SCOTTISH FILM
SCOTTISH FILM
I A Lite less Ordinary: A new film by the trio behind .S'ltallott' Grave and 'I'rainspotting — director Danny Boyle. producer Artdrew Macdonald and writer John Hodge — has begun its nine- week shoot in Utalt. The film stars Ewan McGregor as :1 Scot in America who, when suddenly made redundant. kidnaps the daughter of his former boss. The film features an all-star cast — 'I'lre Mark's Cameron Diaz. Oscar- winner Holly Hunter and character actors Ian l-Iolm. Dan lledaya. Delroy Lindo and Stanley 'I‘ucci.
I Kinolilm 95: Such was the response from north of the border to the call earlier this year for film submissions to Manchester‘s Kinofilm 96 short film festival that the programmers have organised a special New Scottish Shorts evening on Saturday 26 October. The bill consists of Mirror .rlti'rror. Plastering 'I'lle Cracks, Bel/.\'-Up. ( 'a/e Rem/et'oas. 'l'rut/r. .S'leeptt‘alking. Edinburgh I’ul) 'Iir/es and Lynne Ramsey‘s Cannes award-winner Small Deaths. Ramsey will also be taking part in a fortrrn on short frlmmaking on Saturday l9 ()ctober. New Scottish Sltorts screens at 8. l 5pm irt Dukes 92; information on the festival in general is available on ()l6l 288 2494.
I Pulse: The latest feattrre frotrt young Scottish director Steven Simpson shoots in Edinburgh in November and December. with an eye on a theatrical release irt I997. Simpson‘s debut. 'Ii'es.
screened at the Edinburgh Film Festival in I994 and won Best British Film at the Cherbourg Film Festival later that year. Pulse is described as ‘a contemporary. gritty street thriller and love story'. and the frlrnrnakers are currently looking for extras as well as offering internships for those wanting experience in the film business. Anyone interested should contact Judi Green. c/o Pulse. 55/6 James Square. Calcdonian Crescent. Edinburgh. EHI l 2AT.
I lmages 0t Scotland: Glasgow Filrn Theatre begins a live-week course on Monday 2I ()ctober which looks at representations of Scotland and Scots in film arid television. The first session examines the historical context. with Janet McBain of the Scottish Film Archive showing a selection of films made during the silent era. Subsequent evenings look at travelogues. the revival of a Scottish film industry and the sense of national identity felt by up- and-coming filmmakers. Talks take place in Cinema 2 at 5.45pm each week and cost £25 (£20) for the entire course or £6 (£5) for individual events.
I Carlo Scarpa: Leadino Scottish documentary filmmaker artd former Director of the Edinburgh Film Festival. Murray Grigor presents his latest film at the GFT at 6.30pm on Wednesday 23 October. (.‘arlo Scar-pa examines the work of the Italian modernist architect. particularly the Palazzo Abatcllis in Palermo and the Castlevccchio art gallery in Verona.
E3135!— ro wuom IT MAY concsnu
When it lined up with the rest of the programme at this year’s Brambuie Edinburgh Film Festival, Enrico Harvey’s To Whom It May Concern wasn’t just one at the best Scottish works on show, it was among the most outstanding shorts from any country.
Shot in an expressionistlc style that brings to mind the black-and-white poetic quality ot Bill Bouglas’s My Childhood, the film tollows a young postman (played by tliall Grieg Foulton) whose trip to deliver a letter on a bleak concrete housing estate triggers some buried memories about his unhappy upbringing. .
Peeking through the keyhole when he doesn’t get a reply, the postie sees a montage of emotionally significant
To Whom It May Cocern: ‘melancholy beauty’
! st ,. v4 ‘~\ ‘i
moments from his past - playing hide and seek with other children, being hit by his bullying lather, serving as an altar boy. llarvey, who has already established his credentials as one at the Scottish tilm industry’s most promising cinematographers, derives much power trom his concentrated imagery: a drop ot communion wine mirrors the boy’s single tear, hinting at more inner pain than any amount at hystrionics.
The air ot sadness and inevitability that lingers throughout the iilm is protoundly moving, but also has a delicate melancholy beauty. Given that it marks llarvey’s debut as writer- director, this is a clear indication ot a serious tilmmaking talent. (Alan Morrison)
To Whom It May Concern is broadcast as part of the Shooting Cattery programme on Tue 22 act on Channel 4.
Also out: Pierce Brosnan doesn’t pull punches ln
Boldeneye, available to buy in lullscreen (£14.99)
RENTAL
I The Grotesque (18) A very English brand of aristocratic eccentricity merges with an uneasy gothic atmosphere in this screen version of Patrick McGrath‘s novel. Murder follows devilish butler Fledge (Sting) when he comes into the house of knighted palaeontologist Alan Bates. his restless American wife (Theresa Russell) and sweet daughter (Lena Headey). The minor characters become. as the title suggests. more and more grotesque as the film builds. a whole pack of gothic cards are played (dead animals. creepy crows) and there's a strange sense of humour that often catches the viewer unawares. If only director John Paul Davidson had had a firmer grasp on the storytelling. this might have been a true original. (lrnagine) I Richard Ill ([5) One of the most cinematic interpretations of Shakespeare ever made. Richard Loncraine‘s film itnproves on Richard Eyre’s acclaimed stage version by clarifying the crookbacked king‘s abuse of power as across-the- board totalitarian rather than sitnply fascist. Ian McKellen dominates the proceedings with art inspired reading of the title role. (Fox Guild)
I llelly Et M. Amaud (PG) This nicely played character-based romance by Claude Sautet finds the beautiful Ernrnanuelle Béart separated from her lazy husband and taking a job typing the memoirs of retired judge Michel Serrault. When she begins an affair with his editor. her employer. despite his age. shows hisjealousy. The acting is excellent. with the pompous but humanly fragile Serrault outstanding. (Guild; also retail £l5.99)
RETAIL
I lawrence 0t Arabia (PG) David Lean‘s classic desert epic is now available in the only format that matters — a crisp widescreen edition. complete with a short
and widescreen (£15.99)
documentary about the tnaking of the film and its restoration. and the original theatrical trailer. There's also a fullscreen version for those who don't mind missing otrt on some of the details. The Bridge (in The River Kwai is available with similar trimmings. (Columbia Tristar £14.99 each)
I The Young Poisoner’s Handbook (15) Winner of the Director‘s Award at the I995 Edinburgh Film Festival. Benjamin Ross‘s deliciously dark comedy features a beguiling performance by Hugh O‘Conor as Graham. a disturbed young mart who gets his own way at home arid at work by concocting chemical solutions to knock off his adversaries. The horror/comedy balance of tone is expertly handled. (Electric t.‘ 15.99) I Banana Splits (U) Two- and-a-half hours of colourful. flower-power surrealism -- as much adttlt rtostalgia as children's entertainment — complete with episodes of The Arabian Knights, The Three Musketeers and Danger Island. Are you sure the white stuff you're ptrtting on the kids' cornllakes is powdered milk? While we‘re in the Hanna-Barbera vaults. check otrt the most inept of cartoon crimeftghters. Hong Kong Phooey (U). (First Independent £9.99 each)
I The James Bond Collection (PG/ l 5 ) Nothing annoys die-hard Bond fans more than the shift frotn cinema to television/video format. when huge scale action has to be crammed into a pan-and-scan frame. Good .0 report then that all of
the first sixteen Bond films (excluding Goldeneye: see photo caption) are at last available on widescreen video — On Her Majesty 's Secret Sen'ice, For Your Eyes Only. Octopussy. A View To A K ill, Tire Living Dayliglus and Licence to Kill join the earlier list. (MGM/UA £l2.99) I Clitt At The Movies (PG) When it came to teen rebels. America had Brando and Dean. while Britain had. ehm. Cliff Richard. Here the man himself takes us through his film appearances from baby-faced newcomer to ‘actor for Jesus'. adding off-screen anecdotes to footage from [it'presm Bongo, Summer Holiday. The Young Ones and the rest. Actually. it‘s a pretty solid career portrait. although. like Cliff. devoid of even the slightest wltiff of controversy. (Pol yGram £14.99 ) I Junk Boy (18) Nope. he‘s not an addition to the Trainspotting team. but a sex-crazed Japanese adolescent who gets a dream job working for an adult magazine in this sexist animated satire on sexism. A softcore cartoon. the lead character’s too much of a jerk to Itave Loaded-ster irony. Also out is llew Ball Force (PG). the first of a five-part series which pits a hippy-ish idealism against force in a final battle for the liarth. (Manga £9.99 each)
I MGM Musicals Double Bills (U/PG) Weekend afternoons are made for one thing only: lounging in front of the telly watching a good old Hollywood double bill. If the fare on offer isn’t to your taste. then a set of ready-made packages are now available. ()n The linen/Anchors Array, An American In Paris/Gigi, S/lult'limll/St’l'(‘Il Bra/es I-‘or Seven Brothers and High Society/Singin' In The Rain will add a touch of cinema sunshine to the drabbest day. Try winning them in a competition next issue. (MGM/UA £l4.99 each set)
« él l ' Also out: Bruce Willis and Madeleine Stowe unravel the conspiracy ot Tinelve Monkeys (Polygram, rental)
The List I8-3l Oct I996 23