Page 51 - 102

Transcription

Page 51 - 102

DO ELEPHANTS PRAY?
SATURDAY 9 OCTOBER AT 6:30PM & SUNDAY 10 OCTOBER AT 2PM
As the film opens, a naked man charges through the forest,
grabbing our attention as he runs. One thing is certain from
the outset, Do Elephants Pray does not fit the typical Brit film
template. Callum, head and lynchpin of his own failing marketing
company, is pretty set in his ways, doing a half assed job whilst
enjoying his favourite poisons: cigarettes, alcohol and only the
very finest coffee. Callum is a man looking for a meaning to it all,
attending tai chi classes, scouring spiritual websites and in darker
moments, suicide forums.
Whilst struggling to come up with a successful angle to sell a
girls alcoholic drink to men in an already saturated market, Callum
encounters Malika, a free spirited French girl who pulls him out
of his lifeless existence and drags him across to France into
the heart of a military zone in search of a legendary lake said to
transform people. As they journey deeper into the forest, Malika’s
spiritual carefree nature begins to rejuvenate Callum.
Do Elephants Pray is a profoundly affecting film that makes us
question our sense of value and the way we live our lives. With a
twist ending that sets the whole film in a new light, it’s certain to
have audiences talking. As for whether Elephants pray, well, that
is a question to think about, not to answer. CB
Country UK Running Time 105 mins Format DCP Director Paul Hills
Producers Paul Hills, Jonnie Hurn Screenplay Jonnie Hurn DoP Roger Bonnici
Cast Jonnie Hurn, Julie Dray, Marc Warren Print Source Amaranth Film Partners
Email [email protected] W www.doelephantspray.com
52
18TH RAINDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
HALKKE 9
UK 3 mins Format Super-8mm
Director/Producer/Screenplay/
DoP/Cast/Print Source Richard Jung
A parody of a 1950s kitchen appliance
commercial. Observe for youself how this
extraordinary, atomic-powered machine
makes old fashioned kitchen drudgery
a thing of the past.
FIVE DAUGHTERS
WEDNESDAY 6 OCTOBER AT 7PM
Five Daughters is a touching and compelling tale based on the
true, tragic story of the five girls murdered in Ipswich. The film
dramatises the last few days in the lives of Gemma Adams,
Anneli Alderton (Jaime Winstone), Annette Nicholls and Paula
Clennel (Natalie Press), murdered in December 2006 at the
hands of a serial killer, dubbed the ‘Ipswich Ripper’. When 19-yearold Tania Nicol is found dead, the police start investigating, only
to find that other murders being carried out in the same area may
be linked.
The film portrays the harsh reality of the victims’ lives in the
grim, dark streets of Ipswich’s Red Light District, where the
cold winter contrasts with the tacky cheerfulness of Christmas
decorations. All of the girls were drug users, addicted to heroin,
and worked the streets to fund their habit. Torn between their will
to live and the pull of their addiction, which made them resort to
prostitution again and again, we see them going towards their
deaths in a chilling fashion.
The performances bring to life a tragedy that shocked the
nation. Part thriller and part police reconstruction, testimonies
from direct witnesses, friends and relatives have helped to render
the story as accurate as possible. MP
Country UK Running Time 126 mins Format HDCam Director Philippa Lowthorpe
Producer Simon Lewis Screenplay Stephen Butchard DoP Chris Seager BSC
Cast Ian Hart, Sarah Lanchashire, Jaime Winstone Print Source Phil Brown
Email [email protected]
53
FREIGHT
TUESDAY 5 OCTOBER AT 9:30PM
Cristi and his gang smuggle Eastern Europeans into England for
use as slaves. Travelling across Europe on dangerous and illicit
journeys in freight containers, whole families are brought over to
the Leeds base. The women are sexually exploited and the men
are thrown into cage fights to earn back their wives and children.
But when they kidnap the daughter of local businessman Gabe
Taylor the gang have a war on their hands.
Described as a ‘British Taken’ this fast-paced action thriller
forces its audience through the squalid underworld of sex, drugs
and murder. Despite this ‘commercial’ wrapping, Freight never
shies away from the issues central to the film’s drama: human
trafficking, modern slavery, the politics of immigration and
national pride. Gabe fights for his daughter, for his honour and
for England and although the film follows his journey, it takes the
time to explore other points of view. These illegal immigrants have
come to England seeking a better quality of life for themselves
and their children and perhaps that was worth the risks they ran.
Billy Murray gives an uncompromising performance as Gabe
and Danny Midwinter’s Cristi is genuinely chilling. Director Stuart
St Paul offers a roller-coaster ride unlike anything else you’ll see
from Britain this year. LC
Country UK Running Time 90 mins Format DCP Director/Screenplay Stuart St
Paul Producers Stuart St Paul, Martin Campbell, Luke Aikman, Andy Thompson, Billy
Murray DoP Carl Summerscales Cast Billy Murray, Craig Fairbrass, Danny Midwinter
Print Source Icon
54
HUGE
SATURDAY 2 OCTOBER AT 6:45PM
After successfully – and unintentionally – getting a few laughs
out of a crowd at a small venue, aspiring comedian Warren
(Johnny Harris) and local funny-man Clarke (Noel Clarke) decide
to form a double-act in the vein of Morecambe and Wise.
Huge is a drama about comedy and the sharply scripted
picture shines brightest when exploring the delusions and
the inner angst of protagonists Warren and Clarke. That said,
it’s a very funny film with plenty of laughs to be found in both
the hilarious cameos from various comedy luminaries and the
awkward discomforts of the two main characters.
Warren, in particular, is a fascinating man whose many
contradictions go some way to making sense of his
unpredictable, sometimes unexplainable actions. Johnny Harris is
excellent at conveying the extent of Warren’s self-deception and
has a brilliant rapport with Noel Clarke who turns in a fascinating
performance. Writer/director Ben Miller’s greatest success,
however, is the film’s interesting aesthetic; the vividness of the
colours subverts the bleakness of the story. Set and costume
designs provide further context and support to the character’s
contrasting expectations and failures. ZB
THE ACTRESS WHO FELL IN LOVE
WITH HERSELF
UK 4 mins Format Super-8mm
Director/Producer/Screenplay/DoP
Martin Gooch DoP Martin Gooch, Anna
Carrington Cast Elena Byers Jo Byers
Print Source Martin Gooch Email
This is a film about an actress who fell in
love with herself.
Country UK Running Time 80 mins Format 35mm Director Ben Miller
Producer Rebecca Farhall, Colin Jones Screenplay Ben Miller, Simon Godley
DoP Trevor Forrest Cast Noel Clarke, Johnny Harris, Thandie Newton
Print Source Rebecca Farhall, Colin Jones Email [email protected]
55
JACKBOOTS ON WHITEHALL
WEDNESDAY 29 SEPTEMBER AT 7PM
In what is one of the most refreshingly original and defiantly
independent British films of the year, the brothers McHenry give
us their own updated and fully puppeted version of the Second
World War. Here Hitler invades London after a failed Battle of
Dunkirk. The Nazis plan to tunnel beneath the English Channel
and German tanks are set to arrive in Trafalgar Square. Swastikaembroidered flags hang from Buckingham Palace and Hitler
swans about in drag as Queen Elizabeth I, plotting with Himmler.
In Kent, country boy Chris curses the day the Army rejected
him on account of his super-sized hands. Undeterred, he sets
out to rally the locals, much to the delight of Daisy, her father the
local vicar and an American airman who thinks he’s fighting the
Russians. Joined on the way by a walking Australian armoury
named Braveheart, this unlikely band of characters head off
to London to rescue Winston Churchill.
The film features the voices of some of the biggest and
brightest UK acting talent including Ewan McGregor as Chris,
Rosamund Pike as Daisy and Alan Cumming as Hitler with
Richard E Grant as Daisy’s vicar father. Jackboots on Whitehall
is a stunning debut from the brothers McHenry. SB
Country UK Running Time 93 mins Directors/Screenplay Edward & Rory
McHenry Producer Karl Richards DoP Michael Connor Cast Ewan McGregor,
Rosamund Pike, Stephen Merchant Print Source Vertigo Films
56
LEGACY
FRIDAY 1 OCTOBER AT 7:30PM & SATURDAY 2 OCTOBER AT MIDDAY
After a botched operation in Eastern Europe Malcolm Gray, an
operative in a black-ops unit known as Darkhammer, finds himself
at the mercy of sinister gun runner Solenko. His own brother
and the man who founded the unit, Senator Darnell Gray Jr, has
seemingly sold them down the river. As this thriller continues
the truth of the events unfolding before our eyes becomes
increasingly vague, along with the mental state of Malcolm.
We’re reintroduced to Gray holed up in a run-down Brooklyn
tenement, his tortured body riddled with scars like the canvas of
an abstract expressionist, and his mind tripping with the thought
of revenge. The film is largely set within these four suffocating
walls as our unreliable protagonist attempts to sell his story to a
journalist in order to reveal the rotten foundations of his brother’s
political career to the world and to save Valentina, the woman he
loved who he now discovers to be Darnell’s wife.
Malcolm is played with incredible conviction by Idris Elba, while
writer/director Thomas Ikimi skilfully orchestrates his mental
decay; feeding the audience hints and flashbacks at just the right
pace. In what is only his second feature Ikimi has crafted both
an unbearably tense and superbly shot thriller as well as a highly
complex mind-game. DB
Country UK Running Time 95 mins Format HDCam Director/Screenplay
Thomas Ikimi Producers Thomas Ikimi, Arabella Page-Croft, Kieran Parker
DoP Jonathan Harvey Cast Idris Elba, Eamonn Walker, Clarke Peters
Print Source Thomas Ikimi Email [email protected]
57
LUMMOX
Peter Boyd MacLean likes to make films about ‘people that make
a difference’. His film focuses on digital artist Milree Hughes’
life and work in New York City. The film follows the strong willed
artist as he expresses himself through both art and music. It
also includes the ups and downs and miscommunications in
the relationship between artist and director.
Filmed with a handheld camera for the most part, Lummox
contains some playful editing and shots that experiment with
light, grain and colour. Boyd gets involved not only with the work
of the artist but also Milree’s day-to-day life; observing him talk
about his art and following him down the streets of New York.
Putting Hughes’ work and personality on film, the director reflects
his own experience and his thoughts on working so closely with
an artist, capturing their most personal moments.
This turns out to be fascinating but also difficult, because while
Boyd is working to create his own form of art, Hughes is trying
to defend and protect his own career. The film is a fascinating
insight into an artist’s life and at the same time, an account on
what it means to have the courage to leave your own mark. Peter
Boyd’s says Hughes is ‘his own figure in his own landscape;’
capturing that landscape and figure is a work of art in itself. MP
Country UK Running Time 41 mins Format DigiBeta Director/Producer/DoP
Peter Boyd Maclean Cast Millree Hughes, Peter Boyd Maclean, Mark Kostabi Print
Source Peter Boyd Maclean Email [email protected]
58
OLLIE KEPLER’S EXPANDING PURPLE WORLD
THURSDAY 30 SEPTEMBER AT 8:30PM & FRIDAY 1 OCTOBER AT 2:30PM
Ollie is a regular guy with a passion for astronomy, a sound
best mate, and a beautiful girlfriend. His astrological interests in
particular seem to dominate his life; his own reality channeled
through theories of quantum physics and unanswered questions
regarding the universe. When his girlfriend dies unexpectedly and
his best mate is offered a job in Sheffield, Ollie’s world is thrust
into uncertainty. Returning to the scene of her death Ollie battles
with the guilt of an unfulfilled promise and starts down a spiral of
self-destruction. Struggling to cope with reality his mind becomes
even more fixated on the voices in his head.
Viv Fongenie’s second feature is a fascinating exploration of
the human mind unraveling. Fongenie has a background as a
mental health consultant and it’s clear from the outset that what
we are seeing on screen is a thoroughly researched portrayal.
Complementing the intriguing storyline are the brilliant
performances Fongenie receives from his actors. Edward Hogg
excels as Ollie, following on from impressive turns in both Bunny
and the Bull and White Lightnin’, and Jodie Whittaker makes
the most of her screen time as girlfriend Noreen. Ollie Kepler’s
Expanding Purple World is an utterly convincing and tragic
portrayal of a mind retreating from an uncomfortable reality. JM
Country UK Running Time 90 mins Format HDCam Director/Producer/
Screenplay Viv Fongenie DoP Matthias Nyberg Cast Edward Hogg, Jodie Whittaker,
Andrew Knott P/S Viv Fongenie E [email protected] W www.olliekepler.com
59
REBELS WITHOUT A CLUE
FRIDAY 8 OCTOBER AT 7:30PM & SATURDAY 9 OCTOBER AT 11AM
Teens Damian and Mark long to escape their humdrum existence,
closeted in a village in the Saddleworth Moors of Northern
England. Their only distraction is taking potshots with Damian’s
air rifle at passing cars, sheep and anything that moves.
Their chance for escape comes when one of their shots
interrupts a drug deal, causing a vicious criminal known only as
The Killer to gun down his associate before fleeing the scene.
Damian and Mark swoop in to claim their prizes of a gun, a
briefcase of cocaine, a bag full of money and a 1966 Fleetwood
Cadillac. The boys, concerned about being implicated in the
murder, stuff the body into the back of the car and set off in
search of a shovel. Of equal concern, however, is just how their
newly acquired Cadillac can help them lose their virginity as soon
as possible. To that end they drag Damien’s girlfriend Kylie and
her friend Beth on a whirlwind ride, relentlessly pursued by a killer
leaving an ever-widening trail of bodies in his wake.
Rebels Without a Clue takes an age old tale of the kind
made famous by the Coen brothers’ Fargo and Danny Boyle’s
Shallow Grave and ties it effortlessly to a coming of age story
of boundless humour and insight. CB
Country UK Running Time 80 mins Format Red Director/Screenplay Ian Vernon
Producers Ian Vernon, Julie Monfils DoP Ian Rennov Cast Stefan Gumbs, Rik
Barnett, Lucy Brennan Print Source Ian Vernon Email [email protected]
W www.rebelswithoutaclue.co.uk
60
ALL I EVER WANTED
THURSDAY 30 SEPTEMBER AT 7:15PM & FRIDAY 1 OCTOBER AT 2:30PM
In December 2009 the Airborne Toxic Event played a special
homecoming show at LA’s Walt Disney Concert Hall. Part
documentary and part concert film, this chronicles the journey
leading up to this sensational one-off show, and how it became
not only a truly extraordinary gig, but also a celebration of LA’s
musical culture. Known for their epic performances, the band
are augmented here by a number of guests including the Calder
Quartet, a children’s choir and a high school marching band.
Their success has been predominantly organic, with news
spreading about them thanks to word of mouth. A rock band with
classical connotations, they garnered international recognition
with their breakout hit Sometime Around Midnight, which made
Radio 1 and the UK Top 40 without record label backing. There’s
a sense of urgency to their songs. Their lyrics tell of heartbreak,
loss and the dark places we’ve all found ourselves, but there’s an
undeniable sense of euphoria in their music, and their live shows
are nothing short of joyous.
These musicians are more than just a band; they are a lifeaffirming experience, and are beautifully captured at their
pinnacle. If you know them, chances are you already love them.
If you don’t, this is your chance to see what the fuss is about. CP
Country USA Running Time 102 mins Director/DoP Jon Danovic Producers Brian
Girard, Pete Galli Print Source Pete Galli Featuring The Airborne Toxic Event Email
[email protected]
62
AMERICAN GRINDHOUSE
SUNDAY 3 OCTOBER AT 3:30PM
From a striptease created by Edison on an early camera to Ilsa:
She Wolf of the SS, sensational cinema has always had a place
in the film industry. Grindhouse cinemas show exploitation films:
movies featuring extreme sexual themes, drug-use, or violence,
which advertisers could exploit to bring people into movie
theatres. The history of sensational cinema is partly the story of
independent cinema, and partly that of unabashed capitalism.
Many genres of exploitation film started out as adult-only
cinema, telling morality tales as a cover for the exploration of
taboo subject matter. Sex, violence and race were highlighted
in exploitation films before they became mainstream topics of
discussion. Grindhouse cinemas survived on a young audience
who wanted boundaries pushed and weren’t too concerned about
critical opinions.
Tracking the rise of the exploitation film from pre to post
censorship laws, American Grindhouse explores the development
of the many sub-genres of exploitation films and looks at the
classics like Last House on the Left, Shaft and Teenage Hellcats.
Told through archive film footage and interviews with exploitation
filmmakers, American Grindhouse takes audiences on a tour of
the most outrageous and taboo films of the past century. BE
Country USA Running Time 82 mins Format DigiBeta Director/Producer Elijah
Drenner DoP Dan Greene Featuring Joe Dante, Robert Forster, David Hess Print
Source Sky Arts Email [email protected]
63
BEDWAYS
THURSDAY 7 OCTOBER AT 10:45PM
Nina, a film director, and her two actors move into a large old
apartment in a run-down area of Berlin. About to start shooting a
movie on the physical side of love, she begins in-depth rehearsals
with her actors, hoping to explore and develop the story she
wants to tell.
Set against the cold winter outside, the real-sex test rehearsals
in front of the warm studio lights become hypnotic meditations
in themselves. Sparsely shot, the physical drama and tension
between actors resonates through the corridors of their
dilapidated apartment.
As Nina continues searching for the essence of her film, the
acted and the genuine relationships begin to merge. Between the
actors, Hans and Marie, there is a chemistry which starts in front
of the camera and slowly permeates through to their real lives as
they watch back rushes on a projector. Bedways is an exploration
into the psychological effects on relationships when two people
are made to act out real sex. It gives a cool, restrained portrayal
of bohemian life in Berlin. A low budget erotic meditation, this film
is set apart by its unique attitude and quirkiness. JK
Country Germany Running Time 76 mins Director/Screenplay RP Kahl
Producers RP Kahl, Torsten Neumann, Christoph Thoke DoP Fabien Knecht
Cast Miriam Mayet, Matthias Faust, Lana Cooper Print Source Jinga Films
64
DIRTY DIARIES
SATURDAY 9 OCTOBER AT 10.15PM
Dirty Diaries is a collection of thirteen short pornographic films,
produced by Mia Engberg and shot by a number of feminist
directors. Each one tells a story or presents the act of sex
through different modalities and different points of view. These
films explore diverse ideas about the role of feminist sexual acts.
All of them are intended to contrast the assumption that
pornography is made by men, for men, and therefore has to
satisfy male viewers. Dirty Diaries is an assertion that women in
pornography need not be exploited and are just as capable as
men of expressing their own sexuality and their own pleasure.
Sold out screenings in Stockholm have proved the success of
this project although unsurprisingly, Dirty Diaries has attracted
controversy: both because of its often extreme sexual content
and because it was financed with public funds. Beyond the shock
factor however, is a collection of films which take a serious look
at the role of women in pornography and attempt to redress the
balance. Dirty Diaries is thematically overseen by Engberg, but
each film is an individual’s celebration of sex and an individual
idea about feminine sexuality. This rich diversity proves that
reclaiming feminine sexuality on film is as much about celebrating
individuality as it is about celebrating femininity. MP
Country Sweden Running Time 105 mins Format DigiBeta Directors Joanna Rytel,
Sara Kaaman, Ester Martin Bergsmark, Marit Östberg, Tora Mårtens, Elin Magnusson,
Åsa Sandzén, Pella Kågerman, Wolfe Madam, Ingrid Ryberg, Jennifer Rainsford Print
Source Nicolas Debot Email [email protected]
65
HORI SMOKU SAILOR JERRY: THE LIFE & TIMES OF NORMAN…
SATURDAY 9 OCTOBER AT 5PM
Sailor Jerry was the moniker of Norman Collins, considered by
many to be the father of modern American tattooing. Hori Smoku
Sailor Jerry looks at Collins’ contribution to the history and
development of tattooing and the unique style he created from
the amalgamation of American and Japanese art and culture.
Collins was also a key developer of tattooing milestones such
as sterilization techniques and the development of new colours.
In Collins’ time tattooing was associated with the criminal
underworld and the armed forces, and ink was a serious and
permanent statement of someone’s counter-culture intentions.
Refusing to give interviews, Sailor Jerry was suspicious of the
media, and so his story is constructed through vintage footage,
photographs and interviews with other tattooists, including Don
Ed Hardy, Zeke Owen and Eddie Funk. Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry
is a glimpse into the life of a patriotic, right-wing prankster, who
kept a picture of his enemy inside the lid of his toilet seat and
changed the world of tattooing forever. LC
Country USA Running Time 73 mins Format DCP Director/Producer Erich
Weiss Featuring Don Ed Hardy, Michael Malone, Zeke Owen Print Source House
Productions Email [email protected] W www.sailorjerry.com
66
L.A. ZOMBIE
FRIDAY 1 OCTOBER AT 9:45PM
Banned in Australia before it could screen at MIFF earlier this
year, cult filmmaker Bruce LaBruce’s L.A. Zombie is possibly
the most talked about indie film of 2010. Dubbed ‘gay zombie
porn’ by censors, L.A. Zombie features French porn star François
Sagat as the alien zombie who emerges from the sea in the
search of dead bodies to fuck back to life. First he hitchhikes
a lift from an unsuspecting driver who is soon left dying from
a car-crash. Sagat stumbles out of the wreck to penetrate the
gored carcass to get the exposed heart beating again. During
his stay the zombie observes a number of events leading to the
reincarnations.
Balancing stunning visuals and a superb soundtrack, this
experimental new sub-genre feature goes much deeper than
first appearances suggest – quite literally. Exploring a number
of issues including drug addiction, organised crime, and poverty
L.A. Zombie draws parallels between all the disenfranchised
communities of Los Angeles and highlights the redemptive power
of love. There’s no point pretending this ‘penetrative drama’ isn’t
going to make you squeamish at times, but it is full of symbolism
and allusion, and is undoubtedly going to be recognised as an
underground milestone in cinematic history. XR
Country Germany/France/USA Running Time 62 mins Format Beta SP Director/
Screenplay Bruce LaBruce Producers Jurgen Bruning, Robert Felt, Arno Rok DoP
James Carmen Cast François Sagat P/S Juergen Anger E [email protected]
67
LOOK AT WHAT THE LIGHT DID NOW
SUNDAY 3 OCTOBER AT 2PM
Canada has one of the most exciting indie rock scenes in the
world, shared by what seems to be an entire generation of
musical and visual artistic collaborators. In Look at What the
Light Did Now we get a colourful insight into this burgeoning
bohemian movement, following Leslie Feist, member of Broken
Social Scene, in her solo outing known simply as Feist. We are
invited into the band’s fascinating and intimate recording sessions
and follow the creative process right through to their sold-out
arena concerts.
While recording, Leslie and the band base themselves in a
large old mansion, making use of their entire environment to
saturate their album with context, narrative and sonic depth.
Meanwhile the myriad of collaborating visual artists set to work,
turning Feist’s sound into poetic, live light performances, music
videos and album covers. This is one of those special music
documentaries that has nothing to do with band politics or life
stories, instead it focuses purely on the creativity and passion that
goes into giving the audience a memorable experience. Watching
Feist, the band and collaborators, you can’t help but feel you are
witnessing something magical. JK
Country Canada Running Time 77 mins Format HDCam Director/DoP Anthony
Seck Producer Jannie McInnes Featuring Leslie Feist, Chilly Gonzales, Patrick
Daughters Print Source Jannie McInnes Email [email protected]
68
SOUNDS LIKE A REVOLUTION
WEDNESDAY 6 OCTOBER AT 7:15PM
Today, due to the corporate monopoly over what gets airplay
and exposure, it is harder than ever for independent, politically
motivated musicians to reach large audiences. Sounds like a
Revolution documents this imbalance in the music industry, telling
the story of these underground artists who are fighting against
the odds to get their message across. This is a documentary
about the new generation of politically motivated musicians
who use their music to communicate dissident social ideas and
encourage political action.
This movement is described from the perspective of four artists
including Fat Mike from NOFX and folk/reggae singer Michael
Franti. We see the worrying cultural shift since the 1960s when
politically subversive artists such as Dylan and Neil Young were
backed by major labels and had a strong voice in the mainstream,
to today’s highly censored music culture where artistic integrity
and creativity is stifled by corporate interests.
Focusing mainly on these four artists, we get a strong sense of
the passion and conviction which has crossed generations and it
would be hard to watch Sounds like a Revolution without feeling
stirred and genuinely inspired by these people’s determination to
have their voices heard and make a difference. SE
Country Canada Running Time 76 mins Director/DoP Summer Love Producers
Summer Love, Jane Michener Featuring Michael Franti, Dixie Chicks, David Crosby
Print Source Summer Preney Email [email protected]
W www.soundslikearevolution.com
69
SUPERSTONIC SOUND: THE REBEL DREAD
Don Letts is perhaps best known for introducing reggae to punks
in the 1970s He was DJ at the first punk club – The Roxy – where
between sets he would play hard core dub-reggae.
Told in Letts’ unique voice, he describes his background as
a young boy growing up in Brixton at the same time as ‘Keep
Britain White’ was scrawled across the walls of London
The film also focuses on Letts’ 24-year-old son Jet who is
trying to make it as a DJ and producer of Dubstep, the next
generation of dub, reggae and hip-hop.
Filmmakers Raphael Erichsen, a former indie label and record
store owner and Edward Dallal examine the influence of the
Letts family – Don Letts’ father was among the first Jamaican
immigrants to the country and he brought his sound system with
him, introducing London to Jamaican dub.
Letts also adapted the DIY ethic to go on and make a series of
films, his first, The Punk Rock Movie, shot entirely on super-8mm.
He has directed over 300 music videos for a diverse range of
artists, inlucding The Clash, Bob Marley and Elvis Costello. SB
Country UK/Brazil RT 48 mins Director Raphael Erichsen Producer Ed Dallal
DoP Marc Webb Featuring Don Letts, Jet Letts Print Source Ed Dallal
70
SWANSEA LOVE STORY
There has been a 180% rise in heroin use registered in Swansea
over the past four years. Recorded over six months the film sheds
some light on this shocking statistic, telling the stories of various
young Swansea natives who have fallen foul to what’s been
described as ‘one of South Wales’s most ever-present epidemics’.
It is an uncompromising look at the city’s drug problem with
peaceful images of the seaside and hymns sung by a local male
voice choir contrasted starkly with explicit footage of drug use.
A broad perspective is given. The film touches on the roots of
the drug problem with the mass unemployment that inevitably
followed the closing of the mines and also branches out into the
issue of racial tension within the city. But the main focus is on
Cornelius and Amy, a young homeless couple who have both
been addicted to heroin since they were children.
This is a sensitive and touching film but overall a bleak picture
is painted of Swansea and there are no easy answers to be
offered. Possibly the most poignant thing about the film is the
feeling that these people had very little choice about the lives
they’ve ended up leading. As Cornelius says, ‘People like us grow
up with parents who are selling drugs and doing drugs, you learn
where you live’. SE
PRODUCT
Australia 1 min Format 16mm Director/
Producer/Screenplay/DoP Johan
Mard Cast Ben Andrews, Pia Olmeadhra
Print Source Johan Mard
Two outer-city youths talk about love and
skin care.
Country UK Running Time 60 mins Format DV Directors/Producers/DoP Andy
Capper, Leo Leigh Print Source VBS
71
SYMBOL [SHINBORU]
SATURDAY 2 OCTOBER AT 9PM & MONDAY 4 OCTOBER AT 2:45PM
A man in polka dot pyjamas, played by director/comedian Hitoshi
Matsumoto, wakes up in a large empty doorless white room. He
doesn’t know how he got there, or how to get out. But a short
inspection of the room leads him towards a small white protruding
object, which he touches. Immediately heavenly sounds fill the
room and thousands of angelic babies fly out of the wall laughing
at him, before remerging back into the white paintwork. They
leave no sign of existence other than the remnants of their tiny
willies and scrotums protruding out of the wall.
As the protagonist stares bedazzled, some impulse helps him
figure out that every time he ‘flicks the bean(s)’ – so to speak
– an object flies at him from enigmatic holes that appear in the
walls and ceiling before shutting closed. All he needs to do is
figure out what combination of ‘willy flicks’ will lead him to his
triumphant exit. Meanwhile, in a seemingly unrelated storyline,
a Mexican boxer is about to leave his family to join a match.
Somehow both men’s fates are intertwined.
To say this film is difficult to understand is a grand
understatement; you’re sure to be as confused as the film’s lead
well after leaving the cinema, nonetheless, Hitoshi Matsumoto’s
Symbol is a cinematic masterpiece. XR
Country Japan Running Time 93 mins Format 35mm Director Hitoshi Matsumoto
Producer Akihiko Okamato Screenplay Hitoshi Matsumoto, Mitsuyoshi Takasu
DoP Yasuyuki Tohyama Cast Hitoshi Matsumoto, David Quintero, Luis Accinelli
Print Source U-Media Email [email protected]
72
TOO MUCH PUSSY: FEMINIST SLUTS IN THE QUEER X SHOW
This original and explicit documentary follows a group of female
performers on tour around Europe with their Queer X Show. The
girls – Judy Minx, Mad Kate, Madison Young, Sadie Lune, Wendy
Delorme and Dj Metzgerei – are followed by the all-seeing
camera of director Emilie Jouvet. They describe themselves
variously as ‘sex workers’, porn actresses, and people who ‘work
with their body.’ Their performances – a kind of modern Moulin
Rouge-like open and itinerant show - are all about sexuality,
freedom of expression, experimentation and art.
Their travels take them from the capitals to the smaller towns
of Europe where, to the bemusement of the locals, they put on
impromptu street stripteases. Arguing that modern society is
still sexually repressed and inhibited, particularly towards gay
and lesbian sex, the girls include sex education in their act.
They promote themselves as supporters of self-awareness and
self-confidence; their act is a tool to help demystify sex and
deconstruct taboos and prohibitions.
We follow the girls as they put on their high impact, explicit
performances and their life on the road. This fly-on-the-wall
doc embraces sexual diversity, and deconstructs the social
conventions that prohibit sexual individuality. MP
Country France/Germany Running Time 98 mins Director/DoP Emilie Jouvet
Producers Emilie Jouvet, Jurgen Bruning Featuring Wendy Delorme, Judy Minx,
Sadie Lune Print Source Juergen Anger Email [email protected]
73
WE ARE THE MODS
High school student Sadie is a quiet and artistic teenager who
has just been rejected by her best friend in favour of the incrowd. She plans to study photography at college but lacks
inspiration or individuality. Everything changes when she meets
the rebellious and self-assured Nico. Equally an outsider, Nico
suffers from a genetic defect which forces her to walk with a
crutch, but rather than being held back by her disability she
seems to relish her differences.
Nico’s lifestyle and attitudes have a huge influence on Sadie as
she is introduced to Mod culture: fashion, European cinema and
vintage scooters. Sadie finds a sense of identity and a muse for
her artistic work and begins a transformation from shy teenage
tomboy to stylish and confident young adult. Things soon get
complicated though, as a love triangle develops between the two
girls and Nico’s boyfriend Tregg. Director Cassidy subtly builds
the sexual tension and Sadie’s exact feelings for Nico remain
unclear to the audience throughout most of the film, as they are
probably unclear to her.
This perfectly cast coming of age story boasts a great
soundtrack and has the kind of visual flair and striking images
which should make it a shoe-in for cult status. SE
Country USA Running Time 83 mins Format HDCam Director EE Cassidy
Producers EE Cassidy, Robert Poswall Screenplay EE Cassidy, Bruce Pavalon
DoP Robert Poswall, Alison Kelly Cast Melia Renée, Mary Elise Hayden, Lance Drake
P/S Rica Jones Productions E [email protected] W www.wearethemods.com
74
RADIO GIRL
USA 4 mins Format Red Director
Ronni Thomas Producers Ronni
Thomas, Dominic Thackray Screenplay
Ronni Thomas DoP Eric Giovan Cast
Vickers ‘Bastard’ Gringo, Legs Malone
Noble Robinette, Denver McAlister P/S
Ronni Thomas E [email protected]
A live action throwback to classic
cartoons with a dark and surreal twist.
Set to the music of The Real Tuesday
Weld and for many reasons probably the
best film ever made.
DONOMA
This year’s out of the blue discovery, Donoma is the work of a
Paris based collective led by writer/director Djinn Carrenard.
Following on the recent trend that marked the successes of Etre
et Avoir and Palme d’Or winning The Class, Donoma takes a
fresh perspective on what it feels like to be a young kid from the
‘banlieux de Paris’.
Merging several different storylines based around the
classroom, Dacio is introduced as the disruptive and vulgar
lycée student. When his Spanish teacher Ana corners him after
a lesson and tosses him off, he starts to become increasingly
infatuated with her, something she uses to repeatedly humiliate
and intimidate him. Dacio’s atheist girlfriend is oblivious to his
obsession, and distracted looking after her older leukaemiasuffering sister. In this alternative vignette, she begins to question
a number of unusual elements within her life. Their friend
meanwhile, has just offered herself to a stranger, in an attempt
to see whether love can be born from a single sexual encounter.
The beauty of Donoma is difficult to contextualise. On one
hand it’s a blindingly simple observation of suburban Paris, but
on the other, it’s a Lynchian discovery movie so natural you’d think
yourself in the room. XR
Country France Running Time 135 mins Format HDCam Director/Producer/
Screenplay/DoP Djinn Carrénard Cast Emilia Dérou Bernal, Salomé Blechmans,
Laura Kpegli Print Source Djinn Carrénard Email [email protected]
76
LIGHTS OUT [SIMON WERNER A DISPARU]
FRIDAY 8 OCTOBER AT CINÉ LUMIÈRE AT 6:30PM & SATURDAY 9 OCTOBER AT 3PM
Premiering in Un Certain Regard at this year’s edition of the
Cannes Film Festival, this slick and stylish French psychological
thriller chronicles the events that lead up to the discovery of a
seemingly lifeless body in the forest. Set in 1992 and played to an
original soundtrack by Sonic Youth, this cleverly structured film
replays the series of events leading up to the discovery through
the eyes of four different teens.
As much a whodunnit as a play on college school youth, the
story of Lights Out is a blend of genres, both art-house and high
school movie. The vivid cinematography offers a different feel,
something both dream-like and surreal.
Simon’s girlfriend is wondering if she shares responsibility
in his disappearance, whilst his friends have their eyes on the
teachers, who they suspect may be involved in some form of
blackmail. At the same time the viewer delves into the lives
of the teenagers, each with their own secrets, questions and
growing sense of being. The subtlety with which the characters
are portrayed, through love triangles, deception, and new-found
sexuality is supported by oustanding performances of the leads.
Debut movie Lights Out will undoubtedly set director Fabrice
Gobert as a name to follow closely. XR
Country France Running Time 92 mins Format 35mm Director/Screenplay
Fabrice Gobert Producers Marc-Antoine Robert, Xavier Rigault DoP Agnès Godard
Cast Jules Pelissier, Ana Girardot, Serge Riaboukine Print Source TF1 International
77
ROBERT MITCHUM IS DEAD [ROBERT MITCHUM EST MORT]
As an agent and scriptwriter, Arsène (Olivier Gourmet) is
intimately familiar with the hard knocks world of hunting down
that elusive big break. So when the stars have allegedly aligned,
and there’s an opportunity for him to get his actor Franky
Pastor (Pablo Nicomedes) in front of a big name director, he
goes for gold. Risking everything, the pair set out from France
with the intent of driving to a film festival held in the Arctic
Circle. However, as we all know, pretty much nothing ever goes
according to plan. As the voyage unfolds we learn more about
the softly strange Franky, and just how desperate Arsène really is.
We’re not even certain that Franky can actually perform.
Robert Mitchum Is Dead is populated with a generous array
of curious personalities and takes a loving look at their everyday,
and not so everyday, lives. In the spirit of road trip movies
everywhere, the guys come across people and situations that no
one could ever plan for. It’s that road trip ‘que sera sera’ mood
that battles against Arsène’s singular determination throughout
the film to make their journey so odd and unpredictable. Sprinkle
in some desperation, social disorders, and a beautiful Polish film
student, and you have yourself a journey worth witnessing. SS
Country France/Belgium/Poland/Norway Running Time 91 mins Format 35mm
Directors/Screenplay Olivier Babinet, Fred Kihn Producer Igor Wojtowicz DoP
Timo Salminen Cast Olivier Gourmet, Pablo Nicomedes, Bakary Sangare Print Source
Anne Wiedlack Email [email protected]
78
THE LONGEST FILM TITLE IN THE WORLD [ORIGINAL LANGUAGE TITLE]
DAY 888 OCTOBER AT 88PM
xxx
SHORT FILM TITLE
UK 12 mins Super16 Director Jon
Bon Jovi Screenplay Jerry Lee Lewis
Producer Dave Lee Travis Email
[email protected]
Like a really short synopsis, two lines,
three lines, who knows, just the right
amount for a short film.
SCREENING SPONSOR
Country x Running Time x mins Format x Director/Screenplay x Producer x
DoP x Cast x Print Source x Email x
39
9:06
Following the unusual suicide of piano teacher Marjan Ozim from
a bridge at 9:06am, weary Police Inspector Dusan is to investigate
the circumstances surrounding the death. Having separated from
his wife following the loss of their eldest child, Dusan becomes
obsessed with the man whose story he is unravelling. Eventually
Dusan moves into Ozim’s apartment and starts living the life
of the deceased man. What begins as a passing resemblance
results in Dusan adopting his identity entirely.
9:06 tells both an intriguing and gripping story, which poses
questions about the nature of an individual’s identity. There are
constant themes of guilt throughout, inter-tangled with those of
loss and regret. Masterfully constructed, the narrative plays out
beautifully against the striking and moody visuals of Slovenia.
The powerful performance of lead actor Igor Sambobor offers
a striking sense of importance surrounding 9:06. Its native
home country is among the five countries in the world with the
highest suicide rates, but this tragic statistic isn’t put under the
microscope. No explanation is offered for Marjan’s decision to
end it all, but we see the repercussions it leaves for those who
loved him, providing a provocative and moving experience. CP
Country Slovenia Running Time 71 mins Format 35mm Director Igor Sterk
Producers Igor Sterk, Christoph Thoke, Frenk Celarc Screenplay Igor Sterk, Sinisa
Dragin DoP Simon Tansek Cast Igor Samobor, Labina Mitevska, Silva Cusin Print
Source Insomnia World Sales Email [email protected]
80
32ND DECEMBER [32. DECEMBAR]
Taking inspiration from the style of Inarritu and Arriaga, director
Sasa Hajdukovic weaves three stories into one tale of love,
lust, violence, and betrayal. Three female college students are
planning a celebration for New Year’s Eve but their night will
take them in very different directions. A middle-aged man leads
one of them astray and she becomes involved with his criminal
associates who take advantage of her youth and naiveté. When19
year old Una flirts with Piksi at his bar she starts a relationship
that they both see in very different life. Where Una was looking
for a night of fun Piksi has begun to fall in love. Meanwhile a girl
abandons her alcoholic father and her boyfriend begins to have
a mental breakdown, which leads to an untimely death. These
stories climax in one catastrophic night as every character’s
actions cumulate and culminate in a tragic accident..
Hajdukovic handles these disparate storylines with grace and
precision, elegantly weaving them into a film that is more than
the sum of its parts. Intricately plotted and deftly directed 32nd
December is a film that delves into the relationships between
men and women and puts questions about friendship and loyalty
under the microscope. AAS
Country Bosnia & Hercegovina Running Time 88 mins Format 35mm Director/
ScreenplaySasa Hajdukovic DoP Sasha Petkovic Producer Slobodan Perisic, Boris
Jevdenic, Sasa Hajdukovic, Zoran Galic Cast Nikolina Jelisavac, Slobodan Perisic, Anja
Stanic Print Source Zoran Galic Email [email protected]
81
ALIVE [GJALLE]
Koli is living the ideal student life in Tirana, capital city of Albania.
He has a beautiful girlfriend, aces his exams and spends his
evenings in clubs, on beaches and endless parties. However his
idyllic existence is interrupted by a visit from his stepbrother Roku
heralding the death of his wheelchair-bound father. Koli travels
by ferry to his old home in the heart of the Albanian countryside
to attend his father’s funeral but his presence quickly erupts a
century old blood feud, from which his father was only spared due
to a code of honour forbidding vengeance against the disabled.
Shouldering the burden of his grandfather’s crimes, Koli is
forced to lie low while his fate is decided by those who believe
that only blood washes away blood. Koli bears his position with
good grace, taking the time to reconnect with the small town life
he left behind and the family he had forgotten.
Alive takes us from an easygoing world without boundaries to
one bound by family ties and social obligations. Obligations that
Koli can’t escape, no matter how far he runs or how low he lies.
From the mysterious opening to the shocking conclusion, Alive
is a beautifully shot morality tale on the importance of family and
is Albania’s official entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign
Language Film in 2010. CP
Country Albania Director/Screenplay Artan Minarolli Running Time 90 mins
Format 35mm s Artfilm, Wildart, Agat Films DoP Jacques Bouquin Cast Nik Xhelilaj,
Xhevdet Feri, Bfsart Kallaku Print Source Wildart Film Email [email protected]
82
BO
Schoolgirl Deborah longs for a life less ordinary, or at least the
money to buy some new clothes. She is less than enamoured
with life in her granddad’s flat, living with her mother and younger
brother. When the glamorous Jen takes her into town for a night
Deborah falls in love with her lifestyle. Jen admits she is a call
girl and agrees to introduce Deborah to her manager, Vince. Thus
begins Deborah’s (now Bo) spiral into prostitution, drugs and
violence over the course of a single year.
Struggling to handle her new lifestyle, keep it secret from her
family and falling in love with Vince; Bo can’t keep on top of it all.
Things go from bad to worse when she starts skipping school to
go to work and finally gets caught with a client.
Beautiful, lambent, cinematography highlights not only lead
actress Ella-June Henrard‘s formidable performance, but also the
beauty to be found in the urban landscapes of Antwerp. A subtle
and varied score provides emotional context to many powerful
scenes but is never used to overwhelm. This film is striking,
powerful and poignant. It doesn’t make grandiose statements but
simply and clearly lays out one girl’s path into a life of high-class
prostitution and the effects that has on her life. JB
Country Belgium Running Time 90 mins Format 35mm Director Hans Herbots
Producer Bert Hamelinck Screenplay Nele Meirhaeghe, Hans Herbots DoP Danny
Elsen Cast Ella-June Henrard Print Source Caviar Films
83
CANNIBAL
FRIDAY 1 OCTOBER AT 10PM
Max, an agoraphobic golfer lives an isolated life in the woods.
One day while out practicing his golf swing he stumbles across
the body of a young woman. Unnerved at first, he tentatively
approaches her only to discover she is not dead but unconscious.
He slings her limp body over his shoulder and takes her back to
his house. He cares for her but does not entirely trust her. He
can’t help but notice the blood that remains after her shower and
asks if she’s injured. As the two develop an uneasy relationship,
Max finds himself increasingly attracted to this strangely ethereal
young woman. One night she escapes, running off into the
woods. Giving chase, he discovers her having sex with a man
while cannibalizing him. He is shaken to the core but nonetheless
starts a romantic relationship with her.
The film features standout performances from the icily delicate
Helena Coppejans in her debut film role and award-winning actor
Nicolas Gob as the troubled ex-gangster Max. Director Benjamin
Viré makes an auspicious debut with this stylish thriller that
combines atmosphere with action to great effect, while producer
Eloi Gérard was recently hailed as a producer to watch by the
influential industry bulletin Sydney’s Buzz. SB
Country Belgium Running Time 103 mins Format HDCam Director/Screenplay
Benjamin Viré Producer Eloi Gérard DoP Raphael Kolacz Cast Helena Coppejans,
Nicolas Gob, Eric Godon P/S Charlotte Capelle E [email protected]
84
DAYS OF HARVEST [I GIORNI DELLA VENDEMMIA
Seventeen-year-old Elia is spending the summer harvesting
grapes on his parent’s farm. Bored and a little lonely, his life is
thrown into turmoil when the beautiful and experienced Emilia
comes to help with the harvest. His father, Claudio is a staunch
Communist and his life too is turned upside down when the
popular party leader dies. Maddalena, the mother, continues
stoically through it all, secure in her Catholic faith and the prayer
meetings she runs. As Emilia becomes more involved in Elia’s
life he opens up to her about the frustrations and joys of rural
teenage life.
Shot in the beautiful Italian countryside, the cinematography
makes full use of the wonderful vineyards and farmhouse on
which this film is set. There is a lingering patience to many of the
shots, a desire to let the scene play out to its fullest, that really
enhances the actors nuanced performances. The small cast does
an impressive job of presenting a family bound together through
time and familiarity, despite their differences in personality.
D’Agostin gives an unselfconscious performance as Elia in
director Righi’s deeply intimate look at growing up, both for the
protagonist and for the country whose two competing political
ideals are so well represented by his parents. JB
RIBBON
UK 5 mins Format Red Director/
Producer/S’play Joe Marcantonio
DoP Chris Jones Cast Jake Curran,
Gabriella, Krejci Frederick Roll Print
Source Joe Marcantonio
A young couple ask for permission to
marry, blissfully unaware of what her
eccentric father has in store for them.
Country Italy Running Time 75 mins Director/Screenplay Marco Righi Producer
Simona Malagoli DoP Alessio Valori Cast Marco d’Agostin, Lavinia Longhi Print
Source Simona Malagoli Email [email protected]
85
I BELIEVE IN ANGELS [JERUJEM U ANDJELE]
Sime is the postman of a small town built on an idyllic island. Well
loved by the locals he has penetrating insight into their lives and
the events of the town, even knowing what next week’s sermon
will be. But Sime has a secret: he has perfected an undetectable
technique for opening and resealing people’s letters and this
is how he knows so much about those around him. When Dea
moves to the town she becomes the subject of attention for the
town’s bachelors. Determined to win her, Sime starts courting
Dea, using her letters to a mysterious Klara as an insight into her
life. But Dea isn’t all that she seems and her involvement with
Sime may not be as coincidental as first thought.
A passion product for Niksa Svilicic, he wrote, directed, edited,
produced and acted in the film, although he admits he would
never do all that again! Shot on the beautiful island of Vis in the
Adriatic sea with beautiful, bright cinematography, I Believe in
Angels brings the wonderful flavour of a Mediterranean summer
to the big screen. A refreshing change from what has been a
trend towards dark and violent cinema in Eastern Europe, the
film is a timeless piece of cinema whose small setting and tight
community make for a story that could have been told anywhere
and at any time. JB
Country Croatia Running Time 101 mins Format 35mm Director/Producer/
Screenplay Niksa Svilicic DoP Nenad Suvacarov Cast Aljosa Vuckovic, Dolores
Lambasa, Vedran Mlikota Print Source Niksa Svilicic Email [email protected]
86
IRON DOORS
THURSDAY 7 OCTOBER AT 10:30PM & FRIDAY 8 OCTOBER AT 3:45PM
A young man wakes up in a cellar with no windows, an eerie
neon light and a huge vault door made of impenetrable steel.
The room is empty, except for a dead rat and a mysterious rusty
locker he doesn’t have the key for. The man thinks he’s the victim
of a particularly cruel practical joke, but soon he realises he’s
going to die of thirst and hunger if he doesn’t quickly figure out
how to escape. However, it seems there’s no way out.
Claustrophobic and intense, this film is the epitome of
independent filmmaking: one room, one actor, one camera and a
very low budget. The setting is extremely basic and the music is
minimal, which only adds to the tension and the feeling of dread.
Alex Wedekind confidently takes on the role of the protagonist
and powerfully represents his spiral into a vortex of madness,
hope and resignation. This is the sort of situation anyone can
imagine themselves in, what Iron Doors does so well is to take it,
and you, in unexpected directions.
This film is scary and disturbing and yet poetic and human. It
will make you want to escape and, at the same time, it will keep
you chained to your seat desperate to see how this man’s fate
unfolds. This screening will be presented in 3D. MP
Country Germany Running Time 80 mins Director Stephen Manuel Producers
Stephen Manuel, Aaron Magnani, Axel Wedekind Screenplay Peter Arieson DoP Jan
Reiff Cast Rungaro Nyoni, Axel Wedekind P/SJinga Films E [email protected]
W www.irondoorsmovie.com
87
KINO CARAVAN [KINO KARAVAN]
Sent to a small village to screen a piece of Soviet propaganda,
Comrade Tavi grows increasingly confused with his mission as
he begins to fall for the village librarian. Set some time in the
1960s, Kino Caravan, like 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days before
it, epitomizes the strengths of Romanian cinema. Director Titus
Muntean is more concerned with atmosphere, authenticity and
realism than anything else; this film is a character piece and the
character in question is Cold War Romania.
The film’s unrelenting realism is brutal at times, amusing at
others and integral to the exploration of Soviet involvement in its
post WW2 satellite states. The acting is uniformly great but Doru
Boguta’s performance as Comrade Tavi in particular is worth
noting; he delivers dialogue in such an affected, authentic manner
while demonstrating his character’s deep repression.
Among other things, it is repression – both on a national and
on a personal level – which Muntean examines and, consequently,
criticizes. On a day of dreary rain and confusion it is the
emergence of sunlight which sets in motion the stunning final act
and the dramatic climax about which everyone will be talking. ZB
Country Romania/Germany Running Time 100 mins Format 35mm Director/
Screenplay Titus Muntean Producers Tudor Giurgiu, Jens Korner DoP Vivi Dragan
Visile Cast Mircea Diaconu, Dorian Boguta, Julia Lumanare E [email protected]
88
MARIEKE, MARIEKE
THURSDAY 7 OCTOBER AT 5PM
Twenty year old Marieke lives at home in Brussels with her
single mother. She spends her days gossiping with her
colleagues at the chocolate factory where she works. When
she finishes she heads to the local bar to dance and drink with
much older men, sometimes sleeping with them. She likes to
take intimate photographs of them, usually fragmented – bits of
ear, elbow, back – perhaps they remind her of the fragmented
memories of her writer father who died when she was very young.
One day when she leaves the factory floor to fill in for a colleague
in the shop, she meets an elderly man who asks her out for a
drink. She goes on to discover that he was her fathers’ editor and
he leads her to the apartment where the family used to live – that
her mother had told her had been demolished. Through her new
friend, she may finally be able to come to terms with her past.
In a film that is full of nuanced performances, the stunning
young Belgian actress Hande Kodje is particularly compelling in
the title role while the well known Belgian character actor Jan
Decleir is perfectly cast as her father’s old friend. The title of
the film comes from the famous song by Jacques Brel, the only
bilingual song he wrote. This sensuous, gorgeously photographed
film is a stunning debut from director Sophie Schoukens. SB
Country Belgium Running Time 85 mins Director Sophie Schoukens Producers
Sophie Schoukens, Jan Schoukens DoP Alain Marcoen Cast Hande Kodja Print
Source Jan Roekens Email [email protected] W www.mariekemarieke.be
89
MY FLESH MY BLOOD [MOJA KREW]
Igor is a professional boxer whose life revolves around fighting
and winning. His dreams are crushed when he is told that
the boxing has left him brain damaged and without much
longer to live. Fighting, though, is all he knows and loves and
Igor refuses surgery, deciding to accept his fate. Instead he
becomes obsessed with his legacy and determined to leave
a child in the world before he dies. He soon meets Yen Ha, a
young Vietnamese illegal worker who agrees to have his baby in
exchange for Polish citizenship. Just like Igor, Yen Ha is lonely
and in desperate search for a second chance in life: it is the start
of an intense, emotional relationship between the two, who learn
to overcome their anger and fear of the unknown and to love and
appreciate each other for who they really are.
Written and directed by Marcin Wrona, the story comes to life
thanks to intense performances by Eryk Lubos, who powerfully
portrays Igor in his desperation, anger, and disillusionment with
life, and Luu De Ly, whose interpretation of Yen Ha’s fragility
stands in contrast to the crude and harsh world surrounding her.
My Flesh My Blood is a powerful film about clashing cultures,
finding love and facing death. MP
Country Poland Running Time 90 mins Director Marcin Wrona Producer
Piotr Dzieciol, Lukasz Dzieciol Screenplay Marcin Wrona, Grazyna Trela, Marek
Prichnievwski DoP Pawel Flis Cast Eryk Lubos, Luu De Ly, Wojciech Zielinski Print
Source Insomnia World Sales Email [email protected]
90
NIGHT RUNNER [EL CORREDOR NOCTURNO]
THURSDAY 30 SEPTEMBER AT 4PM
Insurance manager Eduardo lives a high-pressure life. Between
cutbacks at the company, a job he’s not sure he’s qualified for,
a busy family life and some dark secrets in his past, it’s all he
can do just to stay afloat. Every night he escapes from it all
by pounding through the city on long runs. When he meets
Raimundo at the airport Eduardo is offered friendship, assistance
at work and the chance to take his life into his own hands. As
Eduardo gets to know him better however, he finds Raimundo’s
behaviour more and more suspicious and begins to wonder if he
can really be trusted.
Atmospherically photographed in beautiful Buenos Aires,
the exterior shots track Eduardo’s evening runs across the city.
There is a real sense of style to the interiors too; an ultra-modern
office, beautiful home and classy bars make up the majority
of locations. Stand-out performances by the two lead actors
form the centrepiece of this film and whilst Night Runner is a
gripping psychological thriller, behind the thriller surface it hides
an allegorical and philosophical study; Faustian overtones are
layered onto an examination of Nietzschean ethics. This film
is deep, dark and compelling, both an enthralling thriller and
a serious exploration of modern morality. JB
SCREENING SPONSOR
Country Spain Running Time 96 mins Format 35mm Director Gerardo Herrero
Producer Gerardo Herrero, Vanessa Ragone Screenplay Nicolas Saad DoP Alfredo
Mayo Cast Leonardo Sbaraglia, Miguel Angel Sola, Erica Rivas Print Source Latitdo
Films Email [email protected]
91
QUESTION IN DETAILS [KÖNTÖUR FALAK]
THURSDAY 30 SEPTEMBER AT 6:15PM
Single father of two Zoli is a little clumsy, a little awkward and a
little overweight. Somehow he’s won a date with the beautiful and
funny Eszti after charming her at the right moment on a bad day.
When the uncomfortable date falls apart they finally start to chat
and Eszti invites Zoli back to her flat on the grounds that nothing
is going to happen. Eszti shares a luxurious and modern openplan apartment in the centre of Budapest with her absent brother.
As they getter deeper into conversation Zoli relaxes into their
new relationship and opens up to Eszti about the mother of his
children. When Eszti’s obnoxious brother returns home however,
things take a darker turn as the three may share a secret none of
them even knew about.
This film is shot mostly in one apartment and features only
three main characters. Despite, or perhaps because of these
inhibitions writer/director Zsombor Dyga creates a fascinating
and enthralling character piece whilst keeping the tension high
as more and more shared history is revealed. With all the power
of a compelling piece of theatre Question in Details is a tight film
which underlines the importance of a great script. Without action,
without locations, and without much money, Dyga has created a
film that is funny, touching and powerful. JB
Country Hungary Running Time 81 mins Director/Screenplay Zsombor Dyga
Producer István Major DoP Gábor Marosi Cast Ferenc Elek, Kátya Tompos, Roland
Rába Print Source Katalin Vajda Email [email protected]
92
HERE I AM
Hungary 37 mins Format 35mm
Director/Screenplay Bálint Szimler
Producers Miklós Bosnyák, András
Pires Muhi, Gábor Osváth DoP Marcell
Rév Cast Viktor Vida, Dalma Berger,
Hans Van Villet Print Source Hungarian
Film Lab Email [email protected]
Viiktor strolls the city in an insomnia
induced haze, bumping into a number
of people who’s succession isn’t only
interlinked by change.
A SERBIAN FILM [SRPSKI FILM]
FRIDAY 8 OCTOBER AT 10:45PM PRIVATE SCREENING
Milos is a retired porn star who now dedicates himself to his
loving wife and young child. He is not happy however, and
dreams of a better life for his family. He tries to work but,
because of his past, he only gets offered roles in cheap and dull
porn movies. Unexpectedly, one of his ex co-stars informs him
that a new director is looking to cast him in an innovative project.
A big pay-cheque is promised, but on the condition that Milos
know nothing about the film. Hesitant at first, Milos signs the
contract: it will be the beginning of a nightmare journey which
leads him into sordid sex, violence, and deaths.
Directed by Srdjan Spasojevic, A Serbian film has sparked
huge controversies over some of its extremely violent scenes and
shocking images. The movie has been described as an allegory of
the pain and desperation experienced by a country destroyed by
war and by the actions of its own government and which, to this
day, still can’t escape from a vicious circle of self-destruction.
Disturbing, twisted and scary, filled with very strong images of
explicit sex and violence, this is an extremely well acted film that
pushes the boundaries and plays on the lines between reality
and nightmare, right and wrong, good and evil, to both horrify and
amaze the viewers. MP
Country Serbia Running Time 104 mins Format 35mm Director/Producer Srdjan
Spasojevic Screenplay Aleksander Reivojevic, Srdjan Spasojevic DoP Nemanja
Jovanov Cast Srdjan Todorovic, Sergej Trifunovic, Jelena Gavrilovic Print Source
Jinga Films Email [email protected]
93
TRASH
Trash centres on two sisters, Clara and Susana and their mother
who has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. Susana is
heavily pregnant and her partner Christian is regularly away on
business while Clara’s boyfriend David is on the verge of signing
a record deal with his rock band, from whom the film gets its title.
Things start to unravel when Clara catches David cheating
on her with his bandmate, who also happens to be her best
friend and the following series of events see her pushed to the
edge. Susana’s relationship is similarly in turmoil as Christian’s
executive lifestyle constantly leads him astray. Christian seems
to feel remorse for his infidelities while David’s life spirals out
of control as he indulges his hedonistic urges at the cost of his
band, his relationships and himself.
Skilfully directed by Carles Torras, complex subplots are
weaved into the central plot to add further depth to the story: the
sisters’ sickly mother finds solace in an unexpected place and
Clara’s colleague Nacho develops an unhealthy obsession. This
is a serious and stylish piece of independent cinema about the
emotional costs of infidelity and sexual promiscuity with powerful
performances and an award winning original score. SE
Country Spain Running Time 88 mins Format 35mm Director Carles Torres
Producer Joan Ginard, Sergi Casamitjana Screenplay Carles Torres, Enric Pardo,
Ramon Termens DoP Arnau Valls Cast Oscar Jaenada, Judit Uriach, Assumpta Serna
Print Source Latido Films Email [email protected]
94
SCREENING SPONSOR
THE WOMAN WITH A BROKEN NOSE [ZENA SA SLOMLJENIN NOSEM]
MONDAY 4 OCTOBER AT 8:30PM & TUESDAY 5 OCTOBER AT 2:45PM
The woman with a bloodied face and a baby bundled up in her
arms is clearly running from something or someone when she
hails surly Gavrilo’s taxi, but the pace of her escape is quickly
slowed by the solid traffic over a Belgrade bridge. Also stuck in
the jam are troubled single schoolteacher Anica and in another
car, self-medicating pharmacist Biljana, discussing wedding plans
with her fiancé.
In an instant, the lives of these strangers are changed forever
when they witness the injured mother jump out of the taxi and
off of the bridge, triggering an enthralling and intricately woven
series of events. An emotionally charged yet never over-played
illumination of the way strangers’ lives collide, The Woman with
a Broken Nose deftly hints at the turbulent socio-political history
of its Serbian setting without compromising the universality of its
characters’ yearnings and fears.
Anica and Biljana are drowning in emotional apathy as they
wait to cross the bridge. Gavrilo, a Bosnian refugee, is a lovable
grouch who softens as the baby left behind by his mysterious
passenger breaks through his isolation. Director Srdjan Koljevic
gradual revelations and interweaving of all three tales will have
you gripped right up to the end. AS
Country Germany/Serbia Running Time 100 mins Director/Screenplay Srdjan
Koljevic Producer Alexander Ris, Jelena Mitrovic, Srdan Golubovic DoP Goran
Volarevic Cast Nebosja Glogovac, Branka Katic, Anica Dobra Print Source Aktis Film
95
VAMPIRES
THURSDAY 7 OCTOBER AT 9:45PM & FRIDAY 8 OCTOBER AT 3:30PM
Vincent Lannoo’s wonderful film follows the Saint-Germains, a family
of Vampires living in Belgium. The film opens as dramatically as a thriller
but gradually develops into a humorous yet enthralling mockumentary take
on the supernatural.
Living amongst a vampire community, the Saint-Germain family is being
filmed by a crew of mortals who, after many attempts, are successfully
recording the lives of the Belgian vampire community without being bitten.
Georges, the father, is introverted and Bertha, his wife, is emotionally
vacant. She has abandoned all responsibilities to her family and as a
result the children are a little wayward. The daughter, Grace is a comically
stereotypical teenager; rebellious and contemptuous of her parent’s
lifestyle. She files down her fangs and continually attempts to become
human by committing suicide. Samson, the son, follows the vampire code
but is becoming something of a bad boy within the community. When
Samson’s actions get them into trouble the Saint-Germain family are
forced into exile and move to Canada. Here they must start a new life
without the support of a familiar network surrounding them
In this deranged and hilarious mockumentary the vampires make
a diverting metaphor, skillfully used to uncover questions about family
politics, sexuality and ethics. Lannoo successfully exploits these underlying
issues and uses the entire vampire community to illustrate the struggles
in pursuit of happiness and family development. AAS
Country Belgium Format HDV Director Vincent Lannoo Screenplay Vincent Lannoo,
Frédérique Broos Producer John Engel DoP Vincent Van Gelder Cast Carlo Ferrante, Vera
Van Dooren, Pierre Lognay Print Source Left Field Ventures
96
MACHO
THURSDAY 7 OCTOBER AT 8PM & FRIDAY 8 OCTOBER AT 5:15PM
Paul, a young art student from Mexico is now living in Los
Angeles. He’s still on the rebound from the collapse of his
relationship with Mariana when he meets the statuesque
Canadian, Sofi, who is in town on a visit from Vancouver. After
their first meeting they fall in love and as Sofi returns back
home, their long distance romance begins. This pared-down love
story is told in a series of intimate vignettes ranging from the
conversational to the sexually intimate.
The first problem to emerge in their relationship is one of
geography as Paul is firmly LA based while Sofi is not prepared
to uproot herself from Vancouver. The pair struggle hard to
maintain their early passion via calls and infrequent meetings
but before long their initial lust has turned to ennui - on the part
of Sofi at least, while the ever-needy Paul struggles to retain
a foothold in her life as he attempts to come to terms with his
myriad of insecurities.
Mexican director, Rafael Palacio Illingworth plays Paul, while
the stunning Canadian newcomer, Jolene Andersen shines as
Sofi. An intimate portrayal of the various stages in a relationship,
this is a debut feature from Illingworth who also has a short in the
Venice film festival this year. SB
Country Mexico/Switzerland/USA Running Time 76 mins Director/S’play Rafael
Palacio Illingworth Producer Eleonore Meier DoP Autumn Cheyenne Durald Cast
Jolene Andersen, Rafael Palacio Illingworth P/S IFC E [email protected]
98
–C–
UK 2 mins Format DigiBeta Director/
Producer/Screenplay Steffan Boke
DoP Thomas Brechter P/S Steffan
Booje Email [email protected]
A cucumber talks about its ordeal in life.
SLACKISTAN
A group of recently graduated 20-somethings are living out
the first year of the rest of their lives in the ice cream bars and
coffee shops of Islamabad. Slackistan is centred on Hasan, an
aspiring film-maker who doesn’t know where to start. Starved
of inspiration, he sits in his room staring at his camera. The city
around him has become too familiar and he is beginning to worry
that his life will remain unchanged for years to come. Meanwhile
his friends are either going nowhere, moving on too fast, or falling
in with a bad crowd.
With the burden of freedom weighing down upon its
protagonist’s shoulders, Slackistan becomes a heartfelt ode to
the aspiring, young filmmaker struggling to make that first movie.
The film is itself a prime example of low budget indie filmmaking.
Shot with his own car, his actors’ own houses and no script,
British director Hammad Khan ties colourful characters to an
insightful story about Pakistan’s youth culture.
This is a fresh and exciting debut feature from Khan, taking
a new approach to exploring the lives of Pakistan’s youth. JK
Country UK/Pakistan RT 87 mins Ft HD Director/DoP Hammad Khan, Producers
Shandana Ayub, Hammad Khan, Menhaj Huda, Stella Nwimo Screenplay Shandana
Ayub, Hammad Khan Cast Shahbaz Shigri, Aisha Linnea Akhtar Print Source Big
Upstairs Films Email [email protected] W www.slackistanthemovie.com
99
SON OF BABYLON
Set in post-Saddam Iraq, Son of Babylon follows Ahmed, a young
boy, and his grandmother. Traveling from the Kurdish north
they move deep into the country’s barren, war-torn landscape in
search of the boy’s father who’s been missing since 1991.
A desperate adventure, their journey is shared along the way
with a rich cast of secondary characters each of whom has a
different connection with recent events and their own story to tell.
In a remarkable performance by Yasser Taleeb, Ahmed’s
character shines out against a desert backdrop, as a boy on the
cusp of adulthood, full of energy, wonder and innocence. As the
search for Ahmed’s father unfolds, the dark secrets of Saddam’s
time are slowly revealed to expose a population in disarray.
Abruptly faced with the country’s undocumented history of
death and violence, we watch as the brutal consequences of
Saddam’s regime shape Ahmed’s childhood.
Son of Babylon, offers an insight into Iraq beyond what we may
be familiar with as a foreign audience through news coverage.
Featuring breathtaking cinematography and set for nomination as
the country’s 2011 Oscar contender, this may well be one of the
definitive films to deal with Iraq’s recent history. The film received
accolades at both Sundance and Berlin this year. JK
Country Iraq/UK Running Time 90 mins Format 35mm Director Mohamed AlDaradji Producers Isabelle Stead, Atia Al-Daradji, Mohamed Al-Daradji Screenplay
Jennifer Norridge, Mohamed Al-Daradji, Mithal Ghazi DoP Mohamed Al-Daradji, Duraid
Al-Munajim Cast Yasser Taleeb, Shehzad Hussen Print Source Human Film
100
THE STORY OF MY SPACE [VIDRIMASGOR]
After the funeral of Clara’s grandmother the kitchen window in
her shared flat suddenly shatters. Replaced with what appears to
be an enchanted piece of glass, the grey concrete yard seen out
of the kitchen window suddenly transforms into a space unique to
each who looks upon it.
This optimistic comedy, the debut feature of Yana Polyarush,
follows the seemingly innocuous lives of the flatmates and their
transformations as they try to understand why their window
shows them such views. Clara sees a glimpse of her recently
deceased grandmother on a beach, Malakhitov, a fortnight of
evening opera performances, and photographer Grisha’s view
shows a venture into the cherry blossoms of Japan. As the flatmates struggle to work out whether the laws of physics have
changed or they have gone collectively insane, the film gently
explores the relationships between these endearingly eccentric
characters. Between this character study and some beautifully
striking images first-time director Polyarush has started a
career that is sure to be followed. Vidrimasgor is a diverting and
entertaining movie with a refreshing modern and Russian twist
on the fairy tale concept of a journey inside oneself. LC
Country Russia Running Time 78 mins Format 35mm Director Yana Polyarush
Producer Vyacheslav Telnov Screenplay Yana Polyarush, Inga Kirkizh DoP Alexis
Solodov Cast Alexandra Bayrakovskaya, Andrei Feskov, Sergei Migitsko Print Source
Yana Polyarush
101
THE TOLL
SATURDAY 9 OCTOBER AT 11:45AM
Still living at home with his mum, Steve is a healthcare
professional who entertains dying patients. Left a book by a dead
patient, inside the cover is a hand drawn map that shows where
his savings are hidden in a town in Western Australia. Steve
heads out on a treasure hunt with his best friend Nick under the
pretence of a ‘fishing trip’.
When they reach their destination, a small field, they dig up
a chest of cash, but venturing back into the forest they face a
difficult challenge ahead. No matter what they try to do, they
can’t seem to find the exit and keep reaching the same spot
they earlier dug up. Struggling without a phone signal, and
without anybody knowing their whereabouts, their friendship and
durability is tested to the limit.
An entertaining, part coming of age, part psychological drama,
The Toll is supported by stellar performances by Steve McCall
and Nick Britton, who offer a sense of authenticity, and vibrant
resilience on their trip into the wilderness. The soundtrack of
electronic instrumentals sets up the atmosphere of the journey
well, and the eerie confusion it creates complements the plot
fantastically. JB
Country Australia Running Time 90 mins Director Zak Hilditch Producer Zak
Hilditch, Antony Webb Screenplay Zak Hilditch, Steve McCall DoP Antony Webb
Cast Steve McCall, Nick Britton P/S Zak Hilditch E [email protected]
102

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