Violinist Nicola Benedetti discusses Polish composer Szymanowski ahead of her performance of his Violin Concerto No. 1 with the London Symphony Orchestra at this year’s Edinburgh International Festival.
Rose (Róża)
Sensitively portrayed and carefully ensuring that distressing scenes are not over-done, director Wojciech Smarzowski has created a beautifully emotionally meditation on the indestructible nature of love.
California Solo
This is a solid film that, if nothing else, acts as a reminder of just how talented and often underestimated Robert Carlyle is.
Brake
Although there are a few nail-biting moments where the horror of the situation overtakes any criticisms, it’s not enough to pull away from tired clichés and into a film that defines itself from other man-in-box thrillers.
Riding Zorro (Montando al zorro)
This film raises far more questions that it makes any attempt to answer, and fails to enthuse enough passion to bother finding out afterwards.
The Ambassador (Ambassadøren)
This is an astonishingly complex and revealing piece of investigative journalism, and the risk Brügger took by going into the lion’s den and exposing the true nature of so-called ‘diplomacy’ in the Central African Republic is highly commendable.
Eddie: The Sleepwalking Cannibal
A mad plot, plenty of gore and oodles of humour; this film has all the makings of a cult classic.
Dr Seuss’ The Lorax
Imagine a world where nature no longer exists; where grass is artificial, bushes are inflatable and trees are operated by remote control; where fresh air is a commodity sold in plastic bottles. In Thneedville, trees have become a thing of legend – so when Ted (Zac Efron) decides to find a real one, he finds himself at the mercy of the man who destroyed them all.
Au Pair
It’s estimated that one in three Filipino children grow up with one of their parents working abroad. Whether it’s paying for medical bills, trying to provide an education for their children, or generally lifting their families out of poverty, almost every penny gets sent home.
The Imposter
Full of twists and revelations, this really is hair-raising stuff that has to be seen to believed.
Grabbers
With a nod to the mystery and inadvertent humour typical of the sci-fi alien invasion movies of the 1950s, this is a fun film that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
