Cartoon Saloon’s second feature and the middle installment of Tomm Moore’s “Irish Folklore Trilogy” is a beautiful story that explores a plethora of Irish mythology including selkies, faeries and Celtic goddess, Macha. Song of the Sea follows human child, Ben who lives in a lighthouse on an isolated island with his father, Conor and younger… Read More Song of the Sea (2014)
Cartoon Saloon’s first feature delves deep into Irish history and folklore as it revolves around the mysterious illuminous text the Books of Kells and its inception in the 9th century. The Secret of Kells follows 12 year old Brendan (Evan McGuire), a young monk who has lived in the small town of Kells for as… Read More The Secret of Kells (2009)
One of Netflix’s big releases last year was Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. Starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams as Icelandic duo, Fire Saga, this film has been a hit with audiences around the world thanks to its sweet homage to the titular event that is loved around the globe. Directed by… Read More Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)
BFI Flare Festival is an important event that showcases films made by and revolving around the LGBT+ experience. Having followed the festival for years, I was given the chance to cover the festival and it did not disappoint. From the incredibly opener Jump, Darling to an array of biopics on iconic LGBT+ figures, this year’s… Read More BFI Flare Festival 2021: Roundup
The last film on my BFI Flare Festival watchlist was Firebird, a period drama based on a true story set in Estonia during the Cold War. Following Private Sergey Fetisov (Tom Prior) who is serving the last few weeks of his military service and finds himself in a relationship with Roman (Oleg Zagorodnii), a fighter… Read More BFI Flare Festival 2021: Firebird
One film that I have seen receive a lot of praise at this year’s BFI Flare Festival is Daniel Sanchez Lopez’s directorial feature debut Boy Meets Boy. With the script written by Sanchez Lopez and Hannah Renton, the film follows British junior doctor, Harry (Matthew James Morrison) who is on a weekend trip in Berlin… Read More BFI Flare Festival 2021: Boy Meets Boy
Another biopic that I wanted to catch at BFI Flare was Enfant Terrible. Following filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s rise as an auteur and his struggle with addiction was never going to be the most comfortable watch. Directed by Oskar Roehler from a script written by Klaus Richter, Enfant Terrible stars Oliver Masucci as Fassbinder in… Read More BFI Flare Festival 2021: Enfant Terrible
Another film that I was especially keen to watch at this year’s BFI Flare Festival was Tove, a biopic about Tove Jansson who is known as the creator, author and illustrator of the Moomin book series. Directed by Zaida Bergroth from a screenplay, written by Eeva Putro, the film follows Tove (Alma Pöysti) and her… Read More BFI Flare Festival 2021: Tove
The fourth film on my BFI Flare watch list is Rūrangi, a project set in the titular village which is a politically divided area in New Zealand. Initially ordered as a five episode web series, this is being presented as a full feature film at the festival. Following Caz (Elz Carrad), a transgender man who… Read More BFI Flare Festival 2021: Rūrangi
One of the films I have even excited to view was Katie Found’s directorial debut, My First Summer. The film follows Claudia (Markella Kavenagh), who is grieving after her mother drowned herself and Grace (Maiah Stewardson), a girl who lives nearby who saved Claudia from drowning with her mum. Claudia has lived a life in… Read More BFI Flare Festival 2021: My First Summer
