There are a wealth of new titles at this year's festival. Of those that have already played well internationally, Sophia Coppola's study in ennui, Somewhere, and Derek Ciafrance's bittersweet Blue Valentine are worth catching. There's also the remarkably prolific output of Mumblecore darling Joe Swanberg.

Mike Cahill skilfully blends an indie aesthetic with science fiction in Another Earth. The story of two people coping with grief and guilt, the drama unfolds against the discovery of a new planet that mirrors ours in every way. It is an intelligent and compassionate portrait of troubled souls and the lengths they will travel to undo the mistakes they have made. Also impressive is Mike Mills' Beginners. A semi-autobiographical account of the director's relationship with his father, who announced he was gay late in his life, it is by turns funny and moving, with excellent performances by Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer and Mélanie Laurent.

Of the many documentaries, Errol Morris' Tabloid is a superb return to form and Page One offers a fascinating insight into the workings of the New York Times. But for a unique experience, few films are as surreal as Jeff Malmberg's Marwencol. Mark Hogancamp was left partially brain damaged following an attack outside a bar ten years ago. Unable to afford treatment, he embarked on his own form of therapy, transforming his backyard into a World War Two-era Belgian town, and living out his life through the characters he has created.

If you crave jazz, there are two opportunities to catch the perfect double bill of Clint Eastwood's Bird, an impressive bio-pic of Charlie Parker, and Bertrand Tavernier's sublime Round Midnight, featuring legendary saxophonist Dexter Gordon and a great cameo by Martin Scorsese. They play in the 'All That Jazz' programme, which also includes the original version of The Jazz Singer and Robert Altman's Kansas City.

There are a great line-up of retrospectives. If you want to catch the best of Todd Solondz, don't miss Happiness and Palindromes. Of the Billy Wilder films, One, Two, Three is rarely screened and is a comic masterpiece. I hope to catch some of Joe Swanberg's films before I end up sitting next to him at a screening. And finally, there is Terrence Malick. Each of his films is richly rewarding. But don't miss The Tree of Life. It won the top prize at Cannes this year and is a work of daring ambition and epic vision. It's likely to divide audiences, but there has been nothing else like it in cinema this, or any other, year.

Five Films to See

Another Earth (dir. Mike Cahill)

Beginners (dir. Mike Mills)

Marwencol (dir. Jeff Malmberg)

Round Midnight (dir. Bertrand Tavernier)

The Tree of Life (dir. Terrence Malick)

 

 

Ian Haydn Smith

Editor, International Film Guide & Curzon Magazine
e-mail ihsmith@yahoo.co.uk

www.internationalfilmguide.com
www.curzoncinemas.com/#/events/curzon_screen_salon