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Tornado

Director – John Maclean – 2025 – UK – Cert. 15 – 91m

*****

A bereaved Japanese in Britain in 1790 must prove herself as a samurai to survive – unique coming of age historical drama is out in UK cinemas on Friday, June 13th

A 16-year-old Japanese girl (Koki) flees over the moors, through the wood, towards a large mansion. So does a young boy. Their male pursuers walk relentlessly in her direction, but they haven’t seen her. Woe betide her if they do, because their leader (Tim Roth from Pulp Fiction, 1994; Reservoir Dogs, 1992, both Quentin Tarantino; The Hit, Stephen Frears, 1984) addresses one of their number by name then slits his throat. She gets to the house, opens the door, the sudden draught inside causing papers to blow around, but she shuts it pretty fast, sensing the woman inside. A little later, she opens the door, gingerly enters the house. A hiding place, but she must be sure the occupants don’t spot her.

No such hesitancy for the gang following her; they step inside confidently as if they own the place, pushing over and kicking the male occupant while he’s down. They spread out, and a younger man in the party, who we will later come to know as Little Sugar (Jack Lowden frrom Benediction, Terence Davies, 2021; Dunkirk, Christopher Nolan, 2017; ’71, Yann Demange, 2014), son of the gang leader Sugarman (Roth), finds her at the end of an upper corridor whose floor has given way beneath another gang member.… Read the rest

Categories
Features Live Action Movies

Deerskin
(Le Daim)

Director – Quentin Dupieux – 2019 – France – Cert. 15 – 77m

****

A man buys a deerskin jacket then decides he should be the only person who can wear a jacket which leads to disastrous consequences – on BFI Player and Curzon Home Cinema rental from Monday, October 4th

Georges (Jean Dujardin from The Wolf Of Wall Street, Martin Scorsese, 2013; The Artist, Michel Hazanavicius, 2011; OSS 117: Cairo Nest Of Spies, Michel Hazanavicius, 2006) is driving. Some considerable distance across France. And very full of himself, too. After a couple of days, he arrives at the seller’s house. 100% deerskin! The Jacket is everything he dreamed, and he willingly pays the asking price in cash. The seller is stunned at his good fortune; he’s never seen so much money. He throws in a digital video camera.

Georges’ credit card is blocked, so on checking in to the local hotel he leaves his gold wedding ring with the receptionist as a deposit. Drinking at a local bar, he explains to the barmaid Denise (Adèle Haenel from Portrait Of A Lady On Fire, Céline Sciamma, 2019; 120 BPM (Beats Per Minute), Robin Campillo, 2017) that he’s a filmmaker and currently shooting.… Read the rest

Categories
Features Live Action Movies

Wendy

Director – Benh Zeitlin – 2021 – US – Cert. 12a – 111m

*****

A bold re-imagining of Peter Pan told through the eyes of Wendy which is unlike any other version of the story you’re likely to see – out in cinemas on Friday, August 13th

Her mother runs a fast and furious restaurant. Wendy (Tommie Lynn Milazzo) crawls along the long tables.

Boys play on trains on the nearby tracks outside.

Her brothers James (Gavin Naquin) and Douglas (Gage Naquin) come out to play on the jukebox, but quickly get thrown out for causing disruption. Through the night the goods trains pass. There’s a spark. Wendy, slightly older now (Devin France) sees something atop a train. A boy. She runs outside to chase the train. Her mother’s voice calls her back in.

The fast trains pass. One day she is on one, riding the rails. The boy (Dwight Henry) is in the freight car. He tells them to stand close to the open boxcar door. The train crosses a bridge over water. He pushes them out. They’re in the water.

Then they’re all in the boat, crossing the ocean to the island, Mother. They land. Beach. Forest. Geysers erupt.… Read the rest