Film HITLIST THE BEST FILM RELEASES
list.co.uk/film
The Tree of Life Celebrated low-productivity filmmaker Terrence Malick’s fifth film finally emerges and it’s a stunningly poetic epic about life, love and the universe. See review, page 61. General release from Fri 8 Jul.
A Separation Morally complex but brilliantly realised drama about a modern day Iranian couple attempting to separate. See profile, right and review, page 63. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Fri 1 Jul–Thu 21 Jul. Cell 211 Compelling prison drama about a young guard who finds himself at the heart of a riot. Testosterone-filled and full of suspense. See review, page 61. Selected release from Fri 15 Jul.
Bobby Fischer Against the World Impressive documentary about the trials and tribulations of the one-time American chess ace. See review, page 61. Filmhouse, Edinburgh from Fri 15 Jul.
Hobo with a Shotgun Ridiculous but enjoyably random exploitation flick starring Rutger Hauer as the titular trigger happy tramp. Inspired by a fake trailer in Tarantino’s Grindhouse. See review, page 62. Selected release from Fri 15 Jul. The Princess of Montpensier Veteran French filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier adapts Madame de Lafayette’s proto-feminist romantic thriller with swashbuckling effect. See review, page 62. Filmhouse, Edinburgh from Fri 8 Jul.
Bal (Honey) Beautiful and lyrical Turkish drama about a six-year-old boy in search of his father in the forests around the Black Sea area of Turkey. See Also Released, page 64. GFT, Glasgow from Fri 15 Jul.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 The most famous young wizard in the world comes to the end of his journey in the final instalment of the film adaptations. See Also Released, page 64. General release from Fri 15 Jul.
Bridesmaids Wedding comedy that proves to be a hilarious reinvention of chick flick, written by and starring new comedy queen Kristen Wiig, and produced by mainstay Judd Apatow. General release from Fri 24 Jun.
Incendies This Canadian movie from Denis Villeneuve is a powerful cinematic treatise on violence and retribution in the Middle East. GFT, Glasgow, Fri 1–Thu 7 Jul; Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Mon 27 Jun–Tue 12 Jul.
Profile
ASGHAR FARHADI Born Isfahan, Iran, 1972. Background Farhadi embarked on filmmaking while still at school, where he made Super 8 and 16mm films as part of the Iranian Young Cinema Society. He went on to graduate from Tehran University with a masters in direction. His feature debut came in 2003 with Dancing in the Dust, followed by The Beautiful City (2004) and Fireworks Wednesday (2006). In 2009 Farhadi won the Best Director award at Berlin Film Festival for About Elly, the story of a group of Iranian friends who head to the Caspian Sea on a short holiday.
What’s he up to now? Farhadi’s latest film, A Separation, also received great acclaim at Berlin Film Festival. It won the Golden Bear award for Best Film (the first Iranian film to do so) as well as the Best Actor and Best Actress prizes for the ensemble cast. It tells the story of a couple, Nader and Simin, who decide to separate following a dispute as to whether they should leave Iran to ensure better prospects for their daughter, and the events that ensue. On the genesis of the film ‘I’m not sure when the first spark for the story came to my mind, but I guess it started with a few pictures in my head that wouldn’t leave me. They weren’t obviously connected, such as a picture of a man who bathes his old father or a picture of a man and wife who sat in front of a judge for their divorce case.’
On his approach to working with actors ‘We practise for several months before filming. Most of the time, the practise is spent on creating the characters’ pasts and their relationships with one another before the story begins.’ Interesting fact Before directing his first feature film, Farhadi found success as the writer of Low Heights by Ebrahim Hatamikia. The film stars actress Leila Hatami, who also plays one of the lead roles in A Separation. (Gail Tolley) ■ A Separation is at Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Fri 1–Thu 21 Jul. See review, page 63.
23 Jun–21 Jul 2011 THE LIST 59