REVIEWS Free events
Meet filmmakers and funders Terrace café
Printing services Free internet & Wi-Fi Info about the UK film industry SUNDAY 2O MAY
1O.15 - 11.15 Micro Scope Peter Carlton (Warp Films Europe) talks to Andrew Starke and Ben Wheatley (producer and director, Sightseers), Ben Pugh and Rory Aitken (producers Shifty, Welcome to the Punch), Tristan Goligher (IFeatures, Weekend) and Julia Short (The Works Film Group) about micro budget filmmaking.
Guiding Light: Mentor interview Presented by Creative Skillset Katrine Boorman (Cannes Classics, Me and Me Dad) in conversation with her award-winning filmmaker father John Boorman (Deliverance, Point Blank, Excalibur).
12.3O - 13.3O
Eventing the Cinema Tim League (Alamo Drafthouse Cinema), Gintare Karalyte (Future Shorts), Ian Cartwright (elevenfiftyfive), Andy Whittaker (Dogwoof) and Alex Stolz (BFI) discuss the event cinema experience for audiences.
13.45 - 14.45
Gateway to Cinema-goers: Digital Distribution Case Study Using digital multi-platforms for independent films to reach international audiences with Patrick von Sychowski (Reliance Media Works), Ira Deutchman (Emerging Pictures), Christopher Sheppard (Adventure Pictures), Carey Fitzgerald (Highpoint Films) and Sarah McKenzie (From Blighty/Britain With Love), Scott Foundas (Film Society of the Lincoln Centre).
15.OO - 16.3O Working with the UK
A need-to-know session about working in the UK covering the Cultural Test, the UK tax relief, co-production, and filming in the UK. Panel 1 speakers include finance and tax experts, and BFI and British Film Commission executives. Panel 2 speakers include experts from Creative Scotland, Northern Ireland Screen, Creative England, the Film Agency for Wales and Film London.
Barclays in association with Women in Film and TV presents... Kate Kinninmont (Women in Film and Television) in conversation with producers Rebecca O’Brien (In Competition, The Angels’ Share) and Elizabeth Karlsen (Made in Dagenham).
TODAY’S ONE-TO-ONE SURGERIES BARCLAYS
BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL BRITISH FILM COMMISSION BFI: CULTURAL TEST RSM TENON
BFI FILM FUND SARGENT DISC
1O:OO - 16:OO 1O:3O - 12:3O 12:OO - 14:OO 12:3O - 14:3O 11:OO - 13:OO 14:3O - 16:3O 14:3O - 16:3O
MONDAY 21 MAY STARTS WITH... 11.OO - 12.3O
BFI International Strategy Consultation
First ONE-TO-ONE Surgery of the Day BARCLAYS
An opportunity to hear the BFI’s proposed international strategy as part of its five year plan for film in the UK - with Amanda Nevill and Tim Cagney (BFI Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive)
1O:OO - 16:OO
17.OO - 18.OO In the Spotlight
11.3O - 12.3O
Xavier Dolan reveals a tragic-romantic side in Laurence Any- ways, an epic story of a passionate love-that-cannot-be that is alternately absorbing and grating, with the former ultimately winning out. Running to a massive 159 minutes, the film is indulgent and self-important — traits Dolan exhibited in his first two features — but it also shows significant strides for the 23-year-old director. Working with two superb actors, Melvil Poupaud and Suzanne Clément, he creates an on- screen relationship that feels authentic, brims with emotion and almost manages to sustain the bloated running time. This is a highly unconventional romance, and the quirk of
the story — that Poupaud’s character wants to become a woman — will only benefit sales and prospects at the art- house box office. The film’s dreary settings and melancholy tone might make buyers think twice, as will its length, but Dolan’s ‘wunderkind’ reputation should secure buyers. Inter- est in co-producing countries Canada and France is likely to be high, and GLBT festivals will embrace its no-nonsense attitude to prejudice. Montreal-based Laurence (Poupaud), a masculine writer
and college professor, and his girlfriend Fred (Clément) enjoy a powerful sexual bond and a deep intimacy that is the envy of their friends, but everything changes one day when Lau- rence announces to Fred that he is a woman born in a man’s body and has lived a lie for his entire life. He can only survive if he becomes a woman. Fred finds it increasingly difficult to cope and suffers a
breakdown, while Laurence is fired from his job and beaten up in a bar the same day. Fred eventually moves out and takes up with a new man, and over the next decade she settles down into married life and motherhood in the suburbs and Laurence becomes more confident in his new gender and starts dating a new girlfriend. But their love for each other continues to haunt them and it is only a matter of time before they meet again. Poupaud, who took over the role from Louis Garrel at the
11th hour, gives an outstanding performance, playing Lau- rence with a tender lack of camp or hysteria; Clément is more volatile and has a couple of knockout hysterical outbursts, one with an over-inquisitive waitress. French legend Nathalie Baye gives a nice understated turn as Laurence’s mother. Sometimes there is an immaturity to Dolan’s imagery and
dialogue, which are prone to cliché. He is also guilty, here, of repetition, telling us many times what could be said to greater effect just once. A disciplined editor (Dolan takes sole editing credit) would perhaps have removed some fat. But for the confidence and scale of his ambition, the young film-maker is unrivalled. When he closes the film, sentimentally, with a flashback to the first meeting of Laurence and Fred, the final emotional impact of their failed love is considerable.
Laurence Anyways Reviewed by Mike Goodridge
UN CERTAIN REGARD
Can-Fr. 2012. 159mins Director XavierDolan Production company Lyla Films International sales MK2,
www.mk2pro.com Producer Lyse Lafontaine Screenplay XavierDolan Cinematography Yves Bélanger Production designer Anne Pritchard Editor XavierDolan MusicNoia Main cast Melvil Poupaud, SuzanneClément, Nathalie Baye, Monia Chokri, SusieAlmgren, Magalie Lépine-Blondeau
n 26 Screen International at Cannes May 20, 2012
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