Cambridge Film Festival · 2008
A chance to see the best of the current batch of fictional films from around the world.
41 films · 28 reviews
Ponderings on the effects of war become distinctly ponderous.
(Country: France, Russia; Year: 2007; Director: Alexander Sokurov; Writer: Alexander Sokurov; Stars: Galina Vishnevskaya, Vasily Shevtsov, Raisa Gichaeva, Andrei Bogdanov, Alexander Kladko, Aleksei Nejmyshev, Rustam Shahgireev, Evgeni Tkachuk)
(Country: France; Year: 2007; Director: Jean-Pierre Lledo; Writer: Jean-Pierre Lledo)
Feels like one long trawl through the photo album of somebody else's holiday.
(Country: Mexico; Year: 2007; Director: Jonás Cuarón; Writer: Jonás Cuarón; Stars: Eireann Harper, Diego Cataño, Michele Alban, Cristina Orozco, Mariana Elizondo, Pia Elizondo, Emilia Garcia)
Couture by Yves Saint Laurent and lush photography drown us in luxurious chic.
(Country: France/Italy; Year: 1967; Director: Luis Buñuel; Writer: Luis Buñuel, Jean-Claude Carriere, Joseph Kessel; Stars: Catherine Deneuve, Jean Sorel, Michel Piccoli, Genevieve Page, Pierre Clementi, Françoise Fabian, Macha Meril)
If Belle De Jour was an examination of 'feminine mystique', this film is an examination of male obsession with it.
(Country: Portugal, France; Year: 2006; Director: Manoel de Oliveira; Writer: Manoel de Oliveira, Joseph Kessel; Stars: Michel Piccoli, Bulle Ogier, Ricardo Trêpa, Leonor Baldaque, Júlia Buisel, Lawrence Foster) , Official site
Fearlessly reaches outside the box.
(Country: Australia; Year: 2008; Director: Elissa Down; Writer: Elissa Down, Jimmy Jack; Stars: Rhys Wakefield, Luke Ford, Toni Collette, Erik Thomson, Gemma Ward, Lloyd Allison-Young, Nathin Butler, Lisa Kowalski, Firass Dirani, Aaron Glennane, Andy Meritakis)
For the first hour, I was spellbound by its audacity, the thumbing at convention, and never knowing where it was going next.
(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Alex Orr; Writer: Hugh Braselton, Alex Orr, Adam Pinney; Stars: Mike Brune, Anna Chlumsky, Katie Rowlett, Matt Hutchinson, Marla Malcolm, Mr. Malt, Matthew Stanton, Bill Szymanski, Hawmi Guillebeaux, Vince Canlas, Roudie Augustin) , Official site
A jewel unpolished is still a jewel, and there are treasures here for those patient enough to seek them out.
(Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Julian Jarrold; Writer: Andrew Davies, Jeremy Brock, based on the novel by Evelyn Waugh; Stars: Matthew Goode, Hayley Atwell, Ben Whishaw, Emma Thompson, Michael Gambon, Greta Scacchi, Jonathan Cake, Ed Stoppard) , Official site , Trailer
While it is big on atmosphere and features crafty camerawork it is running on empty when it comes to plot.
(Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Sean Ellis; Writer: Sean Ellis; Stars: Lena Headey, Melvil Poupaud, Richard Jenkins, Asier Newman, Michelle Duncan, Ulrich Thomsen) , Official site , Trailer
(Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Matt Lipsey; Writer: Neil Salvage, Steve Speirs; Stars: Juliet Aubrey, Sarah Barrand, Ralph Brown, Maxine Evans, Brian Hibbard, Freddie Jones, Mark Lewis Jones, Judith Lewis, Maureen Lipman, Anthony O'Donnell)
One rarely sees a film this well crafted.
(Country: France; Year: 2007; Director: Jean Becker; Writer: Jean Becker, Jean Cosmos, Henri Cueco, Jacques Monnet; Stars: Daniel Auteuil, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Fanny Cottençon, Alexia Barlier, Hiam Abbass, Élodie Navarre, Roger Van Hool, Michel Lagueyrie, Christian Schiaretti, Jean-Claude Bolle-Reddat) , Official site , Trailer
(Country: France; Year: 2005; Director: Cyril Gelblat; Writer: Cyril Gelblat; Stars: Miou-Miou, Charles Berling, Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Shulamit Adar, Dominique Reymond, Anaïs Demoustier, Guillaume Romain, Félicien Juttner, Julie Judd, Romain Goupil)
(Country: UK; Year: 2007; Director: Bill Scott; Writer: Pauline Sheppard; Stars: David Shaw, Darren Hawkes, Mary Woodvine, Maisey Utting, Ben Oldfield, Tim Wing)
This film is adapted from a stage play by Eugene O'Brien and has made the transition to screen very smoothly.
(Country: Ireland; Year: 2008; Director: Declan Recks; Writer: Eugene O'Brien; Stars: Aidan Kelly, Eileen Walsh,Padraic Delaney, Edna Oates, Lesley Conroy, Karl Shiels)
This is director Vito Rocco’s feature film debut and he passes with flying colours.
(Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Vito Rocco; Writer: David Lemon; Stars: Eddie Marsan, Jessica Hynes, Nick Ball, Ewen Bremner, Paul Nicholls, Chloe Hesar, Calum Chalmers, Kevin Eldon, Phil Lester) , Official site
Fear(s) of the Dark is a collection of great animations, but while each of its chapters are great, the overall film doesn't gel brilliantly.
(Country: France; Year: 2007; Director: Blutch, Charles Burns, Marie Callou, Richard McGuire, Pierre Di Sciullio, Lorenzo Mattotti Screenwriters: Jerry Kramsky, Pirus, Romaine Slocombe, Etienne Robial)
(Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Shezad Dawood; Stars: Shezad Dawood, Jimmie Durham, David Medalla, Doug Fishbone, Hetna Regitze Bruun)
Once the walls start to move, there's barely a moment to catch your breath as sharp editing, clever camera angles and good use of sound, squeeze the tension of every moment.
(Country: Spain; Year: 2007; Director: Luis Piedrahita, Rodrigo Sopeña; Writer: Luis Piedrahita, Rodrigo Sopeña; Stars: Federico Luppi, Lluís Homar, Alejo Sauras, Santi Millán, Elena Ballesteros) , Official site , Trailer
In its style, its performances and its confident direction, this film is a triumph.
(Country: Italy; Year: 2008; Director: Matteo Garrone; Writer: Roberto Saviano, Maurizio Braucci, Ugo Chiti, Gianni Di Gregorio, Matteo Garrone, Massimo Gaudioso, Roberto Saviano; Stars: Salvatore Abruzzese, Simone Sacchettino, Salvatore Ruocco, Vincenzo Fabricino, Vincenzo Altamura, Italo Renda, Gianfelice Imparato, Maria Nazionale, Salvatore Striano, Carlo Del Sorbo, Vincenzo Bombolo) , Trailer
(Country: Portugal; Year: 2007; Director: Paolo Marinou-Blanco; Writer: Paolo Marinou-Blanco; Stars: Robert Pugh, Nuno Lopes, Rita Loureiro, Amadeu Caronho, Virgilio Gança)
Despite dealing with some very heavy issues Palka has a surprisingly light touch, levening the more bleak moments with some rich, dark comedy.
(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Marianna Palka; Stars: Marianna Palka, Jason Ritter, Eric Edelstein, Mark Webber, Martin Starr, Charles Durning, Tom Arnold, Jesse Garcia, Katherine Waterston, Elisabeth Waterston) , Trailer
The central drama has lots of interesting potential but never quite develops as effectively as it might.
(Country: France; Year: 2007; Director: Eric Guirado; Writer: Eric Guirado, Florence Vignon; Stars: Nicolas Cazalé, Clotilde Hesme, Jeanne Goupil, Daniel Duval, Stéphan Guérin-Tillié, Liliane Rovère, Paul Crauchet, Chad Chenouga, Benoît Giros, Ludmila Ruoso) , Trailer
This is a film which knows exactly what it is and what it wants to achieve and, as a result, never pretends to be something it’s not.
(Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Robert B Weide; Writer: Peter Straughan, Toby Young; Stars: Simon Pegg, Gillian Anderson, Jeff Bridges, Kirsten Dunst, Megan Fox, Danny Huston, Max Minghella)
(Country: France; Year: 2007; Director: Michel Léviant; Writer: Léonor Graser, Hélène Lapiower, Philippe Lelièvre, Michel Léviant, Michel Léviant, Iliana Lolitch, Henri Magalon, Tansou, Marie Vinoy, Marie Vinoy; Stars: Hélène Lapiower, Marie Vinoy, Iliana Lolitch, Philippe Lelièvre, Léonor Graser, Arthur Brisse, Tansou)
You feel your will to live give a whimper, make its excuses and start heading for the bar.
(Country: Spain; Year: 2007; Director: José Luis Guerín; Writer: José Luis Guerín; Stars: Xavier Lafitte, Pilar López de Ayalam, Michaël Balerdi, Laurence Cordier, Tanja Czichy, Gladys Deussner, Eric Dietrich, Charlotte Dupont, Philippe Ohrel)
It is good to see Kristin Scott Thomas, often underused, in a role which makes real demands on her talents.
(Country: France; Year: 2008; Director: Philippe Claudel; Writer: Philippe Claudel; Stars: Kristin Scott Thomas, Elsa Zylberstein, Serge Hazanavicius, Laurent Grévill, Frédéric Pierrot, Claire Johnston, Catherine Hosmalin, Jean-Claude Arnaud, Olivier Cruveiller, Lise Ségur) , Trailer
Beautifully shot and well acted.
(Country: Denmark; Year: 2007; Director: Ole Borendal; Writer: Ole Bornedal; Stars: Anders W. Berthelsen, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Charlotte Fich, Dejan Cukic, Ewa Fröling) , Official site , Trailer
(Country: Spain; Year: 2007; Director: Gonzalo López-Gallego; Writer: Javier Gullón, Javier Gullón, Gonzalo López-Gallego; Stars: Leonardo Sbaraglia, María Valverde, Thomas Riordan, Andrés Juste, Pablo Menasanch, Francisco Olmo, Manuel Sánchez Ramos)
(Country: UK; Year: 2007; Director: Steve Tanner, Paul Farmer; Writer: Paul Farmer; Stars: Mary Woodvine, Mark Pearce, Philip Jacobs, Helen Rule, Iain Marshall, Tim Wing, Kitty Jacobs, Theo Jacobs, Steve Tanner, Mark Jenkin)
There are some amazing performances here.
(Country: Brazil; Year: 2008; Director: Walter Salles, Daniela Thomas; Writer: George Moura, Daniela Thomas; Stars: Sandra Corveloni, João Baldasserini, Vinícius de Oliveira, José Geraldo Rodrigues, Kaique Jesus Santos, Ana Carolina Dias) , Official site , Trailer
It is frequently not what you see but what you hear which holds the horror.
(Country: Sweden; Year: 2008; Director: Tomas Alfredson; Writer: John Ajvide Lindqvist, based on his novel of the same name.; Stars: Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar, Henrik Dahl, Karin Bergquist, Peter Carlberg, Ika Nord, Mikael Rahm, Karl-Robert Lindgren, Anders T. Peedu, Pale Olofsson)
(Country: Italy; Year: 2007; Director: Riccardo Milani; Writer: Walter Veltroni, Ivan Cotroneo, Claudio Piersanti, Riccardo Milani, Ivan Cotroneo, Claudio Piersanti; Stars: Kim Rossi Stuart, Jasmine Trinca, Paola Cortellesi, Michele Placido, Sandra Ceccarelli, Claudio Gioè, Mariella Valentini, Corso Salani, Roberto De Francesco, Konrad Podolny)
Rivals takes a refreshingly ‘un-Hollywood’ approach to the police drama, which is all the more potent for its refusal to sacrifice plot on the altar of action.
(Country: France; Year: 2008; Director: Jacques Maillot; Writer: Pierre Chosson, Jacques Maillot, Eric Veniard, based on the novel by Michel Papet, Bruno Papet; Stars: Guillaume Canet, François Cluzet, Marie Denarnaud, Clotilde Hesme, Mehdi Nebbou,Hélène Foubert, Eric Bonicatto, Olivier Perrier,Carole Franck, Luc Thuillier) , Trailer
Always engrossing, at times decidedly uncomfortable viewing, Savage Grace is accomplished cinematic storytelling that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled.
(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Tom Kalin; Writer: Howard A Rodman; Stars: Julianne Moore, Stephen Dillane, Eddie Redmayne, Elana Anaya, Simon Andreu, Anne Reid) , Official site , Trailer
More raging dull than raging bull.
(Country: Ireland; Year: 2007; Director: Mark Mahon; Writer: Mark Mahon; Stars: Michael Madsen, Vinnie Jones, Richard Chamberlain, Patrick Bergin, Luke Whelton, Michael Rawley, Gail Fitzpatrick, Pat Shortt, Finbar Furey, Sheridan Mahon) , Official site , Trailer
Richards' film may be an ultra-low budget affair, but it is also a punchy thriller.
(Country: UK; Year: 2007; Director: Julian Richards; Writer: Al Wilson, from an idea by Julian Richards; Stars: Kevin Howarth, Ciaran Joyce, Amy Harvey, Darren Evans, Jonathan Jones, Chris Conway, Ryan Conway)
(Director: Katrina Browne, Alla Kovgan, Jude Ray; Writer: Katrina Browne, Alla Kovgan)
(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: David Conolly, Hannah Davis; Writer: David Conolly, Hannah Davis; Stars: Marin Ireland, Paul Sparks, Aasif Mandvi, Richard Kind, Tom Wopat, Gloria Reuben, Reiko Aylesworth, Scott Cohen, Amy Redford, Sakina Jaffrey)
An object lesson in less is more, it makes an absolute virtue of its small cast and diminutive budget.
(Country: UK; Year: 2007; Director: Joanna Hogg; Writer: Joanna Hogg; Stars: Kathryn Worth, Tom Hiddleston, Mary Roscoe, David Rintoul, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Harry Kershaw, Michael Hadley, Emma Hiddleston, Leonetta Mazzini)
(Country: India, US; Year: 2006; Director: Rajnesh Domalpalli; Writer: Rajnesh Domalpalli; Stars: Mamatha Bhukya, Urmila Dammannagari, Ramachandriah Marikanti, Krishnamma Gundimalla, Karan Singh, Bhavani Renukunta, Krishna Garlapati, Prabhu Garlapati, Ram Babu Tarra, Veeramma Sadula)
The message is clear and the message is strong: How To Build A Fascist Movement works.
(Country: Germany; Year: 2008; Director: Dennis Gansel; Writer: Dennis Gansel, Peter Thorwarth, based on the novel by Todd Strasser; Stars: Juergen Vogel, Frederick Lau, Max Riemelt, Jennifer Ulrich, Christiane Paul, Elyas M'Barek, Christina do Rego, Jacob Matschenz, Amelie Kiefer) , Official site , Trailer
59th New York Film Festival early bird highlights Futura, Jane By Charlotte, James Baldwin: From Another Place and The Velvet Underground
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