Between 8 and 12 March , the British Council invited you to attend a new edition of the British Film Days.
This year’s edition proposed a thought-provoking selection made up of the newest British productions, awarded with some of the most popular distinctions in the field of cinematography for the year 2011. The projections took place at the National Museum of the Romanian Peasant, starting at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Free entry! The films ran in English.
Partners: National Museum of Romanian Peasant
Media partners: Radio Guerrilla, Cinemagia, Hotnews, 24 Fun, Observatorul Cultural, Zeppelin
Thursday, 8 March
6 p.m. – The British Guide To Showing Off (2011) Director: Jes Benstock (98 min)
The main theme of “The British Guide to Showing Off” is the “Alternative Miss World” show, designed by contemporary British artist Andrew Logan. This work of “live art”, this “living sculpture” represents, according to the artist’s own words, his most important creation. What is “Alternative Miss World”? It is a scandalous, anarchist and overwhelming show, a dazzling parade of suits and costumes, a spectacle of a different kind of beauty, one that has nothing to do with the official standards.
The film is forbidden for minors under 15 years of age.
8 p.m. – Coriolanus (2011) – Director: Ralph Fiennes (122 min)
“Coriolanus” is a wonderful film adaptation of the play with the same name written by William Shakespeare. The historical tragedy becomes a captivating action movie under Ralph Fiennes’s direction, receiver of the BAFTA award for interpretation for “Schindler’s List”.
A true historical film of classical tradition, where the action is placed in ancient Rome, the movie starrs giant names of today’s cinematography: Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, and Vanessa Redgrave.
Friday, 9 March
6 p.m. – Senna (2010) – Director: Asif Kapdia (106 min)
Three times Formula 1 champion, Ayrton Senna, is honoured in this biographical documentary. A true sportsman, extremely shy in front of the cameras, yet a fierce opponent on the race tracks, Senna, the Brazilian, became an international superstar, worshiped across all borders and mostly, in his home country, Brazil.
In 1994, at the Grand Prix in San Marino, Ayrton Senna lost his life in an accident during the race, in front of three hundred million people who were watching their idol live.
8 p.m. – Black Pond (2011) – Directors: Tom Kingsley, Will Sharpe (83 min)
What seemed to be a typical British Family, the Thompsons end up being accused of murder after a stranger dies at their dinner table. Six months later, a family friend pays a visit to the Thompsons and, somehow, the information about the mysterious death leaks to the press. The coordinates of the situation are distorted, the details reach a hazardous dimension, and the Thompsons become known as the “Family of Killers”.
“Black Pond” is an existential dramatic comedy, starring two-time BAFTA winner, Chris Langham, and double British Comedy Award winner Simon Amstell.
Saturday, 10 March
6 p.m. – How to Re-establish a Vodka Empire (2012)
Director: Daniel Edelstyn (75 min)
“How to Re-Establish a Vodka Empire” is a documentary that follows the journey of director Daniel Edelstyn in search of his Jewish Ukrainian heritage. The adventure-bound investigation leads Edelstyn to the discovery of a vodka distillery once owned by his ancestors and an attempt to restore this long lost inheritance. Apart from the protagonist’s attempts to enter the industry of alcohol, Edelstyn closely follows his family history while portraying key moments in the development of the 20th century.
The movie will feature a preview in Bucharest – the official launch will take place in the UK during the second half of March.
8 p.m. – Skeletons (2010) Director: Nick Whitfield (94 min)
A very English dark comedy, “Skeletons” introduces us to two business partners who share a very new and special affair: they pretend to be able to exorcise the secrets of the past, the so-called “skeleton in the closet”.
The originality of the script, the consistent humour and the good acting performances of the leading actors has brought the movie extremely favourable reviews and a great deal of nominations for film festival awards all across the UK.
Sunday, 11 March
6 p.m. - UK Shorts Programme, Director: Mark Gutteridge (12 mins)
Rachel's developing adolescent shape is of concern to her tutors at a top London ballet school. Michael, a boy at a local urban school, is struggling with his exams. Their chance encounter leads Michael on a mission into a Royal park that takes him where adult analysis is all that counts.
PS Your Mystery Sender – Director: Benjamin Wigley (9 mins)
For the past 20 years Paul Smith the world renowned fashion designer from Nottingham has been receiving an avalanche of odd and quirky unwrapped objects which have had a remarkable effect on his life, and all have been sent from a Mystery Person.
Battenburg – Director: Stewart Comrie (12 mins)
When an unwitting bird collides with a window, he’s invited inside by a red-eyed squirrel. Never trust a red-eyed squirrel.
God View – Director: Billy Lumby (7 mins)
From an unusual perspective, we follow Philip around his neighbourhood in Hackney, East London. He is mentally unwell and misses his wife and daughter very much.
Our Ordered Lives – Director: Christine Entwisle (10 mins)
To escape the horror of her own actions, a young woman rushes towards the wildness and open air of the nearby fell tops.
Turning – Directors: Karni and Saul (10 mins)
On his sixth birthday, Robert receives three beautiful old ladies in his mother's sitting room.
Ella – Director: Dan Gitsam (9 mins)
A Dead Mother. A Father with blood on his hands. All is not what it seems! Not all is what it seems!
Salar – Director: Nicholas Greene (19 mins)
Two lives cross in an isolated Bolivian village: a disgruntled American doctor looking to leave, and a Bolivian salt miner who's just been stabbed in the hand.
UK Shorts Programme is forbidden for people under 18 year of age.
8 p.m. – Oranges and Sunshine (2010) - Director: Jim Loach (104 min)
A British - Australian co-production, ”Oranges and Sunshine” deals with one of the greatest social scandals of postbelic Great Britain: the governmental program which lead to the forced immigration of thousands of children who came from poor families and who were left in the care of the state; after the war these children were sent to Australia, Canada, New Zeeland, and South Africa hoping for a better life, hoping for “oranges and sunshine”.
The movie closely and intensely follows the truth of this story and the attempt of a social worker and of a number of some of the children, who became adults in the meantime, to reunite the families that were separated.
Monday, 12 March
6 p.m. – Kill List (2011) - Director: Ben Wheatley (95 min)
“Kill List” is a production for those who love thrillers and action movies, which uses already classic elements for the success of this type of films: Jay and Gal, former soldiers with missions in Eastern Europe, become paid killers.
A mysterious client orders the murder of three people: a priest, a paedophile and an MP, thus the twist in the narration: the identities and the reactions of the three – which the two must kill – are unexpected and the end utterly takes you aback.
8 p.m. – Weekend (2011) – Director: Andrew Haigh (97 min)
A provoking movie that faces the audience with a type of problem that is still searching for solutions in contemporary society: the difficulties of social integration and acceptance of personal identity of two young people whose sexual orientation is different from that of the majority.
Directed with a great sense of sensibility and an honest and convincing voice, the film tackles topics which address not only the interest of the gay community, but the world in general.
The movie is forbidden for people under 18 year of age.
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