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| Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio in Critics' Week winner Aftersun by Charlotte Well Photo: Courtesy of Cannes Critics' Week |
The 75th edition of Edinburgh International Film Festival kicks off on tomorrow (August 11) with Aftersun, which screened to critical plaudits at Cannes earlier this year. There's a wealth of films to choose from so we've rounded up seven of the best that are showing ahead of opening night.
Out Of Sync - Screening 14 August, Vue Omni 11 at 9.15pm, and 19 August, Filmouse 2 at 1.45pm
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| Out Of Sync |
Juanjo Giménez proved he had a strong grip of mood with his Oscar-nominated short
Timecode and he repeats the feat here as his fiction feature debut retains an air of mystery and the unexpected throughout. C (Marta Nieto) is a sound designer, who spends her life adding foley sound effects to films. Is it the pressure of her personal getting to her when she can't quite marry up the sounds she hears with the actions on screen? Soon, her problem has become more encompassing as she finds herself hearing things long after the moment has passed, something that allows her a strange sort of time travel within her own life. The intensity of Giménez's gradually escalating ideas are matched by Nieto's performance - and this really deserves to be seen in a cinema where the glorious sound design by Oriol Tarragó and Marc Bech can be enjoyed to the full. We'll be speaking to the director next week.
Dos Estaciones - Screening 15 August, Filmhouse 2 at 7.10pm and 19 August, Filmhouse 1 at 2pm
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| Dos Estaciones |
Virtually every moment of this slow-burn character study from Mexican director JuanPablo González is a visual joy as the filmmaker uses every inch of the frame to draw us into his story of a tequila factory owner MaríaGarcía (TeresaSánchez), trying to stay afloat amid pressures from environmental changes and international interlopers. González takes his time to let us see María going about her business, showing how her firm fits within the wider fabric of small-town Mexico, a frisson between her and a new employee (RafaelaFuentes) adding to the mood. The writer/director takes us from the rhythms of the factory to the isolation of María's office to the chaos of a kids' party, each feeling a fully formed part of the world as we see her faced with risky decisions both personal and professional. García is phenomenal in the central role, achieving as much emotion with a momentary glance that many actors would take half an hour to build. A piece of filmmaking with a serious point to make about the North American Free Trade agreement, but which keeps its human drama front and foremost. We'll be brining you an interview with the director soon.
Nothing Compares - Screening 16 August, Vue Omni 1 at 7pm and 17 August, Filmhouse 2 at 4pm
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| Nothing Compares |
Jeremy Mathews writes: It’s hard to think of an artist with more fiery passion and obstinate stubbornness than Sinead O’Connor, and Nothing Compares provides an engaging account of the Irish singer’s meteoric rise and fall. After touching on its subject’s childhood trauma, the documentary charts O’Connor’s life from 1987 to 1992, as she recorded and released her first three albums while courting controversy. Director Kathryn Ferguson tells the visual story entirely with archival footage and reenactments. We hear recent interviews, but don’t see any new footage of talking heads. We don’t even see modern-day Sinead until a live performance concludes the film. While the movie may be guilty of smoothing out some of its subject’s rough edges, it’s hard to claim O’Connor wasn’t ahead of the curve as an outspoken female artist. It really strikes some emotional nerves as we witness a young, stubborn woman win the public’s love, then face its hatred.
Sissy - Screening 16 August, Vue Omni 1 at 9.30pm and 19 August, Cameo 1,= at 5pm
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| Sissy |
Jennie Kermode writes: Cecilia, called 'Sissy' at school, is a successful online self-help guru who tells herself that she feels good about her life, but all that crumbles when she comes back into contact with her bullies at a remote retreat. It's her former best friend's hen party and she's still nursing heartbreak over their separation. Something has to give, and pretty soon the blood is flowing in what resembles a Nineties slasher movie seen from the killer's point of view. Aisha Dee exudes sweetness as the troubled anti-heroine, making it hard not to feel for her even as she does despicable things, and there's plenty of comedy alongside the horror. Directors
Hannah Barlow and Kane Senes pack in criticism of social media and celebrity culture while creating a dazzling landscape of pinks, purples and sparkling lights which reconnects us with the hopes and dreams of a lonely 13-year-old girl.
Leonor Will Never Die - Screening 16 August, Filmhouse 1 at 8.35pm, and 18 August, Vue Omni 10 at 3.30pm
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| Leonor Will Never Die Photo: Courtesy of KVIFF |
Not only will Leonor (Sheila Francisco) not die, the film she is in refuses to be categorised as it flits between domestic drama and action heroics care of its film-within-a-film structure. Leonor was once an action movie director of note but tragedy and age have reduced her to flushing the toilet in order to drown out her younger son Rudie's (Bong Cabrera) phone conversations about her. Her older son died in a fatal accident, but he's still around as a ghostly figure (Anthony Falcon), who has grown into adulthood in the afterlife and is more than happy to talk about home truths with his family members. A second accident sees Leonor slip inside one of her narratives where, though remaining the little old lady she is, she can manipulate the action - it's her brain where this is happening after all. Endlessly inventive but with an emphasis on emotional journey of its central character - played with infectious energy by Francisco - both the stories prove gripping and the ending is a joyous blast.
Full Time - Screening 17 August, Vue Omni 1,at 6.15pm, second screening sold out
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| Full Time Photo: Courtesy of Venice Film Festival |
Eric Gravel doesn't let the pace slacken for a minute as he whisks us into the life of single mum Julie (Laure Calamy), who is pretty much running from dawn to dusk. While this might be manageable generally, Julie is about to face a series of minor crises that mount into a major headache. She's living in the countryside with two young children but heads into Paris daily for her job as head chambermaid at a high-end hotel, while hoping an interview for a job more suited to her skills will come off. Everything is complicated by logistical problems caused by a transport strike and strained further by cash flow problems because her ex has missed his alimony payments. Calamy brings a controlled intensity to the performance that suggests a lack of time for any sort of emotional outburst, while Gravel ratchetts the tension by degrees and serves up a perfect ending.
Off The Rails - Screening 18 August, Filmhouse 1 at 6pm and 19 August, Vue Omni 1 at 2.15pm
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| Off The Rails Photo: Ⓒ Rikke Brewer |
Peter Day's documentary comes at the sport of parkour from an unusual angle - telling the tale of its appeal via the story of a group of friends who lost a friend in an accident, although not one of their daredevil stunts. Day uses footage shot by the young men, who have been at this since their teens to show the adrenaline rush and appeal of high-risk activities like trainsurfing to kids, who can get an immediate social media hit of attention - something they struggle to achieve in their everyday environment. The film may feature some remarkable footage but it also has a lot of heart as Day focuses on the boys beneath the bravado as their brush with mortality sees attitudes start to shift. Look out for our interview with Day this weekend.
If you want a preview of up and coming homegrown talent, then New Shorts: Scotland's Voices should do the trick. This showcase, screening in Filmhouse 1 at 3.30pm on 13 August, features six shorts, including Infectious Nihilism And Small Metallic Pieces Of Hope, and Too Rough.
