Projects
Here's a list of films that are screening with Flicks in the Sticks.
This is a wonderfully exuberant tribute to the fabulous backing singers who worked on classic albums through the 60s & 70s. Millions loved their voices but no one even knew their names. While the guys they worked with made millions they were forgotten. But this bunch of sassy, joyful women can still enter a studio and let rip like few others on the planet. Triumphant and heartbreaking in equal measure, this interweaves poignant, funny interviews, contemporary concert footage and great archival stuff to finally give them the recognition they deserve. This fabulous, life-affirming crowd pleaser will have you coming out singing - an irresistible pleasure!
In this atmospheric adaptation (filmed in Shrewsbury in 1984) of Charles Dickens' classic, "A Christmas Carol," Ebenezer Scrooge (George C Scott) learns the true meaning of Christmas when the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Future visit him.
A FANTASTIC WOMAN is a Chilean drama in which a transgender woman struggles to adapt after the death of her boyfriend. Somewhere in Santiago at a dimly-lit nightclub, Orlando, the kindly and well-off owner of a textile company, locks eyes with Marina, a hopeful singer and the roughly half-his-age love of his life. But, unfortunately, after Marina's birthday celebration and a night of passion, Orlando falls gravely ill-and by the following morning he dies in hospital. In the wake of her companion's untimely death, Marina will soon realise that, from now on, everything is brought into question: her involvement in Orlando's death, their unconventional relationship; and above all, her right to mourn her beloved deceased.
In a world where journalism is under attack, Marie Colvin is one of the most celebrated war correspondents of our time. Colvin is an utterly fearless and rebellious spirit, driven to the frontlines of conflicts across the globe to give voice to the voiceless, while constantly testing the limits between bravery and bravado. After being hit by a grenade in Sri Lanka, she wears a distinctive eye patch and is still as comfortable sipping martinis with London's elite as she is confronting dictators. Colvin sacrifices loving relationships, and over time, her personal life starts to unravel as the trauma she's witnessed takes its toll. Yet, her mission to show the true cost of war leads her - along with renowned war photographer Paul Conroy - to embark on the most dangerous assignment of their lives in the besieged Syrian city of Homs.
Seasoned musician Jackson Maine discovers-and falls in love with-struggling artist Ally. She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer, until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally's career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons.
A kind-hearted street urchin Aladdin vies for the love of the beautiful princess Jasmine, the princess of Agrabah. When he finds a magic lamp, he uses a genie's magic power to make himself a prince in order to marry her. He is also on a mission to stop the powerful Jafar who plots to steal the magic lamp that could make his deepest wishes come true.
ALL IS TRUE explores the human story behind a dark and little known period in the life of William Shakespeare (Kenneth Branagh). The year is 1613, Shakespeare is the greatest writer of the age. When his beloved Globe Theatre is burned to the ground, he decides to return to his home town of Stratford-upon-Avon. There he faces his neglected family. Still haunted by the death of his only son, Hamnet, he struggles to mend broken relationships with his wife, Anne (Judi Dench) and daughters. In so doing, he is ruthlessly forced to examine his own failings as an absent husband and father. In the search for peace, he must also finally confront the dark heart of his family's secrets and lies.
Shot in 1972, but not finished until 2018 because of a major technical problem, this documents the making of the best-selling Gospel album of all time that Aretha Franklin recorded live at the New Bethel Baptist Church in L.A. There’s an absolutely electrifying sense of witnessing music being created with the rapport between the Gospel choir, Aretha and all the musicians that makes you want to applaud like you are in the back of the church. With Aretha in her prime this is quite simply one of the finest music documentaries ever made. Guaranteed to send you home with a smile on your face.
From director Todd Douglas Miller comes a cinematic event 50 years in the making. Crafted from a newly discovered trove of 65mm footage, and more than 11,000 hours of uncatalogued audio recordings, APOLLO 11 takes us straight to the heart of NASA's most celebrated mission-the one that first put men on the moon, and forever made Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin into household names. Immersed in the perspectives of the astronauts, the team in Mission Control, and the millions of spectators on the ground, we vividly experience those momentous days and hours in 1969 when humankind took a giant leap into the future.
During a self-imposed exile in Arles and Auvers-Sur-Oise, France, Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh develops his unique, colorful style of painting. While grappling with religion, mental illness and a tumultuous friendship with French artist Paul Gauguin, van Gogh begins to focus on his relationship with eternity rather than the pain his art causes him in the present
Three siblings reunite at their home in picturesque Burgundy to save the family vineyard in this tender tale of a new generation finding its own unique blend from acclaimed director Cédric Klapisch (L'Auberge Espagnole). Jean (Pio Marmai), the black sheep of the family, unexpectedly returns home from a decade abroad to reconnect with his hospitalized father. He's welcomed by his strong-willed sister, Juliette (Ana Girardot), who took over the reins of the vineyard after their father fell ill, and Jeremie (Francois Civil), the youngest of the three who has recently married into one of the region's more prestigious wine families. Their father passes shortly after Jean's return, leaving them with the estate and a looming inheritance tax of half a million dollars. As four seasons and two harvests go by, Jean, Juliette, and Jeremie have to learn to reinvent their relationship and trust in each other as they work to preserve the land that ties them together.
1987. When music fanatic Javed discovers the illustrious back catalogue of The Boss his world is turned upside down; already a creative soul his passion for music and writing is set alight by the songs of the working-class poet Bruce Springsteen, whose lyrics feel all too familiar to the aspirational teenager. Yearning to escape his rundown hometown and the rules of his traditional Pakistani household, Javed finds himself caught in between two worlds and must discover if he too is Born to Run...
This is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen and lead singer Freddie Mercury, tracing the band’s meteoric rise. They reach unparalleled success but Freddie shuns Queen in pursuit of his solo career, only to reunite with his bandmates just in time for Live Aid. Facing a recent AIDS diagnosis, Freddie leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music
A customs officer who can smell fear develops an unusual attraction to a strange traveller while aiding a police investigation, which will call into question her entire existence.
Deadwood, Dakota Territory, is largley the abode of men, where Indian scout Calamity Jane is as hard-riding, boastful, and handy with a gun as any; quite an overpowering personality. But the army lieutenant she favours doesn't really appreciate her finer qualities. One of Jane's boasts brings her to Chicago to recruit an actress for the Golden Garter stage. Arrived, the lady in question appears (at first) to be a more feminine rival for the favours of Jane's male friends… including her friendly enemy Wild Bill Hickock.
Boisterous, fun-loving, and popular Washington D.C. hostess Sally Adams is appointed U.S. Ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Lichtenburg, Europe's smallest country. In Lichtenburg, the Duke and Duchess are negotiating a political marriage for their niece, Princess Maria in exchange for a substantial dowry. However, the country is desperate for funds, and turns to the inexperienced ambassador for a much needed U.S. loan. Sally refuses to talk money, that is, until she meets the ultra charming Gen. Cosmo Constantine. Meanwhile, Sally's press attaché Kenneth Gibson falls head over heels for Princess Maria.
Lee Israel made her living in the 1970's and 80's profiling the likes of Katharine Hepburn, Tallulah Bankhead, Estee Lauder and journalist Dorothy Kilgallen. When Lee is no longer able to get published because she has fallen out of step with current tastes, she turns her art form to deception, abetted by her loyal friend Jack. An adaptation of the memoir "CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?" relays the true story of the best-selling celebrity biographer (and friend to cats).
After running away from his negligent parents, committing a violent crime and being sentenced to five years in jail, a hardened, streetwise 12-year-old Lebanese boy sues his parents in protest of the life they have given him. A gripping, sympathetic cry for the dispossessed, Capernaum is a real heart-breaker that would be unbearable without the film's flashes of humour and two astonishing child performances that are moving beyond measure. This film is F-Rated
Following audience favourites ‘Stories from the Hop Yards’ and ‘Chewing the Cud’, this new Catcher Media film delves deep into the Derek Evans photographic archive from the 1950s-1970s to explore the county’s enduring memories of the May Fair, Hereford United FC, Derek’s Studio, music, rural life, childhood, Fownhope Heart of Oak Walk, and much, much more. “Spellbinding from start to finish” “The people telling their stories were utterly engaging and charming” “Funny, moving and enlightening and the photography is fantastic. What a brilliant resource, linking us to the past of Herefordshire
World War II, Morocco – a viper's nest of corrupt French police, spies, fleeing emigres, gamblers and drinkers. It's the perfect place for weary American expatriate nightclub owner Rick Blaine to hide out. Rick's Cafe is the gathering place for the good, the bad and the ugly, but he doesn't care, as long as they spend their money. One day, of all the bars in all the world, Rick's long-lost love, Ilsa walks in with her resistance leader husband, Victor, and Rick is pulled into both a love triangle and a web of political intrigue. Ilsa and Victor need to escape from Casablanca, and Rick may be the only one who can help them. Casablanca is the greatest love story ever told and time may have gone by but it has not diminished it.
Charley Varrick and his friends rob a small town bank. Expecting a small sum to divide amongst themselves, they are surprised to discover a very LARGE amount of money. Quickly figuring out that the money belongs to the MOB, they must now come up with a plan to throw the MOB off their trail.
After marrying successful Parisian writer Henry Gauthier-Villars, known commonly as "Willy", Gabrielle Colette is transplanted from her childhood home in rural France to the intellectual and artistic splendor of Paris. Soon after, Willy convinces Colette to ghostwrite for him. Colette, in turn, pens a semi-autobiographical novel about a witty and brazen country girl named Claudine, sparking a bestseller and a cultural sensation. After it's success, Colette and Willy become the talk of Paris and their adventures inspire additional Claudine novels. Colette's fight over creative ownership and gender roles drives her to overcome societal constraints, revolutionizing literature, fashion and sexual expression.
DIEGO MARADONA is constructed from over 500 hours of never-before-seen footage from Maradona’s personal archive with the full support of the man himself. On the pitch, Diego Maradona was a genius. Off the pitch, he was treated like a God. The charismatic Argentine loved a fight against the odds and led Napoli to their first-ever title. It was the stuff of dreams. But there was a price… Diego could do as he pleased while performing miracles on the pitch but, as time passed, darker days closed in.
DOWNTON ABBEY, becomes a grand motion picture event, as the beloved Crawleys and their intrepid staff prepare for the most important moment of their lives. A royal visit from the King and Queen of England will unleash scandal, romance and intrigue that will leave the future of Downton hanging in the balance.
May 1940. Four hundred thousand British and French soldiers are hole up in the French port town of Dunkirk. The only way out is via sea, and the Germans have air superiority, bombing the British soldiers and ships without much opposition. In desperation, Britain sends civilian boats in addition to its hard-pressed Navy to try to evacuate the beleaguered forces. This 2017 film is that story, seen through the eyes of a soldier, two Royal Air Force fighter pilots, and a group of civilians on their boat who are part of the evacuation fleet.
Omar and Pete are half brothers. When their parents are eaten by lions they embark on a journey to find Omar's real father. What follows is a funny, heart-warming journey of self-discovery for both boys...in Blackpool. The Choudray family represents a truly contemporary example of modern multicultural Britain - but what will the brothers make of their eccentric newfound family? Will they be going to Mecca or Mecca bingo?
When Edie’s husband passes away her daughter tries to send her to a care home. But she packs an old camping bag, leaves her life behind and embarks on an adventure she never got to have – climbing the imposing Mount Suilven in Scotland. Edie is determined to prove to herself and everyone else that it‘s never too late.
This account of Ted Bundy, the serial killer who murdered at least 30 women, is built not so much around his killings but around his relationship with his girlfriend, Liz Kloepfer. Liz, a single mother who meets Bundy in a bar, can never quite decide if the man she is doomed to love is a monster or a victim of false allegations. Or why he never hurt her. The truth becomes ever harder to deny as new accusations come Bundy’s way over the years. Liz gradually withers as she realises she’s given her heart to the worst man possible.
Reformed gangster and wrestler Ricky and his wife Julia make a living performing with their children Saraya and Zak. When brother and sister get the chance to audition for WWE, it seems the family dream is coming true but they are about to learn that becoming a WWE Superstar demands more than they ever imagined possible.
When ‘Lady’ Sandra Abbott discovers that her husband of forty years is having an affair with her best friend, she seeks refuge with her estranged, older sister Bif. Sandra is a fish out of water next to her outspoken, serial dating, free-spirited sibling. Sandra reluctantly lets Bif drag her along to her community dance class, where gradually she starts finding her feet... and romance.
The riveting story of the 1969 moon landing. Much more focused on the "small step for man" and less on the "giant leap for mankind", this follows Neil Armstrong on his journey to becoming the first man to walk on the moon. The perils and exhilarations of spaceflight are brilliantly conveyed to give you the hair-raising feeling of what it was really like inside Apollo 11.
A fast-living, cynical London music executive heads to a remote Cornish village on a stag weekend where he’s pranked by his boss into trying to sign a group of shanty singing fishermen. He becomes the ultimate ‘fish out of water’ as he struggles to gain the respect or enthusiasm of the unlikely boy band and their families who value friendship and community over fame and fortune. As he’s drawn deeper into the traditional way of life he’s forced to re-evaluate his own integrity and ultimately question what success really means.
Anna is a bereft young German woman whose fiance, Frantz, was killed in the trenches of World War I. Adrien, a French veteran of the war, makes a mysterious appearance in her town, placing flowers on Frantz's grave. Adrien's presence is met with resistance by the small community still reeling from Germany's defeat, yet Anna gradually becomes closer to the handsome and melancholy young man, as she learns of his deep friendship with Frantz.
"Frida" chronicles the life Frida Kahlo shared unflinchingly and openly with Diego Rivera, as the young couple took the art world by storm. From her complex and enduring relationship with her mentor and husband to her illicit and controversial affair with Leon Trotsky, to her provocative and romantic entanglements with women, Frida Kahlo lived a bold and uncompromising life as a political, artistic, and sexual revolutionary.
When nine-year-old Tom discovers that Santa Claus has crashed his sleigh into his parent's garden shed he tries to get his dad Steve to help him get Santa home to Lapland in time for Christmas. There is just one problem: Santa's reindeer have escaped and are running wild through the streets of London.
Clint Eastwood directs and stars in GRAN TORINO which marks his first film role since his Oscar-winning "Million Dollar Baby". Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, an iron-willed veteran living in a changing world, who is forced by his immigrant neighbours to confront his own long-held prejudices.
This film adaptation of GREASE is the zippy smash hit translation from the Broadway musical tribute to the fabulous 1950s. As a new school year begins, wholesome Australian exchange student Sandy (pop star Olivia Newton-John) and duck-tailed, leather-jacket-clad Danny (John Travolta) parlay their summertime romance into an on-and-off attraction that may or may not cross clique lines. Sandy seriously cramps Danny's style, so he dumps her. In response, Sandy begins dating a wholesome athlete, but, as a hedge, she also joins the gum-chewin', tough-talkin' clique known as the Pink Ladies. The popular soundtrack includes "You're the One that I Want," "Hopelessly Devoted to You," "Summer Nights," and the title tune. Academy Award Nominations: Best Song ("Hopelessly Devoted to You").
In 1962, "Tony Lip" Vallelonga, a tough bouncer, looking for work becomes the driver for African-American classical pianist Don Shirley on his concert tour into the Deep South states. They begin their trek armed with The Negro Motorist Green Book, a travel guide for safe travel through America's racial segregation. Together, the snobbishly erudite pianist and the crudely practical bouncer barely get along. The disparate pair witness and endure appalling injustices on the road and nurture a friendship and understanding that changes both their lives.
Grow Your Own is a gentle sweet-smelling comedy that is blessed with plenty of British charm. Set in the North of England, a bunch of grumpy old men spend their days nurturing their beloved allotments, while passing comment on their neighbours' vegetables. They're less than happy when a family of asylum seekers move in on their precious patch.
In the stark beauty of 19th Century Snowdonia a young girl tries desperately to hold her home together. Struggling with her mother's mysterious illness, her father's absence and a ruthless mining company encroaching on their land. A growing darkness begins to take grip of her home, and the suspicious local community turns on Gwen and her family.
Forever exploited by everyone in the village the sweet natured Lazzaro’s dreamy innocence throws a harsh light on the ways of the world. His unlikely friendship with the Marchesa’s petulant son Tancredi sets in motion a series of events that will change their ‘frozen in time’ world forever. This film mixes images of Italian class struggle, folk tales, biblical allegory, and pop culture with a genuine vision of a different way to live that gives you a lot to think about.
Micky O’Neill is desperate to save both his ailing Liverpool nightclub ‘Heartly’s’ and his failing relationship with the beautiful Nancy, Cathleen’s daughter. The solution? Book the infamous Josef Locke. Mr. X. (is he or isn’t he the real Josef Locke?), is booked to play the club. Disaster strikes when he is revealed as an imposter, Micky loses the club and his girlfriend in one night. Next solution? This time book the real Josef Locke! What follows can only be described as magical mayhem as Micky travels to Ireland in search of the elusive man.
Communities around the county have been enjoying this hugely popular film from Catcher Media. Inspired by the rediscovered Derek Evans photographic collection this film brims with archive photos and films alongside newly recorded interviews. A requisite of British beer, with their evocative aroma, hops have been an integral part of county life for centuries. Listen to stories of days past and present from pickers, farmers, traders and brewers. “I cannot recall an occasion when the audience was so immersed in what they were seeing.. People around me hung on every word, laughed at fond memories and tales and even I suspect shed a few tears.” “Amazing, from beginning to end. Such a great piece of story telling, great mix of young and old.”
In 1892, after nearly two decades of fighting the Cheyenne, the Apache, and the Comanche natives, the United States Cavalry Captain and war hero, Joseph Blocker, is ordered to escort the ailing Cheyenne chief, Yellow Hawk--his most despised enemy--to his ancestral home in Montana's Valley of the Bears. Nauseated with a baleful anger, Joseph's unwelcome final assignment in the feral American landscape is further complicated, when the widowed settler, Rosalie Quaid, is taken in by the band of soldiers, as aggressive packs of marauding Comanches who are still on the warpath, are thirsty for blood. In a territory crawling with hostiles, can the seasoned Captain do his duty one last time?
African-American teen sweethearts Fonny and Tish are ripped apart when Fonny is wrongly arrested for the rape of a Puerto Rican woman because of the machinations of a racist cop. While seeking justice for Fonny, a pregnant Tish relies on her Harlem community, including her sister, mother Sharon and future mother-in-law.
A feature length documentary about director Iain Cunningham's personal search to find out about his mother, Irene, who died when he was just 3 years old. Decades after Irene's death and inspired by the birth of his own daughter, Cunningham sets out to discover who Irene was, leading him down a winding path of long-lost relatives and contradictory tales. Through the stories told by Irene's friends, Cunningham carefully pieces together fragments of the past to movingly build a lost life. The culmination of his search leads him to discover that Irene suffered from postpartum psychosis, a severe form of mental illness that occurs after having a baby. What began as a meditation on memory and identity, becomes a study of family, female friendship, and the importance of the connections we make and keep.
Vienna has built a saloon outside of town, and she hopes to build her own town once the railroad is put through, but the townsfolk want her gone. When four men hold up a stagecoach and kill a man the town officials, led by Emma Small, come to the saloon to grab four of Vienna's friends, the Dancin' Kid and his men. Vienna stands strong against them, and is aided by the presence of an old acquaintance of hers, Johnny Guitar, who is not what he seems.
Based on infamous true events, a famous thief, Brian Reader (Sir Michael Caine), pulls together a band of misfit criminals to plot the biggest bank heist in British history. The thieves manage to escape with allegedly over two hundred million British pounds worth of stolen jewels and money. When Police are called to the scene and the investigation starts, the cracks between the eccentric gang members begin to show as they row over how to share the goods and become increasingly distrustful of each other.
Set in 1850 on the desolate and intensely beautiful island of Saint-Pierre, the film is a powerful and provocative examination of grand passions and their consequences. A single twist of fate sets the plot in motion, establishing that the twin forces of character and destiny can work together to alter lives in unexpected and even unimaginable ways.
Fred Flarsky is a gifted and free-spirited journalist with an affinity for trouble. Charlotte Field is one of the most influential women in the world. Smart, sophisticated, and accomplished, she's a powerhouse diplomat with a talent for… well, mostly everything. The two have nothing in common, except that she was his babysitter and childhood crush. When Fred unexpectedly reconnects with Charlotte, he charms her with his self-deprecating humor and his memories of her youthful idealism. As she prepares to make a run for the Presidency, Charlotte impulsively hires Fred as her speechwriter, much to the dismay of her trusted advisors.
Loving Vincent is a biographical drama film about the life of painter Vincent van Gogh. It is the world's first fully oil painted animated film and brings his artwork to life in an exploration of the death of one of history's most celebrated artists. A true labour of love, written and directed by Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman, each of the film's 65,000 frames is an oil painting on canvas, using the same technique as Van Gogh, created by a team of 115 painters.
Decades after her original visit, the magical nanny returns to help the Banks siblings and Michael's children through a difficult time in their lives.
MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS explores the turbulent life of the charismatic Mary Stuart. Queen of France at 16 and widowed at 18, Mary defies pressure to remarry. Instead, she returns to her native Scotland to reclaim her rightful throne. But Scotland and England fall under the rule of the compelling Elizabeth I. Each young Queen beholds her "sister" in fear and fascination. Rivals in power and in love, and female regents in a masculine world, the two must decide how to play the game of marriage versus independence. Determined to rule as much more than a figurehead, Mary asserts her claim to the English throne, threatening Elizabeth's sovereignty. Betrayal, rebellion, and conspiracies within each court imperil both thrones - and change the course of history.
This is a poignant, warm and often funny story of an ordinary woman, who after being pushed around by others for most of her life finally decides to stand up for herself. Starring Pauline Collins (with echoes of Shirley Valentine) as Thelma, who has endured 30 years of a meaningless marriage. When her husband dies, she is pushed into a care home, where she acquires a band of strange new friends who look to her for help and assistance and these new responsibilities give her life a new purpose and meaning. Also starring John Alderton as the odious manager of the Rest Home.
An Immigrant from Karachi, Pakistan, Nasser Hussein lives a fairly wealthy lifestyle in London, England, along with his wife Bilquis and three daughters, one of whose name is Tania. He owns and operates two businesses with his friend Salim; namely a garage, and 'Churchill's Laundrette'. When his widower and alcoholic brother asks him to hire his son, Omar, Nasser meets with him and initially asks him to wash cars. Subsequently he takes him to the laundrette and asks him to mop it's floors, but decides to let Omar manage it, and hopes to wed him with Tania. Nasser does not realize that soon the laundrette will have a new look and name 'Powders', and the lives of the Husseins will also never be the same again.
Featuring never-before-seen footage, concert performances and intimate interviews, filmmaker Ron Howard examines the life and career of the most successful opera singer of all-time, Luciano Pavarotti. This reveals how an elementary school teacher created thunder loud enough to make the world take notice and bringing Opera widespread popular appeal. Pavarotti’s optimism is contagious, and his schoolboy-like wonder means there’s a lot to smile at here.
Epic portrayal of events surrounding the infamous 1819 Peterloo Massacre. The massacre saw British government forces charge into a crowd of Over 60,000 that had gathered to demand political reform and protest against rising levels of poverty. Many were killed, hundreds more injured, sparking a nationwide outcry but also further government suppression. The Peterloo Massacre was a defining moment in British democracy which also played a significant role in the founding of The Guardian newspaper
Summertime, 1994. In a quiet mining village just outside Doncaster, a rumour stirs about the legend of a giant carp in the nearby decoy ponds. Trevor takes watch one night at the water's edge. The following night, he decides to lead a brigade of young friends and neighbours on a fishing expedition. In a world of broken families, cassette tapes and rumbling political fever, these friends, each with their own struggles to bear, share a moment of harmony as they witness the carp for themselves that they will never forget.
Set in the summer of 1984 – Margaret Thatcher is in power and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is on strike. At the Gay Pride March in London, a group of gay and lesbian activists decides to raise money to support the families of the striking miners. But there is a problem. The Union seems embarrassed to receive their support. The activists are not deterred, however, and they decide to ignore the Union and go directly to the miners. They identify a mining village in deepest Wales and set off in a mini bus to make their donation in person. And so begins the extraordinary story of two seemingly alien communities who form a surprising and ultimately triumphant partnership.
Based on a sensational true story, Joan Stanley is a widow living out a quiet retirement in the suburbs when, she’s arrested. The charge: providing classified scientific information about the building of the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. As she is interrogated, Joan relives the dramatic events that shaped her life and beliefs: her student days at Cambridge, her tumultuous love affair with a dashing political radical, and the devastation of World War II, which inspired her to risk everything in pursuit of peace.
Based on a true fantasy, this follows the spectacular journey of transformation of Reginald Dwight from shy piano prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music, through his influential, enduring musical partnership with Bernie Taupin, into becoming flamboyant international superstar Elton John.
Winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes 2018, this delivered the biggest ever UK opening for a Hirokazu Kore-eda (After Life; Still Walking; Like Father, Like Son) film. This is a complex, moving drama about the forces holding a struggling family together. In Tokyo, poverty-stricken family the Shibatas routinely turn to petty thieving to make ends meet. A rare depiction of Japanese society’s urban underclass, Shoplifters is an incredibly satisfying film, exquisitely drawn and full of Kore-eda’s trademark subtlety and nuanced moral inquiry. Winner Palme D’Or Cannes Film Festival 2018 This film is F-Rated
SING STREET takes us back to 1980s Dublin seen through the eyes of a 14-year-old boy named Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) who is looking for a break from a home while trying to adjust to his new inner-city school. He finds a glimmer of hope in the beautiful Raphina (Lucy Boynton), and with the aim of winning her heart he invites her to star in his band's music videos. There's only one problem: he's not part of a band...yet. Inspired by writer/director John Carney's (ONCE, BEGIN AGAIN) life and love for music, SING STREET shows us a world where music has the power to take us away from everyday life and transform us.
SKIN is one of the most extraordinary stories to emerge from apartheid South Africa: Sandra Laing is a black child born in the 1950s to white Afrikaners (Sam Neill), unaware of their black ancestry, who raise their child as a "white girl". But from the age of ten Sandra is shunned by white society, thus begins Sandra's thirty-year struggle to reconcile her heritage and find acceptance in a society torn by race and politics.
Steve Coogan and John C Reilly, two brilliant physical comedians, give delightful performances nailing the duo’s body language, mannerisms and routines. 1953 with their immense fame on the wane, Stan ‘Laurel’ and Ollie ‘Hardy’ embark on a gruelling farewell tour of British seaside towns. The tour starts badly; modest music halls, cramped little guesthouses, they struggle for audiences. But a series of TV guest spots rekindle the country’s interest and the buzz grows as they head towards a big London finale. But old resentments surface, particularly once ‘the wives’, Lucille and Ida, (a hilarious double act in their own right) join them. A charming, poignant, insightful study of lifelong male friendship this is a fitting tribute to the greatest pair of comedians of all time.
Feel-good larkiness in jaunty but formulaic style. Accountant Eric is simply treading water when he discovers a newfound sense of purpose thanks to an unexpected source: a group of similarly stuck-in-a-rut guys who have found camaraderie through synchronized swimming. Sure, they may be a bit paunchy, but they're determined to prove they have what it takes to be a whirling, twirling, scissor-kicking aquatic dream team
Drawing from ancient knowledge and cutting edge science, Symphony of the Soil is an artistic exploration of the miraculous substance soil. By understanding the elaborate relationships and mutuality between soil, water, the atmosphere, plants and animals, we come to appreciate the complex and dynamic nature of this precious resource. The film also examines our human relationship with soil, the use and misuse of soil in agriculture, deforestation and development, and the latest scientific research on soil's key role in ameliorating the most challenging environmental issues of our time. Filmed on four continents, featuring esteemed scientists and working farmers and ranchers, Symphony of the Soil is an intriguing presentation that highlights possibilities of healthy soil creating healthy plants creating healthy humans living on a healthy planet.
Ralph, a once-famous screenwriter, is in his seventies and terminally ill. He has two final missions: to be reconciled to his son, Michael, and, secretly, to ensure he is not a burden to his wife, Anna, as he goes "into that good night".
Seemingly in constant trouble at school, 14-year-old Antoine Doinel returns at the end of every day to a drab, unhappy home life. His parents have little money and he sleeps on a couch that's been pushed into the kitchen. His parents bicker constantly and he knows his mother is having an affair. He decides to skip school and begins a downward spiral of lies and theft. His parents are at their wits' end, and after he's stopped by the police, they decide the best thing would be to let Antoine face the consequences
After the release of Jake Blues from prison, he and brother Elwood go to visit "The Penguin", the last of the nuns who raised them in a boarding school. They learn the Archdiocese will stop supporting the school and will sell the place to the Education Authority. The only way to keep the place open is if the $5000 tax on the property is paid within 11 days. The Blues Brothers want to help, and decide to put their blues band back together and raise the money by staging a big gig. As they set off on their "mission from God" they seem to make more enemies along the way. Will they manage to come up with the money in time?
England, 1959. Free-spirited widow Florence Green risks everything to open a bookshop in a conservative East Anglian coastal town. While bringing about a surprising cultural awakening through works by Ray Bradbury and Vladimir Nabokov, she earns the polite but ruthless opposition of a local grand dame and the support and affection of a reclusive book loving widower. As Florence's obstacles amass and bear suspicious signs of a local power struggle, she is forced to ask: is there a place for a bookshop in a town that may not want one? Based on Penelope Fitzgerald's acclaimed novel, The Bookshop is an elegant yet incisive rendering of personal resolve, tested in the battle for the soul of a community.
From acclaimed director François Girard comes the inspirational story of a rebellious young boy with a remarkable singing voice. After being sent to a prestigious music school, he is challenged by a demanding teacher. A stellar ensemble cast - including two-time Oscar-winner Dustin Hoffman, Oscar-winner Kathy Bates, two-time Emmy winner Eddie Izzard, three- time Oscar-nominee Debra Winger, Josh Lucas and Kevin McHale - plus an exciting group of newcomers star as the teachers and young singers battling through fierce national contests in order to take their boychoir to new competitive heights.
Early 18th century. England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving. Queen Anne occupies the throne but is frail, so Lady Sarah governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne's ill health and mercurial temper. New servant Abigail arrives and while Sarah is caught up in the politics of war, she fills in as the Queen's companion. Their friendship gives Abigail a chance to fulfill her ambition of returning to her aristocratic roots and she will not let woman, man, politics or rabbit stand in her way.
A new, smart version of Dr Seuss’s classic children’s tale about the infamous Grinch, a grumpy creature who plots to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl's generous holiday spirit. With only his loyal dog for company, the Grinch lives a solitary life inside a cave rigged with inventions and contraptions for his day-to-day needs. His neighbours are nothing but a pain who disrupt his tranquil solitude each year with their increasingly bigger, brighter and louder celebrations. Funny, heart-warming, and visually stunning, this is an ever-popular story about the spirit of Christmas and the indomitable power of optimism.
THE KEEPER tells the extraordinary love story between a young English woman and a German Prisoner of War, who together overcome prejudice, public hostility, and personal tragedy.
Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny on the plains of Africa. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub's arrival. Scar, Mufasa's brother -- and former heir to the throne -- has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is soon ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba's exile. Now, with help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba must figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his.
A firm favourite at Borderlines Film Festival, this is a deftly paced comic romance that anyone can enjoy. Lonely young wife Ila is dissatisfied with her daily lot. Every day she prepares lunch for her neglectful husband to be delivered by the legendary Mumbai Lunchbox wallahs who deliver a million similar lunches to desks all over the city. Grouchy widowed accountant Sajaan is unsure what his imminent retirement will bring. But when Ila’s lunchbox goes astray, they build a gentle rapport via the notes they exchange. The humorous script reveals a wonderfully observed range of subtle emotions as their friendship blossoms.
Director Antoine Fuqua brings his modern vision to a classic story in The Magnificent Seven. With the town of Rose Creek under the deadly control of industrialist Bartholomew Bogue, the desperate townspeople employ protection from seven outlaws, bounty hunters, gamblers and hired guns. As they prepare the town for the violent showdown that they know is coming, these seven mercenaries find themselves fighting for more than money.
This love story has Kitty meeting young, intelligent, shy and somewhat dull Dr. Walter Fane, whose forte is the study of infectious diseases, and the convenient marriage that she finds herself committed to. It is in this web of intrigue that they head for China, only after Walter discovers Kitty's infidelity with one dashing and witty diplomat Charlie Townsend. So much as to hide her from herself and to help thwart a cholera outbreak, this is a marriage more than on the rocks. This is a cold, indifferent and loveless partnership in a vast unknown and deadly environment that will test both these flightless lovebirds and with the hardships and tolerances more than any had ever anticipated. A visual delight amid the pain and suffering of a dying people and failing marriage. Will a cure be found for both, before it's too late?
THE POST is a thrilling drama about the unlikely partnership between The Washington Post's Katharine Graham, the first female publisher of a major American newspaper and editor Ben Bradlee, as they race to catch up with The New York Times to expose a massive cover-up of government secrets that spanned three decades and four U.S. Presidents. The two must overcome their differences as they risk their careers - and their very freedom - to help bring long-buried truths to light.
From master storyteller Guillermo del Toro comes THE SHAPE OF WATER, an otherworldly fable set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1962. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of isolation. Elisa's life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment. Rounding out the cast are Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Doug Jones.
Based on Patrick DeWitt's novel, THE SISTERS BROTHERS revolves around the colourfully named gold prospector Hermann Kermit Warm, who's being pursued across 1000 miles of 1850s Oregon desert to San Francisco by the notorious assassins Eli and Charlie Sisters. Except Eli is having a personal crisis and beginning to doubt the longevity of his chosen career. And Hermann might have a better offer.
A young man of just 22, dressed in a black beret and a dark narrow suit, is on an aeroplane flying from St Petersburg to Paris. It is 1961 and Rudolf Nureyev, not yet the imperious figure of legend, is a member of the world-renowned Kirov Ballet Company, travelling for the first time outside the Soviet Union. Parisian life delights Nureyev and the young dancer is eager to consume all the culture, art and music the dazzling city has to offer. But the KGB officers who watch his every move become increasingly suspicious of his behavior and his friendship with the young Parisienne Clara Saint. When they finally confront Nureyev with a shocking demand, he is forced to make a heart-breaking decision, one that may change the course of his life forever and put his family and friends in terrible danger.
After nearly forty years of marriage, Joan and Joe are complements. Joe enjoys his very public role as a Great American Novelist, the devoted Joan pours her considerable intellect, charm, and diplomacy into the private role of Great Man's Wife. Joe is about to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Joan is about to drop a bombshell. It’s a pleasure simply to watch Close and Pryce at their considerable best. Poignant and powerful.
In this charming film based on the popular L. Frank Baum stories, Dorothy and her dog Toto are caught in a tornado's path and somehow end up in the land of Oz. Here she meets some memorable friends and foes in her journey to meet the Wizard of Oz who everyone says can help her return home and possibly grant her new friends their goals of a brain, heart and courage.
Bella Brown is a beautifully quirky young woman who dreams of writing and illustrating a successful children's book. When she is forced by her landlord to deal with her neglected garden or face eviction, she meets her nemesis, match and mentor in Alfie Stephenson, a grumpy, loveless, rich old man who lives next door and happens to be an amazing horticulturalist.
THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS tells the astonishing story of three men who make the chance discovery, at the age of 19, that they are identical triplets, separated at birth and adopted to different parents. The trio s joyous reunion in 1980 catapults them to fame but it also sets in motion a chain of events that unearths an extraordinary and disturbing secret that goes far beyond their own lives - a secret that might one day answer key questions at the heart of all human behaviour.
TOLKIEN explores the formative years of the renowned author’s life as he finds friendship, courage and inspiration among a fellow group of writers and artists at school. Their brotherhood strengthens as they grow up and weather love and loss together, including Tolkien’s tumultuous courtship of his beloved Edith Bratt, until the outbreak of the First World War which threatens to tear their fellowship apart. All of these experiences would later inspire Tolkien to write his famous Middle-earth novels.
Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the gang embark on a road trip with Bonnie and a new toy named Forky. The adventurous journey turns into an unexpected reunion as Woody's slight detour leads him to his long-lost friend Bo Peep. As Woody and Bo discuss the old days, they soon start to realise that they're two worlds apart when it comes to what they want from life as a toy.
Governor George W. Bush of Texas picks Dick Cheney, the CEO of Halliburton Co, to be his Republican running mate in the 2000 presidential election. No stranger to politics, Cheney's impressive resume includes stints as White House chief of staff, House Minority Whip and defense secretary. When Bush wins by a narrow margin, Cheney begins to use his newfound power to help reshape the country and the world.
‘Wajib’ meaning ‘duty’, in this case the Palestinian tradition resting upon Shadi to join his father Abu Shadi in delivering the invites to his sister’s wedding. But Shadi and Abu haven’t spoken for years: Shadi’s cosmopolitan outlook baffles Abu; Abu’s behaviour towards his mother before their divorce enrages Shadi. Tradition demands they set out on a roadtrip. Trapped within the confines of their car they are forced to confront their relationship, their differences and similarities. Subtle, poignant and extremely funny. For promoters who like a specialised film this is a good one. “Shot through with a likable streak of earthy humour”
David Tennant, Rosamund Pike and Billy Connolly star in this feature film adaptation of the winning formula behind BBC smash-hit sitcom Outnumbered, centred on separated couple Doug and Abi, and the antics of their precocious, wisecracking three children. On a trip to Scotland to celebrate Doug's father Geordie's 75th birthday, Doug and Abi try to put aside their differences and have an enjoyable weekend. A charming and offbeat comedy with a wide family-friendly appeal, able to connect with audience members as age-diverse as its characters.
Four women plan to complete the heist in which their husbands were killed. They have nothing in common except a debt left behind by their husbands' criminal activities but find unexpected solidarity in tackling their men’s unfinished business. Sleek and stylish - political corruption, police brutality and domestic violence. A taut, emotional and thoroughly entertaining thriller
Delightful and infectiously joyous, star Jessie Buckley radiates charisma as a young woman balancing her dreams of musical stardom with the responsibilities of motherhood. Fresh out of jail and with two young kids, Rose- Lynn Harlan is bursting with raw talent, cheek and a dream of getting out of Glasgow to make it as a country singer in Nashville. But her mum Marion has had a bellyful. Forced to take responsibility, Rose-Lynn gets a cleaning job, only to find an unlikely champion.
This intelligent feel-good film tackles urgent global issues with wry humour and a playful, genre-bending wit. Independent, feisty 40-something Halla is not just the life and soul of the local choir but also leads a double life as an undercover environmental activist. As "The Woman of the Mountain," Halla secretly wages a one-woman-war of industrial sabotage to protect the pristine beauty of Iceland’s highlands. Erlingsson’s follow-up to the eccentric comedy Of Horses and Men is a hugely enjoyable call to arms that delivers laughs hand-in-hand with an urgent environmental and human message.
Yesterday, everyone knew The Beatles. Today, only Jack remembers their songs. He’s about to become a very big deal. From Academy Award®-winning director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting, 28 Days Later) and Richard Curtis, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually and Notting Hill, comes a rock-n-roll comedy about music, dreams, friendship, and the long and winding road that leads to the love of your life.