### Clue: Film politician almost embracing artist close to breakdown (8)
### Answer: MEMBRANE 
 ### Explanation: Definition: Film
 "Member"(short for a Member of Parliament, a politician) **minus ****its last letter**(almost) **containing**(embracing) [RA(abbrev. for "Royal Academician", a member of the Royal Academy of Arts/an artist) + **last letter of**(close to) "breakdown "].
Defn: …/a thin pliable sheet of material as a lining or barrier.