Projects in categories: Documentary

Synopsis

At the start of the bitter Winter War the Soviet Red Army invaded Finnish-Karelia forcing thousands of civilians deep into Finland. Teenagers Annikki, Inkeri and Hilkka left their families to drive cattle through deep snow and hostile lands. A lifetime later they look back on their adventures.  

Synopsis

Le Donk is an improvised comedy, shot over five days by Shane Meadows and starring Paddy Considine. It is based on a character Paddy has created called Donk: a failed drummer and now a roadie.  Fifteen years ago Donk seemed to have it all, but now his life is shit. His ex-partner is pregnant with his child and much to his dislike living with her new boyfriend. He is taking UK rapper Scor-zay-zee with him on a road trip that he hopes will change their lives.

Synopsis

The myth of Ernest Hemingway frames this journey from a rifle club in Britain to the savannah of southern Africa. Filmmaker Joseph Matthews has never fired a gun before, but makes a surprising discovery about his own attitude to shooting that leads him into the disturbing world of big game trophy hunting. From Hemingway to present day the film examines whether there is anything we can learn about masculinity from these men who seek their thrills from the power a gun gives to its bearer.

Synopsis

Little Matador  is a feature length documentary about children bullfighters in Mexico. Kids as young as eight are trained to kill bulls ten times their weight. The film follows three children who are fighting not just the bull but their own demons; Michelito is ten. The adored child of a matador Dad, Michelito has killed over two hundred bulls. ‘Picasso was born to paint, Mozart to make music – and Michelito to be a matador,’ says Dad. Can Michelito fulfil his father’s dream to become the youngest matador in history? Joel is nine. Neglected by his mum and step-father, he finds paternal love in the ring. Matador Ismael becomes Joel’s surrogate father and guardian angel. But if Ismael moves to Spain for his own career, what will happen to Joel? Andrea is twelve. She started bullfighting when her father moved to America. Andrea has disowned her dad – who has found a new woman - and vows to save her mum from poverty by becoming a superstar bullfighter. But will Andrea ever get over her terrible nerves every time she enters the ring? Little Matador is an extraordinary testimony to the lengths these kids will go to realise their dream.

Synopsis

Abiyot runs for money, every weekend at a different race. He left Ethiopia to try and relaunch his running career in the US. With every aspect of his daily routine centered on his training, his footsteps not only dictate the rhythm of his life, but also become the pervasive rhythm of the film.

Synopsis

Margaret Mellis’s career has encompassed some of the major movements of 20th Century British art. St. Ives neighbours Ben Nicholson and Naum Gabo saw her talent and potential but history has relegated her to the sidelines.   A dedicated abstract painter and superb colourist Margaret produced a unique body of work during her later life in Suffolk. Her true legacy has yet to be fully realised.   Using recordings from Artists’ Lives (British Library Sound Archive) the film is told entirely in Margaret’s own words, with her writings and diary entries read by Susannah York.   Margaret Mellis a life in colour puts Margaret’s work centre place, a visual feast of texture, shape and colour.   Margaret Mellis 1914-2009

Synopsis

Michael Stern was injured at birth and is subsequently severely disabled. Despite his difficulties, and over fifty years of institutional care, Michael shines as a dignified and positive character. Michael's brother provides an articulate and poignant backbone for Michael's story and investigating his state of happiness and quality of life.

Synopsis

Coming off the Robbie Williams tour, musical director eighties brit pop star Stephen 'Tin Tin' Duffy is fed up and completely disillusioned with the corporate music machine and decides to check out permanently and pursue his folk-political roots in the countryside. Along the journey he reunites his critically acclaimed band The Lilac Time to play the Green Man Festival in Wales, and rediscovers what it was originally about. 'We used to do it for the love, didn't we. People have forgotten that.' Duffy wanders as far as Cornwall before rediscovering meaningful poetic life. Sculptor Jon Edgar makes an appearance as he forms a terra cotta head of Duffy, who he believes will remain one of the key figures in arts and culture for future generations. It's a classic story of art versus commerce, disillusionment and rebirth told through one of the UK's most prolific recording artists, with archival super 8, stills, and historical footage from the 1960s through to the present. Much of the film is narrated by Duffy himself, the director Douglas Arrowsmith has poured over the archives and Duffy's own memoir to assemble an inspiring piece for any fan of music, poetry, and life's greater meaning.  

Synopsis

Mickey B is a world first, a feature film adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth, made with serving prisoners as cast, in Northern Ireland's notorious maximum security prison, HMP Maghaberry. Set in the fictional private prison of Burnam, where gangs run the wings, violence and drugs are the common currency. Duncan, the number one drug dealer, is about to be released. Mickey B is the muscle collecting on his behalf. The three witches take on the guise of three bookies, fixing the odds for their own ends. Ladyboy, Mickey B's bitch embodies the corrupting role of the queen of hate, scheming to reach the number one slot. Shot in hand held close up with cold, razor-blue filters, an unrelenting claustrophobic intimacy draws us into this dark world of ashen, scarred faces and tattooed flesh. Casual everyday violence, bourn out of the prisoners’ first hand experiences, ensures gritty, authentic and visceral performances. The laconic, drawling voices snake the story through each unexpected shocking attack. The brutality of clipped street slang delivered at staccato pace punctuates the monotony of endless prison time. This is a Macbeth like no other.

Synopsis

An intimate and moving account of one family’s extraordinary courage in the face of overwhelming injustice and brutality In 2008 Mike Campbell – one of the few remaining white farmers in Zimbabwe to have held fast in the face of the violent ‘Land Reform’ programme – took the unprecedented step of challenging President Robert Mugabe before the SADC International Court (SADC - South African Development Community) to defend his farm, which is also home to 500 black workers and their families, and to charge Mugabe and his government with racial discrimination and with violations of Human Rights. This film, much of it shot covertly, follows the traumatic ordeal of Mike, his son in law Ben and their family as they take on a man who has brought death to thousands.  

Synopsis

My Perestroika follows five ordinary Russians living in extraordinary times' from their sheltered Soviet childhood, to the collapse of the Soviet Union during their teenage years, to the constantly shifting political landscape of post-Soviet Russia. Together, these childhood classmates paint a complex picture of the dreams and disillusionments of those raised behind the Iron Curtain.

Synopsis

After ten years of correspondence, Michael Whyte was given unprecedented access to the monastery of the Most Holy Trinity, in London’s Notting Hill. The monastery, which was founded in 1878, is home to the Discalced Order of Carmelite Nuns. The nuns lead a cloistered life dedicated to prayer and contemplation, rarely leaving the monastery except to visit a doctor or dentist. Silence is maintained throughout the day with the exception of two periods of recreation. No Greater Love gives a unique insight into this closed world where the modern world’s materialism is rejected; they have no television, radio or newspapers. Though mainly an observational film there are several interviews, which offer insights into their life, faith, moments of doubt and their belief in the power of prayer in the heart of the community.