The 65th Edinburgh International Film Festival continues in Scotland through the week, although I returned to London yesterday. I will however be keeping an eye on things from here, and of course commenting on festival films as they are shown. Here are two films highlights on Tuesday, and then some notes on screenings in London this week...
Jack Goes Boating
dir Philip Seymour Hoffman; with Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Ryan 10/US ***
Populated with a bunch of fragile characters, this sweet drama is assembled with skill and sensitivity. It's a clever look at how we struggle to do our best in life and relationships. Although sometimes the drama feels rather too wilfully "normal"... FULL REVIEW >Tomboy
dir Celine Sciamma; with Zoe Heran, Jeanne Disson 10/Fr ****
With a remarkably naturalistic approach, Sciamma tells this involving and moving story of a 10-year-old girl (Heran) who decides to live as a boy in her new neighbourhood, playing with the boys and even getting a girlfriend. No one suspects the truth, and her loving parents are oblivious to what's going on with their boyish daughter, but her little sister works it out. The film completely avoids melodrama by telling the story from the girl's perspective: this seems like the most natural thing in the world to her, even as she knows her parents won't get it. And when the deception threatens to unravel, we feel her growing fear at what might happen as a result. It's a beautifully made film that's really worth a look.
With a remarkably naturalistic approach, Sciamma tells this involving and moving story of a 10-year-old girl (Heran) who decides to live as a boy in her new neighbourhood, playing with the boys and even getting a girlfriend. No one suspects the truth, and her loving parents are oblivious to what's going on with their boyish daughter, but her little sister works it out. The film completely avoids melodrama by telling the story from the girl's perspective: this seems like the most natural thing in the world to her, even as she knows her parents won't get it. And when the deception threatens to unravel, we feel her growing fear at what might happen as a result. It's a beautifully made film that's really worth a look.
Meanwhile, back in London I'll be returning to my usual press screening schedule, with a few big titles, including Terence Malick's Palme d'Or winner The Tree of Life, Pedro Almodovar's Cannes entry The Skin I Live In, Tom Hanks' Larry Crowne and the summer's next loud blockbuster, Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Smaller films include the doc One Life, the award-winning Japanese drama Villains and Jean-Luc Godard's Film Socialisme.
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