Life isn’t straightforward for Palestinians living in Israel. There’s no place like home. The bond between father and son remains strong even if they often don’t see eye to eye. These are just some of the takeaways from Wajib. This slice-of-life drama features a real-life father and son playing a father and son. The plot…
Custody is built on fear – the fear inspired by a man prepared to do anything to get back a woman who wants nothing to do with him in a bid to escape his violent behaviour. Miriam (Léa Drucker) and Antoine (Denis Ménochet) Besson have divorced. Antoine is seen as a permanent threat to those…
The 6th Czech and Slovak Film Festival acknowledges the 50th anniversary of the Prague Spring as well as the centenary of the establishment of Czechoslovakia. This year the program focuses on some historic films from Czech filmmakers, including The Fireman’s Ball, Milos Forman’s final film in his native country before moving to the US. The…
Designed to provoke (but ultimately to reflect) The Insult is a powerful film with politics at its core. In present-day Beirut, Tony Hanna (Adel Karam) is a passionate member of the Christian Party. He’s a motor mechanic who employs a number of workers. His wife, Shirine (Rita Hayek), is expecting their first child. Opposite their…
Although it’s almost as long as a reception, C’est la Vie will put a smile on your face. This lighthearted French comedy looks at weddings from a harried wedding planners’ perspective. Max (Jean-Pierre Bacri) has been a planner for 30 years. Having organised hundreds of events, he’s close to throwing in the towel. Today however,…
Carla Simón’s autobiographical feature debut, Summer 1993, is an evocative depiction of family lost and found. In (predictably) the summer of 1993, following the death of her parents, six-year old Frida (Laia Artigas) leaves bustling Barcelona for the Catalan provinces to live with her aunt (Bruna Cusí) and uncle (David Verdaguer). Country life is a…
Traditional cultural beliefs clash with modernity in the searing Norwegian drama What Will People Say (Hva Vil Folk Si). Writer and director Iram Haq’s evocative semi-autobiographical work clasps you tight as you desperately hope for a way out for a trapped teenager. As the film opens in Norway, Nisha (Maria Mozhdah) is balancing two separate…
Jean (Pio Marmaï) left his family, and his birthplace in Burgundy, 10 years ago. His father and his grandfather before him produced high quality wine. The eldest of three siblings, Jean was constantly fighting with his dad and couldn’t take it anymore, so he set off to tour the world. Now, years later, he’s back…
This heart-warming film is the third – and final – film in the popular series about the adventures of a boy and his dog in the beautiful Pyrenees. Belle & Sebastian was based on the popular book by actress Cecile Aubry. The first film in this series was released in 2013. It introduced us to…
Omar Sy (The Intouchables) charms as the world’s greatest, most understanding dad in Two is a Family. He’s aided by the equally effervescent Gloria Coulson, who makes her feature film debut. Samuel (Sy) enjoys a hedonistic lifestyle on the sun-drenched beaches of the French Riviera, where he uses his boss’ boat for his own pleasure….
