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Cinema Management Group has reported brisk sales on Kensuke’s Kingdom featuring Cillian Murphy on the back of wins at the British Animation Awards for best picture, best screenplay and best original music.
Blue Fox Entertainment has acquired the film for North America; Modern Films for the UK & Ireland; Movies Inspired for Italy Periscoop for Benelux; Arthouse Traffic for Ukraine; New Horizon for Poland; Playarte for Brazil; and Cinetopia for Chile, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia. Encore Inflight acquired worldwide airline rights.
Based on the best-selling novel by Michael Morpurgo (War Horse) and adapted for screen by Frank Cottrell-Boyce,...
Blue Fox Entertainment has acquired the film for North America; Modern Films for the UK & Ireland; Movies Inspired for Italy Periscoop for Benelux; Arthouse Traffic for Ukraine; New Horizon for Poland; Playarte for Brazil; and Cinetopia for Chile, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia. Encore Inflight acquired worldwide airline rights.
Based on the best-selling novel by Michael Morpurgo (War Horse) and adapted for screen by Frank Cottrell-Boyce,...
- 5/6/2024
- ScreenDaily
Tony Hall-Chaired Indie Ties With Off The Fence To Expand ‘Rising Phoenix’ Paralympic Games Universe
![Image](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYTUyOTNjMjgtMWUyMC00ODZiLWFlYzAtMmIxOTZjMjY0MzAzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTE0MzQwMjgz._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,47,500,281_.jpg)
Exclusive: The rise of the Paralympic Games has been one of sport’s biggest recent triumphs, and a trailblazing content initiative charting its story is now set to take the narrative even deeper.
Harder Than You Think (Htyt), which has exclusive worldwide rights to tell the story of the Paralympics through to the 2028 Games in LA, has appointed European production and sales house Off the Fence to find partners for the next four projects coming from its Rising Phoenix Universe initiative.
British indie Htyt was set up by London 2012 Chief Marketing Officer Greg Nugent and is chaired by ex-BBC Director General Tony Hall. It has been building the Rising Phoenix Universe since launching the double Emmy-winning Netflix and Bytedance doc Rising Phoenix, about the history of the Paralympic movement, in 2020.
As part of the agreement, Zdf Studios-owned Off the Fence will also co-produce additional content commissioned outside of the core four projects.
Harder Than You Think (Htyt), which has exclusive worldwide rights to tell the story of the Paralympics through to the 2028 Games in LA, has appointed European production and sales house Off the Fence to find partners for the next four projects coming from its Rising Phoenix Universe initiative.
British indie Htyt was set up by London 2012 Chief Marketing Officer Greg Nugent and is chaired by ex-BBC Director General Tony Hall. It has been building the Rising Phoenix Universe since launching the double Emmy-winning Netflix and Bytedance doc Rising Phoenix, about the history of the Paralympic movement, in 2020.
As part of the agreement, Zdf Studios-owned Off the Fence will also co-produce additional content commissioned outside of the core four projects.
- 1/12/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
![Image](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZTRhYjg1NTItYjc0OC00ODlmLWI0YjYtZDE2MTcyOGM3ODVlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTE0MzQwMjgz._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,0,500,281_.jpg)
Exclusive: Writer and director Sheridan O’Donnell, has signed with CAA for representation.
Born in Texas and raised in New Mexico, O’Donnell is a Korean-American filmmaker based in Los Angeles. As a creator, his work is known for exploring family, identity, and human connection through character-driven narratives that seamlessly balance catharsis and humor.
O’Donnell recently made waves with his directorial debut, Little Brother, which stars Jk Simmons, Daniel Diemer (The Half of It), and Philip Ettinger (First Reformed), and took home the Audience Award at the 2023 Atlanta Film Festival. The film was inspired by his personal experiences with mental health and suicide, and follows Jake (Diemer) as he drives his older brother (Ettinger) across the American West after his most recent suicide attempt. Along the way, the two struggle to reconcile past traumas and forge a new bond.
O’Donnell was selected as part of Inevitable Foundation’s Winter 2022 Elevate...
Born in Texas and raised in New Mexico, O’Donnell is a Korean-American filmmaker based in Los Angeles. As a creator, his work is known for exploring family, identity, and human connection through character-driven narratives that seamlessly balance catharsis and humor.
O’Donnell recently made waves with his directorial debut, Little Brother, which stars Jk Simmons, Daniel Diemer (The Half of It), and Philip Ettinger (First Reformed), and took home the Audience Award at the 2023 Atlanta Film Festival. The film was inspired by his personal experiences with mental health and suicide, and follows Jake (Diemer) as he drives his older brother (Ettinger) across the American West after his most recent suicide attempt. Along the way, the two struggle to reconcile past traumas and forge a new bond.
O’Donnell was selected as part of Inevitable Foundation’s Winter 2022 Elevate...
- 7/6/2023
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
![Image](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNzYzZmJjZTMtYWZjOC00ZTE2LWIyYWQtOGUyZDcxYTZjOTAwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTE0MzQwMjgz._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,26,500,281_.jpg)
Titles include ’Aftersun’, ’Enys Men’, ‘Birchanger Green’ and ‘A Gaza Weekend’.
Cannes premieres Aftersun, sold by Charades, and Enys Men, sold by Protagonist Pictures, are among the titles selected for year’s Great 8, the annual Cannes buyers’ showcase of UK films from emerging directors.
The other six titles are all in post-production.
Now in its fifth edition, the 2022 Great 8 showcase is funded and run by the BFI and the British Council, in partnership with BBC Film and Film4.
Unseen footage from all of the titles will be introduced by their filmmakers and screened on May 12 exclusively to buyers and festival programmers during the online-only showcase,...
Cannes premieres Aftersun, sold by Charades, and Enys Men, sold by Protagonist Pictures, are among the titles selected for year’s Great 8, the annual Cannes buyers’ showcase of UK films from emerging directors.
The other six titles are all in post-production.
Now in its fifth edition, the 2022 Great 8 showcase is funded and run by the BFI and the British Council, in partnership with BBC Film and Film4.
Unseen footage from all of the titles will be introduced by their filmmakers and screened on May 12 exclusively to buyers and festival programmers during the online-only showcase,...
- 5/5/2022
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
![Image](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BM2ZmMzNkYjYtODI4ZC00NjNmLTgyNzAtZjFjMTFlMzQ4NzFhXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTE0MzQwMjgz._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,0,500,281_.jpg)
The BFI and British Council have revealed the line-up for this year’s Great8 showcase, which allows international distributors and festival programmers to get an early look at eight releases from emerging U.K. filmmakers in the run-up to Cannes Marché.
Now in its fifth year, the showcase on May 12 will allow filmmakers to screen unseen footage from the films, which will be available to buy during the market, which runs from May 17-28.
Of the eight films selected for the showcase, one has also been selected for the official Directors’ Fortnight and another for the Critics’ Week line-up. The remaining six films are in post-production.
The Great8 showcase is funded and organized by the BFI and the British Council, in partnership with BBC Film and Film4. It has previously presented films including “I Am Not A Witch” and “Calm with Horses.”
Neil Peplow, the BFI’s Director of Industry and International Affairs,...
Now in its fifth year, the showcase on May 12 will allow filmmakers to screen unseen footage from the films, which will be available to buy during the market, which runs from May 17-28.
Of the eight films selected for the showcase, one has also been selected for the official Directors’ Fortnight and another for the Critics’ Week line-up. The remaining six films are in post-production.
The Great8 showcase is funded and organized by the BFI and the British Council, in partnership with BBC Film and Film4. It has previously presented films including “I Am Not A Witch” and “Calm with Horses.”
Neil Peplow, the BFI’s Director of Industry and International Affairs,...
- 5/4/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
![Image](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNzk5ZGFhZDItZTJkYi00NWM1LWI2ZTQtZTczZWU4ZmQ0ZTliXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTE0MzQwMjgz._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,32,500,281_.jpg)
Voice cast includes Sally Hawkins, Cillian Murphy, Ken Watanabe and Raffey Cassidy.
UK sales outfit Bankside Films has released a first-look image from Kensuke’s Kingdom, directed by Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry.
The UK-Luxembourg-France co-production is adapted from Michael Morpurgo’s children’s novel of the same name, published in 1999. Morpurgo is also the author of War Horse.
The voice cast features Sally Hawkins, Cillian Murphy, Ken Watanabe and Raffey Cassidy.
Boyle is a director and animator who has previously worked on Ethel And Ernest and Space Jam. The screenplay has been penned by Frank Cottrell-Boyce.
The film tells the...
UK sales outfit Bankside Films has released a first-look image from Kensuke’s Kingdom, directed by Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry.
The UK-Luxembourg-France co-production is adapted from Michael Morpurgo’s children’s novel of the same name, published in 1999. Morpurgo is also the author of War Horse.
The voice cast features Sally Hawkins, Cillian Murphy, Ken Watanabe and Raffey Cassidy.
Boyle is a director and animator who has previously worked on Ethel And Ernest and Space Jam. The screenplay has been penned by Frank Cottrell-Boyce.
The film tells the...
- 10/28/2021
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
![Image](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzRjMGM4MzctOTZjMS00M2UxLWJlNWEtZmNmMzMxODk1YzEwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTE0MzQwMjgz._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,26,500,281_.jpg)
Former Umedia exec Adrian Politowski’s new company invests $6.5m into the animated feature.
Adrian Politowski’s LA-based production and finance company Align has boarded Kensuke’s Kingdom, the animated adaptation of the best-selling 1999 novel by UK author Michael Morpurgo.
Sold by Bankside Films, Kensuke’s Kingdom has been put together as a UK-France-Luxembourg co-production. It is directed by Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry, and has Sally Hawkins, Cillian Murphy, Ken Watanabe and Raffey Cassidy in the voice cast.
The film tells the story of a boy swept overboard with his dog during a storm while on a sailing trip with his family.
Adrian Politowski’s LA-based production and finance company Align has boarded Kensuke’s Kingdom, the animated adaptation of the best-selling 1999 novel by UK author Michael Morpurgo.
Sold by Bankside Films, Kensuke’s Kingdom has been put together as a UK-France-Luxembourg co-production. It is directed by Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry, and has Sally Hawkins, Cillian Murphy, Ken Watanabe and Raffey Cassidy in the voice cast.
The film tells the story of a boy swept overboard with his dog during a storm while on a sailing trip with his family.
- 4/16/2021
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
![Image](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZTQ2MzE2MjQtZTVmYy00ZmMyLWI2NTYtMDY1NjViNjY0NGIzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTE0MzQwMjgz._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,26,500,281_.jpg)
Titles include animation ’Kensuke’s Kingdom’ and Terence Davies’ next feature, ‘Benediction’.
The 10 biggest recipients of BFI production funding in 2020 received a total of £11.6m in support.
They include additional Covid-related production awards for BFI-backed projects interrupted at the start of pandemic such as Benediction, True Things and Pirates.
Nearly all 10 titles, with the exception of Earwig, also received £20,000 as part of pilot initiative BFI Step-up, which enabled productions to provide opportunities for production crew from under-represented groups to work on BFI-funded features
1. Kensuke’s Kingdom, Jigsaw Films (£1.62m)
Sally Hawkins, Cillian Murphy and Ken Watanabe are among the English-language voice cast of this animated feature,...
The 10 biggest recipients of BFI production funding in 2020 received a total of £11.6m in support.
They include additional Covid-related production awards for BFI-backed projects interrupted at the start of pandemic such as Benediction, True Things and Pirates.
Nearly all 10 titles, with the exception of Earwig, also received £20,000 as part of pilot initiative BFI Step-up, which enabled productions to provide opportunities for production crew from under-represented groups to work on BFI-funded features
1. Kensuke’s Kingdom, Jigsaw Films (£1.62m)
Sally Hawkins, Cillian Murphy and Ken Watanabe are among the English-language voice cast of this animated feature,...
- 12/27/2020
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
![Image](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZWZiMjY4NWMtNWEyYy00YmJkLTg2NjAtNWRkMWQ2NTg1NmE3XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTE0MzQwMjgz._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,26,500,281_.jpg)
Voice cast includes Sally Hawkins, Cillian Murphy, Ken Watanabe and Raffey Cassidy.
Animated feature Kensuke’s Kingdom, which includes Sally Hawkins and Cillian Murphy among its voice cast, has secured fresh finance and animation partners as it goes into production.
UK-based Lupus Films, whose credits include Ethel & Ernest, will receive backing from the BFI, Ffilm Cymru, Creative Wales and Film Fund Luxembourg on the adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s bestselling children’s novel.
Cardiff-based firm BumpyBox has come on board as the production’s Welsh animation partner. Previously announced production partners include Luxembourg-based Melusine Productions and French production company Le Pacte.
Animated feature Kensuke’s Kingdom, which includes Sally Hawkins and Cillian Murphy among its voice cast, has secured fresh finance and animation partners as it goes into production.
UK-based Lupus Films, whose credits include Ethel & Ernest, will receive backing from the BFI, Ffilm Cymru, Creative Wales and Film Fund Luxembourg on the adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s bestselling children’s novel.
Cardiff-based firm BumpyBox has come on board as the production’s Welsh animation partner. Previously announced production partners include Luxembourg-based Melusine Productions and French production company Le Pacte.
- 9/7/2020
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
![Sally Hawkins](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BODE4MDE0MDEzMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNjI1NTU5MDE@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR9,0,140,207_.jpg)
![Sally Hawkins](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BODE4MDE0MDEzMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNjI1NTU5MDE@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR9,0,140,207_.jpg)
Exclusive: Sally Hawkins (The Shape Of Water), Cillian Murphy (Inception), Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai) and Raffey Cassidy (The Killing Of A Sacred Deer) are to voice the animated adaptation of War Horse scribe Michael Morpurgo’s novel Kensuke’s Kingdom.
The children’s book tells the story of Michael, who is taken by his family on a round-the-world sailing trip. When a storm strikes he is washed overboard and ends up on a remote island in the Pacific where he struggles to survive on his own. He soon realizes there is someone close by, someone who is watching over him and helping him to stay alive.
Sherlock Gnomes animator Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry (Junk) will direct the adventure story with an ecological message whose script comes from Frank Cottrell-Boyce (The Railway Man). Bankside is handling sales at the Efm and has previously closed pre-sales in France (Le Pacte...
The children’s book tells the story of Michael, who is taken by his family on a round-the-world sailing trip. When a storm strikes he is washed overboard and ends up on a remote island in the Pacific where he struggles to survive on his own. He soon realizes there is someone close by, someone who is watching over him and helping him to stay alive.
Sherlock Gnomes animator Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry (Junk) will direct the adventure story with an ecological message whose script comes from Frank Cottrell-Boyce (The Railway Man). Bankside is handling sales at the Efm and has previously closed pre-sales in France (Le Pacte...
- 2/7/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Bankside Films boards feature animation from Ethel & Ernest producers.
Kensuke’s Kingdom, the feature animation based on a Michael Morpurgo’s 1999 children’s novel from the team behind Ethel & Ernest, has secured a sales deal ahead of Cannes with UK outfit Bankside Films.
The Railway Man screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce has adapted Morpurgo’s novel for the screen. Producers are Sarah Radclyffe, who co-founded UK powerhouse Working Title, Camilla Deakin and Ruth Fielding, the co-founders of Ethel & Ernest animation studio Lupus Films, with Barnaby Spurrier (Somers Town) and Stephan Roelants (Ernest & Celestine).
The project is being directed by Neil Boyle,...
Kensuke’s Kingdom, the feature animation based on a Michael Morpurgo’s 1999 children’s novel from the team behind Ethel & Ernest, has secured a sales deal ahead of Cannes with UK outfit Bankside Films.
The Railway Man screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce has adapted Morpurgo’s novel for the screen. Producers are Sarah Radclyffe, who co-founded UK powerhouse Working Title, Camilla Deakin and Ruth Fielding, the co-founders of Ethel & Ernest animation studio Lupus Films, with Barnaby Spurrier (Somers Town) and Stephan Roelants (Ernest & Celestine).
The project is being directed by Neil Boyle,...
- 5/1/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
Script from The Railway Man writer will be produced by the Ethel & Ernest team and Working Title co-founder Sarah Radclyffe.
Lupus Films and Melusine Productions, two of the companies behind critically-praised feature animation Ethel & Ernest, have identified their next project.
They are joining forces with producers Sarah Radclyffe and Barnaby Spurrier on Kensuke’s Kingdom, an animated feature adaptation of War Horse author Michael Morpurgo’s 1999 children’s novel.
Directors Neil Boyle (whose credits as an animator include Space Jam and Ethel & Ernest) and Kirk Hendry (who directed 2011 Bifa-nominated short Junk) will oversee the project from a script by The Railway Man writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce.
Camilla Deakin and Ruth Fielding of Lupus Films are producing with Sarah Radclyffe, who co-founded UK production outfit Working Title Films, as well as Stéphan Roelants of Melusine Productions and Barnaby Spurrier.
The film’s plot follows the adventures of a young boy and his dog who are shipwrecked on a remote...
Lupus Films and Melusine Productions, two of the companies behind critically-praised feature animation Ethel & Ernest, have identified their next project.
They are joining forces with producers Sarah Radclyffe and Barnaby Spurrier on Kensuke’s Kingdom, an animated feature adaptation of War Horse author Michael Morpurgo’s 1999 children’s novel.
Directors Neil Boyle (whose credits as an animator include Space Jam and Ethel & Ernest) and Kirk Hendry (who directed 2011 Bifa-nominated short Junk) will oversee the project from a script by The Railway Man writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce.
Camilla Deakin and Ruth Fielding of Lupus Films are producing with Sarah Radclyffe, who co-founded UK production outfit Working Title Films, as well as Stéphan Roelants of Melusine Productions and Barnaby Spurrier.
The film’s plot follows the adventures of a young boy and his dog who are shipwrecked on a remote...
- 3/7/2017
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
Shot entirely on a Nokia Lumia 1020, this short film is rather fab and may even bring a tear to your eye! It stars singer / songwriter Ellie Goulding who plays Issy, wannabe music artist who lacks confidence and is egged on by her flatmate Tom. Her boyfriend is far too engaged in his own business to show any interest and it’s Tom who helps her find the form that he knows she can deliver.
The short film was helmed by Notting Hill / director Roger Michell who we interviewed recently for his movie Le Week-End which you can see here. It shows just how event Hollywood’s best and brightest can make a really effective short film with nothing more than a camera phone so if you’re inspired to make your own movie, get out there and do it!
Title: Tom & Issy Director: Roger Mitchel Writers: Stefan Georgiou and Sam Bern Cast: Dylan Edwards,...
The short film was helmed by Notting Hill / director Roger Michell who we interviewed recently for his movie Le Week-End which you can see here. It shows just how event Hollywood’s best and brightest can make a really effective short film with nothing more than a camera phone so if you’re inspired to make your own movie, get out there and do it!
Title: Tom & Issy Director: Roger Mitchel Writers: Stefan Georgiou and Sam Bern Cast: Dylan Edwards,...
- 11/13/2013
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
![Shane Meadows in This Is England (2006)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTIyMzg4ODk5MF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwODY0MjU3._V1_QL75_UY207_CR3,0,140,207_.jpg)
![Shane Meadows in This Is England (2006)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMTIyMzg4ODk5MF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwODY0MjU3._V1_QL75_UY207_CR3,0,140,207_.jpg)
Edinburgh International Film Festival
Seldom can such a fine feature-film have had such an unlikely genesis as the wonderful coming-of-age comedy-drama "Somers Town", initially commissioned as a 20-minute short by train company Eurostar to publicize their high-speed London-to-Paris connection. Hats off to the organization for allowing director Shane Meadows and writer Paul Fraser to organically develop this seed into a proper movie, one which confirms Meadows as among the most accomplished -- and now, after a couple of early-career hiccups, consistent -- British film-makers under 40. While unlikely to repeat the commercial success of Meadows' last effort, skinhead saga "This Is England", "Somers Town" is just the kind of heartfelt, superbly-observed miniature that will attract passionate admirers wherever it's shown.
Crucial to the film's success are the terrific central performances by Thomas Turgoose (youthful star of "This Is England") and newcomer Piotr Jagiello as Tomo and Marek, both around 16, who end up in the same scruffy corner of north London for wildly divergent reasons. Scrappy, diminutive Tomo has fled his native north-Midlands and a deeply problematic home life, which he's reluctant to discuss; lanky photography-nut Marek has arrived with his hard-drinking father, who's found accommodation in Somers Town while he working on the Eurostar rail-link at nearby King's Cross. After initial friction, the pair rapidly become best pals and rivals for the affections of French waitress Maria (Elisa Lasowski.)
Shot on monochrome HD, "Somers Town" doesn't appear much at first glance. The situations depicted are decidedly undramatic, chronicling the kinds of things youngsters get up to in the summer when they have time on their hands and limited cash. But we soon realize that while the script relies on vivid humor, it manages to do so while unobtrusively reminding us of these eminently believable characters' difficult perhaps even tragic circumstances and backstories.
Meadows and cinematographer Natasha Braier present their story with a gritty, unfussy lyricism that finds unexpected glimpses of beauty in overlooked corners of London. Though black-and-white for most of its running time, there's an unexpected, colorful coda which ends proceedings on a truly joyous note by which point you may find this deceptively slight little picture has, on the sly, built quite an emotional wallop.
Production companies: Tomboy Films / Big Arty / Eurostar. Cast: Thomas Turgoose, Piotr Jagiello, Elisa Lasowski, Ireneusz Crop, Perry Benson. Director: Shane Meadows. Screenwriter: Paul Fraser. Executive producers: Greg Nugent, Nick Mercer, Robert Saville. Producer: Barnaby Spurrier. Director of photography: Natasha Braier. Production designer: Lisa Marie Hall. Music: Gavin Clarke. Costume designer: Jo Thompson. Editor: Richard Graham. Sales Agent: The Works International, London
Not Rated, 75 minutes.
Seldom can such a fine feature-film have had such an unlikely genesis as the wonderful coming-of-age comedy-drama "Somers Town", initially commissioned as a 20-minute short by train company Eurostar to publicize their high-speed London-to-Paris connection. Hats off to the organization for allowing director Shane Meadows and writer Paul Fraser to organically develop this seed into a proper movie, one which confirms Meadows as among the most accomplished -- and now, after a couple of early-career hiccups, consistent -- British film-makers under 40. While unlikely to repeat the commercial success of Meadows' last effort, skinhead saga "This Is England", "Somers Town" is just the kind of heartfelt, superbly-observed miniature that will attract passionate admirers wherever it's shown.
Crucial to the film's success are the terrific central performances by Thomas Turgoose (youthful star of "This Is England") and newcomer Piotr Jagiello as Tomo and Marek, both around 16, who end up in the same scruffy corner of north London for wildly divergent reasons. Scrappy, diminutive Tomo has fled his native north-Midlands and a deeply problematic home life, which he's reluctant to discuss; lanky photography-nut Marek has arrived with his hard-drinking father, who's found accommodation in Somers Town while he working on the Eurostar rail-link at nearby King's Cross. After initial friction, the pair rapidly become best pals and rivals for the affections of French waitress Maria (Elisa Lasowski.)
Shot on monochrome HD, "Somers Town" doesn't appear much at first glance. The situations depicted are decidedly undramatic, chronicling the kinds of things youngsters get up to in the summer when they have time on their hands and limited cash. But we soon realize that while the script relies on vivid humor, it manages to do so while unobtrusively reminding us of these eminently believable characters' difficult perhaps even tragic circumstances and backstories.
Meadows and cinematographer Natasha Braier present their story with a gritty, unfussy lyricism that finds unexpected glimpses of beauty in overlooked corners of London. Though black-and-white for most of its running time, there's an unexpected, colorful coda which ends proceedings on a truly joyous note by which point you may find this deceptively slight little picture has, on the sly, built quite an emotional wallop.
Production companies: Tomboy Films / Big Arty / Eurostar. Cast: Thomas Turgoose, Piotr Jagiello, Elisa Lasowski, Ireneusz Crop, Perry Benson. Director: Shane Meadows. Screenwriter: Paul Fraser. Executive producers: Greg Nugent, Nick Mercer, Robert Saville. Producer: Barnaby Spurrier. Director of photography: Natasha Braier. Production designer: Lisa Marie Hall. Music: Gavin Clarke. Costume designer: Jo Thompson. Editor: Richard Graham. Sales Agent: The Works International, London
Not Rated, 75 minutes.
- 6/26/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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