Film HITLIST THE BEST FILM & DVD RELEASES
list.co.uk/film
Take One Action Film Festival The festival that celebrates the people and films that are changing the world is back with a solid gold programme. Highlights include political drama Even the Rain (pictured) and powerful documentaries Blood in the Mobile, Pink Saris and Life and Debt. See feature, page 67. takeoneaction.org.uk. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, GFT, Glasgow & CCA, Glasgow, Mon 19 Sep–Sun 2 Oct.
The Skin I Live In Pedro Almodovar and Antonio Banderas back together after all these years in consummate gothic horror. See feature, page 64 and review, page 96. Selected release from Fri 26 Aug. Days of Heaven Terrence Malick’s stunning, bucolic and lyrical 1978 feature starring Richard Gere and Brooke Adams digitally restored. See Also Released, page 99. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Fri 2–Thu 15 Sep.
The Hedgehog Classy adaptation of Muriel Barbery’s best-selling book The Elegance of the Hedgehog. See review, page 99. GFT, Glasgow and Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Fri 2–Thu 15 Sep.
Jane Eyre Beguiling and other-worldly interpretation of Charlotte Bronte’s classic text starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender. Sin Nombre director Cary Fukunaga hits the North. See review page 97. General release from Fri 9 Sep. Post Mortem The 1973 Chilean military coup refracted in Pablo Larrain’s strange, seedy, slow and disturbing film. Alfredo Castro is disquieting as morgue technician Mario. See review, page 98. GFT, Glasgow, Fri 9–Thu 15 Sep.
Tomboy This girl wants to be a boy. Subtle and unique dramatisation of the contradictory experiences of childhood. Zoé Héran is convincing as the protagonist. See review, page 97. GFT, Glasgow, Fri 16–Thu 22 Sep.
Edindocs New documentary film festival celebrating the best short and feature length stuff out there at the moment. edindocs.com. See feature, page 67. Church Hill Theatre, Edinburgh, Fri 16–Sun 18 Sep.
The Rise of the Planet of the Apes Andy Serkis works his animatronic toys again in this prequel reboot. The best blockbuster of the summer just keeps on giving that monkey magic. Out now on general release.
Bal It’s been a long time coming to Scottish screens so don’t miss this stunning exploration of a young boy's imaginative wanderings on Turkey's remote Black Sea coast. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Mon 29 Aug–Thu 1 Sep.
Profile ANDRE OVREDAL
Born 1973, Norway
Background After studying at Santa Barbara’s Brooks Institute, where he made his first film, Future Murder (2001), Ovredal established himself as a successful director of commercials in Norway. What’s he up to now? He’s written and directed Troll Hunter, a uniquely Norwegian addition to the ‘mockumentary’ genre, in which three student journalists pursuing a story about illegal bear killings discover the titular character, and his improbably real quarry. Presented as Blair Witch- style found footage, it has placed Ovredal firmly on Hollywood’s radar, with Variety featuring him in this year’s Ten Directors to Watch list.
On the concept of the film ‘It just came from blending all the things that I enjoy myself; it’s the fairytales of Norway [mixed] with very American movies and a Norwegian sensibility about people. All the children in Norway hear troll fairy stories at some point, so I’m just playing with the idea: if trolls really existed today, how would that actually work?’
On the character of the Troll Hunter ‘He is the person who defines the humour of the film, his attitude towards the trolls has to be so dry and droll, kind of tired and reluctant and disinterested, and therefore it becomes funny. He’s a little bit of Quint from Jaws, a little bit of Hugh Laurie’s character from House, and maybe a retired Indiana Jones too.’ Interesting fact Big-shot American filmmaker Chris Columbus has already bought the remake rights to Troll Hunter. Ovredal says it’s ‘exciting, and just nuts’. (Paul Gallagher) ■ Troll Hunter is on selected release from Fri 16 September. See review, page 97.
25 Aug–22 Sep 2011 THE LIST 95