Skip to main content

Edinburgh International Film Festival · 2006

Edinburgh International Film Festival 2006

Rosebud

The organisers said: "Think of Rosebud as your introduction to the new generation of directors. These films from first and second-time filmmakers celebrate what it is to be daring, radical, creative... and often imaginative with a budget."

Programme

38 films · 34 reviews

Jump to a film

3 Degrees Colder (3° kälter, Three Degrees Colder)

Review preview for 3 Degrees Colder

It's crud like this that gives foreign language films a bad reputation with the average moviegoer.

Gator MacReady · 1 out of 5
Five years after disappearing, a young man returns to disrupt the lives of those who knew him.

(Country: Germany; Year: 2005; Director: Florian Hoffmeister; Writer: Florian Hoffmeister and Mona Kino; Stars: Bibiana Beglau, Sebastian Blomberg, Johann von Bulow, Alexander Beyer, Meret Becker, Florian David Fitz, Grisha Huber, Hubert Mulzer)

Full review

UK Premiere

Apart From That

An exploration of the lives of a group of partygoers.

(Country: US; Year: 2006; Director: Jennifer Shainin, Randy Walker; Writer: Jennifer Shainin, Randy Walker; Stars: Susan Alotrico, Tony Cladoosby, Kyle Conyers, Alice Ellingson, Toan Le, Jessica Marlowe-Goldstein, Kathleen McNearney, Michael Sheiman, Gary Schoonveld, Kwami Taha)

Full review

International Premiere

The Aura (El Aura)

Review preview for The Aura

Tense and twisty, this is what thrillers should be about.

Amber Wilkinson · 5 out of 5
An epileptic taxidermist finds himself caught up in a heist.

(Country: Argentina; Year: 2005; Director: Fabian Bielinsky; Writer: Fabian Bielinsky; Stars: Ricardo Darin, Dolores Fonzi, Pablo Cedron, Alejandro Awada, Jorge D'Elia, Rafael Castejon, Manuel Rodal)

Full review

UK Premiere

Birds Of Heaven (Les Oiseaux Du Ciel)

Two men from the Ivory Coast attempt to make the crossing into Europe, where they hope to make their fortunes.

(Country: France, UK; Year: 2005; Director: Eliane de Latour; Writer: Eliane de Latour; Stars: Fraser James, Djédjé Apali, Marie-Josée Croze, Sara Martins, Lucien Jean-Baptiste, Tella Kpomahou, Malik Zidi, Kad Merad, Agnès Soral, Michel Boheri, Jean-Baptiste Anoumon)

UK Premiere

Black Brush (Fekete Kefe)

A group of stoner friends take a trip in pursuit of their boss' missing money.

(Country: Hungary; Year: 2005; Director: Roland Vranik; Writer: Roland Vranik; Stars: Csaba Hernadi, Gergo Banki, Andras Rethelyi, Karoly Hajduk)

Full review

UK Premiere

Black Sheep (Schwarze Schafe)

Five stories of bad taste and humour on the streets of Berlin.

(Country: Germany; Year: 2006; Director: Oliver Rihs; Writer: Thomas Hess, Michael Sauter, Daniel Young, Jann Preuss, David Keller, Oliver Rihs, Olivier Kolb; Stars: Marc Hosemann, Barbara Kowa, Bruno Cathomas, Jule Bowe, Milan Peschel, Jenny Deimling, Robert Lohr, Michael Kinkel, Robert Stadlober, Tom Schilling, Daniel Krauss, Beat Marti, Kirk Kirchberger, Daniel Zillmann, Helga Senk, Eralp Uzun, Richard Hanschmann)

Full review

World Premiere

Dam Street (Hong Yan)

The experiences of a vulnerable young women in Eighties China.

(Country: China; Year: 2005; Director: Yu Li; Writer: Li fang, Yu Li; Stars: Xingrao Huang, Yi Liu, Kechun Li, Yizhu Wang)

Full review

UK Premiere

Deep (Diep)

Review preview for Deep

This is Simone van Dusseldorp's first film and she is courageous in her use of close ups, as if trying to inhabit the emotional heart of this strong-willed girl, sensitively played by Melody Klaver.

Angus Wolfe Murray · 3.5 out of 5
A teenage girl swims in the choppy waters of sexuality, out of her depth and determined not to drown.

(Country: The Netherlands; Year: 2005; Director: Simone van Dusseldorp; Writer: Tamara Bos; Stars: Melody Klaver, Monic Hendrikx, Bart Klever, Joriik Scholten, Stijn Koomen, Damien Hope)

Full review

International Premiere

First Love (Hatsu-Koi)

A teenaged girl becomes involved in a spectacular bank robbery.

(Country: Japan; Year: 2006; Director: Yukinari Hanawa; Writer: Yukinari Hanawa, based on the novel by Misuzu Nakahara; Stars: Keisuke Koide, Aoi Miyazaki, Masaru Miyazaki, Rena Komine, Yu Emoto)

Full review

UK Premiere

Gretchen

An awkward teenager seeks revenge for a broken heart.

(Country: US; Year: 2006; Director: Steve Collins; Writer: Steve Collins; Stars: Courtney Davis, John Merriman, Becky Ann Baker, Stephen Root, Macon Blair, Yasmin Kittles)

Full review

UK Premiere

Guernsey

An aid worker's life changes dramatically after she discovers a body.

(Country: The Netherlands; Year: 2005; Director: Nanouk Leopold; Writer: Nanouk Leopold; Stars: Maria Kraakman, Fedja van Huêt, Johanna ter Steege, Frank Vercruyssen)

Full review

UK Premiere

Holly

An American fence in Vietnam risks everything to help a 12-year-old trafficked slave.

(Country: US, France, Israel, Cambodia; Year: 2006; Director: Guy Moshe; Writer: Guy Jacobson, Guy Moshe; Stars: Thuy Nguyen, Ron Livingston, Virginie Ledoyen, Udo Kier, Chris Penn)

Full review

World Premiere

Hotel Harabati (De Particular A Particular)

Review preview for Hotel Harabati

Not a film I can recommend unless you appreciate a challenge.

Chris · 3.5 out of 5
A dream holiday becomes a journey into madness.

(Country: France; Year: 2006; Director: Brice Cauvin; Writer: Jérome Beaujour, Brice Cauvin, Pierre Scholler; Stars: Laurent Lucas, Hélène Fillières, Anouk Aimée, Julie Gayet, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Husky Kihal)

Full review

UK Premiere

How Is Your Fish Today? (Jin tian de yu zen me yang?)

Review preview for How Is Your Fish Today?

A fascinating film for anyone interested in China or progressive documentary filmmaking.

George Williamson · 3.5 out of 5
Critical documentary in dramatic camouflage?

(Year: 2006; Director: Xiaolu Guo; Writer: Xiaolu Guo, Hui Rao; Stars: Rao Hui, Zang Yulang,)

Full review

World Premiere

Iceberg (L'iceberg)

Review preview for Iceberg

While it might be fun to laugh at carefully crafted slapstick for half an hour, it's hard for it to maintain its momentum for the duration of a feature.

Amber Wilkinson · 2 out of 5
Slapstick comedy about a runaway wife obsessed with ice.

(Country: Belgium; Year: 2005; Director: Dominique Abel, Fiona Gordon, Bruno Romy; Writer: Dominique Abel, Fiona Gordon, Bruno Romy; Stars: Fiona Gordon, Dominique Abel, Lucy Tulugarjuk, Philippe Martz, Robin Goupil, Ophelie Rousseau, Therese Fichet, Georges Jore, Louis Lecouvreur, Bruno Romy)

Full review

Scottish Premiere

In Between Days

Love story about a migrant teen who falls for her best friend.

(Country: US; Year: 2006; Director: So Yong Kim; Writer: Bradley Rust Grey, So Yong Kim; Stars: Kate Clancey, Jamie Hebert, Taegu Andy Kang, Ivy Khan, Bokja Kim)

Full review

UK Premiere

The Lost

A teenager kills two girls just to see what it will feel like.

(Country: US; Year: 2006; Director: Chris Sivertson; Writer: Jack Ketchum, Chris Sivertson; Stars: Marc Senter, Shay Astar, Alex Frost, Megan Henning, Robin Sydney, Michael Bowen, Ed Lauter)

Full review

UK Premiere

Looking For Cheyenne (Oublier Cheyenne)

Review preview for Looking For Cheyenne

An assured sophomore effort.

Keith Hennessey Brown · 3.5 out of 5
A couple split up and stumble through life whilst still in love with each other.

(Country: France; Year: 2005; Director: Valérie Minetto; Writer: Valérie Minetto, Cécile Vargaftig; Stars: Mila Dekker, Aurélia Petit, Malik Zidi, Laurence Côte, Luc Leclerc du Sablon, Christine Dory)

Full review

UK Premiere

Love Sick (Legaturi Bolnavicioase)

Review preview for Love Sick

Has much more depth than is immediately apparent.

Chris · 3 out of 5
Two young women struggle to balance true love with responsibility.

(Country: Romania; Year: 2006; Director: Tudor Giurgiu; Writer: Cecilia Stefanescu; Stars: Maria Popistasu, Ioana Barbu, Tudor Chirila, Catalina Murgea, Mircea Diaconu, Virginia Mirea, Tora Vasilescu, Valentin Popescu)

Full review

UK Premiere

Madeinusa

Review preview for Madeinusa

A coming of age drama with a novel twist.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
The festival of the Little Virgins in a Peruvian village offers one teenager an escape route.

(Country: Peru/Spain; Year: 2005; Director: Claudia Llosa; Writer: Claudia Llosa; Stars: Magaly Solier, Carlos Juan de la Torre, Yiliana Chong, Juan Ubaldo Huaman)

Full review See: Sundance Film Festival 2006: Day 3

UK Premiere

Midnight My Love (Cherm)

Review preview for Midnight My Love

Lovely and thought-provoking.

Susanna Krawczyk · 4 out of 5
A tender relationship forms between a cab driver and a young prostitute.

(Country: Thailand; Year: 2005; Director: Kongdej Jaturanrasmee; Writer: Kongdej Jaturanrasmee; Stars: Petchtai Wongkamlao, Woranut Wongsawan, Siwa Traesang, Keunsith Suwanwattakee, Puritat Chaiseth)

Full review

UK Premiere

Mutual Appreciation

Review preview for Mutual Appreciation

In addition to his fine acting performance as Lawrence, Bujalski has also penned a witty script and turns in some accomplished directing in his sophmore effort.

Sarah Artt · 4 out of 5
A young musician struggles with his attraction to his best friend's girlfriend.

(Country: US; Year: 2005; Director: Andrew Bujalski; Writer: Andrew Bujalski; Stars: Justin Rice, Rachel Clift, Andrew Bujalski, Seung-Min Lee, Pamela Corkey, Kevin Micka)

Full review

UK Premiere

Neo Ned

Review preview for Neo Ned

Succeeds in grabbing your attention but doesn't really deliver what it seems to promise.

Keith Hennessey Brown · 3 out of 5
Oddball romantic comedy - not for everyone!

(Country: USA; Year: 2005; Director: Van Fischer; Writer: Tim Boughn; Stars: Jeremy Renner, Gabrielle Union, Sally Kirkland, Cary Elwes, Summer LeAnn, Robert Peters, Steve Railsback, Ethan Suplee)

Full review

International Premiere

Princess (Prinzessin)

Review preview for Princess

The editing is choppy in parts, but the main problem is the story, which has little context or overall point.

Chris · 1 out of 5
Girl gangs in German suburbia.

(Country: Germany; Year: 2006; Director: Birgit Grosskopf; Writer: Birgit Grosskopf; Stars: Irina Potapenko, Henriette Müller, Desirée Jaeger, Amina Schichterich)

Full review

International Premiere

The Ring Finger (L' Annulaire)

After an industrial accident a woman moves town and takes up a very peculiar secretarial job.

(Country: France, Germany, UK; Year: 2005; Director: Diane Bertrand; Writer: Diane Bertrand, Yoko Ogawa; Stars: Olga Kurylenko, Marc Barbé, Stipe Erceg, Edith Scob, Hanns Zischler, Sotigui Kouyaté, Doria Achour, Anne Benoît, Louis Dewynter, Anne Fassio, Olivier Claverie)

UK Premiere

The Sacred Family (La Sagrada Familia)

Astringent comedy about an Easter family gathering.

(Country: Chile; Year: 2004; Director: Sebastián Campos; Writer: Sebastián Campos; Stars: Patricia López, Néstor Cantillana, Sergio Hernández, Coca Guazzini, Macarena Teke, Mauricio Diocares, Juan Pablo Miranda)

UK Premiere

Sherrybaby

Review preview for Sherrybaby

Realistic fly-on-the-wall performances prevent Sherrybaby from descending into a sentimental hard luck story.

Chris · 3 out of 5
An optimistic ex-convict tries to rebuild her life.

(Country: US; Year: 2005; Director: Laurie Collyer; Writer: Laurie Collyer; Stars: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Brad William Henke, Giancarlo Esposito, Sam Bottoms, Ryan Simpkins, Kate Burton, Bridget Barkan, Danny Trejo)

Full review

International Premiere

Shut Up And Shoot Me (Sklapni a zastrel me)

Review preview for Shut Up And Shoot Me

As a full-length no-brainer it just about qualifies for a low attention span afternoon.

Chris · 2.5 out of 5
A bumbling Englishman hires an equally incompetent assassin to kill him.

(Country: UK, Czech Republic; Year: 2006; Director: Steen Agro; Writer: Steen Agro; Stars: Karel Roden, Andy Nyman, Anna Geislerova, Robert Polo, Denisa Knoblochova)

Full review

Scottish Premiere

Special

Review preview for Special

The cool, detached, yet paranoid tone is impressively held, both through visual design and music, until around halfway through.

Scott Macdonald · 3 out of 5
An unexpected reaction to medication persuades an ordinary man that he's developing superpowers.

(Country: US; Year: 2006; Director: Hal Haberman, Jeremy Passmore; Writer: Hal Haberman, Jeremy Passmore; Stars: Michael Rapaport, Paul Blackthorne, Josh Peck, Robert Baker, Jack Kehler, Alexandra Holden, Ian Bohen, Christopher Darga, Erich Anderson, David Bear, Karyn Bryant, Amanda Carlin, Howard Ferguson, Howard Ferguson-Woitzman, Andrew Leeds)

Full review

International Premiere

Summer '04 (Sommer '04, Sommer '04 an der Schlei)

Review preview for Summer '04

From gentle, idyllic beginnings, Summer '04 builds into edge-of-the-seat tension.

Chris · 4 out of 5
Unexpected thrills on a Baltic holiday.

(Country: Germany; Year: 2006; Director: Stefan Krohmer; Writer: Daniel Nocke; Stars: Martina Gedeck, Robert Seeliger, Svea Lohde, Peter Davor, Lucas Kotaranin)

Full review

UK Premiere

Sundays In August

Review preview for Sundays In August

You might as well buy a ticket to fairyland, because the plot dives into a vat of boiled rhubarb.

Angus Wolfe Murray · 1.5 out of 5
A post car crash tale of survivors and other displaced egos.

(Year: 2005; Director: Lee Jin-woo; Writer: Lee Jin-woo, Kim Yang-hee; Stars: Yang Eun-yong, Im Hyung-kook, Oh Jung-sae)

Full review

European Premiere

Twelve And Holding (12 And Holding)

Review preview for Twelve And Holding

The performances from the central three child actors are refreshingly good.

George Williamson · 4 out of 5
A tragic accident changes the course of three children's lives.

(Country: US; Year: 2005; Director: Michael Cuesta; Writer: Anthony Cipriano; Stars: Linus Roache, Annabella Sciorra, Zoe Weizenbaum, Jeremy Renner, Jayne Atkinson, Marcia DeBonis, Conor Donovan, Jesse Camacho)

Full review

UK Premiere

The Uncertain Guest (El Habitante Incierto, The Uninvited Guest)

Review preview for The Uncertain Guest

The kind of debut feature that encourages you to believe that cinema does have a future.

Keith Hennessey Brown · 4.5 out of 5
A man in an isolated house admits a stranger, then doesn't know whether or not he's gone.

(Country: Spain; Year: 2004; Director: Guillem Morales; Writer: Guillem Morales; Stars: Andoni Gracia, Mónica López, Francesc Garrido, Agustí Villaronga, Minnie Marx)

Full review

UK Premiere

Windows On Monday (Montag Kommen Die Fenster)

A possibly pregnant wife walks out on her family.

(Country: Germany; Year: 2006; Director: Ulrich Köhler; Writer: Ulrich Köhler; Stars: Amber Bongard, Isabelle Menke, Ilie Nastase, Sülke Pierach, Ursula Renecke, Elisa Seydel, Hans-Jochen Wagner, Trystan Wyn Puetter)

International Premiere

Wrestling Grounds (L'Appel Des Arenes)

Review preview for Wrestling Grounds

Ndiaye's use of location conveys a fierce impression of a night city alive with danger and excitement.

Angus Wolfe Murray · 4 out of 5
The honour and respect for a cultural sport beside the dangers and excitement of night life in Dakar.

(Country: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Morocco, France; Year: 2006; Director: Cheikh Ndiaye; Writer: Cheikh Ndiaye; Stars: Abdoul Aziz Ndiaye, Ibrahima Mbaye, Moustapha Gueye, Mohamed Ndao, Seynabou Sarr, Doudou Kaire, Khadidja Gueye, Pape Thiam)

Full review

UK Premiere

Wristcutters: A Love Story

Review preview for Wristcutters: A Love Story

Wristcutters isn’t a story of despair but of hope, moving on, and, yes, love.

Daniel Hooper · 4 out of 5
A young man kills himself and awakens in a land where everything is "just a little bit worse".

(Country: USA; Year: 2006; Director: Goran Dukic; Writer: Goran Dukic, Etgar Keret; Stars: Patrick Fugit, Shannyn Sossamon, Shea Whigham, Tom Waits, Will Arnett, Cameron Bowen, John Hawkes, Leslie Bibb, Abraham Benrubi, Mikal P. Lazarev, Mary Pat Gleason) , Official site , Trailer

Full review

International Premiere