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London Film Festival · 2018

London Film Festival 2018

Documentary Competition

Programme

10 films · 4 reviews

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Bisbee '17

Review preview for Bisbee '17

Though the film feels too smart and too busy for its own good at times, the story remains fascinating (though troubling), and the cinematography always striking.

Owen Van Spall · 4 out of 5
An old mining town on the Arizona-Mexico border finally reckons with its darkest day: the deportation of 1200 immigrant miners exactly 100 years ago. Locals collaborate to stage recreations of their controversial past.

(Country: US; Year: 2017; Director: Robert Greene; Stars: Fernando Serrano, Laurie McKenna, Ray Family, Mike Anderson, Graeme Family, Richard Hodges)

Full review

Dream Away

Documentary about what has happened in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh since the tourist downturn in the wake of the Arab Spring.

(Country: Germany, Egypt; Year: 2018; Director: Marouan Omara, Johanna Domke)

Evelyn

The filmmaker and his family go on a walking holiday and consider the suicide of his brother a decade on from the tragedy.

(Country: UK; Year: 2018; Director: Orlando von Einsiedel)

John McEnroe: In The Realm Of Perfection (L'empire de la perfection)

Review preview for John McEnroe: In The Realm Of Perfection

If you're interested in the technical details of the sport or the process of filmmaking, you may find Julien Faraut's unapologetically artsy film fascinating.

Jennie Kermode · 4 out of 5
Documentary about the US tennis ace.

(Country: France; Year: 2018; Director: Julien Faraut; Stars: John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Mathieu Amalric, John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Mathieu Amalric)

Full review

The Plan That Came From The Bottom Up

Considering the impact of capitalism on society.

(Country: Portugal, UK; Year: 2018; Director: Steve Sprung)

Putin's Witnesses (Svideteli Putina)

Review preview for Putin's Witnesses

Mansky's bigger picture about the manipulation of a nation is crystal clear.

Amber Wilkinson · 4.5 out of 5
Considering the Russian president's time in power.

(Country: Latvia, Switzerland, Czech Republic; Year: 2018; Director: Vitaly Mansky)

Full review

The Raft

The stories behind a 1970s sociological experiment that became dubbed The Sex Raft.

(Country: Sweden, Denmark, United States, Germany; Year: 2018; Director: Marcus Lindeen; Writer: Marcus Lindeen; Stars: Daniel Giménez Cacho, Maria Björnstam, Mary Gidley, Rachida Lièvre, Edna Reves, Fé Seymour, Eisuke Yamaki, Servane Zanotti, Daniel Giménez Cacho, Maria Björnstam, Mary Gidley, Rachida Lièvre, Edna Reves, Fé Seymour, Eisuke Yamaki)

Theatre Of War

Revealing the personal stories of British and Argentinian former soldiers whose lives were deeply affected by the Falklands War.

(Country: Argentina, Spain, Germany; Year: 2018; Director: Lola Arias; Writer: Lola Arias)

What You Gonna Do When The World's On Fire?

Review preview for What You Gonna Do When The World's On Fire?

While content is important, it is context that is king in a documentary, and this film could do with a lot more of it to orient viewers, especially those who don't have a full working knowledge of the American South.

Amber Wilkinson · 3 out of 5
The story of a community of black people in the American South during the summer 2017, when a string of brutal killings of black men sent shockwaves throughout the country.

(Country: Italy, US; Year: 2018; Director: Roberto Minervini; Writer: Roberto Minervini; Stars: Dorothy Hill, Kevin Goodman, Judy Hill, Ronaldo King, Michael Nelson, Ashlei King, Titus Turner)

Full review

Young And Alive (L'Epoque)

Documentary observes young French people on nights out.

(Country: France; Year: 2018; Director: Matthieu Bareyre; Writer: Matthieu Bareyre, Sophia Collet)