Projects in categories: Fiction

Synopsis

DIY is a serious and irreverent film framed by the search of contemporary gay artist, Michael Atavar, for clues to his culture and his past. Through the location of a disused public toilet and notorious cottage in Islington, a cottage once frequented by playwright Joe Orton and his lover Kenneth Halliwell, the film explores changes in Britain and changes in gay life.

Synopsis

Somerset, 1958. Twenty year-old Eva fantasises about travel, painting, devouring classic works of literature and being adored by Joseph Lees, the second cousin she fell in love with as a girl. Joseph, who she has not seen in four years, is the only member of Eva's family who has managed to break away from the deadening domestic cycle. He was recently terribly injured in a quarry accident and Eva secretly imagines herself helping him through his suffering. She manages to conceal her obsession from everyone except her fascinated sister Janie who, at 12 years-old, is already an inveterate meddler.





Reality, however, is a long way from Eva's dreams. Her artistic endeavours are confined to a drawing class; she works for a pittance in a dirty sawmill and is responsible for running her father's house. She is also slowly being seduced by local pig farmer, Harry Flyte, a charming, handsome and devilishly persistent lad determined to win her over.





Harry's sister, Maria, has an interest in seeing her brother settle down as it will give her the freedom to chase men and do as she pleases. Eva surrenders to the sibling's joint pressure, convinces herself that she is in love, and moves in with Harry. All is well until a family gathering brings back all Eva's buried feelings for her cousin. At the wedding, Eva and Joseph cannot keep their eyes off each other. And as they dance they forget everything and everyone. When Eva goes home, determined to leave Harry, Maria tells her about his psychological damage, and leaves her terrified by the effect her desertion could have on his health. Indeed, when Harry fears he is about to lose her, he becomes irrationally jealous and self-destructive . . .

Synopsis

On a day much like any other, Mick and Carmen, two hard-drinking lovers down on their luck, set out to satisfy their hunger. But food is not their only need. As the day progresses, tensions rise and their stormy relationship is put to the ultimate test.

Synopsis

How do we know dead people are really dead? Dusty, a young girl, struggles to come to terms with the loss of her parents in this dark fairy tale. She must find the answer to that question herself, but it's hard when no-one believes you, and the walls keep closing in - or do they?

Synopsis

Set in Salford in 1970, East is East is a fast moving comedy of mixed-race manners. It centres on the Anglo-Pakistani alliance of the Khan family that is both claustrophobically cohesive and desperately dysfunctional. In their cramped Salford terrace house, daily anarchy erupts with farcical energy. The Khan children, being caught between bell-bottoms and arranged marriages, scoff surreptitious rashers of bacon as they are buffeted this way and that by their father's insistence on tradition, their English mother's laissez-faire, and their own wish to be citizens of the modern world.


Based on the award-winning stage play by Ayub Khan-Din, East is East was originally produced by the Royal Court Theatre, revived due to critical acclaim at the Theatre Royal in Stratford East 1997.

Synopsis

For drunk towny mates Rich and Paul it's been a grim old Friday night on the pulling girls front. Paul's off home and Rich wants the chicken tikka masala, only there's bad news: his wages haven't cleared. And when your wages haven't cleared, trying to stuff your face can be dicey . . .

Synopsis

Eight and a Half Women is a laconic black comedy, an examination of the age-old phenomenon of male sexual fantasy, its roots and its consequences. A quiet rich Swiss businessman, whose wealth comes from the many Japanese pachinko parlours he owns, lives in Geneva. His son lives in Kyoto, and is fascinated by earthquakes. When the father's much-loved wife dies, the son tries hard to help his father overcome his grief by introducing him to, among other things, Fellini films, awakening in him a new desire for women. To accommodate this, the two of them create their own domestic bordello with women they rescue from pachinko parlour gambling debts and other situations of shady finance around Europe. The film tells the story of the brothel, and its eight and a half women, that lasts three years before being broken up and finally destroyed in an earthquake.

Synopsis

An Andalusian hill town built astride a deep gorge, is transformed by the arrival of el Caminante- the walking man. Lyrical drawn animation inspired by the classical Spanish guitar of Isaac Albéniz, arranged and performed for the film by Carlos Bonell.

Synopsis

Elizabeth, is a young model maker and her husband Tom, is a barrister. She is asleep in their loft late one morning, when she is awakened by Tom returning. He is drunk and acting strange. She suspects he's acting odd because he has lost his first big lawsuit . . .

Synopsis

A documentary about Harold and Marian, two old friends living in Grantham. As they reach the ends of their lives they tell their stories, bridging past and present and revealing the secret of their contentment.

Synopsis

Two sleek black Jaguars cruise through Manchester, loud beats pumping from the sound system. People turn to stare. They have all been waiting for this day: friends, family and enemies alike. The Warlords are out and ready to take control.





In the Pepperhill Estate, an ongoing battle rages between Triads and street gangs, fuelled by a quest for wealth, power, territory and respect but resulting only in violence. Ray and Terry, gang leaders, have been inside and in their absence the Triads have grown stronger and more daring. A revenge attack for the killing of gang member Kermit is called for and the gang turns to Terry and Ray for direction.





Cousins and lifelong friends, Ray and Terry have always trusted and relied on one another, but now Ray is talking of breaking the rules; he doesn't want to play gangsters anymore, he is looking for something else, something legitimate. But Terry, driven by an obsession far beyond friendship, is determined to make sure that Ray never leaves the gang.

Synopsis

Fanny and Elvis is a romantic comedy at the onset of the millennium. When would-be author Kate Dickson, finds out that she has a year left to get pregnant and her husband Rob has run off with one of his students, her biological clock starts ticking away like a bomb. The search for a sperm donor who is intelligent, healthy and has the right look is the focus of the film. Kate is thrust into the world of sperm counts, ovulation and IVF. Relationships, sex and fertility in a new millennium are at the heart of this exciting new film from the pen of Kay Mellor.