Thursday, July 30, 2009

Serpentine Cinema: Henry Flynt and Owen Land Sunday 2 August

American conceptual artist, filmmaker, philosopher and avantgarde musician Henry Flynt shows two short films, Shrine of the Insect, 2008, and My Paisley Eyes, 2008. American artist and film-maker Owen Land screens Dialogues, 2007–09, 30 years since his last completed film. It takes the form of a series of short films, informed by folklore, history and theology.

Serpentine Cinema

‘There’s no film. Cinema is dead. There can’t be film anymore. If you want, let’s have a discussion.’
Guy Debord

Serpentine Cinema is a series of monthly screenings and events at The Gate cinema in Notting Hill which give an opportunity to view rarely seen artists’ films in a cinema context. Presented in association with Sketch.

The Gate
87 Notting Hill Gate
London W11 3JZ
0871 704 2058
gate@picturehouses.co.uk

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Antichrist opens in the UK; Lars Von Trier interview

Lars Von Trier speaks to the Guardian about his new film, ANTICHRIST. He talks a lot about his depression and why he needs to think he's the best director in the world in order to make a film.


Antichrist was given an 18 certificate by the BBFC and remains completely uncut, despite scenes containing explicit penetrative sex and masturbation, extreme torture and genital mutilation. The BBFC have conceded that “there is no doubt that some viewers will find the images disturbing and offensive,” with the Sunday Times judging that Antichrist “deserves to be banned.”



Antichrist has divided UK press, receiving both boos and applause at this year’s world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, provoking debate across the nation: UK journalists have warned that “nothing can prepare you for Antichrist. Nothing,” (John Carr, Sky Movies). Early UK preview screenings have seen people run for the exit during the final scenes, physically retching.



Antichrist has faced censorship in other areas. The film poster, featuring Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg in a graphic sex scene, has been met with uproar and Artificial Eye, the film company releasing Antichrist, has been barraged with complaints by offended cinema-goers. The poster image has been BANNED for use on the London underground and BANNED for use in the Metro newspaper. Social networking site, Facebook, has even BANNED the sex scene featured in the trailer. Antichrist flyers, also featuring the image, have even been sabotaged by outraged members of the public, ripped from display stands and destroyed, with cinema owners struggling to replenish stocks.



Antichrist is the latest film from provocative Danish director Lars von Trier, starring Charlotte Gainsbourg and Willem Dafoe. A psychological horror film, many film distributors doubted that Antichrist could be released in the UK uncut, but the British cinema-going audience will now have their chance to watch the ‘must see film of the summer’ from this Friday.



Director Lars von Trier says: “I can offer no excuse for ANTICHRIST. Other than my absolute belief in the film – the most important film of my entire career.”

Thursday, July 09, 2009

OUT SOON: PRESS SCREENING: LES DEMOISELLES DE ROCHEFORT - Fri 17 July

(Via email):

LES DEMOISELLES DE ROCHEFORT

(The Young Ladies of Rochefort)

A film by Jacques Demy
 
Music by Michel Legrand
 
 
France 1967 / 126 mins / cert tbc
 
Starring  Catherine Deneuve,  Françoise Dorléac,  Gene Kelly




A BFI release

RELEASE DATE: 14 August 2009
Opening Venue: BFI Southbank