Tag: EIFF 2012

How The Edinburgh International Film Festival Got Its Groove Back

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With the Edinburgh International Film Festival over for another year, it’s time to look back over the twelve day event through rose coloured spectacles and assess whether or not the world’s longest continuously running film festival has managed to, under the leadership of a new Artistic Director and a brand new roster of some 121 feature films, make a decent stab at reclaiming its noble place, laying solid foundations for a bright future. Continue reading “How The Edinburgh International Film Festival Got Its Groove Back” →

EIFF 2012 Review: First Position (2012)

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The Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP) is an annual international ballet competition, in which over 5000 dance students aged between 9 and 19 years old compete for elite scholarships with some of the world’s most prestigious companies and schools. First Position tracks six ambitious young dancers – Aran, Gaya, Michaela, Mike, Rebecca and Joan – as they train, travel the world and overcome self-doubt and overwhelming pressure in a bid to secure their place at Continue reading “EIFF 2012 Review: First Position (2012)” →

EIFF 2012 Review: Sun Don’t Shine (2012)

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Crystal (Kate Lyn Sheil) and Leo (Kentucker Audley) are star-crossed lovers on the run to Tampa through desert-like conditions and sweltering heat in a battered car without air conditioning. As their trek becomes more arduous and their already tense relationship more fraught, their backstory filters out: a blurry, yet stirring picture of two emotionally disturbed people pitted together through wretched circumstances is formed. Continue reading “EIFF 2012 Review: Sun Don’t Shine (2012)” →

EIFF 2012 Review: Flying Blind (2012)

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Frankie (Helen McCrory) is a successful, smart and furiously driven aeronautical engineer and part-time lecturer who takes her work very seriously. When she strikes up a relationship with murky student Kahil (Najib Oudghiri), her work ethic decreases in favour of sex-fuelled infatuation. However, as Frankie starts to discover more and more about Kahil (he’s an illegal immigrant and seems eerily interested in fundamentalism), she becomes concerned for both her wellbeing Continue reading “EIFF 2012 Review: Flying Blind (2012)” →

EIFF 2012 Review: Berberian Sound Studio (2012)

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Gilderoy (Toby Jones), a reserved and modest British sound engineer, is hired by Italian schlock director Santini (Antonio Mancino) to score his latest film, slyly titled The Equestrian Vortex. Upon his arrival, he’s immediately intimidated by the Italians and baffled as to their unique approach to a variety of things, particularly the tools they use to create the film’s score and the lack of interest they have in reimbursing his travel expenses. As he attempts to put cultural Continue reading “EIFF 2012 Review: Berberian Sound Studio (2012)” →

EIFF 2012 Review: Unconditional (2012)

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Owen (Harry McEntire) and Kristen (Madeleine Clark) are twins living on a council estate caring for their disabled mother (Melanie Hill). When their already limited finances tumble further, Kristen arranges to meet loan shark Liam (Christian Cooke). Clearly smitten, Kristen makes it her intention to woo Liam, but it’s Owen who he has eyes for and, before he knows what he’s let himself in for, they embark upon a tumultuous, unorthodox love affair that sees them both Continue reading “EIFF 2012 Review: Unconditional (2012)” →

EIFF 2012 Review: The Fourth Dimension (2012)

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The Fourth Dimension is an anthology piece comprised of three short films contributed by three different directors – Harmony Korine, Aleksei Fedorchenko and Jan Kwiencinski. Spearheaded by Vice Magazine’s Eddy Moretti and partly funded by Grolsch Film Works, The Fourth Dimension sees each director tackling the open-ended concept of the fourth dimension – the next, higher existence of your soul – in their own unique ways, while adhering to a set of strict rules and Continue reading “EIFF 2012 Review: The Fourth Dimension (2012)” →

EIFF 2012 Review: God Bless America (2012)

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Frank (Joel Murray) has become disillusioned not only with his life, but also with the current state of society. His neighbours are inconsiderate, his daughter is turning into a reality TV wannabe and he’s recently been fired by his boss. He daydreams about doing his bit to save society from crumbling entirely, but simply doesn’t have the stomach to carry this out. However, when he’s told by his doctor that he may have a life-threatening brain tumour, he decides that life is Continue reading “EIFF 2012 Review: God Bless America (2012)” →

EIFF 2012 Review: The Unspeakable Act (2012)

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Jackie (Tallie Medel), a teenage girl weighed down by her own emotions and insecurities about life, lives within an unconventional family dynamic and shares an, at times, uncomfortably close bond with her older brother, Matthew (Sky Hirschkron). While Matthew doesn’t reciprocate and happily embarks upon relationships with other woman, Jackie harbours a deep, romantic and sexual love for him. As Matthew heads off to college and their lives drift further and Continue reading “EIFF 2012 Review: The Unspeakable Act (2012)” →

EIFF 2012 Review: Brake (2012)

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Jeremy Reins (Stephen Dorff) awakens to find himself locked in the boot of a car with nothing but a mobile phone, radio transmitter, illuminated digital countdown clock and an overwhelming lack of knowledge as to the reasons behind his sudden imprisonment. However, as time passes, it becomes clear that this nightmarish scenario is more than simply a hostage situation. Jeremy is an important target – a Secret Service agent who knows the whereabouts of the Continue reading “EIFF 2012 Review: Brake (2012)” →