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'.
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind ( Blu-ray ) (1984)
8.1/10
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
This classic Miyazaki film in many ways foreshadows his later, more widely recognised hit, 'Princess Mononoke'. In the far future, man has destroyed t... Read more
Red Lights (2004)
6.8/10
Director: Cedric Kahn
Starring: Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Carole Bouquet, Vincent Deniard, Charline Paul, Jean-Pie...
Based on the novel by Georges Simenon about a married couple that set out for a quiet holiday in the country. Helene (Carole Bouquet) and Antoine (Pie... Read more
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 Ax ( Le Couperet ) (2005)
7.4/10
Director: Constantin Costa-Gavras
Starring: Jose Garcia, Karin Viard, Geordy Monfils, Christa Theret, Ulrich Tukur, Olivier...
Based on the novel by David E. Westlake, this dark satire on the competetive job market stars Jose Garcia as Bruno Davert, a man who, two years after... Read more
Hank Williams: Honky Tonk Blues (2004)
6.2/10
Starring: Hank Williams, Jr., Hank Williams, George Jones, Roy Acuff, Anita Carter
A fascinating examination of the life and music of legendary performer Hank Williams. Transforming the country music genre the way Elvis transformed r... 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
Moolaade (2004)
7.7/10
Director: Ousmane Sembene
Starring: Fatoumata Coulibaly, Maimouna Helene Diarra, Salimata Traore, Dominique Zeida
Written and directed by 81-year-old master filmmaker Ousmane Sembene, this incredible film tells the story of four girls desperate to avoid the 'purif... 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 World According to Bush (2004)
7.9/10
Director: William Karel
A.k.a. "Le Monde Selon Bush". On 20 January 2001, amid high controversy and with no clear majority, eight years after his father, George W. Bush moved... Read more
Appleseed (2004)
7/10
Director: Shinji Aramaki
After WWIII there's only one habitable city left - Olympus - where remaining humans live an idyllic life under the watchful eye of a supercomputer and... Read more