This film closes at the IFI on Friday, December 23rd.

Required viewing during the Christmas period, and a perennial IFI favourite, James Stewart is at his most likeable in It’s A Wonderful Life as George Bailey, loyal family man and friend whose selfless nature has resulted in his spending his whole life in hometown Bedford Falls, despite his ardent desire for travel and adventure. When despotic merchant Mr. Potter seizes an opportunity to ruin George, and thus consolidate his own control over the town, George finds himself preparing to jump from a bridge. However, a higher power intervenes and sends Angel (Second Class) Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers) to show George what life in Bedford Falls would have been like had he never been born. Despite its lack of commercial success when first released, this heart-warming story has grown in popularity over the decades, rediscovered and beloved by successive generations.

There will be Open Captioned screenings at 16.30 on Sunday 18th and 18.00 on Wednesday 21st.

Notes by Kevin Coyne.