At The Cinema at Gloucester Guildhall This Week: April Draws To A Close With ‘Red Dog’ and ‘Trishna’

The Cinema at Gloucester Guildhall concludes its April programme this week, with a stellar duo of films each taking both 'Screen Tea' matinee and standard evening performance times, so you can catch either (or both) of these great films at a time to suit you.


The first is the family film that has taken its home city of Australia by storm, in the form of Red Dog. Based on the legendary true story, later adapated into the acclaimed novel of the same by Louis de Bernieres (Captain Correlli's Mandolin), the film charts the adventures of a Kelpie/cattle dog cross named (you gussed it) "Red Dog." Whilst roaming the Australian outback for his long last master, the canine critter's touching story unites a disparate local community. The cast includes Josh Lucas (Glory Road, A Beautiful Mind, Poseidon), Rachel Taylor (Transformers, Shutter, Splinterheads) and introducing as 'Red Dog', Koko.


To say this film has taken the Australian film world by the storm is an understament. After becoming a huge box office success, breaking records such as the highest grossing Austrailian film of 2011 and the eigth-highest grossing Austrailian film of all time, the film went on to win big at the Inside Film Awards (the Australian equivalent to the 'Oscars') where it took 7 of its 9 nominations including Best Picture. Judging by the critical response both here and overseas, it's not hard to see why this success is deserved.  With reviews ranging from the likes of The Guardian's Phillip French..."guaranteed to bring you tears and laughter" to another positive review from Mark Adams of The Sunday Mirror calling it "an engaing, feel-good family drama", this is a film that will undoutedly find equal, if not more sucess, as it has in its home country.

If however you are looking for something a little more gritty, then look no further than our other release for this week- Trishna. Directed by self-effacing auteur Michaeal Winterbottom (Welcome To Sarajevo, Wonderland, 24 Hour Party People) and adapted from the classic Thomas Hardy novel Tess of the d'Ubervilles, the film starring Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire, Miral, You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger) tells the story, set against a contemporary Indian backdrop, of one woman whose life is destroyed by a combination of love and circumstances.


Set in contempoarary Rajasthan, Trishna meets a wealthy young businessman Jay Singh, played by Riz Ahmend (The Road to Guantanamo, Shifty, Four Lions), who has come to work in his father's hotel businesss. After an accident destroys her father's Jeep, she decides to work for Jay and they fall in love. But despite their feelings for each other, they cannot escape the conflicting pressures of a rural society which is changing rapidly through industrialisation, urbanisation and, above all, education. Torn between the traditions of her family life verus the dreams and ambitions her education has given her, the film also unearths the tragedy of her relationship with Jay that becomes increasingly sorids and volatile.


Premiering at last year's Toronto International Film Festival to huge critical acclaim, and shot on location in Mumbai, the film also completes Winterbottom's Hardy trilogy following the success of Jude (1996-based on Jude The Obscure) and The Claim (2000-based on The Mayor of Casterbridge). This film is a fitting installment to this personal cinematic pursuit of Winterbottom's and is definetely worth checking out.


Check out the trailers for both Red Dog and Trishna here:





Red Dog (PG) runs from Friday 27th April-Thursday 3rd May with a 'Screen Tea' matinee on Monday 30th April


Trishna (15) runs form Saturday 28th April until Wednesday 2nd May with a 'Screen Tea' matinee on Saturday 28th April.