ever before. One day, however, Poppy discovers that Branch has a secret past he used to be in her favourite boyband phenomenon, BroZone with his four brothers. Thrilled with this information, Poppy is soon saddened to find out that the band disbanded, and Branch has not spoken to his family since. However, when one of his brothers is kidnapped by a pair of nefarious popstar villains named Velvet and Veneer, our favourite trolls set out to save him, learning a lot about each other along the way.
To celebrate the release of Trolls Band Together, in cinemas October 20, Into Film and Universal Pictures have united to create a cross-curricular learning framework for use with pupils aged 7-12. Our free resource channels the film's infectious energy in a dynamic lesson sequence with links to physical education, maths, English/literacy and art & design. Register and download the Trolls Reunion Tour resource here.
Beyond Utopia - in cinemas 27th October
Documentaries like this one do not come along very often so when they hit cinema screens they have the opportunity to become cultural moments. Stirring and suspenseful, the film documents the lengths people will go to for freedom as they set off to flee the country of North Korea, one of the most oppressive places on earth. At the center of the film is a church pastor who dedicates his life to reunining Korean families despite the danger this puts him in. Featuring incredible footage from the daring escapes many families go through in the Chinese mountains, this is an eye-opening documentary that shines a light on human struggle and the importance of freedom.
20,000 Species of Bees - in cinemas 27th October
This tender Spanish-language drama is one of the latest European films to explore transgender stories in childhood, strongly recalling Tomboy (available to stream for free on Into Film+ now). Returning to the Basque Country one summer for a family christening, an eight-year-old child reflects on their own given name and identity. As the child grapples with people's assumptions about gender, they tentatively adopt the name Cocó. But their grandmother, a pious matriarch, continues to challenge their pronouns, and while their mother, a preoccupied artist, encourages self-expression, it is only up in the hills among Cocó's great-aunt's beehives that the child discovers who they are and find a name that fits. A rich film that raises powerful questions about family dynamics, self-knowledge and symbolism.
