London Film Festival

Latest reviews

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  Notfilm

  Review preview for Notfilm

  At more than two hours long, it's a shame Beckett wasn't on hand to offer a bit of advice on the importance of distillation, although there is plenty here to enjoy.

  Experimental essay - its author Samuel Beckett, its star Buster Keaton.
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  Happy Hour

  Review preview for Happy Hour

  Quiet and unassuming yet making some devastating points, Hamaguchi's film is shot with deceptive simplicity.

  The lives of three married friends are turned upside down when their friend, just divorced, disappears. Are they really living the lives they want?
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  Lamb

  Review preview for Lamb

  Amare's performance is a real gem.

  A boy's bond with his pet sheep strengthens after the loss of his mother... but trouble with his relatives brews.
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  Right Now, Wrong Then

  Review preview for Right Now, Wrong Then

  The film persuades viewers to zero in on the details by using its second scenario to invite constant subconscious questioning of what has changed.

  A middle-aged art-film director and a fledgling artist meet - she knows he’s famous but doesn’t know his films, he’d like to see her paintings.
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  The Wave

  Review preview for The Wave

  This is a film that should be watched on as big a screen as possible, but even on a smaller one, the tsunami is stunning.

  Seismic rumblings in the Norwegian fjords threaten to start a chain reaction that will destroy the local area.
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  Men And Chicken

  Review preview for Men And Chicken

  Its disgusting surface is supported by a framework that’s more intelligent than in plenty of prettier films.

  Black comedy about a pair of brothers who discover a dark family secret.
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  The Hard Stop

  Review preview for The Hard Stop

  Two docs for the price of one? Both would have been better on their own

  Documentary about the death of Mark Duggan and the difficulty of finding work for young black men in Tottenham
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  Our Little Sister

  Review preview for Our Little Sister

  It is in the women's emotions that the heart of the matter lies and Kore-eda, as always, handles them with an elegant lightness of touch.

  Three sisters take their 15-year-old half sister into their home and hearts.
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  Arabian Nights

  Review preview for Arabian Nights

  Mixes observations on capitalism, society and storytelling.

  Stories based on the 1001 Nights but transplanted to the present day. The film is split into three parts.
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  The Wait

  Review preview for The Wait

  Despite Messina's efforts, there is much to recommend the film, especially its beautiful slow shots that give the actresses room to do their thing.

  A mother unexpectedly meets her son's fiancée at a villa in Sicily and gets to know her as she waits for her son to arrive.

A–Z of London Film Festival 2015 reviews →

Features

• The last waltz
  Thomas Bidegain on the dynamics in Les Cowboys and more.
• Waltzing with the West
  Thomas Bidegain on Les Cowboys.
• Keeping score
  Grégoire Hetzel on his compositions for Mathieu Amalric and Arnaud Desplechin.
• When the signs and the stories are gone
  László Nemes on organisation and chaos in Son Of Saul.
• Still breathing
  László Nemes on Auschwitz, language, religion and Son Of Saul.
• Learning from history
  Aferim! director Radu Jude on language, prejudice and seeing the past in the present.
• For the love of birds
  Jay Roach on Trumbo and the cockatiel famous for Spartacus.
• Memories of Ingrid
  Stig Björkman and Pia Lindström on family, dogs, home movies and Ingrid Bergman.
• Picturing Ingrid
  Stig Björkman and Stina Gardell on Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own Words
• On and off the Trumbo red carpet
  We chat to Bryan Cranston, Helen Mirren, Niki Trumbo, Mitzi Trumbo and producer Kevin Kelly Brown.
• Before the committee
  Diane Lane and Michael Stuhlbarg on Trumbo
• Beefing up reality
  Gabriel Mascaro on the mixture of the surreal and the actual in Neon Bull.
• A personal view
  More from Arnaud Desplechin about My Golden Days.
• Golden boy
  Arnaud Desplechin on My Golden Days (Trois Souvenirs De Ma Jeunesse).
• All she surveys
  Alex Ross Perry and Elisabeth Moss on women, laughter, food, insanity and Queen Of Earth
• Keitel - a man for all seasons
  Youth star Harvey on Sorrentino, Campion and Scorsese.
• The real world of Vincent Lindon
  Cannes best actor on career and causes.
• Caine candid in Cannes
  Youth star talks age and virility with Jane Fonda, Paolo Sorrentino, Paul Dano, Harvey Keitel and Rachel Weisz.
• Blanchett reveals naked truth
  Cate and Carol co-star Rooney Mara on why nudity holds no fears.
• Mountain views, part 2
  Laura Bispuri and Alba Rohrwacher on creating characters and transformation.
• Fatherland
  David Evans and Philippe Sands on My Nazi Legacy.
• Mountain views, part 1
  Laura Bispuri and Alba Rohrwacher on gender roles and Sworn Virgin.
• Virgin territory
  Flonja Kodheli on Sworn Virgin and life in regions of Albania.
• The contender, part 2
  Stevan Riley on the demons that shaped Marlon Brando.
• The contender, part 1
  Stevan Riley on Listen To Me Marlon and uncovering the real Mr Brando.
• Keeping score
  Composers Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans talk about their work on films including Enemy, Nasty Baby, The Wolfpack and Last Days In The Desert.

News

• Chevalier rides off with best film in London
  Other winners include The Witch and Sherpa
• London Film Festival adds titles
  Venice winner joins line-up.
• London announces line-up
  Galas include Brooklyn and Trumbo.
• Cate Blanchett to receive BFI Fellowship
  Truth announced as Fellowship Special Presentation
• London Film Festival announces short film award
  12 films will be selected for inaugural competition.