October at the IFI

Irish short films ENOUGH, DING DONG DENNY'S HISTORY OF IRELAND and THURSDAY AFTERNOON are all showing before selected features - see the programme for more details.

THE DISTURBED will be showing as part of the annual Horrorthon event.

On October 10th/11th there will be screenings of film adaptations of some of the works of John Millington Synge.

The absolutely brilliant showcase of this year's IFB Short Shorts will be appearing on October 13th (do not miss).

This month's Ireland on Sunday screening (October 18th) is the excellent, if slightly depressing, OUR WONDERFUL HOME.

Irish shorts in Dublin

Just had this in the mail from Filmmakers' Network. Sounds nice.

Observations - an evening of documentary films and discussion.

We will be screening a selection of the best recent short Irish documentaries. The filmmakers will be in attendance for a short discussion and Q&A about their work.

Films screening include:
Pedal Pushers - Directed by Niamh Kennedy
God & Napoleon - Directed, produced, shot and edited by Ciarán Deeney

Date: Wednesday 30th September 7:30PM Sharp

Venue: Filmbase, Curved Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

For more information about the event please go here.

Screen Bandita

"The Eruption of Kilauea and Other Treasures" is the latest event from Screen Bandita, a project merging found footage and live music and will take place at St Cecilia's Hall, Niddry Street, Edinburgh on 30th October 2009 at 19:30. Tickets are £4 / £3 concession.

The event will feature vintage footage from the 16mm archive at Filmhouse (the event is the brainchild of three ladies from that cinema) with live accompanying music from local bands. Having seen John Foxx do something like this in Brighton a few years back, I know it can be pretty cool so watch out for this one.

Presented in collaboration with Filmhouse and ECA's Scottish Documentary Institute.

Irish films in Edinburgh

Film society the Edinburgh Film Guild is about to celebrate their 80th year, and this year's offerings include a number of Irish-related movies. A mini season of Irish films little seen on this side of the sea includes IRISH DESTINY, MISE EIRE, SAOIRSE?, ROCKY ROAD TO DUBLIN, JANEY MARY, POITIN and KINGS; a season on Native American cinema includes DREAMKEEPER, directed by Dubliner Steve Barron; and a John Sayles season includes THE SECRET OF ROAN INISH. See the website for membership details.

Docs course in Edinburgh

I've mentioned it before (I think) but here's a reminder about this course which is running shortly in Edinburgh.

ANTON on DVD

A little bit more info on the upcoming DVD release of ANTON, the independent Irish thriller starring Anthony Fox, Laura Way and Gerard McSorley, which I mentioned in brief previously. The DVD is released in Ireland on October 2nd and will contain a "making of" featurette, deleted scenes, outtakes and music video. I mentioned previously that the film is being retitled TRAPPED for international sales, well apparently there's a different ending to that version as well, though I know not what it is.

London Film Festival

There are a few representatives of Scotland and Ireland at the London Film Festival this year (14th-29th October). Hot on the heels of their Toronto showings are A SHINE OF RAINBOWS and CRACKS (both Ireland), along with VALHALLA RISING (Scotland). They'll be joined by Ken Wardrop's documentary HIS AND HERS after its successful debut at Galway.

In the shorts strand, Scottish-produced short LITTLE RED HOODIE will be following up its Edinburgh appearance and will be joined by POLLPHAIL, while Irish shorts will be represented by Morgan Bushe's IF I SHOULD FALL BEHIND and David Freyne's THE MILL.

The "Working Your Future" event for filmmakers will also include a keynote address by Simon Perry of the Irish Film Board.

TOUCH THE SOUND (2004)

Bringing a fresh new perspective to the nature of music and of sound in general, Thomas Riedelsheimer's TOUCH THE SOUND: A SOUND JOURNEY WITH EVELYN GLENNIE has been rarely seen since its original run on the festival circuit.

Deaf from an early age, Glennie ignored the nay saying of doctors by continuing a career in music despite her hearing difficulties. Ultimately she has gone on to become one of the world's most accomplished and acclaimed percussionists.

Riedelsheimer's documentary follows Glennie through both crowded cities and her rural background in the north of Scotland and to the recording of an album with Fred Frith. It makes for inspirational viewing to see/hear how Glennie feels the sounds.

The film's style may not be to everyone's taste but it's difficult to see this film working in any other way once you've seen how Riedelsheimer approaches it. Although still very visual in nature, the sound understandably takes on the most importance and the emphasis falls on the little sounds that we take for granted; now they take centre stage.

The film has now finally been released on DVD in the UK and is available from all the usual places.

SUGAR STICK (2009)

In the middle of all the killer robots and comic book villains that threaten the livelihood of movie protagonists the world over, sometimes there's nothing more villainous than an old woman with a pack of ciggies and an acid tongue.

SUGAR STICK, a new short film written and directed by Irish actress Laura Way, focuses on the relationship between Mary (Irene Wright) and Miriam (Kathleen Tierney), a couple of women who gather for tea regularly but more out habit than anything else now. Their friendship has turned sour, though only Mary knows it.

It's almost uncomfortably familiar - we've all, I'm sure, experienced those occasions when conversations go on too long, when friends begin to annoy, when you wish sometimes that a person would shut up just for a minute. SUGAR STICK takes that feeling to the extreme but in a darkly amusing way.

Given Ireland's rich heritage in theatre, it's not surprising that some of the country's films are often accused of being too talky and stage-like, however SUGAR STICK shows the positive side of that criticism. In a film that takes place in a single room with only two characters it might have been easy to fall into such a trap but Way's film does no such thing.

It's true that this aspect of the film is very well written - snappy dialogue is delivered with perfect timing by the perfectly cast actresses - but there is no neglect of the story either. While you've barely begun to wonder where the film is going, a few twists are thrown in just to throw you off balance (including one to watch out for during the closing credits).

On top of all this, the music is a perfect match and the film looks terrific - the kitchen having a wonderfully autumnal colour scheme of oranges and browns - which round off a delightful package. Watch out for it at a film festival near you soon.

SUGAR STICK is sponsored by Culture Ireland.

THE VICAR OF BRAY (1937)

This largely forgotten British film set in the 17th century finds the British parliament in turmoil - I know, my timing is ironic - and revolves around the power struggles arising from it. Oliver Cromwell and Charles I (he was born in Dunfermline you know) are the famous historical figures involved but the film revolves around the titular character, played by Stanley Holloway.

For all Holloway's body of work, I must confess that I know him best as the train station attendant in BRIEF ENCOUNTER (I know, but I really love that film) so it's a change for me to see him as the lead in a film. Sadly there must be a better showcase for him than this for despite his best efforts this film is a right old muddle.

The film has definitely dated and is very much of its time; but I can forgive that. Where I find a problem is in the film's constantly shifting tone which sees musical comedy battling with historical drama and neither genre scores the knock-out punch. The story wanders aimlessly, never quite knowing what it's about or who it should be focused on and as a result we flit from forgettable musical numbers and slapstick comedy to dark tales of political intrigue and doomed love. Perhaps the vision of poverty-ridden Irish villagers dancing around in their village having a party sums it up best.

There's a little historical curiosity here but sadly little else.

Irish films on DVD

Hopefully normal service will resume shortly and I'll be able to catch up on the backlog of reviews, but in the meantime there's just time to notify/remind you that WC is released on DVD on 19th October, WAVERIDERS is available now and according to a comment on the IMDb, ANTON will be available from September 25th (although it appears to be getting a change of title for the international market - TRAPPED).

Celebrate Scotland at the Hippodrome

I was well impressed with my recent visit to the Hippodrome in Bo'ness (where I saw the Southwell Collective's live accompaniment to FINIS TERRAE and the excellent short ST KILDA: BRITAIN'S LONELIEST ISLE) and I'm pleased to see more Scottish gems in store there in the near future.

Celebrating St Andrew's Day (which also brings to a close Scotland's first Homecoming Year), the last weekend in November will see a selection of Scottish-related films getting an airing.

THE BEST DAY OF THE YEAR: 100 YEARS OF THE BO'NESS CHILDREN'S FAIR combines archive footage and contemporary interviews to tell a story of local interest and is back by popular demand on Thursday 26th November (though it also screens before then, on October 4th).

Friday 27th sees an always-welcome screening of Hitchock's THE 39 STEPS (although if it's just Hitch you're interested in rather than the Scottish angle, check the Hippodrome's programme for details of another couple of his films screening over the next couple of months).

On Saturday 28th there's a screening of the not-that-Scottish-at-all DRAGONHEART, but it does celebrate the work of Sean Connery, probably our most famous cinematic export.

Also on Saturday 28th, there's a rare chance to catch Bill Forsyth's classic comedy GREGORY'S GIRL on the big screen, and Sunday 29th finishes things off with a wonderful film from a wonderful director, Michael Powell's I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING.

This is Scotland

Nope, it's not a really obvious statement but rather the name of a season kicking off on BBC4 this Saturday. Among the Scottish-themed documentaries is SCOTLAND ON FILM, in which Alan Cumming explores Scottish-set films while there are also screenings for Scottish films such as the classic comedy WHISKY GALORE and an all too rare showing of Peter Watkins' CULLODEN (which will also be preceded by a making-of programme).

More info here, and check the TV listings for exact details and screening times.