Chapter Programs Ciné-Club chez Claude, AF de Santa Cruz (CA)
The Ciné-club of the AF de Santa Cruz meets at the home of Claude Scalvino once a month from September to June. Every other month, Claude shows a non-subtitled movie, thus allowing the most advanced members to be challenged. (The AF de Santa Cruz has purchased a multi-standard VCR so that Claude can show videos purchased in France. The AF has recently acquired a special DVD player which will allow them to show DVDs for both the American and the French markets.)
The evening is held entirely in French, with a little English slipped in on evenings where there are
many beginners present. A presentation may be made prior to the showing the film if it is a movie that requires some understanding of history, such as La Reine Margot. An introduction is also offered if some members of the AF Book Club have read the corresponding novel while other participants have not: for example, after the group had read George Sand La Somnambule the Ciné-Club showed Les Enfants du Siècle avec Juliette Binoche.
After every movie, with the help of one or two volunteers, Claude leads a discussion all in French, again with an occasional English translation if necessary. At the end of the evening, the group has tea and cookies and everybody regroups to either continue the conversation on the movie or just visit. There are usually between 8 and 15 people in attendance (mainly because Claude’s home cannot seat anymore than that!).
As Claude concludes: “This formula may or may not be of interest to other AFs. However, it works for Santa Cruz and all the participants have a fun relaxing evening where nobody feels threatened and where they all can practice as much or as little French as they wish.”
