Match Point (UK, 2005) 124´ 28/02/2013.

This dramatic-thriller film written and directed by Woody Allen tells the story of Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). Chris, a recently retired tennis professional, is taken on as an instructor at an upmarket club in London. He strikes up a friendship with a wealthy pupil, Tom Hewett, after discovering their common affinity for opera. Tom's older sister, Chloe, is smitten with Chris and the two begin dating. During a family gathering, Chris meets Tom's fiancée, Nola Rice (Scarlett Johansson), and they are instantly attracted to each other.
 

Allen was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
The film received generally strong reviews from critics.
"[Allen's] new movie, Match Point, devoted to lust, adultery, and murder, is the most vigorous thing he's done in years." David Denby. New Yorker. (03/01/2006).

See the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wISRAOb6xm0

The Elephant Man (UK, 1980). 124´. 21/02/1980

This drama film was filmed by David Lynch and it is based on the true story of of Joseph Merrick (called John Merrick in the film).
 London Hospital surgeon Frederick Treves (Anthony Hopkins) discovers John Merrick (John Hurt) in a Victorian freak show in London's East End, where he is managed by the brutish Bytes. Merrick is deformed to the point that he must wear a hood and cap when in public, and Bytes claims he is an imbecile. Treves is professionally intrigued by Merrick's condition and pays Bytes to bring him to the Hospital so that he can examine him.


The Elephant Man was a critical and commercial success. It also won the BAFTA Awards for Best Film and Best Actor.
"This tale of a pure soul struggling to be heard over the prejudice of the many is quite heart-rending." Almar Haflidason. BBC. 30/05/2001.
See the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye4YTZOq2fk

Ordinary People (USA, 1980) 124´ 14/02/2013

Robert Reford debuted as a director with this drama that tells the story of the Jarrets, an upper-middle-class family trying to return to normal life after the death of one teenage son. The misfortune deeply strains the relationships among the bitter mother (Mary Tyler Moore), the good-natured father (Donald Sutherland), and the guilt-ridden younger son (Timothy Hutton).



It is a well-acclaimed film and it won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Although it was the first film directed by Robert Reford, the actor won the award for Best Director.
"An intelligent, perceptive, and deeply moving film." Roger Ebert. Chicago Sun-Times. (23/10/2004)

See the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdjlLq1tqmU

The Illusionist (UK/France 2010) 79´ 07/02/2013

This animated comedy-drama film was directed by Sylvain Chomet and tells the story of a struggling illusionist who visits an isolated community and meets a young lady who is convinced that he is a real magician.



This film won several awards, like the  first César Award for Best Animated Feature. Apart from that, it has touched the heart of the critics.
"Both a modest homage to its writer and a melancholy look at a lost world." Manolha Dargis. New York Times. (30/12/2010).
See the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMqpU7lUlLg

NEDS (UK 2010) 124´ 31/01/2013

Neds is a feature film directed by Peter Mullan. The film tells the story of John McGill (Conor McCarron), a teenager growing up in 1970s Glasgow, Scotland. The story line follows John's involvement with his city's ned (ned is the acronym form from No Educated Delinquents) culture and the consequences of it on his teenage years.

 

 

The movie won Best Film at the San Sebastian Film Festival in January 2011 and it got good reviews.

"This angry film is a forceful slice of life, clearly indebted to the realism of Ken Loach, in whose My Name Is Joe Mullan starred, and to whose Kes it nods." Philip French. The Guardian. 26/01/2011.

Of mice and men (USA 1992) 115´ 24/01/2013

Gary Sinise directed this drama based on the book by John Steinbeck.

George Milton (Gary Sinise) is in a train boxcar, reminiscing upon the events that have just happened. He thinks back to when he and his companion Lennie Small (John Malkovich), who has an intellectual disability, are fleeing from their previous employment in Weed. They were run out of town after Lennie was accused of attempted rape when he touched and held onto a young woman's pretty red dress (prompted by his love of stroking soft things). After running from Weed, George and Lennie are trying to attain their shared dream of settling down on their own piece of land.

The film received universal acclaim. Gary Sinise was nominated for the Palm D´or at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival.
"Of Mice and Men is a mournful, distantly heard lament for the loss of American innocence." Vincent Canby. New York Times. 20/03/2003.

See the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQtiStdDaYw

Paradise Now. (Palestine, 2005) 90´ 17/01/2013.

Paradise Now is a film directed by Hany Abu-Assad. It follows Palestinian childhood friends Said (Kais Nashef) and Khaled (Ali Suliman) who live in Nablus and have been recruited for suicide attacks in Tel Aviv. It focuses on what would be their last days together.


The film won a Golden Glob for Best Foreign Language Film and was nominated for an Academy Award in the same category. It got good reviews.
"This taut, ingeniously calculated thriller fixates on the flashpoint where psychology and politics ignite in self-destructive martyrdom." Stephen Holden. New York Times. 27/10/2005.

See the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jyz15qG22Ec

Ae fond kiss (United Kingdom, 2004) 104´. 20/12/2012

 This drama named after a song by Robert Burns and directed by Ken Loach tells the story of Qasim Khan (Atta Yaqub). Qasim  is a Glaswegian DJ of Pakistani origin. His devout Muslim parents have arranged for him to marry his first cousin. Unfortunately, he has just fallen in love with his younger sister's music teacher, Roisin (Eva Birthistle). Not only she is 'goree', a white woman, she is also Irish and catholic, things that may not go down well with Casim's parents. They start a relationship but Qasim is torn between following his heart and being a good son.

The film won different awards, for example the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the Berlin International Festival.
"English-language East-West domestic dramas usually tip the scales in favor of modernity... But A Fond Kiss is equally sympathetic to each side". Stephen Holden. New York Times. 29/11/2004.
See the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRPNPUuGQEM
The song by Robert Burns: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByMgD1ErF4k

Only human (Spain/Argentina, 2004) 93´ 13/12/12

This film by Dominic Harari and Teresa Pelegri tells the story of a mismatched couple. Leni (Marian Aguilera) is a television reporter from a Jewish family in Spain. One weekend, Leni drops by her family's home for a visit, with her new boyfriend Rafi (Guillermo Toledo), a Palestinian college professor, in tow.

This movie won the award for the Best film at the 2004 Monte-Carlo Comedy Film Festival. Apart from that it was quite well received by the critics.
"Writer-directors Dominic Harari and Teresa Pelegri have penned an amusing script and, as directors, inject a delicate human texture into the story's intermixing of capricious zaniness, frank sensuality and Mideast politics." Desson Thomson. Washington Post. 15/02/2012.
See the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEbixHEVmWY

The Four Horsmen. (UK 2011). 97´. 06/12/2012.

This Thursday, SEED (Sustainable Economy Education Developing) is going to collaborate with the Cinema Club. They will host The Four Horsemen.
This documentary has been directed by Ross Ashcroft and it lifts the lid on how the global economy really works. Living in the age of consequence unfettered growth and profit seeking have pushed humanity to the brink. Today's Four Horsemen - socially organised violence, debt, iniquity and poverty control all of our lives. They're gathering momentum, decimating communities and compromising future generations if they are not arrested the planet will gallop to a logical conclusion.
23 international thinkers, like Noam Chomsky or Joseph Stiglitz, come together and break their silence about how the world really works and why there is still hope in re-establishing a moral and just society. Four Horsemen is free from mainstream media propaganda, doesn't bash bankers, criticize politicians or get involved in conspiracy theories. The film ignites the debate about how we usher a new economic paradigm into the world which, globally, would dramatically improve the quality of life for billions.

More information about the film. http://www.fourhorsemenfilm.com/
Interview with the director:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H--0xHLOcQ&feature=BFa&list=SP07AE1842FAD6AC6E

Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLoB1eCJ93k
More information about SEED: http://seed-learning.blogspot.co.uk/p/seed-2012.html