Thelma & Louise

This year I'm working at Glasgow Film Festival. One of the perks that comes with this job is attending and covering special events and screenings. Old favourites screened in new venues with themed events and plenty of surprises. So far I've seen Con Air in a warehouse with the skeleton of a plane and laser quest free to explore next door. I've watched Aidan Moffat and Paul Fegan present Where You're Meant To Be in the Barrowlands followed by a special performance from Moffat and co. And tonight I'm in Glasgow's Grand Ole Opry enjoying Duke Loopin' and his lasso, some line dancing and a screening of Thelma & Louise. 

Directed by Ridley Scott and starring a young Brad Pitt, it's quite surprising that I hadn't yet seen the classic before tonight. I'm a huge Ridley Scott fan and didn't even realise this was one of his. It boasts a cast as strong as it's feminist values and is, on paper, the ideal girls night film. Covering issues such as rape, female empowerment (or lack there of) and female friendship - I thought this film would be harder to swallow. But Scott and, writer, Callie Khouri worked together to create a film that had me laughing throughout.

Thelma and Louise are two best friends who set out on a two day break from their boring lives and Thelma's controlling husband. Whilst stopped for a drink, Thelma is threatened and nearly forced into sex by a man she'd been talking to all night. Louise steps in to save her friend but as the man continues to taunt she shoots him in the chest. The two, suddenly fugitives, head to Mexico to escape the law and their past. Eventually cornered by police the two decide to 'keep going' and drive off the cliff into the Grand Canyon. Quotes that come from this movie have been said in front of me a million times so it's nice to finally recognise the source. I was also impressed by the sheer power of the characters. Even when all hope seems to be lost, Thelma and Louise stand tall together. In particular, I enjoyed the scene in which the two finally get revenge on the sexist and sleazy truck driver that they encounter through the entire film.

The venue and atmosphere was a huge influence on my experience. The audience, mostly of women, hooped and hollered at each appearance of Brad Pitt, every sassy line and every hilarious incident. The Grand Ole Opry was the perfect setting and size for an intimate and friendly screening. The room was lined wall to wall with laughs and smiles during the pre-film entertainment. Duke Loopin', who I gather is a whip and lasso expert, wowed the crowd with an array of tricks before the audience was invited up to do some line dancing. GFT and GFF pulled out all the stops and truly made the night special for fans of the film and for people like me who were viewing Thelma & Louise for the very first time.

Every now and again, if you're given the opportunity to do so, go and see a screening of a classic. The big screen and live audience atmosphere cannot be beat.