EIFF: 17/06/10
The Opening Gala: The Illusionist
With the drug-addled hyperactivity of Trainspotting and the dark tenement flats of Shallow Grave the only notable representations of Edinburgh in recent years, how refreshing it is to see a film that captures perfectly what makes the capital the beautiful and unique city it is. And where better to have it screened than in the grand environs of the Festival Theatre. The dramatic nature of the venue, the film’s subject matter and the audible buzz of excitement give the opening night of the 64th Edinburgh Film Festival a significant sense of occasion; an evening to celebrate Edinburgh, cinema and the festival’s recent reawakening under artistic director Hannah McGill’s stewardship. Thankfully, the The Illusionist lives up to the grandeur and proves to be a minor masterpiece, its hand drawn artistry and stately pace an understated two-finger salute to the razzmatazz of 3D animation. Every shot is static, giving the viewer time to digest how much time and dedication has gone into each frame and minor detail. The story, a washed-up magician leaves Paris for Scotland and strikes up a relationship with a young girl, is charming and moving, while any resident of Edinburgh is guaranteed to feel a sense of warmth and pride at the evocation of the city in the 1950s. On a sour note, director Sylvain Chomet today gave a Q&A on the making of the film and lamented that the lack of support for film (animation in particular) from the Scottish Government caused him to close down his Edinburgh studio. If artists like Chomet, profoundly passionate about cinema and Scotland, decide to up sticks as a result of our political indifference towards the industry, then something is seriously wrong.
The Illusionist is on general release on August 20.
World’s Greatest Dad
Upon seeing World’s Greatest Dad, it suddenly becomes apparent how rarely Western cinema genuinely shocks. This film is outrageous, crude and disturbing. It’s also hilarious and an extremely well observed black comedy. There’s only so much that can be said without giving away some major plot points but let’s just say that you have never seen Robin Williams like this before and he deserves great credit for taking on a role which is genuinely challenging and a world away from the fluff he has become known for. The film loses its way somewhat as it struggles to match the ridiculous nature of its central concept but that shouldn’t take away from what is a funny, thought-provoking and darkly enjoyable couple of hours.
You can see World’s Greatest Dad at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on June 26 at 18:15, Cineworld 11.
Sweet, i wasn’t sure what to make of World’s Greatest Dad, it was my one choice i thought may be poor. Looking forward to it know.
Gutted i missed The Illusionist, i will make up for that. But it is more upsetting that he had to shut his studio down. It is this lack of understanding from the Scottish government of some of the talent, native or not, that we have, which is frustrating and makes it very difficult for young filmmakers to achieve anything while in Scotland. Hence so many opting for London instead. It is clearly the central hub for film making, however having some sort of base in Scotland would do wonders. Napiers new film school is a good start, but its not enough. Likewise Mr Connery’s attempts are a step in the right direction, but seem to fall on deaf ears where it matters.
It is very frustrating as there are a number of talented scots working as directors, cinematographers, writers, key grips, props….the list goes on. However none of them seem to work in Scotland and it is very difficult to blame them for leaving as the opportunities up here are very limited. They do exist, but it’s not enough.