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London Film Festival · 2019

London Film Festival 2019

Documentary Competition

Programme

9 films · 4 reviews

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Cold Case Hammarskjöld

Danish director Mads Brügger and Swedish private investigator Göran Björkdahl are trying to solve the mysterious death of Dag Hammarskjöld. As their investigation closes in, they discover a crime far worse than killing the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

(Country: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Belgium; Year: 2019; Director: Mads Brügger; Writer: Mads Brügger; Stars: Göran Björkdahl, Mads Brügger, Göran Björkdahl, Mads Brügger)

Coup 53

Investigation into the 1953 CIA/MI6-led coup that overthrew Iran’s democratic Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh.

(Country: UK; Year: 2019; Director: Taghi Amirani; Writer: Taghi Amirani, Walter Murch; Stars: Walter Murch, Taghi Amirani, David Talbot, Stephen Kinzer, Malcolm Byrne, Ervand Abrahamian, Walter Murch, Taghi Amirani, David Talbot, Stephen Kinzer, Malcolm Byrne, Ervand Abrahamian)

Cunningham

Review preview for Cunningham

With searing use of colour and that sense of joy in physicality that was key to the master's work, this is a film that you will find it very hard to look away from.

Jennie Kermode · 5 out of 5
Profile of choreographer Merce Cunningham.

(Country: Germany, France, US; Year: 2019; Director: Alla Kovgan; Writer: Alla Kovgan)

Full review See: Rashaun Mitchell and Silas Riener in conversation on the choreography of Merce Cunningham and the 3D for Cunningham , Alla Kovgan in conversation on Merce Cunningham, Rei Kawakubo, Robert Rauschenberg, John Cage, Carolyn Brown, Hauschka, and the 3D for Cunningham

I Am (Not) A Monster

Documentary about the thinking processes of activism and mechanisms of our risky thoughts.

(Country: UK; Year: 2019; Director: Nelly Ben Hayoun; Writer: Nelly Ben Hayoun; Stars: Noam Chomsky, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Hiroshi Ishiguro, Nelly Ben Hayoun, Magid Magid, Hisa Uzawa, Leon Botstein, Novmichi Tosa, Brewster Kahle, Takayuki Takahashi, Adrienn Almásy, Efrem Amare, Kanjuro Kiritake II, Richard Bernstein, Shishido Hiroyuki)

The Kingmaker

Review preview for The Kingmaker

Greenfield keeps tight control, allowing Marcos to say what she wants, while busily illustrating the opposing perspective.

Amber Wilkinson · 5 out of 5
Documentary about the Marcos family and Imelda's continued influence on politics in the Philippines.

(Country: US; Year: 2019; Director: Lauren Greenfield; Writer: Lauren Greenfield; Stars: Imelda Marcos)

Full review

Mystify: Michael Hutchence

Michael Hutchence was flying high as the lead singer of the legendary rock band INXS until his untimely death in 1997. Richard Lowenstein’s kinetic yet intimate documentary examines Hutchence’s deeply felt life through his many loves and demons.

(Country: Australia; Year: 2019; Director: Richard Lowenstein; Writer: Richard Lowenstein; Stars: Michael Hutchence)

Overseas

Review preview for Overseas

In one remarkably intimate scene we watch a woman saying goodbye to a sleeping child so tiny that he won’t really understand what has happened when he wakes up and Mummy isn’t there.

Jennie Kermode · 3.5 out of 5
A documentary about a learning centre where women hoping to find domestic work abroad prepare themselves what for what lies ahead - including homesickness and potential abuse.

(Country: Belgium; Year: 2019; Director: Sung-a Yoon; Writer: Sung-a Yoon)

Full review

A Pleasure, Comrades! (Prazer, Camaradas!)

The older generation re-enact the social and sexual interactions in the wake of the 1975 Carnation Revolution.

(Country: Portugal; Year: 2019; Director: José Filipe Costa; Writer: José Filipe Costa; Stars: José Avelino, João Azevedo, Amanda Booth, Mick Greer, Joaquim Lopes, Filomena Matos, António Rodrigues, Cecília Rodrigues, Eduarda Rosa, Celia Williams, Celia Williams, José Avelino, João Azevedo, Amanda Booth, Mick Greer)

White Riot

Review preview for White Riot

White Riot is as brisk, to the point and direct as any punk song of the period.

Sunil Chauhan · 4.5 out of 5
Profiling punk reggae protest movement Rock Against Racism.

(Country: UK; Year: 2019; Director: Rubika Shah; Writer: Ed Gibbs, Rubika Shah)

Full review