Film HITLIST THE BEST FILM & DVD RELEASES
list.co.uk/film
The Raid Indonesian-set martial arts film, so action-packed that it barely pauses for breath, directed by Welsh filmmaker Gareth Evans. See review, page 64. General release from Fri 18 May.
Monsieur Lazhar Oscar-nominated drama about an Algerian teacher who arrives at a Montreal school following the suicide of another teacher. See review, page 63. Selected release from Fri 4 May. Being Elmo This sweet documentary takes a look at Kevin Clash, the man behind Sesame Street's much-loved Elmo. See feature, page 62, and review, page 64. Selected release from Fri 27 Apr.
Damsels in Distress Director Whit Stillman returns after a 13-year hiatus, with a film that will divide audiences, despite a great performance from Greta Gerwig. See review, page 64. Selected release from Fri 27 Apr.
Faust Revered Russian filmmaker Aleksandr Sokurov’s adaptation of the German legend reaches our cinema screens after winning the Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival. See review at list.co.uk. Selected release from Fri 11 May. Jean Gabin A season celebrating Gabin, an actor famous for playing the ‘ordinary Frenchman’. Don’t miss the restored version of Le Quai des Brumes, Marcel Carné’s thriller from 1938. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Wed 9 May–Sun 10 Jun.
KinoKlub Edinburgh’s surrealist film night celebrates Russian animator Ladislas Starevich, taking place in the apt setting of the Scotland-Russia Forum. Scotland-Russia Forum, Edinburgh, Sun 13 May.
Southside Film Festival The Glaswegian fest returns, with a range of events celebrating local filmmaking. See preview page 68. Pollokshaws Burgh Hall and various venues, Glasgow, Thu 17–Sun 20 May.
Green Film Festival A weekend of films tackling environmental issues including new documentary The City Dark, about light pollution and the loss of darkness. GFT, Glasgow, Fri 18–Sun 20 May.
48-Hour Film Project Filmmakers compete to make the best short film. Catch the results a couple of days later. Cameo, Edinburgh, Fri 18–Sun 20 May. Films screening at Cameo from Tue 22–Thu 24 May.
Profile AMARA KARAN
Born 29 March, 1984, London Background Oxford-educated Karan spent two years working as an investment banker before plucking up the courage to pursue her interest in acting. Her audition tape was enough to impress revered director Wes Anderson, who gave Karan her movie break in 2007’s The Darjeeling Limited. After a few years of solid TV roles she is back on cinema screens in two very different films: the first is this month’s British comedy All in Good Time, from the writer of East is East, Ayub Khan-Din, the story of a newly-wed couple from Bradford unable to find space from their family, with Karan playing young wife Vina. And in June, Karan stars alongside Simon Pegg in A Fantastic Fear of Everything, the directorial debut of former Kula Shaker frontman Crispian Mills.
On All in Good Time ‘I had seen the 2007 play and I also saw the 1960s film before we shot, so I had seen this character in various incarnations before, and it was really about asking how do I make this my own? What I love about Nigel Cole’s direction of the film is that the darkness and sadness is brought out more; in the stage play it’s kind of nicely wrapped up, happy and optimistic, but this film changes track.’ On aspirations to write, like her co-star Meera Syal ‘I’ve started and aborted several ideas. Obviously the facility of writing doesn’t come as naturally to me as it does to Meera, but I hope one day to have a screenplay of my own.’
On A Fantastic Fear of Everything ‘[Crispian] writes beautifully, and he has made a very beautiful film. You should expect hand-made, hand-crafted beauty and dark humour.’
Interesting fact Karan cut her acting teeth in an Edinburgh Fringe show in 1999. (Paul Gallagher) ■ All in Good Time is on selected released from Fri 11 May.
26 Apr–24 May 2012 THE LIST 61