Queen Margaret University Film and Media degree show

Posted on July 5, 2011 by Shell

Tomorrow night sees a selection of films from Queen Margaret University Film and Media degree graduates in Edinburgh, at the Filmhouse. To be honest it’s the first time we’ve been to a showcase like this. We’re not really sure what to expect, but it’s rather exciting, and what better place to discover up-and-coming talent? We’ll be there to check it out, and be back with a review later in the week.

A little more information can be found at their site. Tickets are available at the Filmhouse box office, and the show starts at 20:15.

Posted in Events | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Edinburgh International Film Festival conclusion

Posted on July 1, 2011 by Shell

It has been a few days since the curtains closed on another epic Film Festival in Edinburgh with the UK premier of Lion King 3D.

From the outset, we knew this festival would be a little different than previous years, with the de-emphasis of ‘red carpet’ events in favour of something more intimate. The results were mixed. Certainly the range of films was intriguing, and in some cases inspiring, and the Filmhouse and Cameo cinemas were great hosts as ever. The other venues, perhaps a little less so, with George Square Theatre and Festival Theatre really bottom-numbingly unsuitable for prolonged movie watching. While the festival lacked the spectacle and sparkle of previous years, it did have a smattering of celebs: Kim Cattrall, Ewan McGregor and Bill Nigh to name a few.

The spread of film-related events offered and interesting new aspect to the film festival which we really enjoyed. There were opportunities to see how films are pitched, scripted and funded, as well as many informal interviews with directors at the Festivalhouse @ Teviot venue. These were great, and the choice of Teviot House as a venue provided plenty of room for cinephiles and movie folks to mingle. Perhaps it suffered a little from being so far from the actual film venues, a good 20 minutes walk, as what could have been a place to hang out between films really wasn’t practical.

Of course, the most important component of a film festival the the actual films. Despite a large reduction in number on offer this year, we were really very pleasantly surprise. Over the two weeks we saw 35 films from all over the world – From Israel to Iceland, and only on a few occasions were we disappointed. Indeed, it wasn’t the headline films that worked best for us. While ‘The Guard’, ‘Perfect Sense’ and ‘Page Eight’ were great films with fantastic cast, it was actually the smaller international films that worked really well.

Stand out films for us this year start with the wonderful, witty British Comedy/Drama ‘Albatross’ with a mesmerising performance from Jessica Brown Findlay. Japanese anime from Studio Ghibli rarely disappoints, and their latest magical outing with ‘The Borrower Arrietty’ was just beautiful. Troll Hunter, a Norwegian modern-day-fable came from left-field and was just brilliant fun. Staying with Norway, we also had the striking ‘King of Devil’s Island’ – a stark drama based on a true story. French drama ‘Tomboy’ was perfectly pitched, and the heart-warming comedy ‘Almanya – Welcome to Germany’ was wonderfully observational. For something utterly different, the shocking and darkly hilarious ‘The Last Circus’ was a definite highlight. Documentary fans were also well served this year, with what is likely to be award-winning ‘Project Nim’ and the bizarre kinetic animatronics in Jarred Altermans’ ‘Convento’.

Did we enjoy EIFF 2011? Absolutely. Did it work? Mostly. While the change in focus may need some tweaks, an adjustment in balance between red-carpet and indie, EIFF remains a top film festival in a beautiful city and any self-respecting cinephile should definitely put EIFF 2012 on the calendar…

This article was first published at Edinburgh Spotlight.

Posted in Edinburgh, Events | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

EIFF preview – Almanya – Welcome to Germany

Posted on June 24, 2011 by Sirin

The film opens with Huseyin and Fatma and their blossoming love story in rural Turkey. They marry, and as time passes the harsh economic conditions in Turkey force Huseyin to look for new work. He heads to Germany as an immigrate worker, sending money home to his family in Turkey. Later brings his family to Germany to settle in a new life.

The script make usage of real archive footage German Government’s view on immigrant workers to open and close the story, emphasising the impact the mass immigrations of foreign workers.

For Huseyin, despite toughness of the situation, it is a hopeful start. Soon we are transported into present and join to see how Yilmaz family is adapted living in Germany over the years. Huseyin and Fatma in the brink of becoming German citizens in favour of their Turkish citizenships. Some of their four kids now kids their own. Unsurprisingly, younger the generation is further they become to from their supposed Turkish heritage. To bring his family closer their roots, Huseyin decides to arrange an autumn holiday for whole of the family at the village which they come from.

Rest of the history of trials and tribulations of Yilmaz family in Germany is told like a self aware comedic fairy tail by granddaughter Canan to youngest member of the family curious grandson Cenk who wants to know more about his heritage.

Almanya – Welcome to Germany is directed by Yasemin Samdereli and co-written together with her sister Nesrin Samdereli. The humour comes out through traditions of Turkish culture and misunderstandings of German culture without being condescending. Script has so much life to it, observations of Turkish family life filtering through writers’ own experiences with such an honesty. Casting is also perfect, realistic dialogues paired with wonderful performances makes the audience warm up to this family straight away.

This is director’s first feature film and not an easy task to base the story on a such heavy theme. But she comes up with trumps. Considering there are still heated arguments in present Germany proves that these immigrants’ lives were never easy. Words of Huseyin sums it all up “it was sometimes good and sometimes bad but I am happy now.”

The film might come across a comedy film but it isn’t usual fluff. It does have sense of purpose. There are emotional moments also take you back to reality of the situation these characters encounter. It never becomes too much of a slapstick comedy nor a drama.

What it matters is realising that sense of belonging into a new culture can be achieved without abandoning neither your past nor your present self but amalgamating both.

Almanya – Welcome to Germany is screening on 23rd & 25th of June.

Posted in Edinburgh, Events, Reviews, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

EIFF preview – Convento

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Sirin

Convento is a documentary / art film shot at 400 years old restored monastery in rural Portugal. Director Jarred Alterman captures how the lives of Geraldine – a former prima ballerina and her two sons Christiaan – a kinetic sculptural artist and Louis – an animal and nature lover are inspired to combine art and nature within the space they live in.  A perfect coexistence! This huge monastery complex functions as a home, a museum, nature reserve and an art studio in one.

Dutch artist Christiaan Zwanikken combines local dead animals with robotic engineering, computers, servomotors and anything else he can get his hands on the local salvage yard. While Geraldine grows vegetables and creates her own art, while Louis looks after the nature around and animals living with them. Together they solely responsible to transform this monastery into a unique space.

The director has definitely took some risks by having a very simple and understated approach. The narrative isn’t built on interviews, instead the constantly flowing camera movements telling the story of these extraordinary people and the monastery itself. The approach works. Often we are left observing with minimal intrusion. Beautiful landscapes and intriguing mechanical sculptures in and around this ancient space teleports the viewer to a surreal world. I only wish could be part of it for longer than an hour.

Convento is screening as part of EIFF on the 19th & 22nd of June. Christiaan Zwanikken’s wonderfully kinetic sculptures can be seen during EIFF at Festivalhouse@Teviot. You can find out more information on the Convento web site.

Posted in Edinburgh, Events, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

EIFF preview – Jack Goes Boating

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Sirin

Middle aged Jack played by Philip Seymour Hoffman is a limo driver who has never been in a serious relationship. He gets set up on a date with Connie by his best friends Clyde and his wife Lucy. At times it is funny to watch as Jack tries his best to master new skills to impress Connie. Connie is as awkward and shy as Jack but with more hang ups. Meanwhile Clyde and Lucy might have been together a long time but they hide their own skeletons in the closet. As one relationship starts to blossom up other one disingrates dramatically.

A snowy New York is the back drop as our characters gets through their hard working modest lifes. best moments of the movie is when Jack retrieves to his own world, meticulously practising his newly thought skills in every opportunity he gets. Adding to this occasion musics from artists such as Devotchka, Fleet foxes, Goldfrapp and Grizzly Bear, it is match made in heaven.

This enjoyable little indie movie - Philip Seymour Hoffman directorial debut – has heart felt performances by our lead actors which saves the day to a degree but doesn’t cover over the fact that maybe it is trying too hard to be quirky.

Jack Goes Boating is screening on the 19th & 21st of June as part of EIFF.

Posted in Edinburgh, Events, Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

EIFF preview – Troll Hunter

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Sirin

The story revolves around group of collage students Thomas, Kalle and Johanna following trail of an illegal poacher in a remote Norwegian state. Rumour is this mysterious man, Hans is killing bears in the area which is no laughing matter for the registered bear hunters across Norway. Bear hunting is closely regulated business. Once the students catch up and convince Hans to tell his side of the story, they realise they got more than they bargain for.  Indeed bear hunting is just a cover story for veteran troll hunter, Hans.

The movie is shot in a documentary style with lots of shaky camera action at parts. It has a lot in common with The Blair Witch Project at the beginning, but once the troll action takes over you soon transported into  fairy tail like fjords to snowy tundra landscape of Norway.

Hunting action is mostly taken place before dawn in and around labyrinth of dark,wet forests. Trolls come various shapes and sizes scattered around different terratories but they aren’t the brightest bunch in the creature world. Once you know their weaknesses they can be hunted down.

All the humour and existential events work well together. Most importantly movie never short changes your expactations on fx side of things through skilfully working around its limited budget. When trolls are out,  they are out with their full glory purely for you to enjoy.

Beside of trolls, there is a human side to this story too. Hans feels beaten and tired of doing a such messy job and still be underpaid. He is an admirable, tough old man. Unfortunately other than optimistic Thomas other characters does stay one dimensional.

Troll Hunter is a must-see one of a kind creature fable which entertains massively with its tense yet fun narrative.

Troll Hunter is screening on the 22nd & 24th of June as part of EIFF.

Posted in Edinburgh, Events, Reviews | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

EIFF preview – Albatross

Posted on June 19, 2011 by Shell

Cliff House hotel, home to frustrated writer, Jonathan (played by Sebastian Koch) and washed up actress (played by Julia Ormond) and their two daughters. Vivacious new cleaner Emelia quickly becomes best friends with daughter Beth (Felicity Jones), and muse to Jonathan.

Jonathans marriage is failing. Young Emelia is smart, beautiful and dreams of becoming a writer, to live up to her famous surname – Jonathan can’t help be drawn to her, and his offers to teach her creative writing quickly become an affair.

As the relationship between Jonathan and his wife spiral in self-destruction, daughter Beth and Emelia’s friendship become stronger, and the ultimate, inevitable consequences are executed with perfection. Throughout the focus remains on Emelia’s struggle with her own identity through the whirlwind of change she is the catalyst of.

Set in a sleepy Isle of Man sea-side town, this beautifully crafted drama is packed with scintillating dialogue, and a wonderful central performance from Jessica Brown Findlay as Emelia Conan Doyle make this one of the highlights of this years EIFF.

It is hard not to love this charming film from get go.

Albatross is screening on the 19th and 21st June as part of EIFF.

Posted in Events, Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

EIFF – Perfect Sense premier

Posted on June 18, 2011 by Shell

Bit of luck today and we managed to grab tickets for the premier of Ewan McGregor’s new film, Perfect Sense, at the Festival Theatre.

We briefly spotted the man himself on the way into the screening, so amateurish candid video below! Review to follow.

Posted in Edinburgh, Events, Film | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

EIFF – our picks so far

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Shell

Since Edinburgh International Film Festival opened on Wednesday, we’ve been pleasantly surprised with the range of films. So far there have been a handful of gems, not to mention some truly outstanding performances (Jessica Brown Findlay in Albatross, and the entire cast of Tomboy) - and one really naff film -cough- Rabies. There promises to be a lot more, with high profile films such as Page Eight and Perfect Sense, but here’s what we reckon are the best so far -

If you’ve missed out on tickets for any of the above, check them out when they come back after the festival – they’re worth it.

Our EIFF diary continues to be updated over at Edinburgh Spotlight.

Posted in Edinburgh, Events, Reviews | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

EIFF preview – The Borrower Arriety

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Sirin

We adore anime, no use hiding it. And we’re pretty much smitten by everything that comes out of Studio Ghibli. But no matter what some folks tell you, it’s just not the same watch English dubs, so it was with some misgivings and the fact that this is the only anime at this years Festival that we found ourselves at The Borrower Arrietty – and we’ve very glad we did.

What we have here is the Japanese version with subtitles, which had us grinning with relief.

The film opens with a beautiful theme tune and wonderfully observational animation, a trademark of Studio Ghibli, as sickly young Sho arrives at his aunts house to convalesce. Out of the corner of his eye he glimpses Arrietty foraging as she’s trying to avoid becoming Niya’s the cats’ lunch.

14 year old Arrietty lives in bowels of this big mansion with her parents – a house inside a house. They call themselves borrowers. Intricately drawn, you could almost be forgiven for preferring Arrietty’s comfy family home – the attention to detail is lovely.

Arriety is coming of age, and it’s time for her to follow her father Pod into the Bean (as in, human) house first time borrowing. Venturing into maze of corridors and various passage ways with her father. They must borrow from humans to survive. Despite being as discreet as possible she can’t avoid not to be seen by Sho. Even his gentleness isn’t enough for Arrietty and her father immediately abandon their supply run. Humans can’t be trusted, but it’s too late, and this won’t be the last time Sho and Arrietty meet.

Sho wants to be helpful and friendly to Arrietty things seems to be not going right for her. Older generation household already have tales of little people being seen in the house long time ago. And recent events seems to only fuel suspicions of house hold maid Haru.

This adaptation of The Borrower Arrietty has everything and more you expect from a studio Ghibli anime. The screenplay written by Miyazaki himself and debut directing by Yonebayashi.

Arrietty follows a traditional Ghibli pattern with a strong female lead and an emphasis on how beautiful the natural world is – from night time cicadas and the wind blowing through giant flowers, the viewer is transported into hot Japanese summer. From the beginning this anime immerse you into a beautiful, dangerous world - suicidal crow to grumbling and bad-tempered cat Niya, all these animals have bundles of character.

A story tinged with wonder, sadness and the joy of youth, this is must-see anime even for non Studio Ghibli fans.

You can catch The Borrower Arrietty 18th and 20th June as part of EIFF.

Posted in Anime, Events, Japan, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments