EDINBURGH FILM FESTIVAL 2009
This week sees the launch of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, which runs till the 27th of this month, and as ever it not with out its charms or controversy. Finding its origins as far back as 1947 the Edinburgh International Film Festival with an emphasis on finding new talent and innovations, has grown into a world renown celebration of original cinema. Making the headlines this year are a series of movies which move from the psychological to Sci-fi and the movie industries narcotise, fame and fortune.
Without a doubt this years most talked about movie at the festival is Antichrist, which features William Defoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Already shown at the Cannes Film Festival the movie received great acclaim as well as sheer disgust because of the explicit scenes of sex and self mutilation. The movie follows a couple who, following the death of their son, go to their mountain retreat which they call ‘Eden’. Their mental anguish soon gives way to intense physical violence.
Director Lars Von Trier said, when asked about the movie: ‘I’ve made this little film, which I’m quite proud of, for me. I don’t think I owe anybody any explanation’. Absurd and undeniably fascinating Antichrist is set to stun audiences all over again.
In juxtaposition to Antichrist comes a wonderfully funny movie from upwardly mobile director Sam Mendes (American Beauty;Revolutionary Road) called Away We Go. Verona (Maya Rudolph) and Burt (John Krasinski) are parents to be, but have no idea where to bring up the little bambino. So leaving it to fate they go on a road trip to see what they can find- and they find much more. Brilliant comedy moments are provided by the quirky and some what ridiculous people they meet along the way. The result is a brilliant look at the trials and tribulations of would be parents.
A stunning performance by Sam Rockwell in the sci-fi movie Moon ensures that this could be ‘the little movie that could’ for this year. After spending three years alone in space with an eerily loyal computer, voiced by Kevin Spacey, Rockwell’s character- Sam- slowly begins to have fits of paranoia. With no great computer graphics or beady eyed aliens to invade this space movie, Rockwell’s performance must hold up the whole movie on its own. But his performance pulls you into his slowly maddening world which will make you feel just as trapped as he does.
Finally, Rudi & Cursi, a Mexican movie which examines the relationship between two brothers obsessed by football and fame. Spotted by a talent scout, soon the boys are playing top flight football. But with their new found fame comes the darker side of the bright lights. Gambling, cocaine and friendly parasites combine to slowly destroy the boys dreams, they have so longed for. Wonderfully performed by Gael Bernal and Diego Luna, the performance could also be semi-biographical as the two actors also shot to fame in 2001 with Y tu mama Tambien, making them stars virtually over night. Personal experiences or not, the movie has all the brightness of Latino spirit and all the darkness of its underbelly, providing yet another tick next to the ever growing prowess of South American cinema.
Words Kehlan Kirwan
