#WeAreQFT: Sara Gunn-Smith

What five films would you take to a desert island?

The Princess Bride
Spinal Tap
The Farthest
Dublin Oldschool
Mistaken for Strangers

What three words would you use to describe QFT?

Welcoming. Adventurous. Home.

What is your earliest cinema-going memory?

I have two around the same time – my dad taking me to see An American Tail in QFT sometime in 1987 (I think) and me being utterly moved by the whole thing. I wailed when wee Fieval got separated from his family, and then wailed again when they were reunited! The other is going to see Who Framed Roger Rabbit in The Curzon, on the Ormeau Road. Two very different animations, but both stuck with me.

What was your favourite film of 2019?

I watch A LOT of films for my job and, this is probably going to be controversial, but for me it was Joker. I thought it was an absolute masterpiece. A truly cinematic experience. Devastating, beautiful, political and disturbing. Joaquin Phoenix truly deserves all the awards he gets. It’s an astonishing performance.

What film do you dislike that everyone else loves?

I can’t think of one particular title but I am not fond of many 80s films like Top Gun, Flashdance etc. Lots of people love them, but they are not for me.

What is your guilty pleasure film?

I don’t really believe in guilty pleasures – just like what you like! I watch everything from lots of kids films (with my kids), documentaries, small independent films and good old fashioned blockbusters. It’s all good!

What film would you be confident in recommending to a stranger?

There is a new German film coming out soon called System Crasher. It’s about a young girl in the care system and is extraordinary. It’s a tough premise to get on board with, but a really rewarding watch. You’ll need a lie down after it.

What is your favourite film soundtrack?

High Fidelity

Which fictional film character would you love to meet and why?

Judy Hopps, a small rabbit from Zootropolis. The film passes the Bechdel Test, and is a kids film which delves into class, identity and politics. She’s a badass feminist icon. 

What is the best thing about going to the cinema?

Having a couple of hours to devote solely to engaging with a story without distraction. A collective experience can sometimes make a screening more than just that. For example watching Nick Cave’s One More Time With Feeling documentary at QFT with lots of people brought it to a different emotional level than just watching it at home on the sofa. In the same way, watching Supersonic with loads of people who loved Oasis in the 90s was so much fun.

Do you have a special place in a cinema screen where you always sit?

Yes, middle of the left hand side always. Never the right. I have no idea why.

If you could time travel to any decade in film history which one would you choose and why?

I’d time travel back to the 90s and relive it. I started really getting into film in my teens so was first at the cinema to see films like Jurassic Park, Trainspotting, Pulp Fiction and Fight Club. It was also a great time for Irish film with The Commitments, In The Name of The Father, Veronica Guerin and Michael Collins etc. all being released.

Who is your favourite film villain?

Darth Vader, he’s just so quietly raging all the time.

If forced, what one thing would you change about your favourite film?

The only thing I would change are the recurring rumours of a remake.

Who would play you in a film of your life?

Elizabeth Moss or Jessie Buckley – the one who can do the best Belfast accent would get the part.