Author: James Partridge

Synopsis María, a 13 year old guerrilla soldier watches the secret birth of the commander’s child, while she decides what she’ll do with the baby she’s expecting. Through her eyes we’ll see the desolate landscape of the armed conflict in Colombia. Thoughts This was one of my gem finds from Cannes. I found myself caught up in the story and wondering how it was all going to end – what more can you ask for? Rating...

Synopsis Vincent, a French Special Forces soldier just back from Afghanistan, is suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder. He is hired to ensure the security of Jessie, the wife of a rich Lebanese businessman at their luxurious villa, ‘Maryland’. As he starts experiencing a strange fascination for the woman he has to protect, Vincent increasingly seems to fall into paranoia. Unless he is right, and the danger is very real indeed… Thoughts Yet another film that was a tale of two halves – the first being better than the second. I feel the film got caught between trying to be both an indie and blockbuster thriller – personally I would have stuck with indie. Rating...

Synopsis In a remote Icelandic valley, two brothers who haven’t spoken in forty years will have to come together in order to save what’s dearest to them: their rams. Thoughts I have to admit that at first sight (in the programme) I didn’t put this high on my ‘must see’ list. Thankfully people raved about it and they had another screening. So much fun – you can’t help but fall in love with this. Rating...

Synopsis Sentaro runs a small bakery that serves dorayakis – pastries filled with sweet red bean paste (“an”). When an old lady, Tokue, offers to help in the kitchen he reluctantly accepts. But Tokue proves to have magic in her hands when it comes to making “an”. Thanks to her secret recipe, the little business soon flourishes… And with time, Sentaro and Tokue will open their hearts to reveal old wounds. Thoughts A film that, on paper, might not seem like much… but boy was this a pleasant surprise. Beautiful crafted, this slow-paced drama is delightfully touching. Rating...

Synopsis Margherita is a director shooting a film with the famous American actor, Barry Huggins, who is quite a headache on set. Away from the shoot, Margherita tries to hold her life together, despite her mother’s illness and her daughter’s adolescence. Thoughts I didn’t get this film at all. It felt like two films in one, with the real heart of the story upstaged by the over-the-top comedy that was injected by John Turturro’s completely unnecessary character. Rating...