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Glasgow Film Festival · 2020

Glasgow Film Festival 2020

CineMasters

Programme

7 films · 7 reviews

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About Endlessness (Om Det Oandliga)

Review preview for About Endlessness

There is more melancholy in About Endlessness, however, than in his preceding 'Living Trilogy', as despite moments of humour and hopefulness, its dominant themes are regret and loss.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
Guided by a Scheherazade-like narrator, the film reflects on human life through a series of vignettes - from war-torn Cologne to smaller incidents like the tying of shoelaces.

(Country: Sweden, Germany, Norway; Year: 2019; Director: Roy Andersson; Writer: Roy Andersson; Stars: Lesley Leichtweis Bernardi, Tatiana Delaunay, Ania Nova, Gloria Ormandlaky, Martin Serner, Lesley Leichtweis Bernardi, Tatiana Delaunay, Ania Nova, Gloria Ormandlaky, Martin Serner)

Full review See: Interview with Fred Scott about Being A Human Person and director Roy Andersson

Master Cheng (Mestari Cheng)

Review preview for Master Cheng

Do not see it with an empty stomach and a full wallet or they will soon be the other way round.

Jennie Kermode · 4.5 out of 5
Far from his home in Shanghai, Cheng is in search of a cherished benefactor whom he promised to visit. He is welcomed by diner owner Sirkka. He repays her kindness by cooking food that the entire community appreciates.

(Country: Finland, China, UK; Year: 2019; Director: Mika Kaurismäki; Writer: Hannu Oravisto; Stars: Pak Hon Chu, Anna-Maija Tuokko, Lucas Hsuan)

Full review

Out Stealing Horses (Ut og stjæle hester)

Review preview for Out Stealing Horses

With Petterson’s novel heavily focused on Trond’s inner life, it’s no easy task to bring it to the screen.

Jennie Kermode · 4 out of 5
Trond Sander, 67, recalls the summer of 1948. When this blissful time came to an end, nothing was the same as before.

(Country: Norway, Sweden, Denmark; Year: 2019; Director: Hans Petter Moland; Writer: Hans Petter Moland, Per Petterson; Stars: Stellan Skarsgård, Tobias Santelmann, Danica Curcic, Pål Sverre Hagen, Anders Baasmo Christiansen, Ane Ulimoen Øverli, Bjørn Floberg, Jan Gunnar Røise, Gard B. Eidsvold, Jon Ranes, Jonas Jörgensen, Stellan Skarsgård, Tobias Santelmann, Danica Curcic, Pål Sverre Hagen)

Full review

True History Of The Kelly Gang

Review preview for True History Of The Kelly Gang

It may be one of the finest performances you see this year, and see it you should.

Andrew Robertson · 4.5 out of 5
Born into a family of poor Irish immigrants, Ned grows into an angry young man, constantly at odds with colonial authority. Ruthless bush ranger Harry Power becomes a father figure/mentor as Kelly embraces his destiny as gang leader, folk hero and legend.

(Country: Australia, UK, France; Year: 2019; Director: Justin Kurzel; Writer: Shaun Grant, Peter Carey; Stars: George Mackay, Essie Davis, Nicholas Hoult)

Full review

The Truth (La Verite)

Review preview for The Truth

In less sensitive hands than Kore-eda's, it could have come across as cloyingly introverted but instead there is wit and warmth in the observed relationship between the two women.

Richard Mowe · 4 out of 5
A reunion between a French cinema star and her daughter descends into confrontation.

(Country: France, Japan; Year: 2019; Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda; Writer: Hirokazu Kore-eda, Léa Le Dimna; Stars: Catherine Deneuve, Juliette Binoche, Ethan Hawke, Clémentine Grenier, Manon Clavel, Jackie Berroyer, Ludivigne Sagnier.)

Full review See: Juliette Binoche on working with Catherine Deneuve on The Truth , Venice Film Festival report - The Truth, Only The Animals, Joker and more

While At War (Mientras Dure La Guerra)

Review preview for While At War

The deeper into the film we get, and the closer the realities of the war become to Unamuno, the more Amenábar and his co-writer Alejandro Hernández lean into the melodrama.

Amber Wilkinson · 3.5 out of 5
Drama about author Miguel de Unamuno and his stance towards the fascist coup d’état.

(Country: Spain, Argentina; Year: 2019; Director: Alejandro Amenábar; Writer: Alejandro Amenábar, Alejandro Hernández; Stars: Karra Elejalde, Eduard Fernández, Santi Prego, Luis Bermejo, Tito Valverde, Nathalie Poza, Patricia López Arnaiz, Inma Cuevas, Carlos Serrano-Clark, Luis Zahera, Luis Callejo, Mireia Rey, Ainhoa Santamaría, Itziar Aizpuru, Miquel García Borda)

Full review

The Whistlers (La Gomera, The Passenger)

Review preview for The Whistlers

The whistling language is fun - and, if anything, disappointingly underused - but it's the language of cinema that Porumboiu is really interested in.

Amber Wilkinson · 3.5 out of 5
Film noir sees a corrupt cop learn a whistling language to beat detection while trying to double-cross the mob.

(Country: Romania, France, Germany; Year: 2019; Director: Corneliu Porumboiu; Writer: Corneliu Porumboiu; Stars: Vlad Ivanov, Catrinel Marlon, Rodica Lazar)

Full review