adv screen-2 5-9-11:Opmaak 1 06-09-2011 10:02 Pagina 1 FROM THE


NETHERLANDS @ TIFF 2011 DISCOVERY


Venice Days 2011


REVIEWS


HABIBI


Directed by Susan Youssef NL Prod: S.Y. Films Sales: eOne Films International (feature, 80’) Mon Sept 11, 13:00, Scotiabank 5


REAL TO REEL Fri Sept 16, 14:45, TIFF Bell Lightbox 5 GALA IN MY MOTHER’S ARMS


Directed by Mohamed Al-Daradji & Atia Al-Daradji NL Prod: Human Film


Sales: WIDE Management


Mon Sept 12, 19:45, TIFF Bell Lightbox 5 Fri Sept 16, 19:30, TIFF Bell Lightbox 5


www.international.eyefilm.nl n 12 Screen International at the Toronto Film Festival September 11, 2011 (documentary, 85’)


Ire. 2011. 114mins Director Rodrigo Garcia Production companies Mockingbird Pictures, Parallel Films, Trillium Productions International sales WestEnd Films, www. westendfilms.com Producers Glenn Close, Julie Lynn, Bonnie Curtis, Alan Moloney Executive producers Cami Goff, John C Goff, Sharon Harel-Cohen, Daryl Roth, David E Shaw Screenplay Glenn Close, Gabriella Prekop, John Banville based on a novella by George Moore Cinematography Michael McDonough Production designer Patrizia Von Brandenstein Editor Steven Weisberg Music Brian Byrne Main cast Glenn Close, Mia Wasikowska, Janet McTeer, Brendan Gleeson, Aaron Johnson, Pauline Collins


Albert Nobbs REVIEWED BY ALLAN HUNTER


Albert Nobbs is the perfect servant: dedicated, discreet and self- effacing, seeing everything but saying nothing. Albert is also a woman who has denied the very essence of her existence to sur- vive in a world dominated by men. The story of her secret life and thwarted dreams is told in an impeccably crafted, desper- ately sad production that has been a lengthy labour of love for star Glenn Close. Critical acclaim and possible awards consideration for Close’s


touching, credible performance should generate an audience for this plaintive, old-fashioned period drama whose chief appeal might lie with those who have admired the likes of Mrs Hender- son Presents, Dean Spanley or TV sensation Downton Abbey. Close first played Nobbs off-Broadway almost 30 years ago


and has toiled extensively to bring George Moore’s novella to the screen. Patrizia Von Brandenstein’s impeccable production design


brings a Christmas-card glow to the evocation of a snowy 19th century Dublin. Albert is a waiter at a luxury hotel run by haughty Mrs Baker (Collins). He performs his duties, saves his money and keeps himself to himself until he is obliged to share his bed with painter Hubert Page (McTeer). Page is also a woman making her way in the world as a man


but has organised her life in a way that forces Albert to dream of what might be possible. Albert has modest hopes of opening a shop and starts to court young maid Helen (Wasikowska), whose main interest in Albert is ‘his’ money. But Helen’s infatu- ation with brawny, feckless handyman Joseph (Johnson) spells tragedy for all of them. Director Rodrigo Garcia generally keeps sentimentality at


bay as he allows the story to unfold with an understated charm. Close is physically convincing as a shy, unassuming man. This is a society in which the aim of a servant was to be inconspicuous. The heartache of Close’s performance is expressed in eyes that


appear to be filled with anxiety and all the happiness lost along the way. When Albert briefly dons a dress and skips out into the world as a woman, it is a rare moment of joy in a catalogue of misery.


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