Nailsea individuals skillet Keira Knightley's unique picture Never Let Me Go: Keira Knightley’s new film Never Let Me Go played to mixed reviews at The Curzon, Clevedon.Despite loving the parts of filmed on location in and around North Somerset the storyline has left some locals bothered and bewildered.
It is mostly older people who have found the content unpalatable and walking out of screenings. Retired Nailsea policeman Barry Ashford described the film as ' vile, despicable' and Sir Charle Elton, of Clevedon Court, said 'it's a miss'. Curzon trustee Hilary Neal went to see the film on Thursday night.
She said: “I enjoyed it a lot but we know a few people have left early because it was perhaps not what they were expecting. “It's an intriguing story about a dystopian world that, because it seems so real and contemporary, is emotionally challenging. “Atmospheric and very well acted especially, I thought, by Carey Mulligan. “There was a very important, strong central passage in the film that was shot in Clevedon - and also Weston.
“We were spotting the Hill Road and Copse Road locations. It was a perfect setting. “The pier looked great - with a good sunset scene at one point. “The film has had good audiences but there has been mixed reactions.
“If we are generalising I'd say it has seemed to have been more appreciated by young people than by older patrons - who perhaps were not expecting the difficult plot twist that takes it beyond a love story.”But a straw poll among younger viewers who saw the film at The Curzon gave the film favourable reviews.
Student Carly Harris, aged 17, of Clevedon, said: “I really liked it, and so did my friends. "Also it was good to see the pier and beach." Rosie West, 23, also of Clevedon, works for an estate agent. She said: 'I really enjoyed the film, even though my parents had seen it and said it was bad. “It was sad in some places, but overall made me think about things differently. “And of course I liked seeing the pier.”Student Sarah Potter, 19, of Portishead, agreed. She said: 'I was dragged along to watch this film, but actually quite enjoyed it.
“I found bits of it weird, and not very nice, but mostly I would give it a thumbs-up. “Not sure if I would see it again though.”Only marketing assistant Fern Smith, 24, of Portishead, disagreed. She said: 'I didn't really like it.
“I found it uncomfortable to watch, and only went to see the pier.'Two Nailsea neighbours described it as ‘shocking’. Grandmother Elsa Bird, of Cherry Road, said: “It was horrible, very, very dark.”She went with retired school teacher Pam Cutler and although they didn’t walk out they found parts of the film disturbing.
Pam said: “The film is incredibly depressing and we hope the future won’t be as bad as it is depicted. “There was silence at the end of the showing we went to and a couple of people had walked out. “It was all about ‘thinking about it’…it divides society and is very sobering.”Nailsea couple Barry Ashford and his wife Mary Ashford didn’t stay to the end. Barry said: “It was vile, despicable.”
His wife Mary said: “We walked out after 30 minutes along with others in the theatre.”Barry added: “How it got a 12A rating I will never know.”Clevedon pier mistress Linda Strong said: “I haven’t seen it.”She missed the Curzon ‘premiere’ even though she was invited. Linda said: “On opening night I got as far as Old Church Road carrying lots of bunting when a press photographer was involved in an accident while trying to get an exclusive picture of the flag-waving crowd.
“He was badly bruised so I put on my nursing cap and ended up tending to his injuries, by the time the paramedics and come and gone it was too late to see the film. “I have been told some people have found the film distasteful but the good thing is every time the pier came on everyone gave a cheer.
“I know one or two people didn’t get the story which is open to different interpretations.”Another Clevedonian who hasn’t seen the film is Julia Elton, of Clevedon Court. The antique book dealer said: “There is absolutely no point in asking me who is as media indifferent as it is possible to be despite my brother Charles being in the business.
“All I can say is that it's thrilling to see pictures of Clevedon Pier plastered all over the London tube on posters advertising the film.”Sir Charles Elton is a London-based film and television producer and best-selling author.
He said: “I loved the pier sequence but I didn't much like the film. “Despite being futuristic, it seemed curiously old-fashioned and I didn't find the characters very appealing.
“All in all a miss.”Hilary added: “We sold about 3,500 tickets over the film's two week run. “This is pretty good, though not as popular as The King's Speech which sold over 10,000 in three weeks.”However, one person who did like the film is its star 25-year-old Miss Knightley. She said in a celebrity interview: “It's got the right vibe and I thought Carey Mulligan and Andrew Garfield were brilliant.
“Sad movies are often the fun ones to do. “It was magic because it's mind enriching. “You have to dive into it. It's really challenging and difficult but it brings huge rewards.”“I talked to people after a screening and a lot of them were quite shaken.”Funnily enough Never Let Me Go is based on a novel by Japanese-born author Kazuo Ishiguro who wrote another film with scenes shot in the early 1990s along the seafront at Clevedon and Weston, The Remains of the Day.
Despite being panned by the older generation in North Somerset and not making the Oscar awards the film has grossed more than five million dollars worldwide. The Curzon is one of the oldest cinemas in the world still operating. The community cinema first opened its doors in 1912 and is a registered charity. Oscar-winning best actress Natalie Portman stars in Black Swan which opened this week at Clevedon.
As well as its fortnightly Sunday evening film club, mainly independent or foreign language films outside of the Hollywood mainstream. Remains of the Day is showing at the debut North Somerset Senior Screenings programme for North Somerset residents aged 60 plus at 2pm on Wednesday, March 9. There is a special exbibition preview on Saturday, March 5, from noon-2pm, which was part funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, of the story of cinema.