Projects in categories: Fiction

Synopsis

London, 13th October 1993. The day England are to play Holland in a critical World Cup qualifier. The Bosnian war is at its height, Sebrenica is besieged and the UN are preparing relief airdrops. A Serb (Dado Jehan) and a Croat (Faruk Pruti) meet on a London bus. Recognising each other as fellow refugees from the same village in Bosnia they immediately renew their contact by . . . attempting to beat each other to a pulp. Their subsequent manic chase through the streets of central London sets the scene for the electric comedy of Beautiful People. Jasmin Dizdar's extraordinary debut feature film tracks the interlinked and troubled lives of four British families whose encounters with refugees from the war in former Yugoslavia helps them to see the beauty that exists in their own lives.

Beautiful People unites its disaffected, troubled and eccentric characters in a panoramic portrait of London's melting pot of class and culture and infuses it with a dark comedy which has at its heart a profound understanding that if 'life changes just a little bit in your favour - it can be beautiful'.

Synopsis

Bedrooms and Hallways is a sparkling comedy of contemporary manners set in London. The action stems from the mis-adventures of two flatmates - Leo a reserved witty artisan who is secretly desperate for love and Darren a man with an extrovert personality hooked on dangerous liaisons.

While Darren pursues his erotic encounters in various properties being sold by the seemingly conservative estate agent, Jeremy; Leo confides in his boss Adam, who persuades him to attend his weekly 'new-man' group therapy sessions held in a bizarrely minimalistic house in Kensington.

Despite his initial reservations, Leo finds himself drawn into this quirky men's group - primarily because of the presence of the dishy Irish baker Brendan, currently in the throes of a trial separation with his girlfriend Sally, the mother of their child Rachel.

The New Age men's group is run by the well intentioned Keith in the ridiculously elaborately themed rooms within his home. Affectionate friction between him and his wife Sybil, a dedicated therapist running her own women's group, is evident by their conflicting bookings for the "Moroccan Room" (complete with honesty stone), "Eskimo Room" (equipped with harpoon) and the "Zen Room", an apparent haven of peace until interrupted by the primeval re-birthing experiences undergone by the men's group downstairs!

Leo surprises everyone in the group, including himself, when he confesses his attraction to Brendan. Little does he realise the impact his remarks will have on everyone within his orbit.

Synopsis

Robert, a pompous Englishman, visits Portugal for an important meeting. Across the city, Ratty and Pug, two Portuguese wideboys meticulously prepare a disgusting runny mixture. The reason for this puzzling activity is eventually revealed on the streets of Lisbon.

Synopsis

A film about a bird with an appetite, and the journey he goes on to fulfil his hunger. Problem is everytime he eats something, he grows! The world is his oyster, so is life, the universe and everything else!

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This film follows eight women giving birth in a variety of circumstances. No attempt is made to promote one method of childbirth in favour of another and all births are seen as a triumph.

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A boy thinks his dog wants to fly! So he helps him fulfil his dream.

Synopsis

Seven very different people are gathered in a brightly lit but sparsely furnished white room. The only thing they have in common is Virgil Guppy. Virgil isn't there having just been flattened by a ten ton truck. Virgil's odyssey unfolds as the seven wait in the white room.





Virgil Guppy is going to buy a car. Not just any car but a luxury car. This is more than a simple deal. Virgil is not just buying a car, he is buying the last piece of the jigsaw that, with the flat, the job, the wardrobe, even the girlfriend, fit together to make up what Virgil hopes is his identity.





Virgil buys the Jaguar, low mileage but slightly damaged bodywork, from David Leer and his son Buddy, two clearly dodgy dealers. Sure enough within four miles the car dies quite spectacularly. Virgil fails to claim his money through the courts and, worse still, his car came with the optional extra of a dead body hidden in the boot.





Virgil is arrested for murder and an impressive array of circumstantial evidence is presented by witnesses as varied as Sydney Greengrass, a retired accountant, who has the unnerving habit of hitching his curiously shaped trousers up way past the nipple line and Poppy Fields, a middle-aged Prostitute fast reaching her sell-by date. Virgil is convinced he has been framed by David Leer, but David Leer seems to have disappeared.





Once out on bail, Virgil's jigsaw starts to fall apart . . .

Synopsis

A woman makes bread in her kitchen. The bread dough, through the care it is given and vigorous kneading, grows into a huge blob. Somehow, the blob gets into her bed. The film steps from the kitchen and bedroom experiences to make a fast, rhythmic, humorous and poignant film.

Synopsis

Candy is a darkly comic, cautionary tale of a supermodel's decline. It is also the story of Sandra - a twelve year-old girl from the suburbs who dreams glamour and fame. Will Sandra end up like the model, Candy? Are they, in fact, the same person?

Synopsis

The Edinburgh Samba School has been playing Brazilian samba around Scotland for ten years. This year they and their kilted mascot, Hamish, join the drag parade kicking off Brazil's famous Olinda Carnival.

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Carol and Nancy is the story of how a tragedy brought two very different families together.

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Initially an exercise in what might be achievable with a digital video camera, one actor, one location and no budget. Filmed in a squat in central London, it is a not entirely serious, ten minute insight into one mans self justification of the suicidal game he plays through his over inflated ego and lack of common sense.