Tuesday 3 August 2010

August at the BFI

I know I'm always banging on about the stuff I'm seeing at the BFI, but I really am excited about some of the events during August.

(At the time of writing, tickets were still available for all of these except The Lodger, which is a members' event - although it might be worth giving them a ring).

Thursday 5th: City of Lost Children and Q&A with co-director Marc Caro

Intricate producton design (by Caro and Jean Rabasse), a battery of special effects, Jean-Paul Gaultier costumes and a richly atmospheric score by Angelo Badalamenti all combine to create a dazzlingly surreal, post-apocalyptic world that frames the hunt for a kidnapped boy after a circus strongman's little brother goes missing. Not only creators of their own universe, Caro and Jeunet are also storytellers who inspire some beautifully shaded performances from a distinctive cast.

Tuesday 10th: The Final Programme and Q&A with Michael Moorcock

Pulp novelist, sci-fi pioneer and sometime member of Hawkwind, Michael Moorcock has written scores of subversive, groundbreaking cult books but tonight's film is a rare example of a big screen adaptation – don't miss this chance to see it.

Jon Finch is terrific as hip, party-hungry adventurer Jerry Cornelius, troubled by the recent passing of his father but reluctantly on the hunt for the mysterious 'Final Programme': dad’s design for the perfect self-replicating human.

Terrific performances all round in this fast-moving, futuristic update of the thrilling adventure tales of yesteryear, with an unmissable supporting turn from a cigar-chomping Sterling Hayden.


Nigel Kneale's eerily prescient masterpiece envisages a future populace obsessed with, and controlled by, television.

Sex romps and programmes of excess dominate the airwaves but fail to arouse the viewers until a new programme, The Live Life Show – eavesdropping on the harsh reality of life on a bleak island – becomes an overnight sensation and begins to awaken the audience.

The age of Reality Television foreseen by one of the medium's master storytellers.
 
Monday 23rd: The Lodger  

Celebrate 'Long Live Film' with this rare screening of Hitchcock's early silent masterpiece, and his first thriller. Foggy London is terrorized by a Jack the Ripper-style murderer who targets young blondes. Live piano accompaniment by Stephen Horne.


1986: The Mexico World Cup, Top Gun in the cinemas and over 3.4 million Brits unemployed. A memorable year in the national psyche - and the year Shaun (Thomas Turgoose) is leaving school. Suddenly being young isn't that easy.

This is England '86 is acclaimed British filmmaker Shane Meadows' television debut and the much anticipated follow-up to his hit film. Reuniting the original cast, the four-part Channel 4 drama is co-written by Meadows and Jack Thorne. 

We are pleased to announce that cast member Vicky McClure (Lol) will join Shane Meadows, Jack Thorne and Tom Harper for the discussion following this preview. The panel will be chaired by film critic Jason Solomons.

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