Eye for Film: Edinburgh International Film Festival 2002

The kind of film that will appeal to people with a penchant for bleak, gritty, naturalistic dramas.

~ Gabriella Trybalska -

The kind of film that will appeal to people with a penchant for bleak, gritty, naturalistic dramas.

~ Gabriella Trybalska -

Unfortunately the film is as vacuous as Hollywood at its worst.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

Unfortunately the film is as vacuous as Hollywood at its worst.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

It's a great experience for the actors to get into such meaningful and intelligent roles and for us to be thrilled by their hard work and great performances.

~ Gator MacReady -

It's a great experience for the actors to get into such meaningful and intelligent roles and for us to be thrilled by their hard work and great performances.

~ Gator MacReady -

Cumulatively, the episodic conversations paint a vivid picture of contemporary Iranian life and, especially, of the place of women in the post-revolutionary era.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

Cumulatively, the episodic conversations paint a vivid picture of contemporary Iranian life and, especially, of the place of women in the post-revolutionary era.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

It has little teen humour, with the majority of the cast unlikely to see 40 again, and there is not enough plot substance to constitute an incentive for the older crowd.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The script does its best to make the audience uncomfortable - embarrassed, disgusted, socially repulsed - long before anything as sensational as murder occurs.

~ Jennie Kermode -

An enjoyable way to spend two hours.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

An enjoyable way to spend two hours.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

It has little teen humour, with the majority of the cast unlikely to see 40 again, and there is not enough plot substance to constitute an incentive for the older crowd.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

It has little teen humour, with the majority of the cast unlikely to see 40 again, and there is not enough plot substance to constitute an incentive for the older crowd.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Well worth the time and effort.

~ Gator MacReady -

Well worth the time and effort.

~ Gator MacReady -

Miklos is superb in the role of Anisio, striking a balance between menace and swagger, which gives him a comedic air.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Miklos is superb in the role of Anisio, striking a balance between menace and swagger, which gives him a comedic air.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The movie becomes bogged down.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

The movie becomes bogged down.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

An enjoyable way to spend two hours.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

With its lack of sentimentality, Cry Woman breaks the mould of beautiful looking, nostalgic filmmaking.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

On the strength of this film, writer/director Robert Schwentke is a talent to watch.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

On the strength of this film, writer/director Robert Schwentke is a talent to watch.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

It's all a bit superficial.

~ Gator MacReady -

It's all a bit superficial.

~ Gator MacReady -

Overflows with classic moments.

~ Gabriella Trybalska -

Overflows with classic moments.

~ Gabriella Trybalska -

For what is essentially a psychological horror film, Spider is remarkable for its quietness, its unassuming grace.

~ Jennie Kermode -

For what is essentially a psychological horror film, Spider is remarkable for its quietness, its unassuming grace.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Odoul's vision has a unique quality of strangeness and Bonnetblanc's performance is extraordinary.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Odoul's vision has a unique quality of strangeness and Bonnetblanc's performance is extraordinary.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

An exceptional documentary.

~ George Williamson -

It is opaque in the style of Seventies art house movies, with an energy that leaps out and shakes your bones.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

This movie is to be cherished.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

This movie is to be cherished.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Keeps the viewer enthralled throughout.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

Keeps the viewer enthralled throughout.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

Andre Turpin, directing his first selp-penned feature, has created an absorbing film, which will easily captivate a willing audience.

~ Gabriella Trybalska -

Andre Turpin, directing his first selp-penned feature, has created an absorbing film, which will easily captivate a willing audience.

~ Gabriella Trybalska -

Christopher Doyle's cinematography has a rawness that belies the romance of the outback. The

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Christopher Doyle's cinematography has a rawness that belies the romance of the outback. The

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

The narrative is so out-of-focus and the characters so unrealistic one cannot figure out exactly what universe the film inhabits.

~ Gator MacReady -

The narrative is so out-of-focus and the characters so unrealistic one cannot figure out exactly what universe the film inhabits.

~ Gator MacReady -

The humour is so crass, to call it dumbed-down would be expansive.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Unfortunately the film is as vacuous as Hollywood at its worst.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

An interesting genre hybrid that hits more than it misses.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

An interesting genre hybrid that hits more than it misses.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

If you are turned off by European arthouse movies then this is more likely to confirm your dispassion rather than change your beliefs.

~ Gator MacReady -

If you are turned off by European arthouse movies then this is more likely to confirm your dispassion rather than change your beliefs.

~ Gator MacReady -

It's awful, yet is so well directed and acted that you can't take your eyes off it, no matter how much you want to.

~ Gator MacReady -

It's awful, yet is so well directed and acted that you can't take your eyes off it, no matter how much you want to.

~ Gator MacReady -

The film has an individuality about it and yet looks like a store front studio product.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

The film has an individuality about it and yet looks like a store front studio product.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Shows a maturity that embraces every aspect of what commitment and family means and why those sentimental things that blokes feel uncomfortable with have a purpose and a reason.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Shows a maturity that embraces every aspect of what commitment and family means and why those sentimental things that blokes feel uncomfortable with have a purpose and a reason.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Overflows with classic moments.

~ Gabriella Trybalska -

Nakata's technique is to imply terror by suggestion, rather than the overuse of special effects.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

My Little Eye avoids kitsch, camp and pastiche.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

My Little Eye avoids kitsch, camp and pastiche.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

For a slow film, there is too much plot.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

For a slow film, there is too much plot.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

The plot makes as much sense as a French haggis.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

The plot makes as much sense as a French haggis.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

While the film is, indeed, freewheeling, some of us prefer to call it out of control.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

While the film is, indeed, freewheeling, some of us prefer to call it out of control.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Ann Hui's quaint little film is enjoyable, despite being too static.

~ Gabriella Trybalska -

Ann Hui's quaint little film is enjoyable, despite being too static.

~ Gabriella Trybalska -

Gordon has created a sweet drama that contains all the elements of a darn good story.

~ Gabriella Trybalska -

Cumulatively, the episodic conversations paint a vivid picture of contemporary Iranian life and, especially, of the place of women in the post-revolutionary era.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

The breadth and depth of Japon belies its standing as a directorial debut.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The breadth and depth of Japon belies its standing as a directorial debut.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

An exceptional documentary.

~ George Williamson -

An exceptional documentary.

~ George Williamson -

But the real disappointment is Everett, who gives a lazy performance, as if he knows he can do this backwards and simply can't be bothered.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

But the real disappointment is Everett, who gives a lazy performance, as if he knows he can do this backwards and simply can't be bothered.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

For all its confrontational posturing, there are moments when the film fails to take the leap into the abyss.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

For all its confrontational posturing, there are moments when the film fails to take the leap into the abyss.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

It is opaque in the style of Seventies art house movies, with an energy that leaps out and shakes your bones.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

It is opaque in the style of Seventies art house movies, with an energy that leaps out and shakes your bones.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Ann Hui's quaint little film is enjoyable, despite being too static.

~ Gabriella Trybalska -

It's awful, yet is so well directed and acted that you can't take your eyes off it, no matter how much you want to.

~ Gator MacReady -

With some awesome location shots of the Arctic circle and a brooding score from David Julyan, Nolan’s picture oozes atmosphere.

~ Stephen Carty -

With some awesome location shots of the Arctic circle and a brooding score from David Julyan, Nolan’s picture oozes atmosphere.

~ Stephen Carty -

There is simply no audience for this film.

~ Gator MacReady -

There is simply no audience for this film.

~ Gator MacReady -

Small children would delight in this film, but most adults would be horrified by the thought of them seeing it.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Small children would delight in this film, but most adults would be horrified by the thought of them seeing it.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Gordon has created a sweet drama that contains all the elements of a darn good story.

~ Gabriella Trybalska -

Gordon has created a sweet drama that contains all the elements of a darn good story.

~ Gabriella Trybalska -

For an uplifting tale about an ordinary man, who is not a recovering alcoholic, or a typical British waster, then check this out.

~ Gator MacReady -

For an uplifting tale about an ordinary man, who is not a recovering alcoholic, or a typical British waster, then check this out.

~ Gator MacReady -

Andre Turpin, directing his first selp-penned feature, has created an absorbing film, which will easily captivate a willing audience.

~ Gabriella Trybalska -

The humour is so crass, to call it dumbed-down would be expansive.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

The humour is so crass, to call it dumbed-down would be expansive.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Instead of being driven by effects and action, Frailty holds your attention with utter disbelief. You can accept what is happening, but do you want to?

~ Gator MacReady -

Instead of being driven by effects and action, Frailty holds your attention with utter disbelief. You can accept what is happening, but do you want to?

~ Gator MacReady -

redolent with imagery and running metaphors that are deeply relevant to Romanian politics and social structures, but to an outsider they make the film seem beautifully surreal.

~ George Williamson -

redolent with imagery and running metaphors that are deeply relevant to Romanian politics and social structures, but to an outsider they make the film seem beautifully surreal.

~ George Williamson -

Using handheld camera and naturalistic lighting, director Marius Holst's style might be summarised as Dogme-lite.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

Using handheld camera and naturalistic lighting, director Marius Holst's style might be summarised as Dogme-lite.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

If you are turned off by European arthouse movies then this is more likely to confirm your dispassion rather than change your beliefs.

~ Gator MacReady -

The narrative is so out-of-focus and the characters so unrealistic one cannot figure out exactly what universe the film inhabits.

~ Gator MacReady -

This is not so much a treasure doc as an upstate New York small town story.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

This is not so much a treasure doc as an upstate New York small town story.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Anat Even and Ada Ushpiz manage to present these stories in a way that is less about the conflict and more about the human plight of the three women.

~ George Williamson -

Anat Even and Ada Ushpiz manage to present these stories in a way that is less about the conflict and more about the human plight of the three women.

~ George Williamson -

Some may find Decasia's approach nihilistic.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

Some may find Decasia's approach nihilistic.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

Nakata's technique is to imply terror by suggestion, rather than the overuse of special effects.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Nakata's technique is to imply terror by suggestion, rather than the overuse of special effects.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

At turns funny, violent, bitter and over the top, it's a curious little fable about boredom, risk-taking, and the frustration experienced by trained fighters in peacetime.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Despite the depressing nature of the subject matter, the film is heartfelt and uplifting.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

With its lack of sentimentality, Cry Woman breaks the mould of beautiful looking, nostalgic filmmaking.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

With its lack of sentimentality, Cry Woman breaks the mould of beautiful looking, nostalgic filmmaking.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Filled with great splendour and majesty.

~ Trinity -

Filled with great splendour and majesty.

~ Trinity -

Succeeds in making the familiar strange and the unfamiliar everyday.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

Succeeds in making the familiar strange and the unfamiliar everyday.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

Gliding smoothly under the surface of what appears to be a serious film about coincidence and morality is that old black magic called sentiment.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Gliding smoothly under the surface of what appears to be a serious film about coincidence and morality is that old black magic called sentiment.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Succeeds in making the familiar strange and the unfamiliar everyday.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

While the film is, indeed, freewheeling, some of us prefer to call it out of control.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

The script does its best to make the audience uncomfortable - embarrassed, disgusted, socially repulsed - long before anything as sensational as murder occurs.

~ Jennie Kermode -

The script does its best to make the audience uncomfortable - embarrassed, disgusted, socially repulsed - long before anything as sensational as murder occurs.

~ Jennie Kermode -

Neither good, nor bad. Just average.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

Neither good, nor bad. Just average.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

Shot in an interview style, Breath Control is not particularly revolutionary... However, what really sets it apart is the director's love of his subject.

~ George Williamson -

Shot in an interview style, Breath Control is not particularly revolutionary... However, what really sets it apart is the director's love of his subject.

~ George Williamson -

At turns funny, violent, bitter and over the top, it's a curious little fable about boredom, risk-taking, and the frustration experienced by trained fighters in peacetime.

~ Jennie Kermode -

At turns funny, violent, bitter and over the top, it's a curious little fable about boredom, risk-taking, and the frustration experienced by trained fighters in peacetime.

~ Jennie Kermode -

I only wish there was more of it.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

I only wish there was more of it.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

Shows a maturity that embraces every aspect of what commitment and family means and why those sentimental things that blokes feel uncomfortable with have a purpose and a reason.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Instead of being driven by effects and action, Frailty holds your attention with utter disbelief. You can accept what is happening, but do you want to?

~ Gator MacReady -

Strangely disjointed.

~ Trinity -

Strangely disjointed.

~ Trinity -

The film's strength lies in its simplicity and humanity.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

The film's strength lies in its simplicity and humanity.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Backyard is as staged as the action you see on television. Knowing this, however, doesn't detract from a queasy feeling and sense of exploitation.

~ George Williamson -

Backyard is as staged as the action you see on television. Knowing this, however, doesn't detract from a queasy feeling and sense of exploitation.

~ George Williamson -

Don't expect anything new, or original.

~ Gator MacReady -

Don't expect anything new, or original.

~ Gator MacReady -

This gritty realism is enhanced by the manner in which the film is shot, using not-so-steady camerawork.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

This gritty realism is enhanced by the manner in which the film is shot, using not-so-steady camerawork.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

This Chad/France co-production is pleasant enough viewing, but felt somewhat calculated, polished and ersatz to me.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

The movie becomes bogged down.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Despite the depressing nature of the subject matter, the film is heartfelt and uplifting.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Despite the depressing nature of the subject matter, the film is heartfelt and uplifting.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

What makes the film work is the incredibly earnest acting of the main players.

~ Trinity -

What makes the film work is the incredibly earnest acting of the main players.

~ Trinity -

Beautiful to look at, as well as anarchic and contemporary.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

Beautiful to look at, as well as anarchic and contemporary.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

This Chad/France co-production is pleasant enough viewing, but felt somewhat calculated, polished and ersatz to me.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

This Chad/France co-production is pleasant enough viewing, but felt somewhat calculated, polished and ersatz to me.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

Ozon's quirky French murder mystery-cum-comedy-cum-musical is a brilliant pastiche on so many genres, it has no right to be as entertaining as it is, or as gripping.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

Ozon's quirky French murder mystery-cum-comedy-cum-musical is a brilliant pastiche on so many genres, it has no right to be as entertaining as it is, or as gripping.

~ Amber Wilkinson -

My Little Eye avoids kitsch, camp and pastiche.

~ Angus Wolfe Murray -

For all its confrontational posturing, there are moments when the film fails to take the leap into the abyss.

~ Keith Hennessey Brown -

- OUT NOW
- ARCHIVE
- COMPETITIONS
- NEWSLETTER
- NEWS
- FEATURES
- GALLERIES
- ABOUT US
- EDITORIAL
- ADVERTISE
- PRIVACY

Eye For Film >> Festivals >> EIFF >> 2002 >> Unnamed Strand

Edinburgh International Film Festival 2002

Irreversible and My Little Eye

8 Women (8 Femmes, Eight Women) (Country: France; Year: 2001; Director: Francois Ozon; Writer: Francois Ozon, Marina de Van, based on the play by Robert Thomas; Stars: Danielle Darrieux, Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert, Fanny Ardant, Virginie Ledoyen, Emmanuelle Beart, Ludivine Sagnier, Firmine Richard)

Eight women, one body and a house full of lies.

Full Review

Abouna (Our Father) (Country: Chad/France; Year: 2002; Director: Mahamat Saleh Haroun; Writer: Mahamat Saleh Haroun; Stars: Ahidjo Mahamat Moussa, Hamza Moctar Aguid, Zara Haroun, Mounira Khalil, Koulsy Lamko, Garba Issa)

Two brothers from Chad are affected in different ways when their father leaves home.

Full Review

All About Lily Chou-Chou (Riri Shushu no subete, Lily Chou Chou no subete) (Country: Japan; Year: 2001; Director: Shunji Iwai; Writer: Shunji Iwai; Stars: Hayato Ichinara, Shugo Oshinari, Ayumi Ito, Yu Aoi, Takao Osawa, Miwako Ichikawa, Izumi Inamori)

A disaffected teen finds solace in music and fan chat rooms.

Full Review

Australian Rules (Country: Australia; Year: 2002; Director: Paul Goldman; Writer: Phillip Gwynne, based on his novel, Deadly Unna; Stars: Nathan Phillips, Simon Westaway, Lisa Flanagan, Luke Carroll, Kevin Harrington, Tom Budge)

Racial tension hides beneath the surface of a tidy Australian fishing town.

Full Review

All Or Nothing (Country: UK; Year: 2002; Director: Mike Leigh; Writer: Mike Leigh; Stars: Timothy Spall, Lesley Manville, Ruth Sheen, James Corden, Marion Bailey, Alison Garland, Paul Jesson, Kathryn Hunter, Sally Hawkins, Helen Coker)

Mike Leigh investigates the sad, heartfelt lives of high-rise South Londoners.

Full Review

This Is Not A Love Song and Abouna

Angela (Country: Italy; Year: 2002; Director: Roberta Torre; Writer: Roberta Torre; Stars: Donatella Finocchiaro, Andrea Di Stefano, Mario Pupella, Erasmo Lobello, Tony Gambino, Matteo Gulino, Maria Mistretta, Giuseppe Pettinato)

Tale of star-crossed lovers in Mafiosi world of Sicily.

Full Review

Baader (Country: Germany; Year: 2002; Director: Christopher Roth; Writer: Moritz Von Uslar; Stars: Frank Giering, Vadim Glowna, Laura Maori Tonke, Birge Schade, Daniel Krauss)

German jailbird lashes out at society with a series of uninteresting attacks and confusing exploits.

Full Review

The Backyard (Country: USA; Year: 2002; Director: Paul Hough; Stars: "The Lizard", "Chaos", "Scar", "Heartless", "The Retarded Butcher")

A shockingly graphic documentary about the backyard wrestling phenomenon.

Full Review

Balzac And The Little Chinese Seamstress (Balzac Et La Petite Tailleuse Chinoise, Xiao cai feng) (Country: China/France; Year: 2002; Director: Dai Sijie; Writer: Dai Sijie, Nadine Perront, based on the novel by Dai Sijie; Stars: Xun Zhou, Kun Chen, Ye Liu, Suang Bao Wang, Xiong Xiaoi)

Boys sent for re-education get the hots for local seamstress.

Full Review

Bashkim (Country: Switzerland; Year: 2001; Director: Vadim Jendreyko; Stars: Bashkim Berisha, Riza Berisha, Djka Berisha)

A young Kosovan kick boxer and his family try to explain his rage and frustration.

Full Review

Frailty and Once Upon A Time In The Midlands

Baadasssss Cinema (Country: UK/US; Year: 2002; Director: Isaac Julien; Stars: Samuel L Jackson, Pam Grier, Melvin Van Peebles, Quentin Tarantino)

Documentary about the 1970s blaxploitation films.

Full Review

Buffalo Soldiers (Country: Germany/UK/US; Year: 2001; Director: Gregor Jordan; Writer: Gregor Jordan, Eric Axel Weiss, Nora MacCoby, based on the novel by Robert O'Connor; Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Ed Harris, Anna Paquin, Scott Glenn, Elizabeth McGovern, Michael Pena, Leon Robinson)

Cynical depiction of life as a US soldier in Germany, 1989.

Full Review

Breath Control: The History of the Human Beat Box (Country: US; Year: 2002; Director: Joey Garfield; Stars: Doug E Fresh, Rahzel, Biz Markie, Fat Boys, Stetasonic, Emanon)

The phenomenon of human beat boxing revisited as a documentary.

Full Review

Broadway Black Sea (Brodwey, Chernoye Morye, Brodvey. Chernoe more) (Country: Germany/Russia/Czech Republic; Year: 2002; Director: Vitali Manski)

Documentary about a Black Sea holiday locale over one summer season.

Full Review

Bundy (Ted Bundy) (Country: US; Year: 2002; Director: Matthew Bright; Writer: Matthew Bright, Stephen Johnston; Stars: Michael Reilly Burke, Boti Ann Bliss, Stefani Brass, Marina Black, Wayne Morse, Tom Savini)

Biopic of serial killer Ted Bundy.

Full Review

Just A Kiss and Cinemania

Changing Lanes (Country: US; Year: 2002; Director: Roger Michell; Writer: Michael Tolkin, Chap Taylor; Stars: Ben Affleck, Samuel L Jackson, Toni Collette, Sidney Pollack, William Hurt, Amanda Peet, Richard Jenkins)

An ambitious lawyer and a recovering alcoholic have a bad day in New York after a car crash.

Full Review

Cinemania (Country: Germany; Year: 2002; Director: Angela Christlieb, Stephen Kijak)

There, but for the grace of God, go Scorsese, Tarantino, Truffaut and Godard in this documentary about seriously obsessive New York cinephiles.

Full Review

The Clay Bird (Matir Monia, L'Oiseau d'Argile) (Country: France/Bangladesh; Year: 2002; Director: Tareque Masud; Writer: Tareque Masud, Catherine Masud; Stars: Nurul Islam Bablu, Russell Farazi, Jayanto Chattopadhyay, Rokeya Prachy)

Life as a Muslim seen through the eyes of Bangledeshis on the verge of civil war.

Full Review

Confession (Itiraf) (Country: Turkey; Year: 2001; Director: Zeki Demirkubuz; Writer: Zeki Demirkubuz; Stars: Taner Birsel, Basak Köklükaya, Iskender Altin, Mirac Eronat, Gulgun Kutlu)

A husband suspects his wife of infidelity and tries to make her confess.

Full Review

Cry Woman (Ku Qi De Nu Ren) (Country: China; Year: 2002; Director: Bingjian Liu; Writer: Ja Deng, Bingjian Liu ; Stars: Liao Qin, Wei Xingkun, Zhu Jiayue, Li Longjun, Wen Ging)

Tough girl hustles work in China and discovers she has talent as a professional wailer at funerals.

Full Review

All Or Nothing and Buffalo Soldiers

The Cuban Game (El Juego de Cuba) (Country: Spain; Year: 2001; Director: Manuel Martin Cuenca)

Baseball in Cuba - and its impact in a historical context.

Full Review

Dark Water (Honogurai Mozu No Soko Kara) (Country: Japan; Year: 2002; Director: Hideo Nakata; Writer: Yoshihiro Nakamura, Ken-ichi Suzuki, based on the novel by Koji Suzuki; Stars: Hitomi Kuroki, Rio Kanno, Mirei Oguchi, Asami Mizukawa, Fumiyo Kohinata, Shigemitsu Ogi)

Obvious but effective Japanese horror from the director and writer of Ring.

Full Review

Decasia (Country: USA; Year: 2001; Director: Bill Morrison; Writer: Bill Morrison)

Think Mirroball for those who find Mirrorball lightweight.

Full Review

Detained (Asurot) (Country: Israel; Year: 2001; Director: Anat Even, Ada Ushpiz; Writer: Anat Even, Ada Ushpiz; Stars: Najwa, Nawal, Siham)

Powerful documentary about the life of three Palestinian widows and their families.

Full Review

Digging for Dutch (Digging For Dutch: The Search For The Lost Treasure Of Dutch Schultz) (Country: USA; Year: 2001; Director: Laura Levine)

Documentary about the world's most wacky treasure hunt.

Full Review

Revengers Tragedy and Pleasant Days

Dragonflies (Oyenstikker) (Country: Norway; Year: 2001; Director: Marius Holst; Writer: Nikolaj Frobenius, Marius Holst, based on the book by Ingvar Ambjornsen; Stars: Kim Bodnia, Mikael Persbrandt, Maria Bonnevie, Thomas Skarpordet, Tintin Anderzon, Tord Peterson, Shanti Roney, Anastasios Soulis, Ulla-Britt Norman-Olsson, Willy Karlsson)

Secrets from the past are prized open when an ex-con comes to see a couple in the country.

Full Review

Every Day God Kisses Us On The Mouth (In Fiecare Zi Dumnezeu Ne Saruta Pe Gura) (Country: Romania; Year: 2001; Director: Sinisa Dragin; Writer: Ioan Carmazan, Sinisa Dragin; Stars: Dan Condurache, Ana Ciontea, Horatiu Malaele, Dan Astileanu, Valer Delakeza)

An alcoholic butcher finds himself sucked into a world of murder he can't escape.

Full Review

The Eye Of The Day (De Stand Van De Zon, À La Hauteur Du Soleil) (Country: The Netherlands; Year: 2001; Director: Leonard Retel Helmrich; Writer: Leonard Retel Helmrich, Hetty Naakens-Retel Helmrich; Stars: Rumidja, Dwi, Barkti, Ibu Sum, Tani)

Documentary about an Indonesian family, trying to survey the politically turbulent times.

Full Review

Frailty (Country: USA; Year: 2001; Director: Bill Paxton; Writer: Brent Hanley; Stars: Bill Paxton, Matthew McConaughey, Powers Boothe, Matthew O'Leary, Jeremy Sumpter, Luke Askew)

Bill Paxton’s kids think he’s gone nutzo in religious thriller about a serial axe murderer.

Full Review

The Guru (Country: US; Year: 2001; Director: Daisy von Scherler Mayer; Writer: Tracey Jackson; Stars: Heather Graham, Jimi Mistry, Marisa Tomei, Christine Baranski, Michael McKean, Malachy McCourt, Rob Morrow, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Ajay Naidu, Raahul Singh)

Dance instructor from Bombay goes to New York, meets a porn star and become a sex guru.

Full Review

The Eye Of The Day and Soft Shell Man

Heartlands (Country: UK/US; Year: 2002; Director: Damien O’Donnell; Writer: Paul Fraser; Stars: Michael Sheen, Mark Addy, Jim Carter, Ruth Jones, Celia Imrie, Jane Robbins, Mark Strong, Paul Shane, Phillipa Peak, Jade Rhodes)

Big-time loser turns his life around when he travels to Blackpool in an effort to win back his estranged wife.

Full Review

Her Majesty (Country: New Zealand; Year: 2001; Director: Mark J Gordon; Writer: Mark J Gordon; Stars: Sally Andrews, Anna Sheridan, Mark Clare, Alison Routledge, Geoff Snell, Craig Elliott, Patrick Morrison, Todd Emerson, Alexander Gandar, Anton Tennet, Stuart Devenie)

A girl dreams of meeting Queen Elizabeth II.

Full Review

The Happiness of the Katakuris (Katakuri-ke no Koufuku) (Country: Japan; Year: 2001; Director: Takashi Miike; Writer: Kikumi Yamagishi; Stars: Kiyoshiro Imawano, Keiko Matsuzaka, Naomi Nishida, Kenji Sawada, Shinji Takeda, Naoto Takenaka, Tetsuro Tamba)

Running a guest house proves deathly for a family. Just as well they know a few good songs.

Full Review

Hoover Street Revival (Country: UK; Year: 2002; Director: Sophie Fiennes; Stars: Bishop Noel Jones)

The goings-on within the 'hood of South Central LA and their all-black gospel church.

Full Review

Insomnia (Country: US; Year: 2002; Director: Christopher Nolan; Writer: Hillary Seitz, based on the script by Nikolaj Frobenius and Erik Skjoldbjaeg for Insomnia (1997); Stars: Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Hilary Swank, Maura Tierney, Martin Donovan, Nicky Katt, Paul Dooley)

Al Pacino is an LA detective come to Alaska to solve a teenage murder.

Full Review

Out Of Control and July Rhapsody

Intacto (Intact) (Country: Spain; Year: 2001; Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo; Writer: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo; Stars: Leonardo Sbaraglia, Eusebio Poncela, Mónica López, Antonio Dechent, Max von Sydow, Guillermo Toledo, Alber Ponte, Andrea San Vicente, Jesús Noguero, Ramón Serrada, Marisa Lull)

If luck is a commodity, it can be bought and sold.

Full Review

Irreversible (Country: France; Year: 2002; Director: Gaspar Noé; Writer: Gaspar Noé; Stars: Monica Bellucci, Vincent Cassel, Albert Dupontel, Philippe Nahon, Jo Prestia, Stephane Drouot)

Brutal story of a violent rape, told in reverse. Now out to own in special collectors edition.

Full Review

The Importance Of Being Earnest (Country: UK/US; Year: 2002; Director: Oliver Parker; Writer: Oliver Parker, based on the play by Oscar Wilde; Stars: Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Frances O'Connor, Reese Witherspoon, Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Anna Massey)

Wilde's tale of love and identity gets saddled with unfortunate dream sequences.

Full Review

It Kinda Scares Me (Tomer Ve-Hasrutim) (Country: Israel; Year: 2001; Director: Tomer Heymann; Writer: Tomer Heymann)

Documentary about a group of adolescents in Tel Aviv.

Full Review

Japon (Japón) (Country: Mexico/Spain; Year: 2002; Director: Carlos Reygadas; Writer: Carlos Reygadas; Stars: Alejandro Ferretis, Magdalene Flores, Carlos Reygadas, Barquin, Martin Cerrano, Rolando Hernandez, Yolanda Villa, Bernabe Perez, Fernando Benitez and Claudia Rodriguez.)

Mystery man seeks redemption and death in Mexico.

Full Review

Ten and Her Majesty

July Rhapsody (Nan Ren Si Shi, Laam Yan Sei Sap) (Year: 2002; Director: Ann Hui; Writer: Ivy Ho; Stars: Jacky Cheung, Anita Mui, Karena Lam, Shaun Tam, Tou Chung Hua)

A heartwarming tale about family relationships in China.

Full Review

Just A Kiss (Country: US; Year: 2001; Director: Fisher Stevens; Writer: Patrick Breen; Stars: Ron Eldard, Kyra Sedgewick, Patrick Breen, Marisa Tomei, Marley Shelton, Taye Diggs, Sarita Choudhury)

Farcical romance as three couples become inextricably entwined due to wanderlust.

Full Review

The Last Great Wilderness (Country: UK; Year: 2002; Director: David Mackenzie; Writer: Michael Tait, Alistair Mackenzie, David Mackenzie, Gillian Berrie; Stars: Alistair Mackenzie, Jonny Phillips, Victoria Smurfit, David Hayman, Ewan Stewart, Ford Kiernan, Sheila Donald, Martin Bell)

Two men take refuge in a retreat for lost souls in the countryside.

Full Review

Morvern Callar (Country: UK, Canada; Year: 2002; Director: Lynne Ramsay; Writer: Lynne Ramsay, Liana Dognini, based on the novel by Alan Warner; Stars: Samantha Morton, Kathleen McDermott, Raife Patrick Burchell, Carolyn Calder, Dan Cadan, Jim Wilson)

After her boyfriend commits suicide, Samantha Morton runs away to Spain with her best pal.

Full Review

My Little Eye (Country: UK, Canada; Year: 2002; Director: Marc Evans; Writer: David Hilton, James Watkins; Stars: Jennifer Sky, Stephen O'Reilly, Laura Regan, Sean CW Johnson, Kris Lemche)

People agree to take part in a reality TV experiment, which will see them share an isolated house for six months. But with a week to go, do their backers want them out?

Full Review

Dark Water and Sex Is Comedy

Once Upon A Time In The Midlands (Country: UK; Year: 2002; Director: Shane Meadows; Writer: Shane Meadows, Paul Fraser; Stars: Rhys Ifans, Robert Carlyle, Shirley Henderson, Kathy Burke, Ricky Tomlinson, Finn Atkins, James Cosmo)

Rhys Ifans and Robert Carlyle tussle for the affections of Shirley Henderson.

Full Review

One Hour Photo (Country: US; Year: 2002; Director: Mark Romanek; Writer: Mark Romanek; Stars: Robin Williams, Connie Nielsen, Michael Vartan, Dylan Smith, Erin Daniels, Paul H. Kim, Lee Garlington, Gary Cole, Marion Calvert, David Moreland, Shaun P. O'Hagan)

Robin Williams assumes the stalker role in this offbeat thriller.

Full Review

Out Of Control (Country: UK; Year: 2002; Director: Dominic Savage; Writer: Dominic Savage; Stars: Tamzin Outhwaite, David Morrissey, Jamie Foreman, Frank Harper, Danny Young, Leo Gregory, Akemnji Ndifornyan)

Gritty drama about boys in borstal.

Full Review

Pleasant Days (Szép napok) (Country: Hungary; Year: 2002; Director: Kornél Mundruczó; Writer: Kornél Mundruczó, Viktória Petrányi; Stars: Tamás Polgár, Orsolya Tóth, Kata Wéger, Lajos Ottó Horváth, András Réthelyi, Károly Kuna)

Newly paroled timewaster Peter wanders aimlessly from scene to scene as he continues to squander his life.

Full Review

A Red Bear (Un Oso Rojo) (Country: Argentina; Year: 2002; Director: Adrian Caetano; Writer: Adrian Caetano; Stars: Julio Chavez, Soledad Villamil, Luis Hachin, Agostina Lage, Rene Lavand, Enrqique Liporace, Daniel Valenzuela, Freddy Forbes, Ernesto Villegas)

Ex-con tries to re-establish relations with his family and collect money due him.

Full Review

Volcano High and The Guru

Revengers Tragedy (Country: UK; Year: 2002; Director: Alex Cox; Writer: Frank Cottrell Boyce, based on the play by Thomas Middleton; Stars: Christopher Eccleston, Eddie Izzard, Derek Jacobi, Diana Quick, Sophie Dahl, Justin Salinger)

A modern day adaptation of Thomas Middleton's 17th century stage play.

Full Review

Rabbit-Proof Fence (Country: Australia; Year: 2002; Director: Phillip Noyce; Writer: Christine Olsen, based on the book by Doris Pilkington; Stars: Everlyn Sampi, Tianna Sansbury, Laura Monaghan, Kenneth Branagh, Deborah Mailman, David Gulpilil)

True story of three mixed race Aboriginal girls who walk home across the breadth of Australia.

Full Review

Soft Shell Man (Un Crabe Dans La Tete, A Crab In The Head) (Country: Canada; Year: 2001; Director: Andre Turpin; Writer: Andre Turpin; Stars: David La Haye, Isabelle Blais, Emmanuel Bilodeau, Chantel Giroux, Pascale Desrochers,)

A man returns home after an accident in the Indian Ocean to see his photographs in a new exhibit.

Full Review

Something To Remind Me (Toter Mann) (Country: Germany; Year: 2001; Director: Christian Petzold; Writer: Christian Petzold; Stars: Nina Hoss, Andre Hennicke, Sven Pippig, Kathrin Angerer, Heinrich Schmieder, Franziska Trogner, Henning Peker, Michael Gerber)

Expertly constructed thriller in the tradition of Hitchcock and Chabrol.

Full Review

Son Of The Bride (El Hijo De La Novia) (Country: Argentina/Spain; Year: 2001; Director: Juan José Campanella; Writer: Fernando Castets, Juan Jose Campanella; Stars: Ricardo Darin, Hector Alterio, Norma Aleandro, Eduardo Blanco, Natalia Verbeke, Gimena Nóbile, David Masajnik, Claudia Fontán, Atilio Pozzobón, Salo Pasik)

Fortysomething businessman discovers the value of family over success.

Full Review

Intacto and It Kinda Scares Me

Le Souffle (Deep Breath) (Country: France; Year: 2001; Director: Damien Odoul; Writer: Damien Odoul; Stars: Pierre-Louis Bonnetblanc, Dominique Chevallier, Maxime Dalbrut, Jean-Claude Lecante, Jean Milrod)

Harsh coming of age drama set in rural France.

Full Review

Spider (Country: Canada/UK; Year: 2002; Director: David Cronenberg; Writer: Patrick McGrath, based on the novel by Patrick McGrath; Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Miranda Richardson, Gabriel Byrne, Lynn Redgrave, John Neville, Bradley Hall, Gary Reineke, Philip Craig, Cliff Saunders, Tara Ellis, Sara Stockbridge)

A man undergoes a mental collapse.

Full Review

Sex Is Comedy (Scènes Intimes) (Country: France; Year: 2002; Director: Catherine Breillat; Writer: Catherine Breillat; Stars: Anne Parillaud, Gregorie Colin, Roxanne Mesquida, Ashley Wanninger, Dominique Colladant)

A director struggles to shoot the sex scene central to her film.

Full Review

Sex With Strangers (Country: US; Year: 2001; Director: Harry Gantz, Joe Gantz; Stars: Calvin, Julie, Shannon, Gerard, James, Theresa, Sara)

Documentary following the lives of couples who sleep with any willing partner.

Full Review

Tattoo (Country: Germany; Year: 2002; Director: Robert Schwentke; Writer: Robert Schwentke; Stars: August Diehl, Christian Redl, Nadesha Brennicke, Ilkur Bahadir, Jasmin Schwiers, Monika Bleibtreu, Fatih Cevikkollu, Johan Leysen, Ingo Naujoks, Florian Panzner, Gustav-Peter Wohler)

Stylish German Se7en style thriller.

Full Review

Cry Woman and Take Care Of My Cat

This Is Not A Love Song (Country: UK; Year: 2002; Director: Bille Eltringham; Writer: Simon Beaufoy; Stars: Michael Colgan, Kenny Glenaan, David Bradley, John Henshaw, Adam Pepper, Keri Arnold, Chris Middleton)

Two petty crooks are hunted over rugged country after a gun goes off by mistake in a farmyard.

Full Review

The Trespasser (O Invasor) (Country: Brazil; Year: 2001; Director: Beto Brant; Writer: Marcal Aquino, Beto Brant, Renato Ciasca; Stars: Paulo Miklos, Marco Ricca, Alexandre Borges, Mariana Ximenes, Malu Mader, Chris Couto, George Freire, Jayme del Cueto, Sabotage)

A hitman wreaks havoc when hired by two directors of a construction firm to eliminate a third.

Full Review

Tribute (Country: US; Year: 2001; Director: Kris Curry, Rich Fox; Stars: Larger Than Life, The Missing Links, Sheer Heart Attack)

Rockumentary following the lives of tribute bands and their fans.

Full Review

Tadpole (Country: US; Year: 2002; Director: Gary Winick; Writer: Heather McGowan, Niels Mueller, Gary Winick; Stars: Sigourney Weaver, Aaron Stanford, John Ritter, Bebe Neuwirth, Robert Iler, Adam Lefevre, Peter Appel, Alicia van Couvering, Kate Mara, Hope Chernov)

A boy falls for his stepmother in this coming of age comedy.

Full Review

Take Care Of My Cat (Go Yang I Rul Boo Tak Hae) (Country: South Korea; Year: 2001; Director: Jeong Jae-eun; Stars: Bae Doo-na, Lee Yo-won, Ok Ji-young, Lee Eun-shil, Lee Eun-joo, Oh Tae-kyung)

Korean coming of age drama.

Full Review

Bundy and Tadpole

Ten (10) (Country: Iran/France; Year: 2002; Director: Abbas Kiarostami; Writer: Abbas Kiarostami; Stars: Mania Akbari, Amin Maher, Kamran Adl, Roya Arabshahi, Amene Moradi, Mandana Sharbaf, Katayoun Taleizadeh)

Conversations in a car reveal many aspects of modern Iranian life, especially for women.

Full Review

Thirteen Conversations About One Thing (13 Conversations About One Thing) (Country: US; Year: 2001; Director: Jill Sprecher; Writer: Jill Sprecher, Karen Sprecher; Stars: Matthew McConaughey, John, Turturro, Alan Arkin, Clea Duvall, Amy Irving, Barbara Sukowa)

Several intertwining stories of New Yorkers with no sense of direction in life.

Full Review

Volcano High (Whasango, Hwasan Highschool) (Country: Korea; Year: 2001; Director: Kim Tae-gyun; Writer: Jung Ahn-chul, Kim Tae-gyun, Park Heon-soo, Huh Gyun, based on the story by Suh Dong-heon; Stars: Jang Hyuk, Shin Min-ah, Kim Soo-roh, Kwon Sang-woo, Gong Hyo-jin, Jung Sang-hoon, Kim Hyung-jong, Huh Jun-ho, Jo Sung-ha, Park Dong-bin)

Live action manga from Korea about violence at school, post apocalypse.

Full Review

Waiting For Happiness (Heremakono) (Country: France/Mauritania; Year: 2002; Director: Abderrahmane Sissako; Writer: Abderrahmane Sissako; Stars: Khatra Ould Abdel Kader, Maata Ould Mohamed Abeid, Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Mohamed, Nana Diakite)

Abdallah returns to his village to bid farewell to his mother before embarking on his journey to Europe.

Full Review

59th New York Film Festival early bird highlights Futura, Jane By Charlotte, James Baldwin: From Another Place and The Velvet Underground

More news and features

Eye For Film continues to support festivals both locally and across the world. At the moment, we're covering:

Fantaspoa

Visions du Réel

Overlook Film Festival

New Directors/New Films
Celebration of upcoming voices

Flare

Cannes Film Festival
Archive of festival coverage.
Sundance Film Festival
Daily diary and reviews from 2005-2018.
Berlin Film Festival
Coverage of the lynchpin German festival.

Search Movie Database

Browse our full archive

Browse our short film archive

Browse our media archive