Film Festivals 2005
Once again the wide world of cinema offers a cache of captivating films. From France the delightful 'Look at Me', Tony Gatlif's 'Exils' and horror/slasher 'The Ordeal'. 'Hotel Rwanda' and documentary 'Darwin's Nightmare' unlock some of Africa's darkest secrets while from Hong Kong came the diverse '2046' and Stephen Chow's comic tour de force 'Kung Fu Hustle'. From the US, Gregg Araki's disturbing 'Mysterious Skin', 'Birth' with Nicole Kidman and understated Southern pot-boiler 'Undertow'. Stand-out documentaries also included 'Wal-mart: The High Cost of Low Price', the incredible 'DiG!' and from North Korea a fascinating insight with 'A State of Mind'.
The Boy Who Plays on the Buddhas of Bamiyan (2003)
7.6/10
Director: Phil Grabsky
In March 2001 the ruling Taliban destroyed Afghanistan's 1600-year-old Buddhas of Bamiyan, once considered the world's most remarkable representations... Read more
The Future of Food (2005)
7.8/10
Director: Deborah Koons Garcia
This provocative, award-winning documentary offers an in-depth investigation into the disturbing truth behind the unlabelled, patented, genetically en... Read more
The General (1927)
8.2/10
Director: Buster Keaton
Starring: Buster Keaton, Marion Mack, Glen Cavender
One of the greatest films from the silent period, a true classic. Buster Keaton is an engineer on 'The General', a Confederate train during the Civil... Read more
The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse (2005)
6.2/10
Director: Steve Bendelack
Starring: Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith, David Warner, Michael Sheen
The freakish and bizarre inhabitants of Royston Vasey are unleashed on an unsuspecting world in this movie spawned from the cult TV series. All the f... Read more
The Miracle Of Bern (2003)
6.8/10
Director: Sonke Wortmann
Starring: Louis Klamroth, Peter Lohmeyer, Johanna Gastdorf, Mirko Lang, Birthe Wolter
Filmmaker and former professional footballer Sonke Wortmann directs this family sports drama, using the backdrop of the 1954 World Cup game between Ge... Read more
The New Oceania (2004)
Director: Shirley Horrocks
Starring: Albert Wendt
Samoan-born Albert Wendt is a leading South Pacific novelist, poet and dramatist. Filmed by one of New Zealand's leading documentary teams, this also... Read more
The Ordeal ( aka Calvaire ) (2004)
Director: Fabrice Du Welz
Starring: Laurent Lucas, Jackie Berroyer, Philippe Nahon
This demented Belgian slasher thriller starts innocently enough with cabaret singer Marc (Laurent Lucas) having van trouble in the middle of nowhere.... Read more
The Queen of Sheba's Pearls (2004)
5.2/10
Director: Colin Nutley
Starring: Helena Bergstrom, Lorcan Cranitch, Lindsay Duncan, Tim Dutton, Rollo Weeks, Eliz...
Set in post-war England, a young man celebrates his 16th birthday when a strange and beautiful woman appears at the door. She bears a striking resemb... Read more
The Sea Inside (2004)
8/10
Director: Alejandro Amenabar
Starring: Javier Bardem, Belen Rueda, Lola Duenas, Celso Bugallo
Two towering figures in Spanish cinema - actor Javier Bardem and director Alejandro Amenabar - collaborated on this powerful true story. Ramon Sampedr... Read more
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (2003)
7.9/10
Director: Judy Irving
Starring: Mark Bittner
This terrific documentary follows the relationship between Mark Bittner, a homeless ex-busker and the once-domestic, but now wild, green and red parro... Read more