17/11/2006

As many as seven European films are going to try to find a small place in the sun this week, far, far away from Daniel Craig’s stocky presence as the sixth 007 spy in Casino Royale. The European seven includes Patrice Chéreau’s Gabrielle [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], released on four screens by Artificial Eye. Isabelle Huppert, who has many fans in the UK capital because of her numerous appearances both on screen and on the London stage, had another opportunity to meet them last Monday when she attended an NFT (National Film Theatre) discussion followed by a preview of Gabrielle. The film is part of an NFT series dedicated to the French star, running from November 3-30.

Pascal Greggory, who plays Huppert’s husband in Gabrielle, also features in The Page Turner [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Denis Dercourt
interview: Michel Saint-Jean
film profile] (see focus), another Artificial Eye title that is doing very well at the UK box office. The thriller has grossed over £147,000 from 18 screens after only five days, climbing from eighth to seventh position in London’s box office top ten.

Germany, which co-produced Gabrielle, is well represented this week with the psychological thriller Antibodies by Christian Alvart, released in three cinemas by Tartan Films, the award-winning Requiem [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Hans-Christian Schmid
interview: Hans-Christian Schmid
interview: Sandra Hueller
film profile] by Hans-Christian Schmid, released on four screens by Soda Pictures (both were warmly received by UK press); and the co-production Joy Division by UK debut filmmaker Reg Travis, distributed in ten cinemas by Miracle Communications.

Another title topping the critics’ list is the documentary 37 Uses For a Dead Sheep by UK filmmaker Ben Hopkins, voted Best British Documentary at BritDoc 2006. The portrayal of the Kirghiz tribe who moved from Central Asia to Turkey is platformed at being London’s ICA Cinema as part of a retrospective on Hopkins.

UK producer Selwyn Roberts’ directorial debut Heroes and Villains is being shown in 14 cinemas through Miracle Communications, and Danish children film We Shall Overcome [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Niels Arden Oplev, distributed by the Independent Cinema Office, is screening in two venues as part of the London Children’s Film Festival.