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The Great White Silence
This stunning documentary, beautifully restored by the BFI, charts Captain Scott’s ill-fated Polar Expedition of 1910-12. Herbert Ponting (1870-1935) set sail with the British Antarctic Expedition on the former whaling ship Terra Nova, as the Expedition’s official photographer and cinematographer, both for documentary purposes and because the sale of photographic and cinema rights helped pay
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The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
Newly restored for its fortieth anniversary, this influential Oscar-winning classic constitutes one of the finest achievements of one of cinema’s greatest directors, working in his intensely creative late period. This comedy of manners centres on a group of vividly drawn and outwardly respectable upper middle-class friends, who are continually thwarted in their attempt to have
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Holy Motors
Surrealist comedy delivering a visual feast populated with gripping performances. A day-in-the-life tale of a shadowy character called M. Oscar results in a concoction tailor-made for cinephiles. Makes other films look staid. The spark for the film came from Carax’s observation that stretch limousines were being increasingly used for weddings. He was interested in their
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The Angel’s Share
The latest film from legendary British director Ken Loach and his long-time collaborator screenwriter Paul Laverty (their previous films include the Palme d’Or winning The Wind that Shakes the Barley) pays homage to the famous Ealing comedy Whisky Galore. Loach and Laverty deliver a warm and humane comic delight, drawing wonderful performances from first-time actors
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Nostalgia for the Light
Breathtaking documentary that compares 2 groups of people searching for understanding of the past in the dry clear conditions of Chile’s Atacama Desert: astronomers study the universe and relatives search for remains of the Disappeared of Pinochet’s regime. A stunning, sad film with an end note of hope. Guzmán focuses on the similarities between astronomers
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Monsieur Lazhar
In Montreal, an elementary school teacher hangs herself. Bachir Lazhar, a recent Algerian immigrant, then offers his services to replace her, claiming to have taught in his home country. Desperate to fill the position, the principal, Mme Vaillancourt, takes him at his word and gives him the job. He gets to know his students despite
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Berberian Sound Studio
This critically acclaimed chiller comes from British director Peter Strickland whose 2009 debut, the darkly atmospheric revenge drama Katalin Varga, played to a highly appreciative WFC audience. The versatile British actor Toby Jones (whose roles have included Truman Capote, Alfred Hitchcock and Dobbie the house elf) plays a mousy sound engineer called Gilderoy from Dorking
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Spirit of the Beehive
In 1940s Spain a family of four live in an isolated farmhouse with window panes resembling the pattern of honeycomb. Father (a beekeeper and poet), and mother barely speak to each other and are disconnected from their two young daughters, little Ana (Ana Torrent) and her elder sister Isabel (Isabel Telleria). One day a rickety
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Polisse
A critically acclaimed French film, winner of the Cannes Jury Prize 2011 and 13 Cesar Awards also earning international praise. Yet some critics found it manipulative and likened it to TVs The Wire when a film splits critics like this its usually well worth the watch. The Paris Police Departments Juvenile Protection Unit has a
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Memories of Underdevelopment
It’s post-revolutionary Cuba, Sergio a middle class intellectual watches his parents and wife leave for Miami. Facing a life of adjustment, he disdainfully observes and reflects on change. His attraction to two women distract him. Skilful direction, performances and use of documentary footage earn this film top critical regard. Widely acclaimed as one of the
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