Skip to main content

Edinburgh International Film Festival · 2005

Edinburgh International Film Festival 2005

British Gala

The EIFF programme says: "The UK film industry is enjoying something of a renaissance and we're thrilled to share another superb crop of modern British classics with you this year. Join us on the red carpet and help celebrate the very best the United Kingdom has to offer."

Programme

11 films · 11 reviews

Jump to a film

Asylum

Review preview for Asylum

So studiously edgy are the performances that one is never quite sure who harbours the darkest pathology.

Anton Bitel · 4 out of 5
Infidelity at an institution for the criminally insane.

(Country: UK/Ireland; Year: 2005; Director: David Mackenzie; Writer: Patrick Marber, Chrysanthy Balis, based on the novel by Patrick McGrath; Stars: Natasha Richardson, Marton Csokas, Hugh Bonneville, Ian McKellen, Judy Parfitt, Sean Harris, Gus Lewis, Wanda Ventham, Anna Keaveney, Joss Ackland)

Full review See: Obituary for Natasha Richardson

UK Premiere

Guy X

Review preview for Guy X

The plot strands are abandoned after the intro, the characters never encouraged to rise above their cardboard.

Angus Wolfe Murray · 2 out of 5
Odd goings on at isolated US base in Greenland, as witnessed by a man with two names.

(Country: UK/Canada/Iceland/Germany; Year: 2005; Director: Saul Metzstein; Writer: Steve Attridge, John Paul Chapple; Stars: Jason Biggs, Natascha McElhone, Jeremy Northam, Michael Ironside, Sean Tucker, Benz Antoine, Nelson Balderrama, Buck Deachman, Rob deLeeuw, Donny Falsetti, Hilmir Snær Guðnason)

Full review

UK Premiere

The Great Ecstasy Of Robert Carmichael

Review preview for The Great Ecstasy Of Robert Carmichael

I’m at a loss to see what Thomas Clay’s point is.

Jeff Robson · 2 out of 5
The fall of an intelligent teenager into a life of ultraviolence and depravity.

(Country: UK; Year: 2005; Director: Thomas Clay; Writer: Thomas Clay, Joseph Lang; Stars: Rob Dixon, Danny Dyer, Michael Howe, Ami Instone, Stuart Laing, Lesley Manville, Charles Mnene, Daniel Spencer, Miranda Wilson, Ryan Winsley)

Full review

UK Premiere

Green Street (Hooligans, Green Street Hooligans)

Review preview for Green Street

Although there's mercifully little football in this, there's also minimal emotional depth.

Kotleta · 3 out of 5
A Yank comes to West Ham and learns how to be a hooligan.

(Country: US/UK; Year: 2005; Director: Lexi Alexander; Writer: Lexi Alexander, Dougie Brimson, Josh Shelov; Stars: Elijah Wood, Charlie Hunnam, Claire Forlani, Leo Gregory, Marc Warren, Henry Goodman, Geoff Bell, Rafe Spall)

Full review

UK Premiere

Gypo

Review preview for Gypo

The film connected with me in a way that went beyond suspension of disbelief.

Chris · 5 out of 5
The impact of a young Czech refugee on a British working-class family.

(Country: UK; Year: 2005; Director: Jan Dunn; Writer: Jan Dunn; Stars: Pauline McLynn, Paul McGann, Rula Lenska, Chloe Sirene)

Full review

UK Premiere

MirrorMask

Review preview for MirrorMask

McKean's vision has a truly dreamlike quality.

Amber Wilkinson · 3.5 out of 5
A circus girl falls into a fantasy world where darkness threatens the kingdom of light.

(Country: UK; Year: 2005; Director: Dave McKean; Writer: Neil Gaiman, based on a story by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean; Stars: Stephanie Leonidas, Gina McKee, Rob Brydon, Jason Barry, Stephen Fry, Dora Bryan, Robert Llewellyn, Andy Hamilton)

Full review See: Sundance Film Festival - Day 5

UK Premiere

On A Clear Day

Review preview for On A Clear Day

Mullan brings a gruff, no-nonsense persona to his role, making Frank's emotional journey well worth taking.

Tony Sullivan · 4 out of 5
A redundant shipworker from Glasgow dreams of swimming the English Channel.

(Country: UK; Year: 2005; Director: Gaby Dellal; Writer: Alex Rose; Stars: Peter Mullan, Brenda Blethyn, Sean McGinley, Jamie Sives, Ron Cook, Benedict Wong, Jodhi May, Billy Boyd, Anne Marie Timoney, Shaun Dingwall, Tony Roper)

Full review See: Billy Boyd interview

UK Premiere

Rag Tale

Review preview for Rag Tale

After 15 minutes of fast zooms, sliced cuts, topsy pans and turvy close ups you want to be sick... after 40 minutes, you have eaten your words and are beginning to think this is original and thrilling.

Angus Wolfe Murray · 4 out of 5
Poisonous cynicism and manipulative scheming at the heart of a national tabloid.

(Country: UK; Year: 2005; Director: Mary McGuckian; Writer: Mary McGuckian and the cast; Stars: Rupert Graves, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ian Hart, Lucy Davis, John Sessions, Bill Paterson, Sara Stockbridge, Kerry Fox, Malcolm McDowell, Simon Callow, Cal Macaninch, David Hayman)

Full review

UK Premiere

Song Of Songs

Review preview for Song Of Songs

A challenging, powerful and thought-provoking piece of cinema.

Keith Hennessey Brown · 4 out of 5
The stirrings of incestuous passion against a background of deeply felt religious beliefs.

(Country: UK; Year: 2005; Director: Josh Appignanesi; Writer: Jay Basu, Josh Appignanesi; Stars: Nathalie Press, Joel Chalfen, Julia Swift, Leon Lissek, Felicite Du Jeu, Elliot Levey)

Full review

World Premiere

Stoned

Review preview for Stoned

Despite good performances all round (Gregory is very sympathetic), it does get boring.

Gator MacReady · 3 out of 5
The last days of the fifth Rolling Stone, Brian Jones.

(Country: UK; Year: 2005; Director: Stephen Woolley; Writer: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade; Stars: Leo Gregory, Paddy Considine, Luke de Woolfson, David Morrissey, David Williams, Monet Mazur, Amelia Warner)

Full review

World Premiere

Tsotsi

Review preview for Tsotsi

There is not a hint of artificiality, studio mock-ups, or designer poverty here.

Angus Wolfe Murray · 5 out of 5
An outstanding, highly moral tale of a young South African thug's redemption.

(Country: UK/South Africa; Year: 2005; Director: Gavin Hood; Writer: Gavin Hood, Athol Fugard; Stars: Presley Chweneyagae, Terry Pheto, Kenneth Nkosi, Mothusi Magano, Zenzo Ngqobe, Zola, Rapulana Seiphemo)

Full review

World Premiere