Club of the Week: Film Club
By AMERSON LIANG, ALEX LIM, and SEAN RICARD
On Friday nights, members of Exeter’s Film Club trek up the stairs of EPAC to the third floor, before filing into the Forum. By 7:00 p.m., everyone is seated. As the opening credits roll, students feel the weight of the week behind them leave their shoulders and unwind from the toils of schoolwork. Film Club offers opportunities for students to leave behind the stressful reality of Exonian life and to find refuge in a world of movies. The club has fostered community through a love of cinema and has created a space for those interested in learning more about audiovisual storytelling.
Members and coheads of Film Club highlighted some of their favorite aspects of the club. Lower Bellen Anastas, cohead, reflected, “My favorite aspect is definitely being able to engage with movies I never would’ve come to on my own, but another aspect I appreciate is the community. Film Club tends to bring in people from all over since movies are such a universal way for everyone to connect. It’s been such a fun time meeting new people and engaging with them in a relaxed environment.”
Senior Mari Chapparo, another co-head of Film Club, described her personal experience with Film Club’s community, “Film club has definitely helped me connect with both the members and the co-heads. The group dynamic has also made it easier to connect with members, especially when we all react to a film in similar or completely different ways. It’s been a great way to find common ground and build friendships.”
Co-head and upper Peter Roper shared a similar description of his time at Film Club, “The club has been a good way for me to discover new movies to watch and to enjoy. I like sharing movies I already enjoy and also finding new movies I didn’t know about from my fellow coheads.”
Film Club members noted the uniqueness of the club and shared what makes it special. Upper Wilson Rhee, another cohead, noted, “Film Club is cool because you get to engage with the art form by consuming and analyzing it, rather than creating it. Since most art clubs on campus are focused on creating art, I think this type of interaction is what makes the club more fun than stressful.”
Anastas expanded on the sentiment: “Film club is special because it allows for a silent sort of connection that comes from consuming art together.”
“There’s something about film club that’s really unique,” agreed Chapparo, “It’s not just about watching movies, but about sharing that experience with others who are just as passionate about film. Everyone has a different perspective, so the discussions always feel fresh and engaging. It’s been amazing to see how our choices spark different conversations each time.”
While describing the benefits of coming to Film Club, the coheads were excited to answer the question: “Why should I come to Film Club?”
“It’s a nice way to cool down after a long week,” answered Roper, “Sitting down at the Forum, having some snacks, and watching a good, good movie with some friends is a great way to spend a Friday night.”
“It’s super casual and a good, relaxing way to end stressful weeks,” echoed Anastas. “I know I can get overwhelmed over the week, and watching movies tends to calm me down. The club allows me to appreciate an art form and community that I otherwise might not have had the chance to.”
Prep Phoenix Hunt, member of Film Club, highlighted another important draw of Film Club: “When you’re here at Exeter, there’s not really many theaters nearby, so this is a theater experience you can get here and for free.”
“Whether you’re a film expert or just someone who likes watching movies casually, there’s always something to take away from the experience,” Chapparo added. “It’s a chance to be part of a community that shares your passion and discover films you might not have come across on your own. The discussions afterward are always a highlight, and you get to see how movies can impact people in different ways.”
Faculty advisor and Instructor in Modern Languages, Dr. Humberto Delgato, expanded on the idea of cinema as a mode of community. “Cinema has been a collective experience. Watching a movie in a room with a lot of people who are laughing, screaming, or commenting is very different from watching a movie alone on your phone. It’s a very different approach.”
Finally, Rhee tied it all together, explaining, “Film is one of the best ways of expressing human emotion and condition. There are just so many good movies, and it’s really cool to have the opportunity to sit down and intentionally watch a movie on the big screen almost every week. It’s just a really cool art form.”
