Out this week (14/05/2010)

Some of you will be pleased to know that I am very excited about this weeks releases, probably the best selection we've had since early March. Not there there are many films to watch, it's just what there is looks very good. Whilst four foreign language films are battling in the arthouse circuit (2 from Isreal, 1 from Italy and one from South Africa that's partly in Afrikaans) the clear winner for the film of the week is the film I picked as the most looked forward to for 2010 back in January: Robin Hood



Eyes Wide Open

Our first Isreali film raises a lot of religious and political issues as two respected and learned male members of the orthodox Jewish community fall in love, ultimately showing how faith and homosexuality are not incompatable, but that society can make them so.

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Lebanon

Equally as charged is the second, which follows four-man Isreali tank crew during the first Lebanon War in 1982. As the violence escalates out of control we remember it's grounded in the reality of the experiences of director Samuel Moaz

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Robin Hood

The reviews may be less positive than hoped for but it's true to say the latest adaptation of theEnglish legend of men in green tights - this time an origin story - has been high on my radar for a very long time. It's an absolute must see.

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Tromf

South African film concentrating on a trailer trash Afrikaaner family on the eve of the first democratic election following the end of Apartheid. Based on the novel by Marlene van Niekerk.

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Vincere

Italian film which Premiered at the 2009 Cannes film festival to great acclaim, especially for leading actress Giovanna Mezzogiorno playing Mussolini's secret wife, lover and mother of his son.

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Once again I managed to miss a couple of films from last weeks releases. First up (Psych 9) was originally due to come out in February and got 2 blobs then - something I doubt I'd change and the second was:

Sus

Not exactly going for subtlety was this timely release of the film version of Barrie Keefe controversial play about Conservatism. Set on the eve of Margaret Thatcher's electoral victory it shows two corrupt and rascist police officers drunk with the thoughts of a Tory victory beat a confession out of a black suspect.

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