December 2018
Just a short reminder that it’s Film Society on Saturday – our final film of 2018.
The film is The Best of Men. The Best of Men is a factually based 2012 television film. It describes the pioneering work of Dr Ludwig Guttmann with paraplegic patients at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, which led to the foundation of the Paralympic Games. It stars Eddie Marsan and Rob Brydon. The film won the Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival 34 Best Narrative Audience Award.
Ludwig Guttmann (Marsan) was a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany, sponsored to stay in the United Kingdom by CARA (Council for assisting Refugee Academics), while his patients were injured British servicemen, initially bewildered at finding themselves under the care of one of "the enemy".
Guttman hit on competitive exercise and sport as a way of both encouraging physical exercise and building self-esteem. In wheelchairs, the patients competed at hockey and basketball, and began to re-connect to the outside world. The patients visited a local pub and challenged the regulars to arm-wrestling.
Guttmann organised a national disability sport competition, the first Stoke Mandeville Games, in the hospital grounds. The film closes with captions describing how these developed into the Paralympics, and how Dr Guttmann was awarded a knighthood.
Screening starts at 6.45pm and doors will open shortly before.
After the film we will have our Christmas party time with free wine and soft drinks. We always have a great response to our request for donations of finger food – sweet or savoury – and we’re sure this year will be just as wonderful.
Looking forward to seeing everyone.
The Committee
December 2018
Just a short reminder that it’s Film Society on Saturday – our final film of 2018.
The film is The Best of Men. The Best of Men is a factually based 2012 television film. It describes the pioneering work of Dr Ludwig Guttmann with paraplegic patients at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, which led to the foundation of the Paralympic Games. It stars Eddie Marsan and Rob Brydon. The film won the Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival 34 Best Narrative Audience Award.
Ludwig Guttmann (Marsan) was a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany, sponsored to stay in the United Kingdom by CARA (Council for assisting Refugee Academics), while his patients were injured British servicemen, initially bewildered at finding themselves under the care of one of "the enemy".
Guttman hit on competitive exercise and sport as a way of both encouraging physical exercise and building self-esteem. In wheelchairs, the patients competed at hockey and basketball, and began to re-connect to the outside world. The patients visited a local pub and challenged the regulars to arm-wrestling.
Guttmann organised a national disability sport competition, the first Stoke Mandeville Games, in the hospital grounds. The film closes with captions describing how these developed into the Paralympics, and how Dr Guttmann was awarded a knighthood.
Screening starts at 6.45pm and doors will open shortly before.
After the film we will have our Christmas party time with free wine and soft drinks. We always have a great response to our request for donations of finger food – sweet or savoury – and we’re sure this year will be just as wonderful.
Looking forward to seeing everyone.
The Committee
