New Cinemas of the Arab World

This excellent film week and one day symposium programme is an attempt to broaden understanding of modern Arab cinema. The films on show here represent new directions and trends in film from this

part of the world and the symposium will comprise the foremost academic specialists working in the subject of Arab cinema. Film highlights include Algerian kidnap drama Barakat!, Lebanese civil war road movie 2020 (pictured) and Lebanese vampire flick The Last Man.

I Film/rouse, Edinburgh from Mon 2 Apr.

family to go to university. where he finds the love of two girls and a perfectly reconstructed (Xniversitv ('ha/lerige. While the love story is predictable. the amusing

quiz show storyline and excellent post-new

wave soundtrack almost make tip for it. (‘itteti'ar/(l l’ark/tead. (ilas‘grm: Stereophonics: Rewind ( 15) (Danny ()‘(‘onnor. (K. 2007) The Stereophonics. 250mm. Music documentary chronicling the life of the Welsh rockers using intimate and live footage from l‘)()7 to 2006. ()deort A! The Quay. (ilaxgrrii:

Stomp the Yard ( 12A) 0.

(Sylvan White. LS. 2007) (‘olumbus Short. Meagan (iood. Ne-Yo. 1 14min. After the death of his younger brother. LA street dancer 1)] (Short) avoids blame by enrolling in the traditional Truth l'niversity. They introduce him to a new style of dancing and the inevitable dance- offs ensue. Both appalling and jaw dropping in equal measure. Seleeted release.

Strangers on a Train (PG) 0000. (Alfred Hitchcock. LS. 1951 ) Farley (iranger. Robert Walker. 101 min. llitch's appropriation of Patricia llighsmith's novel. the conceit for which is two strangers who get chatting aboard a long train journey and both admit to people they would like to kill —- one is joking. the other is deadly serious. With its climax aboard an out-of—control fairground ride and two superb central performances. this is one of Hitchcock's best. Serrlxmali .S'ereening Roam. Edinburgh.

3:4 Sunshine ( 15) 0... (Danny Boyle. l'K. 2007) lliroyuki Sanada. ('illian Murphy. Rose Byrne. l02min. See review. page 37. There will be a live satellite Q&A on the making of the lilm with director Danny Boyle at (‘ameo. lidinburgh on Wednesday 4 April at 6.45pm. General release.

TMNT (PG) 0. (Kevin Munroe. l'S. 2007) Voices of James Arnold 'I‘aylor. Mikey Kelley. Nolan North. 8(tmin. Those 'leeriage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back. souped tip with 3|) animation and looking pretty fearsome. (iood design and excellent light sequences have replaced a lot of the humour of the original. General release.

These Girls ( l5) ('l‘ahani Rached. ligypt. 2006) ohmin. The harrowing story of three young women living on the streets of ('airo. Part of New (‘inemas of the Arab World. l-‘i/rn/uruse. Edinburgh.

30 Mania (U) (the. US. 2003) Stuart l’ankin. lilviralMAX 3i) animation hell. For masochists and computer render geeks only. IMAX Theatre. (ilasgrm‘.

300 ( l5) 0... (Zack Snyder. LS. 2007) (ierard Butler. Lena lleadey. Dominic West. I 17min. Bloody historical epic based on Frank Miller's comic. This is a full on narrative assault on the senses ~ the Sin (‘t’t'v—ish visuals only add to the thrill of it all. General release.

Thunderbirds are Go (l') 0000 ((ierry Anderson. l'K. woo) Scott. Virgil. Alan Brains. Lady Penelope et al. 90min. The first and wittiest of the 'I'hunderbird spin-off movies. The 2 l st century version of the Shadows more than makes up for what is otherwise little more than the dragging out of one of the TV episodes. A tnust for all (ierry Anderson fans. Part of Puppet and Animation Festival. I-‘ilmluruse. Edinburgh. 12:08 East of Bucharest ( 12A) ((‘orneliu l’oumboiu. Romania. 2006) Mircea Andreescu. Teodor (‘orban. lon Sapdaru. 89min. The debut feature from (‘amera l)'()r winner Porumboiu refers to the exact time that Romanian dictator Nicolae (‘eausescu abdicated power on December 22 Will). Sixteen years later a group of people gather at a radio station to share their memories of that occasion. Eilnrhause. Edinburgh.

The Two Sides of The Bed ( l5) (limilio Martinez Lazaro. Spain. 2005) lirnesto Alterio. Guillermo Toledo. Alberto San Juan. Veronica Sanchez. l 12min. The sequel to Lit/aro's 2002 wife swapping comedy drama. The Other Side ()f'l'he Bed. The bed-hopping duos are back with a soundtrack of 70s and 80s pop -- this time Marta (Sanchez) and Javier (Alterio) are engaged. Part of Viva! Spanish and Latin American Film Festival. Glasgow Eilrn Theatre. Glasgow: l-‘ilnthause. Edinburgh. The Uncertain Guest ( 15) 0.. ((iuillem Morales. Spain. 2004) Andoni (iracia. Monica Lopez. Fransesc (iarrido.

1 10min. A thriller of paranoia and intrigue as Felix ((iracia) gets the feeling that there is a stranger in his house. Part of Viva! Spanish and Latin American Film Festival. (i/asgrm' Eilm Theatre. Glasgow; Eilrn/urus'e. Edinburgh.

Uzak (Distant) ( l5) 0... (Nuri Bilge (‘eylan. Turkey. 2002) Mu/affer ()rdemir. limin Toprak. '/.uhal (iencer lirkaya. Nazan Kirilmis. ll0min. Moving and quite effortlessly touching account of two men’s

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on paqeb

slow. ft‘ustrating friendship one that is always tempered by distance and distmst. Mahmut is a 40-year-old independent photographer who lives in Istanbul. After his wife leaves him. he falls into an existential crisis. Then his cousin Ytisul' turns up looking for work because the local factory in their home town has closed down. This intimate drama was filmed in the director's apartment in Istanbul. using all his belongings as the props. and stars noti- professional actors. A remarkable achievement from the gifted tip and coming Turkish director Nuri Bilge (‘eylan. ('arrrea. Edinburgh.

WIN THE PAGE TURNER!

THE PAGE TURNERO

Artificial Eye has just released this superb French revenge chiller on DVD. Set in the rarefied world of classical music conservatoires and performing trios this is a little gem. The List has three c0pies to give away. To be in with a chance of winning one. simply send an email marked PAGE TURNER to promotionsCCDIist.co.ul<. stating your name. address and daytime telephone number, by no later than Thursday 12 April. Usual List rules apply.

VHS: Kahloucha ( 15) (Nejib Belkadhi. Tunisia. 200(1) 80min. llouse painter and ex- criminal Moncef Kahloucha has directorial dreams. llis lilms get everyone involved. providing a little bit of escapism in a poor Tunisian town. linjoyable documentary. Part of New ('inemas of the Arab World. I‘ilrrt/uruse. Edinbtugh.

Veronika Voss (Die Sehnsucht der Veronika Voss) l 12) 00.0 (Rainer Werner Fassbinder. West (iermany. 1982) Rose] '/.ech. llilmar Thate. (‘ornelia Froboess. 104mm. Fassbinder’s brilliant portrayal of journalist Veronika Voss who leads a tragic existence dependent on the morphine her doctor supplies her. Highly recommended. Edinburgh l-‘ilrn Guild. Edinburgh.

The Violin ( 15) (Francisco Vargas. Mexico. 2006) Don Angel Tavira. Dagoberto (iama. Fermin Martinez. 98min. The violence of war and beauty of music collide as Don l’lutarco (real life violinist Tavira) tises his violin playing to aid the peasant guerilla movement against the military. Part of Viva! Spanish and Latin American Film Festival. (ilaxgmi‘ Eilnt Theatre. Glasgow; Eilrrrhouse. Edinburgh.

W, What a Wonderful World ( IS) (Faouli Bensaidi. France/(ierinany/Morocco. 2006) Faouzi Bensaidi. lle/ha Rahile. Fatima Attif. Wmin. A neo-noir (‘asablanca is the backdrop for a look at life on the edge of the law in contemporary Morocco. Part of New (‘inemas of the Arab World season. Ei/rnhouse. Edinburgh.

Falkirk Town Hall l-‘alkirk (J‘ouncil

Kirikou and the Sorceress (U) Sat 7th Apri/ 2. 00pm

Miss Potter (PG) Weds Nth/(Uni 77.00am 7.30, 7.30

I Know Where I’m Going (U) Thurs 72th April 7.30

Tickets and further information from The Steeple Box office or

On the day from the hall (01324 506850)

29 Man-12 Apr 2007 THE LIST 47