The White Ribbon (15)
Director: Michael Haneke. Austria/Germany/France/Italy 2009. 144 mins. German with English subtitles.
An arresting tale set just before World War I. In a small German village, a number of unexplained accidents distress the community. At first they appear coincidental, then it begins to seem that they are not accidents at all. Magnificently shot in black and white, this mesmerising, disturbing and unmissable film won the Palme D‘Or at Cannes.
“As strong and memorable as anything Haneke has previously accomplished, an austere and fastidious masterpiece that digs deep into what remains of the souls of the children and adults without appearing to strain for significance.”– Derek Malcolm in This is London.
Monday 24th May 2010
Moon (15)
Director: Duncan Jones. UK 2009. Starring: Sam Rockwell and Kevin Spacey. 97 mins.
Low budget BAFTA winner from David Bowie’s son, Duncan Jones. Astronaut Sam Bell is nearing the end of his solitary three-year stint on the Moon overseeing mining of precious gases that are sent to Earth, alone except for a computer called Gerty.
“A frequently engrossing science fiction story given a particular tension and seriousness by its moral inquiry into what it means to be fully human and alive“
– Patrick Z McGavin in Screen International.
“…a gripping sci-fi tale, with a lot of heart and humanity“
– Cosmo Landesman in the Sunday Times.
Monday 14th June 2010
The Diving Bell And The Butterfly (12A)
Director: Julian Schnabel. France/USA 2007. Starring: Mathieu Amalric. 112 mins. French with subtitles.
After a stroke, Jean-Dominique Bauby can only move his left eye. Through that eye he learns to communicate, one letter at a time. Based on his memoir, this seemingly claustrophobic story of a man imprisoned in his paralysed body becomes a joyous and expansive film about love, imagination, and the will to live.
“An astonishing, deeply moving film, Schnabel’s third film is also his masterpiece, thanks to extraordinary direction, stunning camerawork, a terrific script and an Oscar-worthy central performance from Amalric”.
– Matthew Turner in ViewLondon.
Monday 26th July 2010
Fish Tank (15)
Director: Andrea Arnold. UK 2009. Starring Katie Jarvis, Michael Fassbender. 123 mins.
Mia, a bored 15-year-old, has been excluded from school. She fights with her family, hangs around the estate, or practises dancing in secret. Things change when her mother introduces a new boyfriend. An exceptional performance by non-pro Katie Jarvis drives this intense and surprising film which won a BAFTA and numerous other awards.
“Fish Tank takes you to places you never expected and, with pitch-perfect performances all round, makes for a beguiling and very real picture that conjures hope amid the most hopeless of surroundings. The best British film of the year”
– David Edwards in the Daily Mirror.
