After last year’s successful film season, 'Between an Elephant's toes & trunk', the Star and Shadow Cinema once again invites us to explore our perceptions of mental health.

For 7 evenings over two venues and featuring an impressive combination of ground breaking cinema Gloaming Elephants explores the radically different attitudes and definitions of mental health.

Popular media, cinema especially, has a long history of documenting mental health as something drastically set apart from our accepted concept of the ­­­­­norm. Most commonly in individuals portrayed as psychotic murderers and you do not have to be a movie geek to quickly summon up numerous examples: Norman Bates (Psycho), Travis Bickle (Taxi Driver) and Michael Myers (Halloween). But more recently, films like Rain Man, Forest Gump and A Beautiful Mind have presented us with an alternate, often sympathetic view. But what these films all have in common, whatever their approach, is their tendency to isolate the individual, the madman, the nutter, the mentally unstable and identify this single character, whether troubled genius or psychotic murderer, as something set apart from our concept of ‘normal’.

With a broad selection of movies and events Gloaming Elephants will explore our social or collective understanding of mental health and wellbeing, whilst questioning our understanding of ‘normal’.

Documenting the inmates, guards, social workers and psychiatrists at a State Prison for the criminally insane, in 1960’s USA Titicut Follies is a film that transcends the time and place of its manufacture.

Set in the periphery of Rio de Janeiro Estamira is the story of a charismatic woman that has been working for more than twenty years in a city landfill. Schizophrenic, but very charismatic, she is the leader of a small community of old people with a very lyrical and philosophical attitude towards life.

The Institution, a film by Ian Breakwell featuring musician Kevin Coyne, develops further the questioning of 'normal' viewing habits, of harrowing documentaries and social-conscious dramas which are served up on the nations small screens between the cornflakes and the motor car adverts.

Lars and the real girl respectfully portrays a shy young manintroduce a sex toy purchased from the internet, to the townspeople as his potential life partner. As they struggle to support the unusual romance, Lars sees his doll as the only kind of social "peer" he can relate to.

Illustrating a key period in the life of Charles Darwin, Creation is a powerful biographical drama that portrays Darwin’s struggle to find a balance between his revolutionary theories and his social surroundings of the time. Creation additionally affords us the opportunity to discuss the controversial theory which places Schizophrenia at the heart of human evolution.

Herzog’s compassionate and traumatic masterpiece The Enigma of Kasper Hauser depicts a young man who suddenly appears in a town, barely able to speak or walk and bearing a strange note.  Interestingly Herzog cast Bruno Schleinstein because his life had many similarities to the lead role, despite the fact that he had no training as an actor.

Set in the historical Asylum, Marat/Sade is almost entirely a "play within a play". Incorporating dramatic elements it is a bloody and unrelenting depiction of class struggle and human suffering which asks whether true revolution comes from changing society or changing oneself.

Each Screening will be accompanied by Q+A discussions and/or musical or spoken word performances - Full programme to follow.

The Season has been compiled by Launchpad and Newcastle and Gateshead Art Studio (NAGAS) in collaboration with the Star and Shadow Cinema and St. Dominic’s, Blackfriars and has been kindly supported by The Lilly Mathews Fund.

Launchpad is platform organisation run by and for mental health service users in and around Newcastle.

NAGASis an art studio that provides creative opportunities for those who are, or at risk of experiencing diagnosed mental health problems.

St Dominic’s is a Catholic parish church fast emerging as an arts venue in collaboration with numerous local organisations.

Tickets for each film cost £5 on the night, or £3.50 for concessions.

Season tickets offering all 6 films for the price of 4 will be available nearer the time. 

No one will be turned away from Star and Shadow Cinema for lack of funds. The Star and Shadow welcomes those seeking asylum for whom there is no entry charge and the Cinema is fully accessible for wheelchair users. 

 Full Listings:

Sunday 29th September                      - Titicut Follies                                                      Star and Shadow

Wednesday 2nd October                     - Estamira                                                              Star and Shadow

Wednesday 10th October                   - The Institution                                                   Star and Shadow

Tuesday 15th October                         - Lars and the real girl                                        St. Dominics

Wednesday 30th October                   - Creation                                                              Star and Shadow

Sunday 3rd November                         - The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser                         Star and Shadow

Wednesday 6th November                 - Marat Sade                                                       Star and Shadow