Film Reviews
BFI FLARE FILM FESTIVAL
BENEDICTION
Terence Davies’ remarkable film was also one of the highlights at last October’s London Film Festival and is screening here again before its general release on May 13th. The action of his intelligent screenplay opens during World War I and the story follows Siegfried Sassoon (Jack Lowden), a sensitive man and a poet extraordinaire. After he survives the horrors of war and fighting in the trenches Siegfried begins to write anti-war poetry based on his own experiences. Soon after he becomes an outspoken critic against the government but is sent to a special hospital for those suffering from traumas of conflict, where Siegfried meets the love of his life, the fellow poet Wilfred Owen (Mathew Tennyson). But when Wilfred returns to the front he is killed which inspires Siegfried to become an even stronger writer …
Davies’ most ambitious film to date spans through several decades and boasts superb production values. It is a passionate film which explores the amazing talent of this graceful man, who becomes a key figure in British society of the twenties and thirties but keeps on searching for love after he loses his soul mate so tragically.
The acting is excellent – Lowden is brilliant as the young poet and so is Peter Capaldi as his older incarnation. Jeremy Irvine is also effective as Ivor Novello, one of Sassoon’s lovers and Ben Daniels as the sympathetic doctor at the “specialist” hospital.
GIRL PICTURE
The opening choice of this year’s Festival is Alli Haapasalo’s terrific film from Finland which takes place on three consecutive Fridays and follows the story of three young girls, Mimmi, Emma and Ronkko, all ready to fall in love and experiment with their sexuality. Even though Mimmi and Emma are the total opposites they fall in love at first sight and feel an immediate attraction towards each other at the exotic juice drink shop, where Mimmi and Ronkko work. Meanwhile Ronkko is experimenting with boys until she finds the right one…
Haapasalo’s enjoyable film works a treat thanks to the careful development of her characters. There have been many films about young love but this is told from a fresh and original perspective.
BOULEVARD! A HOLLYWOOD STORY
Jeffrey Schwartz, the director of I AM DIVINE and TAB CONFIDENTIA, tells another jaw dropping jaw story from Hollywood, which has been one of its best kept secret until now. Gloria Swanson, soon after her remarkable success with SUNSET BOULEVARD in 1950 – the film that brought her back into the limelight – decided to turn the film into a musical long before Andrew Lloyd Webber even went to a nursery. Swanson hired upcoming songwriters Richard Stapley and Dickson Hughes and everything was going according to plan until she falls in love with one of them even though she knew he was gay…
A joyous, illuminating documentary not to be missed!
THIS IS NOT ME
Saeed Gholipour’s powerful documentary highlights two young men’s struggle with bureaucracy and prejudice amongst their community, in order to begin their transition. Both Shervin and Samar are trapped into women’s bodies from birth and now the only way to achieve their transition is through Iranian courts. Thankfully their parents are understanding and supportive, so their only true obstacle is still trying to convince the judges…
A moving film about freedom and the desire to express one’s true identity!
THE OUTLAWS
Another feature first screened at last year’s London Film Festival – inspired by a true story written and directed by Henrik Martin Dahlsabakken. The action is set during the twenties and follows the story of Johannes (Asmund Hoeg), a hard working teenage lumberjack in the forests of Norway. His life is shattered when his best friend is killed in a tragic accident but finds a way out and a new life start when he meets Mikael (Filip Berg), a confidence trickster who lures him into a world of crime…
A Norwegian version of BONNIE AND CLYDE with two male drifters whose originally petty thefts soon escalate into more serious crimes. Solid direction and two strong lead performances!
BOREKAS
An assured film debut from Palestine’s 23–year-old Salah Saadi, which is screening in the EVERYTHING CHANGES short films programme. Saadi examines eloquently the relationship between a Palestinian father and his grown up son. Before they begin their drive to the airport father and son visit their favourite bakery for some Borekas and croissants – one of their favourite activities like they used to when the son was still a small boy. But the car breaks down on the way to the airport which gives them plenty of opportunity to talk about personal issues, something they haven’t done is years…
Silences speak volumes in this well acted first feature from a promising young filmmaking. He is certainly a talent to watch!
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