Hello everyone... Nina here to present another installment of "Across the Pond," Dominique Taylor's semi-regular column focusing on the UK entertainment scene. This week, Dominique gives us a overview of the ongoing London Film Festival!
London Film Festival in Full Swing
By Dominique Taylor
With the 50th London Film Festival in full swing now, it simply cannot go unnoticed in this instalment of Across the Pond. So here is a round up of news from the UK’s biggest film event.
Controversy
The festival entered the realms of controversy this week by showing The Bridge, a film previously refused by Cannes and Berlin because it shows real life suicides. The film was directed by Eric Steel who claims it is an attempt to change attitudes towards mental health. However it has been dismissed as ‘voyeuristic’ as well as in danger of causing copycat suicides. The British Film Institute (BFI) who organise the festival write on their website: ‘The filmed footage of the bridge itself is often strikingly beautiful, but the tone is never romantic about the act itself.’ The film also includes the story of a man whose suicide attempt is unsuccessful and interviews with members of families affected by the deaths.
Outrage
Film distributer CJ Entertainment have angered Festival film-goers and the Korean community by failing to deliver King and the Clown in time to be shown at the ‘film on the square’ event. According to the Korean Times, although a non-subtitled version of the film arrived in time for the 19 October viewing, the one fit for screening did not arrive until the following day. The film became the second most watched film ever in Korea when it was released in 2005 and tells the story of two court jesters in 16 century Choson Kingdom. BFI have said they will try to air the film at a later date in the festival.
Stardom
Many stars have been spotted at the Festival this week, but fewer were more eager than Will Ferrell. He told Empire magazine: “I haven’t been in too many films involved with festivals, so it’s really exciting.” The film in question is Stranger than Fiction, directed by Marc Foster, and Ferrell plays a taxman who realises he is at the centre of a novel being commentated in his head by Kay Eiffel (Emma Thompson). The film also stars Dustin Hoffman who, along with Thompson, also attended the festival. Although the film is not the usual we expect of Ferrell, according to screenwriter Zac Helm, he steps up to the tragi-comedy role with ease.
And there’s more…
There is still another week left of the festival and you can watch video interviews and download podcasts to keep up to date at www.bfi.org.uk. It should promise more stars, more premieres and gives readers the opportunity to discuss the films they think made the festival.
