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In this poignant and witty memoir, Canadian novelist Gilmour (A Perfect Night to Go to China) grapples with his decision to allow his teenage son, Jesse, to leave school in the 10th grade provided he promises to watch three movies a week with his father. Determined not to force a formal education on his son, former film critic and television host Gilmour begins the film club with Truffaut's The 400 Blows-with Basic Instinctfor "dessert." There are no lectures preceding the films, no quizzes on content or form: just a father and son watching movies together. Expertly tracing the trials and tribulations of teenage crushes and heartbreak, Gilmour explores not only his choice of films but also Jesse's struggles with his girlfriends and burgeoning music career. There are "units" on everything from undiscovered talent (Audrey Hepburn's Oscar-winning debut in Roman Holiday) to stillness, exemplified by Gary Cooper's ability in High Noonto steal a scene without moving a muscle. Gilmour expertly tackles the nostalgia not only of film but also that of parents, watching as their children grow and develop separate lives. With his unique blend of film history and personal memoir, Gilmour's latest offering will deservedly win him new American fans. (May)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business InformationWhen Canadian novelist and film critic Gilmour (A Perfect Night To Go to China) runs out of ways to help his son Jesse remain in high school, he offers him the option to drop out, as long as Jesse promises they will watch three movies each week together. Over three years, Gilmour focuses on educating his son but not in the traditional sense (there are no lesson plans). The films the two watch together play a minor role in this memoir-Gilmour shares his informative opinions on a variety of movies, which are indexed at the back of the book-as Gilmour imparts his own views on women, fine wine, and life issues. Accompanying his wisdom on life and love is a father's seasoned understanding and support for his teenager's crippling romantic distresses. As Gilmour finds himself semiemployed during this endeavor, his attention is solely focused on his troubled child-an opportunity few teens receive. In the end, Jesse decides to continue with schooling, going on to college. Gilmour's memoir would fit nicely into public libraries with strong memoir or film theory collections.
—L.P. Smith Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information
Anonymous
Posted June 15, 2008
Life with kids involves a lot of give and take, all in an effort to keep them on a path that will lead them to adulthood intact. What a wonderful gift Mr. Gilmore has given us by taking on his own journey with his son Jesse, through the travails of leaving school, girlfriend angst, rock and roll success and of course, three movies a week with Dad in return. It a touching treatise on parenthood in the real world where nothing is really planned and things happen because that's the way life is. Hard. Unpredictable. And through the movies, we find some lessons, some grounding and something valuable to share. Read this book. You won't be disappointed.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.If you're a film fan that I suggest you read this book. The book is about a father who allows his son to drop out of high school as long as he watches three movies a week. As a huge film I could appreciate what the father said about the films he chose to show his son Jesse. What I liked the most was that he chose films to base around what was going on in their lives at those moments. Yes it's a memoir about the three years they watched movies together, but it was also so much more. You get to see the beginning of a great father/son relationship and a young teenager turning into a man.
If you decide to read this movie I do have to forewarn you that there are moments in which the endings of the films they discuss are revealed. They put a listing of all the films they watched at the back of the book, so you can always check the back and see if there are films you absolutely don't want to know the endings too.
While he is a gifted writer and very knowledgeable film critic, the depictions of accepted teenage drinking and drug use were a bit odd. It's nice to watch revealing movies, perhaps "Leaving Las Vegas" or "28 Days" might be good as well...
Alcohol is a drug. 10-15 MILLION alcoholics can vouch for that. I'm not one, but have known a few...
The lengths that Mr. Gilmore went to in order to save his son was truly amazing. He knew his decision to allow his son to drop out of school would be unpopular, but ultimately it strenthened the bond between father and son, and taught the boy invaluable life lessons. Though they had a few hiccups along the road, this father showed how devoted he is to his only son. The best way to read this book is to watch movies from the filmography as you are going along. A truly remarkable book
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 8, 2009
Mr. Gilmour drew me in with his frank,easy way of writing. I enjoyed the love-hate relationship the father and son had with each other. You could see the delicate balance played out in one scene after another. The story had an interesting twist at the endthat had me shocked and delighted at the same time. It was a good read.
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Overview
"I loved David Gilmour's sleek, potent little memoir, The Film Club. It's so, so wise in the ways of fathers and sons, of movies and movie-goers, of love and loss."--- Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize winning author of Empire Falls
"If all sons had dads like David Gilmour, then Oedipus would be a forgotten legend and Father's Day would be a worldwide film festival."
--Sean Wilsey, author of Oh the Glory of It All
"David Gilmour is a very unlikely moral guidance counselor: he's ...