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Shame (R18+)
February 9
Director: Steve McQueen
Run time:101 mins
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Brandon (Michael Fassbender) is a young successful thirty-something living comfortably in his apartment in New York. As a distraction from day-to-day cubicle life, he seduces women, juggling a string of doomed romances and one-night stands. The tightly controlled rhythm of Brandon’s life begins to collapse, however, when his wayward, unruly sister Sissy (Carey Mulligan) arrives for an unannounced visit. Her disruptive presence in his life propels Brandon further into New York’s dark underbelly as he tries to escape her need for connection and the memories she stands for. |
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Any Questions For Ben? (M)
February 9
Director: Rob Sitch
Run time: TBA
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For 27-year-old Ben (Josh Lawson), life couldn’t be better. He has a well paying job, friends and nothing to tie him down. But when he is invited back to his old school to join several others for a student Q&A about their personal achievements, something goes wrong: Ben is the only speaker not to be asked a question. This triggers a year of soul-searching and looking for answers in all the wrong places. From his best friend Andy, whose solution is that they both take another holiday, to his mentor Sam, who loans him a sports car, Ben’s search for answers comes up empty. Soon he begins to suspect that the meaning of life may well reside in the things he’s already doing – and a girl he once knew. From the Working Dog Team, who brought you The Castle, Frontline and The Late Show, Any Questions For Ben? is amongst 2012’s most anticipated films. |
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Happy - The Movie (CTC)
February 11: 3.40pm, 5.15pm
February 12: 11.10am
exclusive!
Director: Roko Belic
Run time: 70 minutes
website
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From the Academy Award nominated director Roko Belic (Genghis Blues) comes HAPPY, a feature-length documentary that leads viewers on a journey across 5 continents in search of the keys to happiness. Taking us from the bayous of Louisiana to the deserts of Namibia, from the beaches of Brazil to the villages of Okinawa, HAPPY explores the secrets behind our most valued emotion. The film addresses many of the fundamental issues we face in today’s society: how do we balance the allure of money, fame and social status with our needs for strong relationships, health and personal fulfillment? Through remarkable human stories and cutting-edge science, HAPPY leads us toward a deeper understanding of why and how we can pursue more fulfilling, healthier and happier lives. |
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My Week With Marilyn (M)
February 16
Director: Simon Curtis
Run time: 99 mins
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In the early summer of 1956, 23 year-old Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne) is determined to make his way in the film business. Gaining employment on the UK set of The Prince And The Showgirl, the film that famously united Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh) and Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams), Clark could never anticipate the job that lay ahead of him. When Monroe’s husband Arthur Miller leaves England, the coast is clear for the American star to enjoy some of the pleasures of British life. Upon the publication of Clark’s diary forty years later, a single week was missing from the text. This is the incredible true story of that week. Co-starring Emma Watson (Harry Potter series) and Julia Ormand. |
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Buck (PG)
February 16
Director: Cindy Meehl (Debut)
Run time: 88min
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“Your horse is a mirror to your soul, and sometimes you may not like what you see.” So says Buck Brannaman, a true American cowboy and sage on horseback who travels the United States helping horses with people problems. A richly textured and visually stunning film, Buck follows Brannaman from his troubled childhood to his phenomenally successful approach to animals. A real-life “horse-whisperer”, he teaches people to communicate with their horses through leadership and sensitivity. Buck possesses near magical abilities as he dramatically transforms horses – and people – with his understanding, compassion and respect, allowing the animal-human relationship to become a metaphor for facing the daily challenges of life. |
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Love (CTC)
February 16
Director: Doze Nui Chen-Zer (Monga)
Run time: 127 minutes
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Following his critically acclaimed, Oscar-nominated film Monga, Taiwanese director Doze Niu reunites with his two Monga leads Ethan Ruan and Mark Chao for this urban romance. Set in Taipei and Beijing, Love follows about eight lonely people searching for the right one. Also stars screen siren Shu Qi (If You Are The One 1 & 2, The Transporter) |
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Tyrannosaur (MA15+)
February 23
exclusive!
Director: Paddy Considine
Run time: 91 mins
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The first feature film to be written and directed by acclaimed British actor Paddy Considine (In America), Tyrannosaur is the story of Joseph (Peter Mullan), a man plagued by a rage that is driving him to self-destruction. As Joseph's life spirals into turmoil following the death of everyone and everything he cares for, a chance for redemption appears in the form of Christian charity shop worker Hannah (Olivia Colman). Hiding a secret of her own beneath a veneer of happiness, Hannah and Joseph find comfort in one another’s company despite the watchful eye of Hannah’s successful husband James (Peter Marsan). Winner of Best Director and a Special Jury Prize for both Peter Mullan and Olivia Colman at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. |
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Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (CTC)
February 23
Director: Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot, The Reader, The Hours)
Run time: TBC
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Three-time Academy Award nominee Stephen Daldry directs a screenplay by Academy Award winner Eric Roth (The Insider), based on Jonathan Safran Foer’s acclaimed best-seller. Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn) is an inventive eleven year-old New Yorker mourning the loss of his father Thomas (Tom Hanks). When he discovers a mysterious key in his deceased father’s belongings, he is convinced that his father has left a final message for him hidden somewhere in the city. Feeling disconnected from his grieving mother Linda (Sandra Bullock) Oskar begins searching New York City for the lock that fits the key. As Oskar crosses the five New York boroughs he encounters an eclectic assortment of people who are each survivors in their own way and in turn, develops a greater understanding of the world around him. |
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Like Crazy (M)
March 1
Director: Drake Doremus
Run time: 86 mins
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Winner of the grand jury prize for Best Picture at the Sundance Film Festival and the Special Jury Prize for Best Actress for Felicity Jones, Like Crazy is a poignant romantic drama depicting both the hopefulness and heartbreak of love. British college student Anna (Felicity Jones) is studying in Los Angeles when she falls for her American classmate Jacob (Anton Yelchin) and they embark on a passionate and life-changing journey. But when Anna violates the terms of her visa and is deported back to Britain, the couple face the difficult challenge of being together and of being apart. |
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Carnage (M)
March 1
Director: Roman Polanski (The Ghost Writer)
Run time: 79 minutes
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Academy Award-winning director Roman Polanski directs Academy Award-winners Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster, Christoph Waltz and Academy Award-nominee John C. Reilly, in the screen adaptation of the Tony-Award winning play God of Carnage. Set in contemporary New York, Carnage is a bitterly amusing story on the contradictions and prejudices of two well-heeled American families. After their sons are involved in a playground fight, two sets of parents: Nancy and Alan (Winslet and Waltz); and Penelope and Michael (Foster and Reilly) meet to settle the dispute. However, the polite discussion of childrearing soon escalates into verbal warfare, with all four parents revealing their true colours. Unpredictable and shocking, the film hilariously exposes the hypocrisy lurking behind their polite façade. |
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A Separation (CTC)
March 1
Director: Asghar Farhadi
Run time: 123 minites
Persian with English subtitles.
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Winner of the Golden Bear for Best Film and the Silver Bears for Best Actress and Best Actor at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival, A Separation is a compelling drama that focuses on a contemporary Iranian middle-class couple. Nader (Peyman Maadi) and Simin (Leila Hatami) have been married for fourteen years and live with their eleven-year-old daughter Termeh (Sarina Farhadi) in Tehran. Nader and Simin are attempting to divorce on the grounds of irreconcilable differences. They have acquired visas to emigrate from Iran - Simin is anxious to ensure a better future for Termeh, but Nader does not want to leave his elderly father who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. When a judge refuses to formalise their separation, Simin departs the family home, leaving the obstinate Nader to hire a housekeeper Razieh (Sareh Bayat) that leads to an altercation that has unexpected consequences. Propelled by an acute attention to class, religion and gender differences, Farhadi's meticulous script explores the cultural, social and judicial minefield that plagues contemporary Iran. |
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Coriolanus (MA15+)
March 8
Director: Ralph Fiennes
Run time: 123 mins
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Making his directorial debut, acclaimed actor Ralph Fiennes has taken Shakespeare’s brutal play and reconfigured it as a study of modern warfare. Coriolanus (Fiennes), a revered and feared Roman General, is at odds with the city of Rome and his fellow citizens. Pushed by his controlling and ambitious mother Volumnia (Vanessa Redgrave) to seek the exalted and powerful position of Consul, he is loath to ingratiate himself with the masses whose votes he needs in order to secure the office. When the public refuse to support him, Coriolanus's anger prompts a riot which culminates in his expulsion from Rome. The banished hero then allies himself with his sworn enemy Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler) to take his revenge on the city. |
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Headhunters (MA15+)
March 8
Director: Morten Tyldum
Run time: 100 min
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Based on award-winning mystery writer Jo Nesbo's novel, Headhunters is an intense thriller starring Aksel Hennie as Roger Brown, Norway´s most successful headhunter who finances his lavish lifestyle by stealing art from his own clients. When Roger meets Dutchman Clas Greve (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), he sees the chance to become financially independent and starts planning his biggest hit ever – to steal one of the most valuables paintings in the world. But soon he runs into trouble – and it’s not financial problems that are threatening to bring him down this time. |
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50/50 (CTC)
March 8
Director: Jonathan Levine (The Wackness)
Run time: 100 mins
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Based on an inspiring true story, 50/50 is an original and witty tale about friendship, love, survival and finding humour in unlikely places.
Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a 27-year old writer of radio programs whose life changes forever when he is diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer. With the help of his best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen), his mother Diane (Anjelica Huston), and a young therapist Katherine (Anna Kendrick) at the cancer centre, Adam learns what and who the most important things in his life are. |
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The Source (M)
March 8
Director: Radu Mihaileanu
Run time: TBC
French language, English subtitles.
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Nominated for a Palme d'Or at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. In a small remote village, the local women have been fetching water from a mountaintop spring in the blazing sun since the beginning of time. With the support of her husband, Sami (Saleh Bakri, The Band’s Visit), Leila (Hafsia Herzi, The Secret of the Grain), urges the women to launch a strike: no more sex until the men run water into the village. The men’s amused disdain soon turns to despair as the women’s cause gathers support, making the village a laughing stock. Tensions within the family also escalate when Sami’s mother, Fatima (Hiam Abbass, The Lemon Tree), refuses to join in the strike, and tries to convince her son to leave Leila. When newspaper journalist Sofiane (Malek Akhmiss arrives, the men of the village fear even greater humiliation. But Sofiane hasn’t come to report on the strike. He wants to win back his first love, Leila. |
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In Search of Haydn (CTC)
March 15
exclusive!
Director: Phil Grabsky
Run time: tbc
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Following the international success of In Search Of Mozart & In Search Of Beethoven, Phil Grabsky is now completing his third film on great composers – Joseph Haydn. Haydn (1723-1809) was one of the greatest musical innovators, looked up to by Mozart and Beethoven and yet today in concert halls he is often overshadowed in favour of his younger contemporaries. By speaking to the greatest living exponents of Haydn’s music, this film readdress the balance and sheds light on this forgotten master and his work. With contributions from The Orchestra of the 18th Century, Marc Andre Hamelin, Ronald Brautigam,, Sir Roger Norrington, Gianandrea Noseda, Richard Wigmore, David Wynn-Jones, Alison Balsom, Gautier Capucon and more. |
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The Kid With A Bike (M)
March 15
Directors: Jean-Pierre Dardenne , Luc Dardenne (The Child)
Run time: 88 mins
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The latest film from two-time Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winning filmmakers, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, is a masterpiece of social realism with superb performances from Cecile de France (The Singer, Russian Dolls) and newcomer, Thomas Doret. Cyril, almost 12, has only one plan: to find the father who left him temporarily in a children’s home. By chance he meets Samantha, who runs a hairdressing salon and agrees to let him stay with her at weekends. Cyril at first doesn’t recognize the affection Samantha feels for him; a love he desperately needs to help calm his anger at being left behind by his father. |
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Margin Call (MA15+)
March 15
Director: JC Chandor
Run time: 107 mins
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In 2008, the world held its breath as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression unfolded. In this powerful drama starring Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Zachary Quinto, Jeremy Irons and Demi Moore, the downsizing of a corporate firm causes newly-redundant executive Eric Dale (Stanley Tucci) to pass along some research he’s been working on to fledgling banker Peter Sullivan (Quinto). When Sullivan continues Dale’s work he discovers the firm’s financial position is on a precipice, at risk of falling into financial disaster. As the various executives across the company become aware of the tenuous situation they are each forced to make unthinkable decisions with untold ramifications. Winner: Robert Altman Award - Independent Spirit Awards, Best Debut Director – National Board of Review & New York Film Critics Circle Awards, Best Original Screenplay – San Francisco Critics Circle Awards. |
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The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (CTC)
March 22
Directed By: John Madden (Shakespeare in Love, The Debt)
Run time: 123 minutes
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Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson and Dev Patel star in this heart-warming British comedy drama about a group of retirees who decide to "outsource" their retirement to the less expensive and seemingly exotic India. Enticed by advertisements for the newly restored Marigold Hotel and bolstered with visions of a life of leisure, they arrive to find the palace a shell of its former self. Though the new environment is less luxurious than imagined, they are forever transformed by their shared experiences, discovering that life and love can begin again when you let go of the past. |
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Jiro Dreams Of Sushi (CTC)
March 22
exclusive!
Director: David Gelb
Run time: 81 mins
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Enthralling documentary that chronicles the life of Jiro Ono, the most famous sushi chef in Tokyo. For most of his 85 years, Jiro has been perfecting the art of making sushi. He works from sunrise to well beyond sunset to taste every piece of fish; meticulously train his employees; and carefully mould and finesse the impeccable presentation of each sushi creation. Although his restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro only seats ten diners, it is a phenomenon in Tokyo that has won the prestigious 3-Star Michelin review, making him the oldest Michelin chef alive. |
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The Boy Mir (CTC)
March 22
exclusive!
Director: Phil Grabsky
Run time: 90 mins
website
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Following the award-winning film, The Boy who Plays on the Buddhas of Bamiyan, British film-maker Phil Grabsky continues documenting the young Afghani boy Mir. The film tracks the irrepressible and lovable Mir from a naïve 8-year-old at the fall of the Taliban, to a fully grown adult in one of the toughest places on earth. The Boy Mir is not only a unique portrayal of a boy’s life, but a revealing and important story about modern Afghanistan. |
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Le
Havre (PG)
March 29
Director: Aki Kaurismäki
Run time: 90 mins
website
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2011 Cannes Film Festival critics favourite and winner
of the FIPRESCI International Federation of Film Critics
Award, acclaimed director Aki Kaurismäki’s
enchantingly comic tale is set in the seaside town of
Le Havre, France. Marcel Marx, a former author who has
retreated into a voluntary exile there to become a shoe-shiner,
finds his life taking an interesting turn when fate suddenly
throws in his path an underage refugee from Africa. |
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A Dangerous Method (MA15+)
March 29
Director: David Cronenberg (Eastern Promises, A History of Violence)
Run time: 99 minutes
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Set on the eve of World War I in Zurich and Vienna and drawn from true-life events, A Dangerous Method is a provocative tale of sexual and intellectual discovery, ambition and deceit. Seduced by the challenge of an impossible case, a driven psychiatrist Dr. Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) takes the unbalanced yet beautiful Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley) as his patient. Jung's weapon is the method of his master, his mentor, the renowned Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen), but soon both men fall under Sabina's spell. |
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Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (PG)
April 5
Director: Lasse Hallström
Run time: 112 mins
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From the director of Chocolat & The Cider House Rules, and the academy-award winning screenwriter of SlumDog Millionaire. When Britain's leading fisheries expert (Ewan McGregor) is approached by a consultant (Emily Blunt) to help realise a sheikh's (Amr Waked) vision of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to the desert, he immediately thinks the project is both absurd and unachievable. But when the Prime Minister's overzealous press secretary (Kristin Scott Thomas) latches on to it as a "good will" story, this unlikely team will put it all on the line and embark on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible, possible. |
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This Must Be the Place (CTC)
April 26
Director: Paolo Sorrentino
Run time: 118 mins
website
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FIn This Must Be The Place, Sean Penn plays Cheyenne; a bored, retired, wealthy American goth rock star living in Dublin (and looking a lot like The Cure’s Robert Smith). A complex character, he rambles around town with friends and lives in an enormous mansion with his down-to-earth wife of 35 years, Jane (Frances McDormand.) Upon learning of the death of his father – from whom he was estranged for over 30 years - he returns to America to embark on a road trip that will change him forever. Driven by the revelation that his father was humiliated during World War 2 while held prisoner by a Nazi SS Officer (who may still be alive and living in America) Cheyenne embarks on a cross-country road trip. The search for the war criminal takes him through the heartland of a country now foreign to the recognizable celebrity, leading to encounters with locals that reawaken the possibility of reconciliation and self-discovery. A rare film that combines stunning originality, cinematic elegance and real humanity, This Must Be The Place is a genuinely unique experience full of warmth, humour and black eye-liner. Features a terrific soundtrack with music and lyrics by the incomparable David Byrne and Will Oldham. |
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