Edinburgh International Film Festival

Latest reviews

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  Sredni Vashtar

  Review preview for Sredni Vashtar

  The power of this film rests on perfect performances... no sentimentalism is allowed to enter into them, yet both demonstrate a complexity which goes far beyond what their few lines can express.

  Spooky tale of a sick boy and a shed at the bottom of the garden.
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  Swimming Pool

  Review preview for Swimming Pool

  If looks could kill, the audience would be dead.

  A prickly English author looks for inspiration in a hedonistic housemate.
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  Belleville Rendez-Vous

  Review preview for Belleville Rendez-Vous

  Everything about this film is a surprise.

  Animated tale of a boy who loves cycling, his supportive Gran and a dog called Bruno.
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  Young Adam

  Review preview for Young Adam

  Emotion stains the walls of this period film like gutter waste.

  Rootless drifter working on Scottish canal barge discovers a dead woman in the water.
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  Wilbur Wants To Kill Himself

  Review preview for Wilbur Wants To Kill Himself

  Reality takes a back seat in this oddball comedy.

  A suicide addict, a bookish brother and a single mother emotionally interact in Glasgow.
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  The Lease

  Review preview for The Lease

  Despite a strong performance from Larisa Kalpokaite, all sad eyes and glossy brown hair, it is difficult to become emotionally involved in the plot.

  A divorced Lithuanian woman leases an apartment and is miserable.
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  A Thousand Months

  Review preview for A Thousand Months

  Just another poncy art movie with a zillion pointless scenes and an editor who doesn't understand that his job is to cut out the empty bits.

  Life in a poor Moroccan village, where a school chair is the most valued object.
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  Cremaster

  Review preview for Cremaster

  The Cremaster films are works of art in the sense that the critical faculties you use whilst watching them are ones you might more normally use in, say, the Tate Modern, than in an art house cinema.

  A series of symbolic works about sexual development and creation.
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  Song For A Raggy Boy

  Review preview for Song For A Raggy Boy

  Aisling Walsh's film is a cry from the wilderness, which in the past would have fallen on deaf ears.

  Autobiographical account of life as a boy offender in an Irish Catholic reform school.
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  The Red And The White

  Review preview for The Red And The White

  Jancso's masterful direction keeps you enthralled.

  The bloody civil war in Russia that followed the October Revolution.

A–Z of Edinburgh International Film Festival 2003 reviews →

Features

• Day 12 - Young Adam, Afterlife win awards; EIFF closing party.
  Frantic, Fantastic Festival Draws to a Close
• Day 11 - Oliver Stone; Harvey Pekar; I'll Sleep When I'm Dead.
  Commandante - Oliver Stone meets Fidel Castro, Harvey Pekar insults the fair citizens of Cleveland and male eye-candy in the form of Clive Owen and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers.
• Day 10 - Elaine Friedman Q&A; Party Monsters; 16 Years of Alcohol.
  Capturing the Friedmans makes a serious dent in the lineup, while the photocalls and parties take their toll.
• Day 9 - Sean Connery; American Splendor's Pekar; One For the Road.
  Paul Giamatti does sight-seeing, and Sean Connery gives a rare Q&A for schoolchildren!
• Day 8 - Barry Norman; surprise movie; Sean Connery in town.
  Just to save you reading further - Surprise Movie is the joyous Spirited Away.
• Day 7 - Terence Davies makes director's cuts; Afterlife premiere.
  Masterclasses ahoy with Terence Davies and Aidan Quinn, while Afterlife charms our critics.
• Day 6 - Jonas Akerland
  Standard Life Audience Award & Best of Fest updates.
• Day 5 - Lovely Ludivine; "Raggy Boys" Aidan Quinn & Iain Glen.
  Smack My Bitch Up director chats about his controversial works, while the Raggy Boys tackle child abuse
• Day 4 - Charlie Chaplin doc, Irish cast & crew of Intermission.
  The Little Tramp is dissected, while ensemble Irish madhouse caper makes an impression.
• Day 3 - Meeting the cast & crew of Wilbur (Wants To Kill Himself)
  Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself, but Lone Scherfig should be Very Proud of Herself
• Day 2 - 16 Years of Alcohol, Samantha Morton and "Jimmy" Sheridan.
  Hangover or no hangover, film fest events started with a press conference early this morning from the makers of 16 Years of Alcohol.
• Day 1 - Young Adam premiere opens eiff 2003.
  Day 1 of the 57th Edinburgh International Film Festival and the opening night premiere of Young Adam.
• EIFF 2003 Preview
  Gearing up for the film frenzy...