Film editor Gail Tolley selects the highlights of this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival. You can catch everyone of these fi lms in the order they’re listed.
TUE 26 JUN
WED 27 JUN THU 28 JUN
FRI 29 JUN
SAT 30 JUN
SUN 1 JUL
WHAT IS THIS FILM CALLED LOVE ? FILMS ON FILM Local critic Mark Cousins’ personal journey through Mexico City with Russian fi lmmaker Sergei Eisenstein as his imaginary companion. Filmhouse, 6pm; also screening at Cineworld, Sat 30 Jun, 7.45pm.
7 DAYS IN HAVANA BLUE BLACK PERMANENT
DIRECTOR’S SHOWCASE Seven directors, including Benicio Del Toro and Gaspar Noe, direct a day each in this celebration of the vibrant Cuban capital. Cineworld, 6.20pm; also screening at Cineworld, Fri 22 Jun, 6.20pm.
SPECIAL SCREENINGS The only feature of esteemed Scottish fi lmmaker and artist Margaret Tait, 20 years after it premiered at the EIFF. A delicate and haunting fi lm about a daughter’s grief. Filmhouse, 4.05pm.
SEXUAL CHRONICLES OF A FRENCH FAMILY THE UNSPEAKABLE ACT
DIRECTOR’S INTERNATIONAL
SHOWCASE Frank French drama about 15-year-old Romain, whose virginity stands out among his sexually promiscuous family. Cineworld, 6.10pm; also screening at Cineworld, Sun 24 Jun, 6.10pm. COMPETITION Excellent performances in this American indie about the relationship between a sister and brother. Cineworld, 1.10pm; also screening at Cameo, Fri 29 Jun, 7pm.
FAMILY SHORTS SHORTS Perfect Sunday- morning viewing for the whole family in this programme of short fi lms from around the world. Filmhouse, 3.15pm.
THE MIRROR NEVER LIES
TETSUO: THE IRON MAN BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO
NEW PERSPECTIVES Poetic story of 12-year- old Pakis who lives on a small island inhabited by members of the Bajo tribe. An Indonesian coming-of-age story with environmentalist undertones. Filmhouse, 8pm; also screening at Filmhouse, Fri 22 Jun, 8.05pm.
SPOTLIGHT ON MICHAEL POWELL
SHINYA TSUKAMOTO Newly restored version of this cult Japanese cyberpunk movie from 1989 about a new breed of people created from fl esh and metal. Cineworld, 8:40pm. AWARD COMPETITION A sound technician from the UK travels to work at the notorious horror sound studios in Italy in Peter Strickland’s much anticipated second feature after Katalin Varga. Filmhouse, 8.20pm; also screening at Filmhouse, Fri 29 Jun, 6pm.
SHADOW DANCER
MICHAEL POWELL AWARD COMPETITION James Marsh (Man on Wire, Project Nim) returns to the festival with his IRA thriller starring Clive Owen and Angela Riseborough. Filmhouse, 8.15pm; also screening at Filmhouse, Sat 30 Jun, 7.30pm.
GOD BLESS AMERICA
DIRECTOR’S SHOWCASE Middle-aged Frank, diagnosed with terminal cancer, embarks on a cultural killing spree. A dark comedy about the madness of contemporary media. Cineworld, 3.30pm; also screening at Cineworld, Fri 29 Jun, 8.20pm.
CHAPITEAU SHOW NEW PERSPECTIVES A surprise hit across Russia, this four-hour epic interweaves a variety of stories all set in a Crimean holiday resort. Filmhouse, 5.10pm; also screening at Cineworld, Sun 24 Jun, 1.15pm.
THE SUBURBAN TRILOGY TETSUO II: BODY HAMMER
BLACK BOX Three experimental fi lms by Abigail Child about gender and immigration. An anthropological collage using found footage and documentary material. Filmhouse, 9.40pm; also screening at Filmhouse, Fri 29 Jun, 5.05pm.
SPOTLIGHT ON SHINYA TSUKAMOTO Action-thriller follow-up to Tetsuo: The Iron Man about a cyborg gang conspiracy. Regarded by many as superior to the fi rst. Cineworld, 10:30pm.
TIM AND ERIC’S BILLION DOLLAR MOVIE NIGHT MOVES Nutty US comedians Tim and Eric bring their unique, trashy humour to the big screen. With appearances from Zach Galifi anakis, Will Ferrell and Jeff Goldblum. Filmhouse, 10.45pm; also screening at Cameo, Sat 30 Jun, 11.15pm.
WRONG BRAVE
PRIVATE WORLDS
NIGHT MOVES A surreal comedy about a man on the hunt to fi nd his lost dog that leads to a series of absurd events, from Quentin Dupieux, the director of Rubber. Cameo, 11.15pm; also screening at Cineworld, Sat 30 Jun, 6.10pm. CLOSING NIGHT GALA Pixar’s latest animation is a delightful Scottish- set fairytale about young Merida who rebels against her mother after she announces plans to marry her off. Festival Theatre, 8.15pm.
GREGORY LA CAVA RETROSPECTIVE Unconventional melodrama set in a psychiatric hospital, one of the fi rst fi lms to tackle mental illness in the States. Filmhouse, 9.15pm.
21 Jun–19 Jul 2012 THE LIST 35