Sept. 4th. Great Expectations (David Lean)

Charles Dickens' classic tale of Pip, a poor orphan who befriends an escaped convict and who grows up in the company of a bitter old woman, Miss Havisham, and her haughty young ward, Estella. Pip learns the rewards of both vindictiveness and gratitude as a result of these events.

Sept. 11th. Lolita (Stanley Kubrick)

Middle-aged novelist Humbert Humbert rents a room in Charlotte Haze's house after he falls passionately in love with her daughter Lolita. There are three slight problems, though - one, Charlotte is madly in love with him (unrequited, needless to say); two, Lolita is only fourteen; three, there's a very peculiar figure by the name of Clare Quilty who keeps popping up in the most unexpected places (and sporting equally unexpected accents), who seems to have a similarly unhealthy interest in Lolita...

Sept. 18th. The Trial (Orson Welles) Welles' 1962 version of Kafka's novel of the same name came about through an offer from the Salkind brothers to make a film from a list of public domain properties. Welles told Peter Bogdanovich in This is Orson Welles that the only title on the list to interest him was the Kafka work. It is a difficult work to enjoy as entertainment, what with the generally unlikeable characters, bleak story and diversions into philosophical argument. Excellent performances abound in the film, in particular Anthony Perkin's squirmy, restless Joseph K, tormented from the opening scenes of the film. It's his work that I think makes the film hard to watch, sometimes, as we are forced to see this man put under the hammer, until his inevitable end. The surreal qualities of the film allow for some potent humor as well, though some may not see humor in such situations.

Sept. 25th. Sense and Sensibility (Ang Lee)

When Mr. Dashwood dies, he must leave the bulk of his estate to the son by his first marriage, which leaves his second wife and three daughters (Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret) in straitened circumstances. They are taken in by a kindly cousin, but their lack of fortune affects the marriageability of both practical Elinor and romantic Marianne. When Elinor forms an attachment for the wealthy Edward Ferrars, his family disapproves and separates them. And though Mrs. Jennings tries to match the worthy (and rich) Colonel Brandon to her, Marianne finds the dashing and fiery Willoughby more to her taste. Both relationships are sorely tried. But this is a romance, and through the hardships and heartbreak, true love and a happy ending will find their way for both the sister who is all sense and the one who is all sensibility.