Published at 11:27, Friday, 04 April 2008

Film fans rejoice – the much-missed Monday Alternative returns to Carlisle next week.

Poison pen: Paul Giamatti stars in American Splendor, which opens the new season

The new season starts on Monday in the Tullie House lecture theatre and includes the best of independent Brit flicks as well as offbeat American offerings.

The popular Monday Alternative night gave movie buffs the opportunity to see independent films as a change from the Hollywood blockbusters showing at the multiplexes.

It ended with the closure of the independently-run Lonsdale and City cinemas but now Tullie House is launching its own alternative season to fill the gap in the market. It had been hoped that the City Cinema, on Mary Street, would reopen in May last year for Carlisle’s Arts Festival but it was not possible to secure a lease in time.

The cinema closed at the beginning of March, less than 18 months after the closure of the Lonsdale Cinema leaving Carlisle without an independent cinema.

And to celebrate the museum’s new “Cult Fiction” exhibition, which opens on Saturday and explores the relationship between art and comics, three of the films – Sin City, American Splendour and Ghost World – are adaptations of cult comic artists’ creations.

January 21 – American Splendor (15). A mix of drama and documentary telling the true story of Harvey Pekar (Paul Giamatti) , a Cleveland hospital file clerk who was inspired to turn his mundane, odd lifestyle into a cult comic book after a chance meeting with artist Robert Crumb.

nFebruary 4 – This is England (18). Director Shane Meadows draws out engaging performances from his young cast, exploring relationships among a group of young English skinheads in the Eighties.

nFebruary 11 – Ghost World (15). Terry Zwigoff’s dark comedy, based on Daniel Clowes’ graphic novel about late adolescence.

nFebruary 18 – Jindabyne (15). Powerful Australian drama-thriller based on a Raymond Carver short story. Starring Gabriel Byrne and Laura Linney.

nFebruary 25 – Sin City (18). Neo-noir anthology film written, produced and directed by Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez and based on Miller's graphic novel series of the same name.

nMarch 3 – Black Gold (U). A special Fairtrade Fortnight screening. Highlights an investigation into the global coffee trade and its effects on farmers’ lives.

nMarch 10 – Hallam Foe (18). Billy Elliot’s Jamie Bell grows up and goes off the rails in this tale of sex and obsession.

nMarch 17 – The Family Friend (15). Follow up to Mafia thriller The Consequences of Love. A dive into humanity and its degeneracy.

n All films start at 7.45pm. Tickets £4/£3.50. Advance booking is advised. Visit www.tulliehouse.co.uk or call 01228 618700.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk