PREVIEW: Searching for Sugar Man (12A)

From Swedish director Malik Bendjelloul comes one of the most heartwarming and uplifting documentaries of the modern age, Searching for Sugar Man.
An emotional journey to rediscover the music and the man Sixto Rodriguez, who was dubbed the new Bob Dylan of the 70's.


Bendjelloul's directorial debut is one of the most eye-catching documentaries you will see, helped by Academy Award winning Producer of Man on Wire Simon Chinn. With its uplifting achieve footage of Rodriguez's live performances and engaging interviews, this documentary really does capture the magic and personality of the man who vanished.


If you don't know who Sixto Rodriguez, this documentary will take you on a charming magical mystery ride to discovering the lost superstar of the 70's. In the late 60's, two music producers discovered a charismatic, talented man who was drifting through the bars of Detroit, playing to whoever and whenever he could. His acoustic rock-folk ballads possessed a sound that mimicked that of Bob Dylan. The producers signed Rodriguez up and promptly released his first of what they hoped would be many successful albums 'Cold Fact'. The album was a flop and disappeared without a trace and so did Rodriguez and that's where the fairy tale ended... Until now.

Unbeknown to producers, a copy of 'Cold Fact' turned up in South Africa, and with its protest-esque and rebellious-impressionistic lyrics his album inspired a generation in the  apartheid driven era of South Africa. The album went platinum and so did his status with a following of fans that made him bigger than Elvis. So what did happen to the talented Sixto Rodriguez? Some say he committed suicide, others say he burnt himself alive; this documentary turns detective as it explores the clues, speaks to family and friends to unearth the truth about the accidental legend.


Searching For Sugar Man was not just well received by critics, it was widely recognised on the festival circuit winning both the World Cinema Audience Award and World Cinema Documentary at Sundance as well as being selected for the Tribeca and SXSW Film Festivals.

*One of the most uplifting documentaries in recent memory*

Robbie Collin

 

*Fascinating, unexpected and cherishable*

Trevor Johnston

The trailer speaks for itself! Watch it for yourself...

This fantastic documentary Searching For Sugar Man with an incredible soundtrack of Rodriguez's music is showing at Gloucester Guildhall on Tuesday 11th September at 7.45pm and Wednesday 12th September at 7.45pm.

PREVIEW: Tortoise in Love (12A)

British film director Guy Browning makes his directorial debut with his ultra-low-budget film, Tortoise In Love, which has all the ingredients of a charming, British tale of a man's helpless pursuit of love.

With a stunning array of talent from an inexperienced cast, this raw, British, rom-com is a delight to watch. Filmed in the little village of Kingston Bagpuize it's shot beautifully by talented cinematographer Balazas Bolygo (Lark Rise to Candleford and Life on Mars), reminding us of what is so lovely about the British countryside.


Tortoise in Love is a typical tale of a helpless man's pursuit of love... Having quit his high-flying city job Tom, played by Tom Mitchelson, returns to his roots and a slower pace of life as a gardener in his home village of Kingston Bagpuize. His quest for love soon turns up on Tom's doorstep with the arrival of stunning Polish au pair Anya, played by Alice Zawadzki. However, Tom's shy personality and the naivety of love of the modern man calls for a helping hand from the villagers, as slow as a tortoise the journey begins to bring Tom and Anya together.


Tortoise in Love really does bring out the best in low-budget film-making, with the community of Kingston Bagpuize helping to bring the film together offering accommodation to actors and making costumes and props. The finished piece is both sweet and funny. It's a family film that has moments of delicacy amidst the British humour. It's a race for love but at a tortoise's pace.

*It’s sharper than your average Britcom, and perfectly charming*

Cath Clarke

*Tortoise in Love has got a tender heart and charm to spare*

David Parkinson

Watch the trailer for Tortoise in Love here:

Tortoise in Love is showing at Gloucester Guildhall on Monday 10th September at 7.45pm (featuring a pre-film talk by director Guy Browning) and Tuesday 11th September at 2pm.

PREVIEW: The Flowers Of War (15)

Next week sees the long awaited return of Chinese director and artistic director of Beijing 2008 Olympic opening ceremony Zhang Yimou in the historical drama war film The Flowers Of War. Following on from his successful wuxia (martial arts) trilogy consisting of the richly colourful Hero (2002), House Of Flying Daggers (2004) and until now the most expensive film in Chinese cinema history, Curse Of The Golden Flower (2006), Yimou now provides us with a less fantastical and grandeur setting, yet retaining one of his other recurrent themes: the resilience of Chinese people in the face of hardship and adversity.

The film is set in 1937 during the second Sino-Japanese war, the scene of the horrific Nanking massacre, known commonly as the "Rape Of Nanking", whereby an estimated 300,000 people were raped, tortured and  killed, in the six weeks that followed the Japanese capture of what at the time was China's capital city. Enter John Miller (Christian Bale, hot off the heels of The Dark Knight Rises), an American mortician tasked with burying the priest of the local Catholic Church which is under protection by The Red Cross. Caught in the conflict and destruction he decides to spend the night in the convent, housing only student girls and one young boy, and travel on the next day. However a group of prostitutes from the local brothel break into the church claiming and seeking sanctuary. When a Japanese platoon sabotages the Church and discover the girls, who they then attempt to rape, Miller, in an act of heroism and bravery, dons the robes and poses a priest to protect the convent from the invaders. Although determined to shelter the naive girls from the violence, Miller is equally determined to get back home to America knowing that the last ship from Nanking will be leaving in a few days. He therefore must decide where his loyalty lies...

 

Selected as China's entry for Best Foreign Language Film at last year's Academy Awards (though sadly not making the final shortlist), the film garnered several other accolades, picking up a Golden Globe nomination and nominations for six Asian Film Awards including Best Film and Best Director. Its critical success was equally matched commercially after grossing nearly $100 million in China alone, becoming the top grossing Chinese film of 2011 and the sixth highest grossing film of all time at the Chinese box office behind heavyweight American imports Transformers: Dark Of The Moon and Avatar.

Zhang Yimou is certainly brave to tackle what is considered to be a running sore in China's 20th century history and fortunately the source material, horrific as it is, is nevertheless handled with great care and respect. Impressively directed and beautifully shot, combined with a powerful performance from Christian Bale that bears a resemblance to his 13-year-old self when he starred in Steven Spielberg's similarly themed Empire Of The Sun, this is a compelling and superbly acted drama that exerts an emotional grip that won't let go.

*Arguably the most eagerly-anticipated Chinese movie of the year... The Flowers of War is a big movie in every sense of the word, from its kinetic battle scenes to the beautiful photography and impressive performances from a mostly young and inexperienced cast*

Twitch Film

*Beautiful, emotional and exciting*

Empire Magazine

*The Flowers of War is ultimately an inspiring, stirring and unforgettable human drama in the face of a horrifying war. It is highly recommended*

Box Office Magazine

The Flowers Of War screens at Gloucester Guildhall on Friday 7th September at 7.45pm, Saturday 8th at 10.45am & 7.45pm and Monday 10th at 2pm. 

PREVIEW: Scala Beyond - The Joy Of Subtitles

Next weekend sees nationwide fringe festival Scala Beyond coming to The Cinema at Gloucester Guildhall.  We are screening two magnificent films: Little White Lies and Incendies as part of this and together they bring The Joy Of Subtitles to our screen for one night only.  

To get you in the mood for this great double bill have a read of THIS ARTICLE, Subtitles: Why You Should Watch Movies That Have Them.  As it says, "you can’t know film history without knowing foreign film".

The film Jean Dujardin made before The Artist, Little White Lies (15) is the perfect introduction to easy-watching French cinema. In turns hilarious and heartrending, it follows a group of thirty-something friends as they embark on their annual holiday together. As the week wears on, their friendships and convictions are sorely tested and they are forced to confront some uncomfortable home truths as their long-kept secrets and little white lies threaten to tear them apart.

Featuring an award-winning ensemble cast you will recognise from more mainstream hits including Marion Cotillard (Inception, Dark Knight Rises) and François Cluzet (Untouchable), all it needs is Andrew Lincoln and/or Martin Freeman and you have something akin to such flagships of good British comedy as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

In contrast,  the Oscar-nominated Incendies (15), cited by the New York Times as one of the 10 best films of 2011, is a powerful and deeply moving mystery drama, following twins Jeanne and Simon as they attempt to carry out their mother’s last wish to find the father they thought was dead and the brother they didn’t know existed. Travelling to the Middle East they untangle her past and explore their family history, piecing together the story bit by bit and discovering a tragic fate marked by war and hatred, as well as the courage of an exceptional woman very different to the mother they thought they knew.

In essence a family drama, it begins in the style of a detective thriller with its shattering climax reminiscent of a Greek tragedy. Affecting without being traumatic, you feel as if you are journeying with Jeanne and Simon, the shocking truth dawning on you and them in perfect synchronicity, leaving you with only one word as the credits roll: wow.

Both films come tried, tested and highly recommended by the cinema team at Gloucester Guildhall, and whether you’re taking your first curious steps into the wonderful world of foreign film or are a seasoned world cinema veteran we guarantee you’ll find something you love in this very special double bill. What’s more, if you buy a ticket for the first film, you get the second film absolutely free! It’s the perfect opportunity to try something new! Light meals and drinks will also be available from the bar between the two screenings, so why not make an evening of it?

Saturday 4th September
Doors: 4.15pm
Little White Lies (15): 4.50pm
Interval: 7.30pm 
Incendies (15): 8.30pm

PREVIEW: Forgiveness of Blood (12A)

Journalist turned film director Joshua Marston, director of Maria Full of Grace and New York, I Love You brings you his new Albanian film Forgiveness of Blood.
Marston's film is an adrenaline fuelled journey to the heart of Albania where the modern world clashes with ancient law.

Forgiveness of Blood offers exceptional performances from an inexperienced cast with the two young leads Tristan Halilaj and Sindi Lacej stealing the show with their raw and powerful performances throughout.


Forgiveness of blood demonstrates the freedom and joys of the modern world; the desolate setting and ancient laws of the land quashes the freedom of the modern day.
The film follows Nik (Halilaj), a popular kid at school, who has found love for the first time, and his sister Rudina (Lacej), one of the brightest children of her age, as they enjoy the luxuries of modern life to the full. However, a dispute erupts over the use of land between their father and their neighbour, resulting in the neighbour's death. Avoiding arrest and justice the victim's family evokes a 15th century code known as the Kanun that demands a life is needed in return. Nik finds himself the prime target and is confined to the house however, his desire to retain the life he once had could prove too much to resist.

Forgiveness of Blood is a film to admire. With great camerawork from British cinematographer Rob Hardy and a solid screenplay it's been well recognised and received worldwide with official selections at both Telluride Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival as well as winning Best Screenplay at both the Berlin and Chicago International Film Festivals.

*The life of Marston's film resides in the brooding inner dramas of brother and sister. They are beautifully played by Tristan Halilaj and Sindi Lacej*

Anthony Quinn

*Californian director Joshua Marston follows the path less travelled again with a terrific Albanian follow-up to his Columbia drug drama Maria Full of Grace*

Patrick Peters

Watch the fantastic trailer for Forgiveness of Blood here:

Forgiveness of Blood is showing at Gloucester Guildhall on Tuesday 4th September at 2pm and 7.45pm, Wednesday 5th September at 7.45pm and Thursday 6th September at 7.45pm

PREVIEW: Petit Nicolas (PG)

Eight-year-old Nicolas' life is turned upside down when his friend Joachim doesn't return to school after the birth of a little brother. Convinced Joachim's parents have abandoned him in the woods to devote themselves to their new offspring and certain his parents are plotting the same, Nicolas forms a plan to kidnap his sibling immediately after the birth, with the help of his friends, Alceste the glutton, Geoffroy the rich kid, Clotaire the dunce, Eudes the tough kid and Rufus, who wants to become a police officer. A charming comedy, obviously inspired by the work of Jacques Tati, it remains true to the spirit of the 1950s cult French comic series it was adapted from.

Petit Nicolas was first released in France back in 2009 and personally we think the wait to have it released in the UK is worth it.  Nicolas is a classic French children's character, created by the Asterix writer René Goscinny, and is being brought to you from the director of Molière (an exceptionally likable period comedy).

Tirard is currently working on the latest Asterix adventure and was the writer of rom-com I Do, starring Charlotte Gainsbourg and Alain Chabat.  Chabat actually contributed to this script. Much care has gone into this delicate creation, from the lovely title sequence inspired by Sempé’s original drawings, through to the sprightly soundtrack generated by Klaus Badelt.

*A fun, sweet family film.* Empire

*It’s a retro-revelling comedy in the Just William mould, getting its biggest laughs from a plot hatched by Nicolas (Maxime Godart) and his school chums to have gangsters kidnap the baby brother he suspects is forthcoming.*Total Film

*If Wes Anderson made French kids’ films, they would presumably look something like this* Time Out

Watch the trailer below: 

Petit Nicolas is screening on: Friday 31st Aug at 7.45pm, Saturday 1st Sept at 10.45am and Monday 3rd Sept at 2pm & 7.45pm.

MUSINGS: Boys blubbering at blockbusters

Did you blubber at Bambi?  Get Extremely Tearful over E.T?  Did you melt at the sight of The Snowman?  If the answer to any of these questions is 'yes', please look away now. 

For many of us, the memory of crying over films as a kid is as much soaked in nostalgia as the event itself was soaked in tears.  Now we've grown up, most of us are over our on-screen losses.  Sure, there's always a few hiccups: films such as Marley & Me, Schindler's List and any number of Meryl Streep movies may makes hearts flutter and lips quiver, but Disney's deer, home-phoning aliens and sweating snowmen no longer have the emotional pull as they once did.  But that's fine.  They were fundamental to our emotional development and we're now the better for it.  We've sucked it up and long-since moved on.

And yet there are two children in America whose tears have been made very public... to the tune of almost 1.7 million Youtube views at the last count.  You can make up your own mind about it, but the following - while a touching 'awww' moment for the family - has already done the worldwide rounds and may haunt these traumatised pre-teens in later life worse than several (hundred) naked baby photos.    

However, the fact remains that this is still very, very funny.  But be warned: if you take your kids to see The Odd Life of Timothy Green (it's out in the UK on 7 December and will no doubt make it to the Guildhall at some point), be sure to pick up a box of tissues on the way.  

Please note: in the children's grief, some key plot points may have been given away.

<<< Spoiler Alert >>>

Tony Scott: a tribute

Whilst every year brings cinematic joy in the form of groundbreaking and exciting new films that entertain millions of cinema-lovers like us, it is equally saddening when every year we learn of a much loved film-making talent who is unexpectedly taken from us. This week has been no exception as we learnt the tragic news that British director Tony Scott passed away on Sunday 19th August at the age of 68 in what appeared to be an apparent suicide.

Brother of the equally legendary Ridley Scott, whom he worked with as producer throughout his career (most recently on Prometheus, Ridley's return to the Alien franchise), Tony made his own name as director of the some of the most memorable high-octane action blockbusters of the past two decades. Whilst they may have been better received by audiences than critics, no-one can deny the thrills and spills he brought to the big screen with the likes of Days Of Thunder, True Romance, Crimson Tide and of course Top Gun. Arguably the most successful film of his career, Top Gun became the highest grossing film of 1986 making over $350 million worldwide in its theatrical release against a $15 million budget. Marking his first collaboration with action superstar Tom Cruise, whom he would later work with on Days of Thunder, Tony made a habit of working with some of Hollywood's brightest talents both in front and behind the camera. Academy Award winner Denzel Washington for example starred in five of Tony Scott's films including Man On Fire, Deja Vu, the remake of The Taking Of Pelham 123 and his last theatrical release Unstoppable. Similarly renowned composer Harry-Gregson Williams provided the score for his entire filmography from 1998 including Enemy Of The State, Spy Game and Domino. All the aforementioned films bore his trademark frenetic camera style that proved inspirational for many young aspiring filmmakers that followed such as Robert Rodriguez (Sin City) along with our own home grown talent, Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz) and Duncan Jones (Source Code).

Tony also made his name in television, acting as executive producer on popular series such Numb3rs and The Good Wife which is still running on both British and American screens after nearly four years.

We will probably never know what would have become of his future projects such as the much anticipated sequel to Top Gun which he was developing in the days leading up to his death. What can be absolutely certain however is that the loss of Tony Scott has left a gaping void in modern Hollywood action cinema. The memory will be kept alive thanks to a forthcoming re-release of the classic original, complete with a new 3-D conversion but until then, we at The Cinema at Gloucester Guildhall urge you to seek out any Tony Scott film and enjoy it over a big tub of popcorn with the volume turned up to max. Sit back and enjoy the ride but never forget these words, tweeted by Academy Award winning director Ron Howard: "No more Tony Scott movies. Tragic day"

RIP Tony Scott

1944 - 2012

Ice Age 4 (PG)

Ice Age 4: Continental Drift hits our screen this week.  Come along and get washed away with the popular series that has got better and better with each instalment.  The animation quality is incredible, right down to the last hair.


You're likely already familiar with the characters and story lines which have preceded this film, but if you aren't, here is a brief run down of what you've missed so far:

The series follows a group of mammals surviving the Paleolithic ice age.  In the first film we meet Sid, a sloth who never stops talking and is left behind sleeping while everyone else begins the journey to the south.  Awaking, he meets Manny, a mammoth who travels to the north, and decides to follow him.  In Ice Age: The Meltdown we see that Manny, Sid, and grumpy sabre-toothed tiger Diego are currently living in a large valley surrounded by an enormously high ice wall on all sides. When a "water park" begins to form, the trio discovers that the ice wall is actually barely holding a massive body of water that could flood the valley to nearly a mile underwater. A vulture tells them that there is a boat at the other end of the valley that may save them all, but they only have three days to make it or die.  In Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs our lovable characters have a lot changing for them: Scrat is still on the hunt to hold onto his beloved acorn, while finding a possible romance in a female sabre-toothed squirrel named Scratte. Manny and Ellie the mammoth, having since become an item, are expecting a baby, which leaves Manny anxious to ensure that everything is perfect for when his baby arrives. Diego is fed up with being treated like a house-cat and ponders the notion that he is becoming too laid-back...

In this fourth episode, Manny,  Diego and Sid embark on their biggest adventure yet, after Scrat sets an entire continent adrift! While pursuing his elusive acorn, Scrat inadvertently triggers an event that splits the continents, and an epic adventure begins in which they encounter gigantic sea creatures and are forced to battle with a band of ruthless pirate critters.

As it stands this film is currently the 7th highest-grossing animated feature in history, and the third highest-grossing film of 2012, with a worldwide gross of over $764 million.

Below are some of the reviews which this film has been receiving:

*Fans of 20th Century Fox animation, you have cause to rejoice. A charming 3-D cartoon arrives in theatres on Friday, witty and touching and marvellously concise, part of a series that has managed to stay fresh and inventive after many years in the pop-culture spotlight. *  The New York Times

*The animators at Blue Sky have dreamt up some truly beautiful vistas and environments (as nerdy as it sounds, their water simulators are breathtaking) and the older characters' design have been subtlety tweaked in refreshing ways.* The Playlist

*Old friends and new voice talent will delight kids* Empire

Watch the trailer below:

Ice Age 4: Continental Drift is screening on: Friday 24th at 10.45am & 3pm and Saturday 25th at 3pm.

We hope you come along before we go adrift!

Red Lights (15)

From the director of Buried, Rodrigo Cortes brings you his new tense supernatural thriller Red Lights. 


Cortes has assembled an all-star cast as he tackles the fraudulent psychics that contact the supernatural.  The cast is headed by Cillian Murphy (Inception, The Dark Night Rises) and supported by two of the most established greats of acting Sigourney Weaver (Alien, Avatar) and Robert De Niro (Taxi Driver, Goodfellas) - this film echoes quality and talent throughout.


Red Lights follows the work of two sceptical academic scientists, Margaret Matheson (Weaver) and Tom Buckley (Murphy), who have built their careers and studies on exposing the 'red lights' used by fraudulent psychics with their claims of ghost whispering, faith healing and other psychic abilities as they contact the supernatural. When the celebrated and well-known blind psychic Simon Silver (De Niro) comes out of retirement, Buckley sees exposing Silver as his greatest challenge. However, Buckley will learn that spoon bending is only the tip of the iceberg of Silver's talents as mystery, magic and forbidden dangers await him if he is to expose one of the greatest of all time.


Red Lights is a supernatural thriller that will have you mystified and absorbed all the way through.


Critics have labelled the film as:

*Thoroughly watchable, thanks to strong actors who create intriguing characters*

*With this cast and Cortez’s smart directing, Red Lights examines the distance between fakery and reality*

Watch the Red Lights trailer here:

Red Lights is showing at Gloucester Guildhall on Tuesday 28th August at 7.45pm, Wednesday 29th August at 7.45pm and Thursday 30th August at 7.45pm

The Women On The 6th Floor (12A)

The Women On The 6th Floor or, as it is known in French, Les femmes du 6ème étage is easy-going, feel-good French cinema at its very best.

In 1960s Paris, wealthy stock-broker Jean-Louis lives a staid bourgeois existence with his neurotic socialite wife Suzanne while their children are away at boarding school. The couple’s world is turned upside-down when they hire Maria, a Spanish maid, who introduces Jean-Louis to an alternative reality a just few stories up on the 6th floor servants' quarters, where the women teach him there’s more to life than stocks and bonds, and their influence on the house ultimately transforms everyone’s lives. A lively and charming upstairs/downstairs comedy which premiered at the 2011 Berlin International Film Festival to a standing ovation.

For all this film is a gentle tale about a group of Spanish maids, the director still manages to make some poignant comments on class and politics.  This tale allows audience to discover a little about European life in the era of Mad Men. If you have enjoyed French films such as Potiche, Romantics Anonymous and Beautiful Lies you are bound to enjoy this one. Being hailed by some as a funnier (French) version of The Help, this is a retro crowd-pleaser which has already been a massive hit on home soil. 

*Beautifully filmed, well acted and a topical reminder that success isn't about how much money you have, but how you live - and boil your eggs.* Birmingham Post

*Enjoyable, frequently funny French comedy with likable characters and a strong central premise* View London

The Women On The 6th Floor is screening on: Friday 24th at 7.45pm, Saturday 25th at 10.45am & 7.45pm and Tuesday 28th at 2pm.

The Women On The 6th Floor: Interview

If you are thinking of coming to see a film this week, we've got a real treat for you with The Women On The 6th Floor. It is a French comedy with oodles of charm about a businessman who learns joie de vivre from his Spanish maid. Have a read of this interview with Philippe le Guay the Director of The Women On The 6th Floor.

Screening: Friday 24th at 7.45pm, Saturday 25th at 10.45am & 7.45pm and Tuesday 28th at 2pm.

Kosmos (12A)

Reha Erdem, one of Turkeys most established and successful directors, branches out with the release of his new fantasy drama Kosmos.
Beautiful, clever and bewildering, Kosmos is a film to admire.

Shot in a beautiful location and incredible backdrop on the boarder of Armenia and Turkey. Backed by an established cast and an outstanding performance from the lead role Sermet Yesil, Kosmos has all the qualities of great film.

Set in a small isolated village on the boarder of Armenia, Kosmos tells the unique story of passer-by Kosmos (Yesil) who saves the life of a young boy from the icy waters that run through the village. Having saved the child Kosmos is welcomed into the village with open arms, especially by the boy's father Yahya and sister Neptun. However, Kosmos's elusive and unsettling behaviour towards life and women starts to attract the attention of the village and after a spate of robberies Kosmos is no longer welcome.

Before he is driven out, the villagers learn of Kosmos's 'healing powers' after he cures an old man of asthma. Whether he is a messiah, god or a fake the villagers are forced to juggle between his bizarre actions and thefts to keep his mystical powers within the community.

Winner of Best Film at the Yerevan International Film Festival, Kosmos is a unique and clever fairy-tale that is brilliantly shot by cinematographer Florent Herry.

*Kosmos is a lyrical Turkish film with some stunning cinematography*

Isabel Stevens

*Fascinating, studded with moments of exhilarating beauty and remarkable, unexpected power* Tom Huddleston

Watch the trailer for yourself below:

Kosmos is showing at Gloucester Guildhall on Wednesday 22nd August at 7.45pm and Thursday 23rd August at 7.45pm.

Detachment Interview

Come and see Detachment, which is on at Gloucester Guildhall Tuesday 14th at 3pm & 7.45pm and Wednesday 15th at 7.454pm.  Make sure you catch it!  To whet your appetite, have a quick read of this interview with the Director Tony Kaye.  Read it here.

The Soul of Flies (El Alma De Las Moscas)

From independent Spanish writer-director Jonathan Cenzual Burley comes his film debut The Soul of Flies.


With a minuscule budget, a production team of just seven and an unknown but immensely talented cast headed by Javier Saez and Andrea Calabrese, this gem of a film is both comical and meaningful as we join two brothers on their trek of discovery.


The Soul of Flies brings long lost brothers Miguel (Saez) and Nero (Calabrese) together for the first time on their way to their father's funeral - a father whom they have actually never met. We follow the two as they travel on foot, by car and motorcycle en route to the funeral, the scorched landscape instilled with their father’s stories. Along their voyage, they meet up with a cast of characters who act as guideposts in the brothers' journey to the meaning of life, including a narcoleptic man looking for acceptance, a beautiful woman who throws watermelons, Nero's dream girl in a bed of sunflowers, and the ghost of their father who expounds on the secrets to enjoying life.Shot on a shoestring budget this debut feature is a humorous tale of two contrasting personalities coming to terms with their fears and foibles, the director’s innovative visual poetry full of absurdity, humour and melancholy.

Director Burley also pays homage along the way to the three great B's of the 20th century with references to Bunuel, Beckett and Bergman's work. In short, The Soul of Flies is a quirky and amusing cross-country trek of discovery all to the beat of a terrific music score.

*€1000 goes a long way in this charming Spanish study of sibling rivalry*

Laurence Boyce

*The Soul Of Flies has all the quirky charm of a magic realism novel*

Allan Hunter

Officially selected for the BFI London, Cleveland and Sao Paulo film festivals plus many others, The Soul of Flies is sure to capture the hearts of all who watch it.


Have a look at the trailer for The Soul of Flies below and see what you think

The Soul of Flies is showing at Gloucester Guildhall on Monday 20th August at 7.45pm and Tuesday 21st August at 2pm.

Your Sister's Sister (15)

Director Lynn Shelton is a familiar face on the festival circuit with her low-end budget films such as We Go Way Back, My Effortless Brilliance and Humpday. Shelton maintains a low-budget approach with the release of a tender and heart-warming comedy drama Your Sister's Sister.


Your Sister's Sister brings great performances by the three leading roles. A familiar face to many and the star of Shelton's Humpday is the very funny Mark Duplass. This time joined by Rosemarie DeWitt, another familiar face on the festival circuit, the cast is headed by the stunning and incredibly popular Emily Blunt (The Adjustment Bureau and The Young Victoria). Together the three bring to the screen the comical and touching tale of the complications of love between friends.

After the death of his brother Jack (Duplass) has struggled to come to terms with events. Concerned for Jack his best friend Iris (Blunt) sends him to her dad's isolated cabin to clear his head. Instead of solitude however, Jack finds Iris's sister Hannah (DeWitt) also seeking sanctuary from a recent breakup, and after a night of drunken conversation, comical banter and unexpected passion the two awaken to the untimely arrival of Iris as tension, awkwardness and some inspired comedic moments all arrive with her. Jack feels it's best to keep the events of that night from Iris, although Hannah sees no issue with it until Iris confesses her love for Jack, thus setting off a twisted tale of ever-complicated relationships between the three.

Your Sister's Sister is a pleasing example of how a strong script, a wonderful cast and a talented director come together to produce an honest, tender and delicate comedy drama that's been celebrated across the festival circuit and beyond. The part-improvised dialogue is one of the most realistic examples of exchanges between friends we've ever seen in a film and the characters are anything but predictable - on first glance it might appear to be your run of the mill American rom-com but Hollywood this isn't. You'll struggle to find a more touching and enjoyable indie film about relationships this year.

*Engagingly spiky, pleasingly unconventional comedy-drama with a strong script and a trio of terrific performances from its three leads*
Matthew Turner

*A trio of superb performances guide a plot that pivots on secrets and lies before they fester*
Peter Travers

Officially selected at Toronto, Seattle, Sundance and Tribeca Your Sister's Sister is a film not to be missed!!


Watch the trailer for Your Sister's Sister below.

Your Sister's Sister is showing at Gloucester Guildhall on Friday 17th August at 7.45pm, Saturday 18th August at 10.45am and 7.45pm and Monday 20th August at 2pm.

The Hunter Interview

Looking forward to seeing The Hunter? Have a quick watch of this interview with the star William Dafoe recorded at The Toronto International Film Festival where the film premiered.  Watch the interview here.

Detachment (15)

Detachment is exciting new American drama about the high school education system starring Adrien Brody and joined by a great ensemble supporting cast.

Adrien Brody is Henry Barthes, a substitute teacher who consciously avoids emotional connections by never staying anywhere long enough to form a bond with either his students or colleagues.  A lost soul grappling with a troubled past, Henry finds himself at a public school where an apathetic student body has created a frustrated, burned-out administration.  Inadvertently becoming a role model to his students, while also bonding with a runaway teen who is just as lost as he is, Henry finds that he’s not alone in his struggle to find beauty in a seemingly vicious and loveless world.

The film is directed by the American director Tony Kaye, who 15 years ago brought the modern classic of American History X to our screens. Adrien Brody's incredibly touching performance as a troubled soul highlights just what a fantastic actor he is and is being lauded as his most astounding appearance since The Pianist.

This film was first seen at a number of popular film festivals including Tribeca, Hamburg and Tokyo before hitting the screens of cinemas on general release. Proving to be ever bit as gripping as Tony Kaye's previous work, this is a real gem of a film that has been mainly overlooked by the multiplex.

*Detachment has such original energy and is so infused with righteous anger that it proves hard to dismiss.* Irish Times

*Stylishly directed and sharply written, this is an engaging, if ultimately depressing drama with strong performances from a superb ensemble cast.* View London

Watch the trailer below:

Detachment is screening on: Tuesday 14th at 2pm & 7.45pm and Wednesday 15th at 7.45pm

The Hunter (15)

Next week sees The Hunter coming to the cinema at Gloucester Guildhall.  This new film stars the great actors that are Willem Dafoe and Sam Neil.

Martin David, a skilled and focused mercenary, is sent into the Tasmanian wilderness on a hunt for a tiger believed to be extinct. Hired by an anonymous company that wants the tiger’s genetic material, Martin arrives in Tasmania posing as a scientist. He proceeds to set up base camp at a broken-down farmhouse, where he stays with a family whose father has gone missing under mysterious circumstances, and as his attachment to the family grows, he is led down a path of unforeseen dangers, complicating his deadly mission. 

The film is based upon the acclaimed book by Julia Leigh.  To prepare for the role, Dafoe worked with a bush survival expert who taught him practical tips, like how to de-scent himself so animals couldn't smell him in.  He also flew to Hobart, Tasmania for the premiere of the film. Although predominantly a thriller, The Hunter proves to be a many-faceted film. Beautifully shot and somewhat understated, this is undoubtedly the stand-out film in August's programme.

Interested in this film? What not join us on Monday 13th at 7.15pm in the cafe-bar for Film Club!

Gloucester Cinematics Film Club is a group of friendly people who like watching films and chatting to other people about films. It's free to join - just turn up! - and we're always looking for new faces. It's a great opportunity to meet like-minded people and enjoy a social cinema experience, and most of our members come on their own so you don't have to worry about not having a friend or partner to bring along. Everyone is welcome, no matter what your film tastes or knowledge - we are not film snobs by any means, simply a diverse group of people of all ages with an interest in all genres of film, from blockbusters to world cinema.

*Dafoe is eminently watchable, and for the most part it's a distinctive, atmospheric movie that cherishes the persistence of mystery.* The Guardian

*If you go down to the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise, in the form of an elegant genre-hopper * Film 4

Watch the trailer below:

The film is screening on: Friday 10th at 7.45pm, Saturday 11th at 10.45am and Monday 13th at 2pm & 7.45pm.