November
Tue 1 Nov 7.45pm
The Light Thief (15)
A
colourful, modern-day parable of good and evil directed by and starring Aktan
Arym Kubat as Svet-Ake, an electrician devoted to improving his neighbours’
lives in a wind-swept valley of Kyrgyzstan. The Light Thief blends tradition
with political commentary, as the unassuming hero's dream to supply
wind-generated electricity is met by an increasingly dark cloud of corruption.
Kyrgyzstan/France/Germany (subtitled), 2010, 76 mins
Reviews: :: The Observer :: The Guardian :: The Independent ::
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Thu 3 Nov 7.45pm
TROLL HUNTER (15)
André Øvredal’s Troll Hunter is a monster story with a fresh and darkly
funny take on Norwegian mythology and folklore. A witty faux-documentary
following Hans, a beleaguered hunter, and the reluctant subject of college
students' investigation into a mysterious case of bear-poaching. However all is
not as it seems, a more dangerous enterprise is afoot, gradually revealed by the
found rough-cut footage.
Norway (subtitled), 2011, 103 mins
Reviews: :: The Observer :: The Guardian :: The Independent ::
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Fri 4, Sat 5 and Tue 8 Nov 7.45pm Matinee Sat 5 Nov 2.30pm
TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY (15)
In a brilliant new adaptation of John Le Carre's novel, George Smiley, a
former MI6 agent is brought back into the fold to find a mole in the upper
echelons of the British Secret Intelligence Service. Let The Right One In
director Tomas Alfredson distils John Le Carre's labyrinthine spy plot into a
richly rewarding thriller like no other, with a superb cast including Gary
Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Mark Strong and Benedict Cumberbatch.
'Skin-crawlingly atmospheric, uncompromisingly cerebral... more gripping and
involving than any crash-bang action picture... What a treat this film is, and
what an unexpected thrill.' (Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian)
UK/France/Germany, 2011, 127 mins
Reviews: :: The Observer :: The Guardian :: The Independent ::
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Mon 7 Nov 7.45pm
PASSPORT TO PIMLICO (U)
Ealing Studios
When an unexploded bomb reveals documents stating that the Pimlico is part of Burgundy, its inhabitants claim their independence from Britain. A quintessential Ealing comedy, combining farce and a quirky inventiveness, that best exemplifies studio head Michael Balcon's description of Ealing's postwar films as 'our mild revolution'.
UK, 1949, 81 mins, Curtains close at approximately 9.35pm
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Thu 10 Nov 7.45pm
TOMBOY (U)
Water Lilies director Céline Sciamma's new drama centres on Laure, a
10-year-old girl whose family move to a new town during the summer holidays.
Mistaken for a boy, and finding it much easier to make friends as one, Tomboy
observes the ease with which Laure adopts the persona of new kid on the block
Michaël, and how she gradually changes her demeanour to emphasise her new
status. Zoé Héran is wonderfully natural and touching as Laure, who faces an
uncertain future as suspicions arise and the school term approaches.
France (subtitled), 2011, 82 mins
Reviews: :: The Observer :: The Guardian ::
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Fri 11 and Sat 12 Nov 7.45pm
DRIVE (18)
A stylish crime thriller from Nicolas Winding Refn starring Ryan Gosling as a
nameless getaway driver. When one last job undertaken in aid of his neighbour
Irene (Carey Mulligan), results in a botched heist, he discovers that a contract
has being put on his head and that he must call upon his skills to find some
answers. Drive is a breathlessly entertaining and occasionally violent film
evoking Vanishing Point and Driver.
USA , 2011, 100 mins
Further information regarding scenes used by the BBFC to determine the film's certification, may be found at the extended classification link - please note that this page contains spoilers.
Reviews: :: The Observer :: The Guardian :: The Independent ::
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Mon 14 Nov 7.45pm
THE LAVENDER HILL MOB (U)
Ealing Studios
The Lavender Hill Mob is a joyful caper comedy centred on the perfect robbery, in which one million in gold bullion is stolen and smuggled to France disguised as miniature Eiffel Towers. Alec Guinness and Stanley Holloway lead as Henry Holland, a meek clerk at the Bank of England and his eccentric neighbour Alfred Pendlebury.
UK, 1951, 81 mins, Curtains close at approximately 9.35pm
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Tue 15 and Thu 17 Nov 7.45pm
MELANCHOLIA (15)
Melancholia is a sibling drama that begins at the end of the world. Charlotte
Gainsbourg plays Claire, whose otherwise carefree life is troubled by her
wayward sister Justine (Kirsten Dunst in a standout performance), and the
prospect of impending doom . Lars Von Trier audaciously frames the sisters'
relationship with a beautifully realised apocalypse, accompanying it with a
superb Wagnerian soundtrack. 'Lars Von Trier creates a mesmerising, visually
gorgeous and often-moving alloy of family drama.' (Sukhdev Sandhu, The
Telegraph)
Denmark, 2011, 135 mins
Reviews: :: The Observer :: The Guardian :: The Independent ::
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Fri 18 and Sat 19 Nov 7.45pm
THE DEBT (15)
An espionage thriller opening with shocking news for two retired Mossad
agents, Rachel (Helen Mirren) and Stefan (Tom Wilkinson), about their former
colleague David (Ciarán Hinds). All three have been venerated for decades by
their country after a mission undertaken in 1966 resulted in tracking down a
Nazi war criminal in East Berlin. A mission, executed at great risk, and at
considerable personal cost. A mission with repercussions 30 years later.
USA, 2011, 113 mins
Reviews: :: The Observer :: The Guardian :: The Independent ::
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Mon 21 Nov 7.45pm
THE CRUEL SEA (PG)
Ealing Studios
An unflinching portrayal of life at sea during WWII, on a boat tasked with protecting convoys and seeking and destroying U-boats. Jack Hawkins, Sir Donald Sinden and Stanley Baker play sailors aboard the HMS Compass Rose, whose characters and daily pressures emerge through their epic struggle to overcome the enemy.
UK, 1953, 126 mins, Curtains close at approximately 10.15pm
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Tue 22 Nov 7.45pm
MADEMOISELLE CHAMBON (12A)
Mademoiselle Chambon is an elegant, moving tale of an unexpected romance
between a married man and his son's school teacher, adapted from Éric Holder's
novel. Vincent Lindon plays Jean, a builder living a semi-contented life, until
his and Véronique Chambon's (Sandrine Kiberlain) paths cross. Stéphane
Brizé's graceful drama subtly follows their desperate attempts to keep their
desires from spiraling into a full-blown affair.
France (subtitled), 2009, 101 mins
Reviews: :: The Observer :: The Guardian :: The Independent ::
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Thu 24 Nov 7.45pm
PERFECT SENSE (15)
David Mackenzie sets a romantic drama in a stricken Glasgow, where a
mysterious disease is gradually robbing people of their senses. Perfect Sense
focuses on Michael and Susan, a couple played by Ewan McGregor and Eva Green,
whose emotional response and exposure to the disease is heightened by their work
as a chef and a scientist. 'A moving look at what it means to be human in the
most extreme circumstances, this is kitchen-sink sci-fi with an aching soul.'
(Matt Glasby, Total Film)
UK/Germany, 2011, 92 mins
Reviews: :: The Observer :: The Guardian :: The Independent ::
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Fri 25 and Sat 26 Nov 7.45pm
CONTAGION (12A)
A multistranded disaster movie from Steven Soderbergh, tracing the spread of
a lethal virus that becomes a worldwide pandemic. Boasting an all-star cast
including Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Marion
Cotillard and Kate Winslet, Contagion centres on the global threat posed by the
alarmingly believable premise, dwelling on the science involved in combating
such a virus.
USA/USE (partly subtitled), 2011, 106 mins
Reviews: :: The Observer :: The Guardian :: The Independent ::
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Mon 28 Nov 7.45pm
THE MAGGIE (U)
Ealing Studios
In many ways a counterpart to The Titfield Thunderbolt, The Maggie is an often overlooked, latter period Ealing comedy. The film centres on the battle of wills between the skipper of the eponymous boat, and his disinclined American client who is determined to recover its cargo.
UK, 1954, 88 mins, Curtains close at approximately 9.40pm
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Tue 29 Nov 7.45pm
TYRANNOSAUR (18)
Paddy Considine makes an affecting directorial debut with a brutal drama
about the corrosive effects of violence. Peter Mullan is on typically fine form
as Joseph, a man plagued by booze and self-destructive rage. A chance of
redemption appears for him in the form of Hannah (Olivia Colman), a Christian
charity shop worker; however Hannah is hiding a secret of her own that may have
devastating consequences for both of them.
UK, 2011, 92 mins
Further information regarding scenes used by the BBFC to determine the film's certification, may be found at the extended classification link- please note that this page contains spoilers.
Reviews: :: The Observer :: The Guardian :: The Independent ::
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