In Honfleur, Normandy and France:

From September 6th to 15th it is the 50th American Film Festival in Deauville. Undoubtedly the event not to be missed in the film-making calendar, with over 100 projections among which independent film productions compete over an official competition. Tributes, documentaries, premières and projections are on the agenda during this prestigious event.

Elsewhere local to our twin town of Honfleur there are three long running events being concluded in September:

1) The Normandy Impressionist Festival which began on 22nd March finishes on 22nd September. Inspired by the unique light, beauty and mystery of Normandy, the Impressionist painters set up their easels throughout the region : by the Seine estuary, along the coast, in Rouen’s old town, and in the village of Giverny. The Normandy Impressionist Festival aims to showcase the Impressionist movement (which celebrates its150th Anniversary this year) and its close links with Normandy.

2) Beginning on 24th May the Rouen Cathedral Light Show switches off on 28th September. Every summer, the magnificent cathedral in Rouen comes to life at nightfall with a breathtaking light show projected upon its façade.

3) Across the Seine estuary the neighbouring port city of Le Havre has been host to ‘A Summer in Le Havre’ since 22nd June. This event which showcases its modern architecture, relaxed seaside vibes and a buzzing social scene draws to a close on 22nd September. Le Havre has made quite a name for itself as a creative and artistic hub since it celebrated its 500th anniversary back in 2017. The summer season of events features art installations and temporary exhibitions in its diverse programme.

Many thanks to Vice-Chair, Mark Moorhouse, for the piece above.

What’s happening in the Sandwich Honfleur Twinning Association?

Firstly, the SHTA Committee hope that you’ve had a lovely Summer and been able to enjoy the sunshine and warm temperatures. We wish you a hearty ‘Bienvenue’ to the new 2024-2025 Season which starts in earnest on a face-to-face basis on Wednesday 11th September when we’ll be screening ‘Anatomie d’une Chute’ (‘Anatomy of a Fall’) at the Empire Cinema in Sandwich.

The film is a 2023 French legal drama, directed by Justine Triet from a screenplay she co-wrote with Arthur Harari. It stars Sandra Hüller as a writer trying to prove her innocence in her husband’s death. Appearing in supporting roles are Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado-Graner, Antoine Reinartz, Samuel Theis, Anne Rotger, and Sophie Fillières (see the poster attached with this newsletter).

The film premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in May 2023, where it won the Palme d’Or. It was released to critical acclaim, and won six awards at the 49th César Awards, including Best Film. The film also received five nominations at the 96th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Triet), Best Actress (Hüller), and won Best Original Screenplay.

On Rotten Tomatoes, 96% of critics’ reviews are positive, and the website’s consensus reads: “A smart, solidly crafted procedural that’s anchored in family drama, ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ finds star Sandra Hüller and director/co-writer Justine Triet operating at peak power.”

We hope that the new film season kicks off with a bang and we’ll be aiming to bring you eight further top-quality screenings through to June 2025. For your information the full set of film dates, all on Wednesday evenings, is as follows:

September 11th	January 15th	April 16th
October 16th	February 19th	May 14th
November 13th	March 19th	June 18th

If you’d like to reserve your place for next Wednesday please send me an email on stuartpjones100@yahoo.co.uk. Admission to film nights remains at £7.50 per head and priority will be given to members who book in advance. You can pay in advance online to SHTA, account number: 42027168; sort code: 30-90-09. Alternatively, you can pay by cash or card on the night at the cinema.

Whilst you’re doing that, why not pay your SHTA Membership Subscription which has also remained at last year’s price of £12.50 per head. As before, please make every effort to pay this by the end of September and you’ll receive your Member’s Card, with all the dates for the year and contact details, around the same time.

As many of you know already, the Biennial Group Visit to Sandwich will take place from Thursday 31st October to Sunday 3rd November. The process of matching guests with hosts is now well underway, some of whom will be reciprocating directly for their stay last year in Honfleur, whilst others may be participating for the first time or hosting a new guest(s) from Normandy. The programme of events for the four days is also taking shape and we’re anticipating an exciting time for all concerned, coinciding, as it does, with Halloween and close to Bonfire Night.

A reminder for you that the SHTA Christmas Dinner & Party will again this year be at Tan Bueno Restaurant in Sandwich on Thursday 5th December. You might like to enter this in your diary to guarantee your place and avoid any clashes with other events at this time of the year.

That’s all of the early news at the start of the new season. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the Empire Cinema next Wednesday

Best wishes from Stuart, Mark and the Committee