France 2010 l 1hr 22min l Dir: Sylvain Chomet l Language: minimal words in French & Gaelic l Type: Animation [Original title: L'Illusioniste]“Bittersweet, moving and utterly beautiful: a love letter to cinema and to Scotland.” Empire Magazine
“…an intricate jewel.” Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“… a gorgeous visual poem.” David Jenkins, Time Out.
From the producer of The Page Turner comes this riveting story based on an actual experience.
L'Empreinte de l'ange
A separated mother, struggling with her busy job and a bitter custody battle over her son, notices a young girl at a children’s party. Her own behaviour becomes increasingly irrational as she finds out more about the girl and her life. How far will she go to track down what she alone believes to be the real truth? The lead characters are convincingly portrayed through the marvellous talents of two of France’s best actresses. French drama at its most compelling.
“A moving, assured portrayal of a damaged woman.” Andrew Pulver, The Guardian
“There are shades of Hitchcock in this gripping psychological drama . . .” Phil de Semlyen, Empire Magazine
Welcome
Simon (Vincent Lindon), an instructor in Calais, befriends a 17-year old Kurdish Iraqi boy who is desperate to find a way of reaching England to join his girlfriend. With hostility from neighbours and the risk of arrest if he associates with an illegal immigrant, Simon’s moral dilemma grows as he realises the boy’s hell-bent intentions to achieve his goal. Welcome is an ironic title, topical in the light of recent forcible evictions from “the jungle” illegal settlement camps of Calais.
“This is compassionate and humane film-making … two beautifully-judged central performances carry it through.” Wendy Ide, The Times
“Philippe Lioret’s compelling, finely balanced immigration drama.” Stephen Holden, New York Times
El secreto de sus ojos
The setting is contemporary Argentina with intermittent flashbacks to the 1970s during the era of military dictatorship. Haunted by the unsolved murder of a young woman, a recently retired criminal investigator decides to use the case as the basis for a novel. The political and personal backdrop of official corruption and an unfulfilled love interest interrupts his reignited search for justice. A stylishly-woven murder mystery, as dark and glossy as molasses.
Note: Contains brief scenes of very graphic nudity.
“… an elegant romantic thriller … [it] features some bravura cinematic moments and memorable performances from an exceptionally attractive cast of players.” Ann Hornaday, Washington Post.
“A deeply rewarding throwback to the unselfconscious days when cinema still strove to be magical, The Secret in Their Eyes is simply mesmerizing.” Jonathan Holland, Variety.
This British independent filmmaker went abroad to fund and film his project. Set in eastern Turkey in the early ‘90s, a small-time trader with a penchant for drink and gambling tries to better himself and his family’s lot in a world where everything has a price and corruption is as potent as the law.
A smallscale realist film in an unusual setting provides a captivating morality tale with subtle humour.
“Warm, funny and humane, and populated with beautifully observed characters.” Wendy Ide, The Times
“Ironic, richly atmospheric and vividly acted.” Philip Kemp, Total Film
In 1982, this film’s director was 20 years old and found himself called up for active service when Israel was invading Lebanon. He was trained as a gunner and assigned to a tank crew. From this conflict he received minor physical injuries, returning home to his mother’s grateful arms.
But it took 25 years for Maoz to face his demons. The result, his debut feature as writer/director, is one of the toughest psychological insights into war from one soldier’s perspective. For most of the film we’re in the confined metal sweatbox of the tank, witnessing the fear and panic of putting barked commands into action. You can almost smell the tension.
Note: contains scenes of suffering which may distress
“It’s one of the most harrowing and human films about war yet made, and an iron-clad masterpiece.” Dominic Wells, The Time
Abril despedaçado
Based on an Albanian novel by Ismael Kadaré, Behind The Sun transcends all language barriers. The result is a deeply humanist film with absolute confidence in the power of the screen image to convey a message of resounding significance. In the baked landscape of Brazil, 1910, two neighbouring families are locked in a deadly feud over a sugar plantation.Their truces stand temporarily: until the last victim’s shirt changes colour in the sun. Will the bitter cycle of vengeance ever be broken? Stunning visuals from the director of the Oscar-nominated Central Station (screened by BFS in 2006).
“A gripping and symbolic fable of family and love … Raw, intense and emotional.” Total Film
“Full of poetic imagery, dazzling photography and heartfelt performances from a mostly unknown cast … old-style melodrama at its best … a compelling fable that is rich enough to overcome anyone’s aversion to subtitles.” Neil Smith, BBC
Le Concert
An unusual dalliance of Russian and French cultures, this glorious tale is based on the true story of a famous Bolshoi Orchestra conductor who fell from favour with Brezhnev’s regime because he refused to sack the Jewish musicians.
Twenty-five years later and relegated to caretaker as punishment, he intercepts an official invitation to the current Bolshoi to perform in Paris to a discerning audience. Can he secretly gather together his disparate group of former musicians in time to perform the erstwhile interrupted (and technically challenging) Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto? Captivating characters teeter on the verge of slapstick; meanwhile the music soars.
“… the humour oscillates between poignant commentary, wicked satire and absurdism.” Thomas Caldwell, Cinema Autopsy
“… a brilliant, old-fashioned lesson in how a piece of music can be used cinematically to carry an audience’s emotions.” Lee Marshall, Screen Daily
Sin nombre
A ruthless gang-culture of guns, violent crime and scary tattoos is the nightmare trap a young Mexican is embroiled in, but determined to escape. In parallel, a young Honduran girl and her father plan a new life via a perilous train journey to the Mexican/US border. Their paths cross.
This tense work offers a powerful representation of the thousands who risk their lives daily, motivated by the dream of reaching a better existence.
Note: Contains some strong scenes of violence and threat.
“Already buffed to a shine by film festival acclaim, Cary Fukunaga’s debut is a striking and often quite gruelling account of survival and flight in poverty-stricken Central America.” Anthony Quinn, The Independent
Still Walking
On a warm summer’s day, the family of an elderly Japanese couple pay them a visit to commemorate their adored eldest son, drowned fifteen years earlier. As old histories and tensions gradually reveal themselves, family affections and resentments collide. Beautifully photographed and wryly humorous, this delicate and absorbing story of one Japanese family reaches out far beyond its own culture.
“Modest and lovely drama… [the director] has the imaginative sympathy of a great novelist, unsparing yet not unforgiving in his examination of a family held together by habit, regret and, ultimately, an unspoken love.” Anthony Quinn, The Independent
“This gentle, lovely film is impossible to watch without a lump in the throat.” Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
Das weisse Band
Director Michael Haneke is known for deliberately courting debate, mirroring humanity back at itself, challenging assumptions, steeping his images in symbolism and leaving you, the audience, to work out the answers. Is this downright frustrating, or are we at last being treated like intelligent adults? Here, in a strictly-run German village immediately before WWI, a succession of sinister events lead to increasing mistrust among its inhabitants. Who are the perpetrators? The only outsider, the village’s school teacher (and narrator), attempts to get to the root of these strange occurrences.
Note: Includes occasional images of cruelty which may distress
“Absolute confidence and mastery of its own cinematic language.” Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“A creepy masterwork of immense subtlety.” Nick James, Sight and Sound
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At the time of writing the hunt is still on for the final film to complete our Season. We’d rather continue the search for the one we feel is worthy of inclusion, than rush the decision simply to fill the space.
We’re therefore keeping our options open and will carry on sifting through possibilities for a film to meet our discerning audience’s approval!
The final film choice will be notified well in advance of the screening date.
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