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Glasgow Film Festival · 2023

Glasgow Film Festival 2023

Audience Award

Programme

10 films · 8 reviews

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The Astronaut

Review preview for The Astronaut

The combination of Disney-style chasing the dream narrative and gritty realism at work here is a thing to behold.

Jennie Kermode · 3.5 out of 5
An aeronautical engineer at Ariane Espace, Jim has devoted himself for years to a secret project: building his own rocket and accomplishing the first manned space flight as an amateur. But to realise his dream, he must learn to share it.

(Country: France; Year: 2022; Director: Nicolas Giraud; Writer: Stéphane Cabel, Nicolas Giraud; Stars: Nicolas Giraud, Mathieu Kassovitz, Hélène Vincent, Bruno Lochet)

Full review

I Like Movies

Review preview for I Like Movies

Feels like a tribute to the kind of passion for film which it addresses.

Jennie Kermode · 4 out of 5
A socially inept 17-year old cinephile gets a job at a video store where he forms a complicated friendship with his older female manager.

(Country: Canada; Year: 2022; Director: Chandler Levack; Writer: Chandler Levack; Stars: Isaiah Lehtinen, Alex Ateah, Dan Beirne, Krista Bridges, Sarah Camacho)

Full review

Lakelands

Review preview for Lakelands

The relationship between Cian and Grace, whose patience he slowly begins to recognise and appreciate, is beautifully drawn.

Jennie Kermode · 4 out of 5
The story of Cian, a footballer who gets attacked on a night out. He will struggle to come to terms with his career-ending injury.

(Country: Ireland; Year: 2022; Director: Robert Higgins, Patrick McGivney; Writer: Robert Higgins, Patrick McGivney; Stars: Éanna Hardwicke, Danielle Galligan, Lorcan Cranitch, Gary Lydon, Dafhyd Flynn)

Full review

Lullaby (Cinco lobitos)

Review preview for Lullaby

Though it’s nicely drawn and the performances are good, especially from Sánchez, this is all fairly familiar stuff.

Jennie Kermode · 3 out of 5
Amaia has just given birth to her first daughter. She would prefer not to give up her career as a translator, but it’s not easy to balance it with her family and looking after a young child. When her partner goes away on business for seven weeks, the young woman capitulates and goes to stay with her parents in the countryside.

(Country: Spain; Year: 2022; Director: Alauda Ruiz de Azúa; Writer: Alauda Ruiz de Azúa; Stars: Laia Costa, Susi Sánchez, Ramón Barea, Mikel Bustamante, José Ramón Soroiz, Asier Valdestilla García, Justi Larrinaga, Isidoro Fernández, Gloria Helguera, Carmen Berbaola, Lorena López, Elena Sáenz, Ana Isabel Martínez, Anuska Pernia Sainz, Nerea Arriola)

Full review

Miss Viborg

Review preview for Miss Viborg

Solvej is a wonderfully rich character and Kaasgaard is clearly enjoying herself.

Jennie Kermode · 3 out of 5
In a small Danish town, we meet two generations of women. 61-year-old Solvej and the 17-year-old, Kate. Their meeting kickstarts an unlikely friendship, as the wounds of the past are revealed and the seeds of hope are sown.

(Country: Denmark, Argentina; Year: 2022; Director: Marianne Blicher; Writer: Rasmus Birch, Marianne Blicher; Stars: Ragnhild Kaasgaard, Isabella Møller Hansen, Kristian Halken, Josephine Park, Claes Bang)

Full review

The Ordinaries

Review preview for The Ordinaries

Dazzles from the opening song and dance number to the final credits.

Richard Mowe · 4 out of 5
Paula is a supporting role aspiring to become a main character. Yet, just before her final exams, her emotive music generator suddenly starts playing up, which presents a major problem for her. No starring role can survive without a heartrending accompaniment from the strings.

(Country: Germany; Year: 2021; Director: Sophie Linnenbaum)

Full review

Punch

Drama about a young boxer and his troubled relationship with his father.

(Country: New Zealand; Year: 2022; Director: Welby Ings; Writer: Welby Ings; Stars: Tim Roth, Jordan Oosterhof, Conan Hayes, Abigail Laurent, Sage Klein, Karl Willetts, Matt Hicks, Connor Johnston, Simon McConnon, Stephanie Cope, Wesley Dowdell, Wilson Downes, Peter Ford, Fergus Ross)

Ramona

When Ramona meets the charismatic Bruno on one of her strolls through the city, it never occurs to her that she might encounter him again the following day. Will an innocent flirtation get in the way of her career dreams and the perfectly good relationship she has with her boyfriend?

(Country: Spain; Year: 2022; Director: Andrea Bagney; Writer: Andrea Bagney; Stars: Francesco Carril, Bruno Lastra, Lourdes Hernández)

Riceboy Sleeps

Review preview for Riceboy Sleeps

An accomplished piece of work.

Jennie Kermode · 4.5 out of 5
A Korean single mother raises her young son in the suburbs of Nineties Canada, determined to provide a better life for him than the one she left behind.

(Country: Canada; Year: 2022; Director: Anthony Shim; Writer: Anthony Shim; Stars: Choi Seung-yoon, Ethan Hwang, Dohyun Noel Hwang, Anthony Shim, Hunter Dillon)

Full review See: Interview with Anthony Shim about Riceboy Sleeps

Skin Deep (Aus Meiner Haut)

Review preview for Skin Deep

There’s a vast amount going on in Alex Schaad’s ambitious film.

Jennie Kermode · 4 out of 5
At first glance, Leyla and Tristan seem like a happy young couple. But when they travel to a mysterious, remote island, a game of identities begins.

(Country: Germany; Year: 2022; Director: Alex Schaad; Writer: Alex Schaad, Dimitrij Schaad; Stars: Mala Emde, Jonas Dassler, Dimitrij Schaad, Maryam Zaree, Thomas Wodianka, Edgar Selge)

Full review