Projects in categories: Fiction

Synopsis

Gangster No 1 tells the story of the emblematically named Gangster, who rises through the London underworld to usurp his mentor Freddie Mays (David Thewlis). But director Paul McGuigan sees it as much more than a genre crime film. "It's like a Greek tragedy, about a man who is propelled not so much by hatred but by obsession," he says.



"Because it's a simple, character-driven story we could put a lot of thought into the whole style of the film," explains McGuigan. The stylish surface is appropriate for the story of a man obsessed by the glamour of gangland life.



Production designer Richard Bridgland, who had the task of recreating 1960s London for the substantial portion of the film that takes place in flashback, says he responded to what he describes as the "mythic quality" of the script. "The gold, mirrors and glitter play a part because it's all empty, like the hollow victory Gangster scores," Bridgland explains. He and McGuigan searched for "1960s modern" locations in hotels, clubs and flats around London, while costume designer Jany Temime dressed the men in sharp suits from tailors such as Mark Powell and Ozwald Boateng. Paul Bettany, who plays young Gangster in the flashback scenes (Malcolm McDowell is the older, present-day Gangster) saw the image as essential to his character: "When you're standing there in a pure silk suit by Mark Powell... well, half your job's done for you."



McGuigan was drawn to the "powerful and unusual" script with its "poetic" voice-over, as were the actors; Thewlis describes the language as "stylised and eloquent, straight out of left field".



McGuigan's first full-length feature after his award-winning trilogy of shorts The Acid House, Gangster No 1 was released in the UK in June, to critical acclaim.

Synopsis

Set in 1960's Soho, a blood-chilling battle of wills is played out between London's leading gangster and the young apprentice who wants to usurp him. A study of cunning, deceit, violence, betrayal and obsession.

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An unemployed 20-year-old loser ends up at the local shop wearing a balaclava and with a suspicious bulge in his coat pocket. But the shop keeper recognises him

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About size. It reminds adults and informs children of the way which the world appears to change simply because one gets physically bigger.

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Based on the lives of three actual London girls this is the real teenage take on life, shopping, boys, music and . . .everything. Built around a series of improvised conversations, vividly brought to life by strikingly colourful animation.

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A young mum of three dumps her kids at her lesbian sister's house on the day of her pagan wedding, to go on a small crime spree with her boyfriend Dennis.

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A funny-sad film about fear featuring writer/perfomer Emily Woof and countless house lamps of all shapes and sizes.

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Going, Going is a comic, tragic, bittersweet monologue about fear: the unknown, the dark. It features Emily Woof and 45 houselamps of various shapes and sizes.

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A mother and daughter's relationship faces the onset of dementia and tensions of freedom and dependence arise. Eventually a complete role reversal occurs.

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A dark, cynical comedy about a young woman addicted to therapy. All she wants is to break the cycle of seeing all these 'specialists'.

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A short film about a spirited oldster who, tired of being relegated to the sidelines, makes a dramatic and reckless bid for attention.

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Adapted from a short story by Richard Ford. Montana, USA 1973. Ten year old Stevie and his father Jake are out on a duck shoot. As they are poaching, they always make these expeditions at night and then stay at their nearby hunting cabin. But the night the film unfolds, Jake decides to go back home. When they arrive at the house, a stranger awaits them in the kitchen and what happens then will stay with Stevie for the rest of his life.