BFI London Film Festival 2019
Week 2
Monday the 7th
The Aeronauts
Image Source: Getty Images
The first day of the LFF’s second week culminated with the Mayor of London’s headline gala, as director Tom Harper returned to the festival for a UK premiere of for Victorian adventurer drama ‘The Aeronauts’—a mid-19th century British adventure revolving around a scientist and meteorologist who teams up with a balloonist and adventurer, to go where no man has gone before and investigate the upper atmosphere, only to find themselves in a pioneering adventure which soon turns into a fight for survival.
Harper was joined on the red carpet by his reunited stars Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones, ‘The Aeronauts’ is out on the 8th of November in the UK, and on the 6th of December in the US.
The Aeronauts at the LFF (courtesy of BFI)
The Two Popes
Image Source: Getty Images
Monday’s second gala, the Journey gala, not only saw another Netflix participant at this year’s festival but also brought Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles back to the LFF, as he teams up with experienced screen biographer Anthony McCarten (The Theory of Everything, Bohemian Rhapsody) for their papal two-hander ‘The Two Popes’.
A dramatised look behind the curtains of the Vatican, which sees the dogmatic conservative Pope Benedict XVI tussle with cardinal and future liberal reformist Pope Francis over the future of the Catholic church, as they engage in personal debate over clashing ideologies but come together to guide the church into the 21st century. The director was joined by two of his stars Jonathan Pryce and Juan Minujíne on the LFF red carpet, ‘The Two Popes’ is available on Netflix on the 20th of December. you can see our review here.
The Two Popes interview (courtesy of HeyUGuys)
Bad Education
Image Source: Getty Images
After gracing the festival with his debut ‘Thoroughbreds’, Cory Finley returned to the LFF—flanked by producers Mike Makowsky, Eddie Vaisman and Fred Berger—to once again sharply and comedically peek behind the curtain of manicured, middle-class suburban America with his sophomore feature ‘Bad Education’. A true story of corruption and false faces centred around an early 2000s scandal in a New York state school district, when a suave and charming superintendent with a hidden life and his right-hand-woman fiddled expenses and defrauded the system out of millions of dollars, while simultaneously doing wonders for the school’s academic record and the town in general. ‘Bad Education’ has no confirmed release dates yet.
The Perfect Candidate
Image Source: The Match Factory
The day’s official competition saw some rare Saudi Arabian participation and a return to the LFF for director Haifaa Al-Mansour, as she brought a UK premiere of her latest socially reflective Saudi drama ‘The Perfect Candidate’. A human drama portrait of a (slowly) changing Saudi society, centred around a determined young female doctor who surprisingly becomes the first female candidate for her local elections, causing consternation in a town unprepared for radical change, and putting pressure on her family. ‘The Perfect Candidate’ has no confirmed released dates yet.
The Perfect Candidate trailer (courtesy of The Match Factory)
Tuesday the 8th
Knives Out
Image Source: Getty Images
Arguably the most glamorous gala screening this year brought one of the more anticipated films of the year to the festival, when writer/director Rian Johnson took a break from his escapades in a galaxy far far away to bring us a UK premiere of his all-star whodunit ‘Knives Out’. A modern murder-mystery revolving around a combative and unconventional wealthy American family, whose patriarch unexpectedly dies at one of their gatherings, prompting a a police detective and a celebrated Southern gentleman sleuth on take on the case . . . and get more than they bargained for.
Johnson was joined on the LFF red carpet by producer Ram Bergman and composer Nathan Johnson, plus three of his many stars Don Johnson, Katherine Langford and Ana de Armas, ‘Knives Out’ is in UK and US cinemas on the 27th of November, you can check out our review here.
Knives Out at the LFF (courtesy of BFI)
La Llorona (The Weeping Woman)
Image Source: Getty Images
Tuesday also saw Guatemalan director Jayro Bustamante grace to the festival for the second time in a week, this time in official competition contention for a screening of his thrilling genre mashup ‘La Llorona’—a contemporary Guatemalan tale with bleak echoes of recent history and dark Latin American Folklore, centred on a retired general who escapes justice during a trial for the genocide of decades past, who becomes haunted by the sins of that past when a mysterious new maid comes into his employ . . . with consequences for both the complicit and innocent people around him. ‘La Llorona’ has no confirmed dates yet.
La Llorona trailer (courtesy of BFI)
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (Portrait de la Jeune Fille en Feu)
Image Source: Getty Images
Female and LGBT representation got a boost on Tuesday when writer/director Céline Sciamma returned to the LFF for a BFI ‘Flare’ special presentation screening of ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’. A costume drama set in the isolation of an island in late 18th century Bretagne, where a young artist commissioned to paint the portrait of a reluctant bride-to-be must follow her subject in secret to capture her essence, only to find herself falling for her.
Sciamma was joined on the LFF red carpet by her stars Adèle Haenel and Noémie Merlant, ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ is out on the 6th of December in the US, and on the 28th of February 2020 in UK cinemas.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire interview (courtesy of HeyUGuys)
Vivarium
Image Source: Getty Images
Tuesday also brought Irish writer/director Lorcan Finnegan back to the LFF this year, flanked by his stars Imogen Poots and Jonathan Aris for a Cult strand screening of their dark and claustrophobic suburban American allegory ‘Vivarium’. The tale of a young couple whose suburban dream becomes a living nightmare when they find themselves trapped in labyrinth of identical homes, and a manicured manufactured neighbourhood with no escape, only for their existence to become even more surreal when a baby is delivered to their door. ‘Vivarium’ has no confirmed release dates.
Vivarium clip (courtesy of BFI)
Wednesday the 9th
Greed
Image Source: Getty Images
Wednesday’s big headline gala brought British writer/director Michael Winterbottom back to the LFF for his latest collaboration with star Steve Coogan, a biting social satire of the mega-rich one-percenters, and a certain high street mogul, treating London audiences to a European premiere of ‘Greed’. The tale of a smarmy and arrogant retail kingpin who sidesteps fraud investigations and changing fortunes to throw a decadent Mediterranean island 60th birthday bash, and prove he’s still on top, roping in celebrities and a dysfunctional family in an orgy of excess and posturing which hides the cracks in his empire.
Winterbottom was joined on the red carpet by his stars Steve Coogan, David Mitchell, Asa Butterfield and Dinita Gohil, ‘Greed’ is out on the 21st of February 2020 in the UK.
Greed at the LFF (Courtesy of BFI)
Lingua Franca
Image Source: Getty Images
The official competition proceedings came in the form of a timely American story, via the rest of the world, on Wednesday when writer/director and star Isabel Sandoval brought her contemporary human tale of immigration ‘Lingua Franca’ to the LFF. It follows an undocumented Filipino transwoman and caregiver in New York, whose future remains uncertain and hopeless under the constant threat of deportation, only for an unlikely bond with the son of her patient to provide the promise of security and dignity she seeks. Sandoval was joined by her producers Jhett Toletino and Carlo Velayo and stars Ivory Aquino and Eamon Farren, ‘Lingua Franca’ has no confirmed release dates yet.
Lingua Franca trailer (courtesy of BFI)
The Dude in Me
Image Source: Getty Images
The Laugh Gala gave South Korean cinema a further chance to display its range and versatility on Wednesday, when director Hyo-jin Kang brought his delightfully ludicrous Korean take on the classic body-swap comedy ‘The Dude in Me’ to the LFF. The story of a high-flying Korean businessman and feared gangster, whose life is turned upside down when a freaky accident causes him to exchange bodies with a timid overweight teenager, as he tries to keep his empire from falling apart while changing the bullied boy’s life for the better, only to be confronted by his past and be moved to make amends to the people around him . . . forever changing both their lives. ‘The Dude in Me’ is out now in South Korea, with no UK date yet.
The Dude in Me trailer (courtesy of BFI)
The Painted Bird
Image Source: Getty Images
After prompting audience walk-outs at Venice last month, Wednesday gave Czech writer/director Václav Marhoul the chance to work his bleak cinematic charm on London audiences when he brought his near three-hour morbid Word War II drama and Jerzy Kosinski adaptation to the festival, for a Dare strand screening of ‘The Painted Bird’. A dark tale of survival set in rural Eastern Europe at the end of the war, where a young Jewish peasant boy must wander from village to village after his elderly foster mother dies, witnessing and suffering the amorality and brutality of the people he encounters . . . both in uniform and out. ‘The Painted Bird’ has no confirmed UK or US dates yet.
The Painted Bird trailer (courtesy of Leo Barraclough)
Thursday the 10th
Le Mans ’66 (Ford v Ferrari)
Image Source: Getty Images
The big gala screening on Thursday was not only a period affair but autobiographical and automotive one too, which saw director James Mangold bring his stars Ben Collins, Jack McMullen, Caitriona Balfe and Noah Jupe, plus screenwriters John-Henry Butterworth and Jez Butterworth, but not the film’s two Hollywood megastars for a screening of his intrepid American David and Goliath tale ‘Le Mans ’66’, also known as ‘Ford v Ferrari’.
It tells the story of automotive pioneer Carroll Shelby and uncompromising driver Ken Miles, who determined to dethrone the dominant Ferrari team at the 1966 24 Hours Le Mans race, form a short-notice team of eccentric engineers to build the Ford company a competitive race car and make sporting history. ‘Le Mans ’66’ is out in UK and US cinemas on the 15th of November, you can check out our review here.
Le Mans ’66 interview (Courtesy of HeyUGuys)
Official Secrets
Image Source: Getty Images
The second big gala screening of the day was a contemporary project pulled from the headlines of the last decade, which saw South African director Gavin Hood bring his stars Jack Farthing, Hanako Footman, Ben Emmerson, Katherine Gun and Keira Knightley, plus producers Ged Doherty, Melissa Shiyu and one of the film’s real life subjects Martin Bright for a screening of their biographical British political ‘war on terror’ thriller ‘Official Secrets’ to the LFF red carpet.
A journalistic and political drama set during the escalating ‘war on terror’ in 2003, when a British intelligence worker risks everything after she leaks classified information to the press about the Blair government’s questionable activities, and its collusion with the Americans to influence the UN on the impending and hugely unpopular invasion of Iraq. ‘Official Secrets’ is out on the 18th of October in the UK, and now in the US.
Official Secrets trailer (courtesy of BFI)
Fanny Lye Deliver’d
Image Source: Getty Images
Thursday’s official competition brought writer/director Thomas Clay to the LFF for a world premiere of his British puritanical period drama ‘Fanny Lye Deliver’d’. A 17th century tale set on a Shropshire farm, where a wife and mother’s marriage to a puritanical older husband is shaken to its foundations by the arrival of two strangers seeking refuge, as new progressive ideas infiltrate her conservative existence, and revealed truths threaten to turn her life upside down.
The director was joined on the LFF red carpet by his stars Freddie Fox, Tanya Reynolds and Charles Dance, ‘Fanny Lye Deliver’d’ has no confirmed release dates yet.
Moffie
Image Source: Getty Images
The day’s second contender for the festival’s official competition was a South African tale of sexual identity in the midst of racism, segregation and patriarchal militarism, as writer/director Oliver Hermanus brought along his producers Eric Abraham and Jack Sidey, plus stars Kai Luke Brummer and Hilton Pelser for a UK premiere of ‘Moffie’. A story set in the early 80s, when a young closeted gay white man is forced to keep his sexual identity hidden after he is conscripted to fight the minority Apartheid regime’s ‘border war’ against Angola, only to form a bond with a fellow soldier which threatens both their futures . . . and their lives. ‘Moffie’ has no confirmed release dates yet.
Moffie trailer (courtesy of BFI)
Friday the 11th
Western Stars
Image Source: Getty Images
The second Friday this year saw a Create gala screening of the rare concert movie variety at the festival, and one which brought true Rock ‘n’ Roll royalty to the LFF red carpet when ‘The Boss’ Bruce Springsteen himself rocked up with director Thom Zimny, plus producers Jon Landau, George Travis and Barbara Carr for a screening of ‘Western Stars’. A blend of concert movie, documentary and personal memoir, following Springsteen, his wife Patti Scialfa and a small orchestra as they put together his 19th studio album of the same name—a tribute to popular American artists and an ode to the sounds of the West, reaching fans with this film as an alternative to his customary world tours. ‘Western Stars’ is out on the 28th of October in the UK, and on the 25th of October in the US.
Western Stars trailer (courtesy of BFI)
Ema
Image Source: Getty Images
Friday’s second gala screening of the day brought visionary Chilean director Pablo Larraín back to the LFF (although not in person) with the film’s eponymous star Mariana Di Girolamo, MUBI CEO Efe Cakarel and LFF director Tricia Tuttle, for a UK premiere of lyrical human drama and modern marital portrait ‘Ema’. The story of an impulsive and sexually liberated young dancer, who plunges into the Chilean night life and a new freedom to escape the guilt of her failed family, after severing a complex relationship with her choreographer husband and the troubled adoptive child they abandoned, only to hatch devious plan and use all her beguiling magic to recover everything she lost. ‘Ema’ is out now in Chile, with no UK or US dates yet.
Ema trailer (courtesy of The Match Factory)
The Other Lamb
Image Source: Getty Images
The day’s official competition proceedings brought Polish director Małgorzata Szumowska and her English language debut to the LFF, as she was accompanied by her stars Raffey Cassidy and Denise Gough for a UK premiere of hazy psychological horror and unsettling meditation on zealous faith and compliance ‘The Other Lamb’. A tale set in an isolated forest settlement and an all-female cult ruled by a charismatic and undisputed messianic male leader, where one of ‘The Flock’s’ most devoted young members has her faith shaken by shocking revelations, leaving her questioning her beliefs . . . and the very reality in which she finds herself. ‘The Other Lamb’ has no confirmed release dates yet.
Deerskin (La Daim)
Image Source: Getty Images
Every year the festival throws up a unique and idiosyncratic indie or two which captures our imagination and subverts expectations, last year being dark Swedish realist fairy tale ‘Border’ and Icelandic Eco-warrior dramedy ‘Woman at War’, and this year it was French cinema which did the honours when writer/director Quentin Dupieux brought his bizarre and darkly comedic deadpan ode to the proverb “clothes make the man” to London, for a UK premiere of ‘Deerskin’.
It follows a curious and troubled French man and his obsession with a brown suede deerskin jacket with its own personality, as he sequesters himself in a small country town and assumes the identity of a makeshift film director, roping in a local barmaid and aspiring editor as he goes about making his morbid cinematic opus and fulfilling a bizarre sartorial manifesto, while gathering all the elements to create a killer look . . . quite literally. ‘Deerskin’ is out now in France, and on the 8th of May 2020 in the UK.
Deerskin trailer (courtesy of MovieAccessTrailers)
Saturday the 12th
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Image Source: Getty Images
The penultimate day at this year’s festival brought a healing feelgood energy to the LFF, when Marielle Heller brought a headline gala screening and UK premiere of her earnest redemptive human drama and portrait of an American TV saint ‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood’ to Leicester Square.
It tells the story of a cynical Esquire journalist and nervous new father with lingering childhood trauma and deep daddy issues, whose life is transformed by an assingment to profile American treasure and paragon of decency Fred Rogers—a wholesome kid’s TV legend whose decency and simplicity touched the hearts of generations, while tackling thorny social issues in his own inimitable way. ‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood’ is out in UK cinemas on the 6th of December, and in the US on the 22nd of November.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood trailer (Courtesy of BFI)
Judy & Punch
Image Source: Getty Images
The second gala screening of the day was an Aussie affair with a decidedly British period flavour and modern feminist undertones, which saw actress turned director Mirrah Foulkes bring her star Mia Wasikowska to the LFF for a UK premiere of her feature debut ‘Judy & Punch’.
A subversive and dark fairy-tale take on the traditional 17th century English puppet show, where an irresponsible father and manipulative self-centred puppeteer takes out his shortcomings and alcoholism on his wife and baby, only to face a reckoning when she returns with new purpose as an angel of justice and revenge . . . for him and the puritanical anarchic town which lauds him. ‘Judy & Punch’ is out on the 15th of November in the UK, with no other dates yet, you can check out our review here.
Judy & Punch trailer (courtesy of Picturehouse)
Bombay Rose
Image Source: Getty Images
Saturday also brought some further animation to the LFF, but from a rare Indian perspective, as writer/director Gitanjli Rao was joined by her voiceover star Camille Cheneval and producer Deborah Sathe for a special presentation screening of their love letter to Mumbai ‘Bombay Rose’. A collection of stories about migrants to the city which intersect on the streets of Mumbai, as a young Muslim develops a forbidden affection for a Hindu street seller, while an elderly ex-actor lives through his memories of the past. ‘Bombay Rose’ has no confirmed release dates yet.
Bombay Rose trailer (courtesy of Leo Barraclough)
A Hidden Life
Image Source: Fox Searchlight
For those with patience and a certain disposition, Saturday also brought a three-hour existential Terrence Malick epic to London audiences, albeit a more grounded one than usual, when the LFF was treated to his lyrical, striking and self-reflective ode to quiet and unlauded resistance ‘A Hidden Life’.
A wartime biographical human drama set in the picturesque northern valleys and mountains of wartime Austria, where a devout Christian farmer and conscientious objector has a crisis of conscience when drafted to serve in the German Wehrmacht, refusing to fight for the Nazis or swear allegiance to Hitler, putting untold pressure on his devoted wife and family and forcing him to pay the ultimate price for his beliefs and convictions. ‘A Hidden Life’ is out on the 13th of December in the US, and on the 17th of January 2020 in the UK, you can check out our review here.
A Hidden Life trailer (courtesy of BFI)
Sunday the 13th
The Irishman
Image Source: Getty Images
The final day at this year’s London Film Festival and its big closing night gala brought true Hollywood greatness and three of the most iconic filmmakers alive to the Leicester Square red carpet, when the great Martin Scorsese brought along the great Robert De Niro and the great Al Pacino for a UK premiere of his latest mob masterpiece and first Netflix collaboration ‘The Irishman’.
A biographical organised crime epic which spans several decades and ups the scale for the director, intersecting with key moments in 20th century American history and centred around family man truck driver turned labor union official Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran—who climbed the ranks of the Midwest mob while becoming the right-hand-man to powerful and mysteriously disappeared labor union leader Jimmy Hoffa, only to be caught in the middle of a conflict between the two. ‘The Irishman’ is out on Netflix on the 27th of November.
The Irishman at the LFF (courtesy of BFI)
Awards at the 2019 London Film Festival—>
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