As London Film Festival starts this weeks (13th-28th Oct 2010), we at MLAB wanted to draw your attention to a few highlights from around the World. Artist Director Sandra Hebron introduced the film festival by expressing her difficulty representing the volume of work this year, and attempts to point to the wealth of talent on show again. At a time when the creative industry in the UK is treading on shaky ground, Hebron remark’s that she’s “overwhelmed” at “the creativity and breadth represented in our selection of British films is hugely encouraging”.
With that in mind, here’s MLAB’s pick of the Film Festival but check out the BFI website below for full listings and reviews.
Waste Land : An uplifting portrait of the garbage pickers in Rio who participated in a project with artist Vik Muniz. Documentary maker Lucy Walker (Blindsight) accompanies Muniz on a recent project, where he aims to give something back to Brazil’s poorest people by creating art in collaboration with garbage pickers at Rio’s Jardim Gramancho, the world’s largest rubbish dump.
Mandelson: The Real PM? : An intimate portrait of one of the most controversial figures in British politics. Art documentary filmmaker Hannah Rothschild followed Peter Mandelson for the nine months running up to the UK General Election (2010) defeat at the hands of David Cameron’s Conservative Party. It’s a controlled but revealing look into the world of the First Secretary of State and Business Secretary, although unfortunately doesn’t go as far to show reaction to the humiliating defeat or the building of a coalition government.
Happy Few : This thoughtful and non-judgmental drama examines the delicate emotional negotiations involved in partner-swapping. Marina Foïs plays Rachel, a jewellery designer who hits it off with website advisor Vincent (Nicolas Duvauchelle). When they meet for dinner with their respective spouses (Roschdy Zem, Elodie Bouchez), the sexual ripples are palpable, and a cordially agreed all-change regime ensues.
Lewis Klahr presents Prolix Satori : Collage artist Lewis Klahr introduces Prolix Satori, an ongoing series which appropriates images from comics, magazines and catalogues. Going beyond abstraction and nostalgic cliché, he builds high melodrama from modest means, conjuring elliptical narratives that evoke complex moods and emotions. Within Prolix Satori, a new project of ‘couplets’ elicits different atmospheres through repetitions of soundtracks or imagery. Lewis Klahr will also present a screening of his early films at Tate Modern on Mon 25 Oct.
Links
- London Film Festival
- Guardian: Exclusive clip from Mandelson
- Happy Few
- Waste Land Trailer
- Lewis Klahr: Tate Modern Review
Posted on October 16, 2010
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