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London Film Festival · 2023

London Film Festival 2023

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Programme

14 films · 3 reviews

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Anselm (Das Rauschen Der Zeit)

A poetic look at the works and thoughts of Anselm Kiefer. A film about painters and sculptors, with and about an artist, his works and his background.

(Country: Germany; Year: 2023; Director: Wim Wenders)

Apolonia, Apolonia

Review preview for Apolonia, Apolonia

Glob confesses that she initially thought of Apolonia’s life as a fairy tale, something more like fiction than reality, but over the course of 13 long years she comes to recognise not only the humanity of her subject, but her own.

Jennie Kermode · 3.5 out of 5
Portrait of larger-than-life visual artist Apolonia Sokol.

(Country: Denmark, Poland, France; Year: 2022; Director: Lea Glob; Writer: Lea Glob, Andreas Bøggild Monies; Stars: Hervé Breuil, Lea Glob, Oksana Shachko, Apolonia Sokol, Alexandra Tlolka)

Full review

Catching Fire: The Story Of Anita Pallenberg

Documentary about rock ‘n’ roll icon Anita Pallenberg.

(Country: US; Year: 2023; Director: Alexis Bloom, Svetlana Zill; Stars: Marianne Faithfull, Scarlett Johansson, Kate Moss, Anita Pallenberg, Angela Richards, Keith Richards, Marlon Richards)

Close Your Eyes (Cerrar Los Ojos)

Review preview for Close Your Eyes

A meditation on both memory and movies as well as ageing and a hankering for the past that is informed by the melancholic knowledge that nostalgia is inevitably rose-tinted.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
A TV show looking into the mysterious disappearance of an actor leads a director on a journey into his own past while making discoveries in the present.

(Country: Spain; Year: 2023; Director: Victor Erice; Writer: Víctor Erice, Michel Gaztambide; Stars: Jose Coronado, Ana Torrent, María León, Soledad Villamil)

Full review

Croma Kid

A teenager must figure out how to rescue his magician parents from another dimension.

(Country: Dominican Republic; Year: 2023; Director: Pablo Chea; Writer: Pablo Chea, Israel Cárdenas; Stars: Nashla Bogaert, Yasser Michelén, David Maler, Jaime Pina, Vicente Santos, César José Báez, Teo Terrero, Bosco Cárdenas, Maria Daniela Guzmán, Solange Mongereau)

Going To Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project

Intimate vérité, archival footage, and visually innovative treatments of poetry take us on a journey through the dreamscape of poet Nikki Giovanni as she reflects on her life and legacy.

(Country: US; Year: 2023; Director: Joe Brewster, Michèle Stephenson)

In Restless Dreams: The Music Of Paul Simon

A documentary which follows Paul Simon as he makes his new album Seven Psalms, while looking back on his six-decade career with countless musical peaks from Sounds Of Silence to Graceland.

(Country: US; Year: 2023; Director: Alex Gibney; Writer: Alex Gibney; Stars: Paul Simon)

Menus Plaisirs - Les Troisgros

A behind-the-scenes excursion into the world of restaurant La Maison Troisgros, which has held three Michelin stars for more than five decades.

(Country: France, US; Year: 2023; Director: Frederick Wiseman)

Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus

A concert film shot as Sakamoto battled cancer.

(Country: Japan; Year: 2023; Director: Neo Sora; Stars: Ryuichi Sakamoto)

Swan Song

A look at the devotion, artistry and sacrifices that Karen Kain and the National Ballet of Canada dancers make in their pursuit of creating something unique, meaningful and beautiful.

(Country: Canada; Year: 2023; Director: Chelsea McMullan; Writer: Chelsea McMullan, Sean O'Neill)

The Taste Of Things (La Passion De Dodin Bouffant, The Pot-au-Feu)

Review preview for The Taste Of Things

While the end result is important, Hùng’s film is all about savouring the moment, something that becomes more urgent as it progresses - although talk of speed has little place in a film that unfolds with the pace and beauty of a flower.

Amber Wilkinson · 5 out of 5
The story of Eugenie, an esteemed cook, and Dodin, the fine gourmet she has been working for over the last 20 years.

(Country: France; Year: 2023; Director: Trân Anh Hùng; Writer: Trần Anh Hùng; Stars: Juliette Binoche, Benoît Magimel, Pierre Gagnaire)

Full review See: Director of The Taste of Things on Binoche, Magimel and the row around the Oscars , Juliette Binoche on being reunited with Benoît Magimel onscreen

They Shot The Piano Player

A music journalist from New York sets out on a frantic investigation into the mysterious disappearance of Brazilian pianist Tenorio Jr, regular accompanist of Vinicius de Moraes, among others.

(Country: Spain, France, Netherlands; Year: 2023; Director: Javier Mariscal, Fernando Trueba; Writer: Fernando Trueba; Stars: Jeff Goldblum, Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, João Gilberto, Vinicius de Moraes, Paulo Moura)

This Is Going To Be Big

Portrait of neurodiverse teens with big dreams preparing for their school’s quirky musical about Australia’s favourite son, John Farnham.

(Country: Australia; Year: 2023; Director: Thomas Charles Hyland)

You Can Call Me Bill

A documentary portrait of William Shatner.

(Country: US; Year: 2023; Director: Alexandre O Philippe; Writer: Alexandre O Philippe; Stars: William Shatner)