THE BREADWINNER
Nora Twomey’s enchanting movie was premiered at last year’s London Film Festival and it deservedly won an Oscar nomination as Best Animated Feature.
It is based on Deborah Ellis’ novel which tells the story of Parvana (voice by Saara Chaudry), an 11-year-old girl living under the strict Taliban rule in Afghanistan. The year is 2001 and women are not allowed outside their houses let alone work, but following the unjustified arrest of her father, Parvana decides to cut off her hair and disguise herself as a boy in order to support her family. This is a life changing experience for Parvana, who relishes her new freedom but she won’t rest until she finds her father…
Twomey, who previously worked as head of story for the acclaimed SONG OF THE SEA, is a natural storyteller and her magical film develops like a Tale from the Arabian Nights but in a dangerous world under the harrowing backdrop of the Taliban regime where no one is safe.
The colourful animation is stunning while the characters are well drawn and memorable. It is quite rare to see such an enjoyable film with a powerful message that is both educational as well as entertaining especially for younger audiences.
An unexpected delight and a real treat!
EDIE
Sheila Hancock excels as the eponymous heroine in Simon Hunter’s inspirational film about an 83-year-old woman who decides to fulfil her childhood dream and climb a Scottish mountain.
Edie spent most of her life looking after her difficult husband but following his death she packs up her bags and heads for Scotland despite her daughters’ objections…
Hancock’s monumental performance carries the film magnificently. The film is a bit rough around the edges and may be occasionally slightly sentimental but the striking aerial photography of Mount Sullivan in the Scottish highlands as well as Hancock’s dignified presence lift the whole thing to another dimension.
It is a heartfelt, moving performance very much worth witnessing!
SHOW DOGS
This is enjoyable, silly fun for the whole family – not in the leagues of BEST IN SHOW but it would make a good double bill with this classic comedy!
NYPD police dog Max (voice by Chris “Ludacris” Brisges) goes undercover at the celebrated dog show in order to investigate a dangerous case. Max the Rottweiler reluctantly joins forces with the even more reluctant, the smug FBI detective Frank (Will Arnett) and unsurprisingly the stage is set up for disaster…
Even though the film was mostly filmed in Wales director Raja Gosnell makes great use of the locations and delivers the goods efficiently particularly the over the top action set pieces. The voice work is also satisfying and includes notorious scene stealers Stanley Tucci and Alan Cumming as Phillipe the Papillion and Dante the Yorkshire terrier.
An amiable, unpretentious film that will put a smile on your face!
ZAMA
Another film from last year’s London Film Festival is Lucrecia Martel’s impressive period piece her first film in 10 years since THE HEADLESS WOMAN. The story is adapted from Antonio di Benedetto’s 1956 Argentine novel and tells the story of Don Diego de Zama (Daniel Gimenez Cacho), a 17th century Spanish officer stationed in the remote town of Asuncion in South America eagerly awaiting a letter from the King for a transfer to a better place hopefully to Buenos Aires. But alas as the years go by the letter never comes…
Martel’s intelligent film is leisurely told taking its time in introducing characters and situations while her beautifully framed compositions compliment perfectly the stunning locations.
The acting is strong and overall a mesmerising experience!
THE LITTLE VAMPIRE
This likable animation feature is a remake of the 2000 live action adventure of the same title based on Angela Sommer-Bodenburg’s novel which tells the story of Rudolph (Rasmus Hardiker), a young vampire about to reluctantly celebrate his 13th birthday for the 300th time.
Meanwhile an American family with their 12 year-old son Tony are visiting Transylvania in the hope of encountering vampires which are currently being threatened by Rookery (Jim Carter), a vicious vampire hunter…
It is an enjoyable tale not dissimilar to HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA but not as classy or imaginative. The decent voice work includes Miriam Margolyes as Wulftrund, the eccentric landlady and the late Tim-Piggot Smith, in one of his last credited performances, as Frederick Sackville-Bagg, the patriarch of the vampire dynasty.
George Savvides
