Projects in genres: Drama

Synopsis

Set in 1848, Oliver Twist is the story of an orphan, born in a workhouse and brought up in harsh and cruel conditions, half-starved by the corrupt parish authorities. He is unlucky enough to be chosen to ask for more gruel and is immediately found employment in an undertaker’s establishment where he is treated quite as badly as he was in the workhouse. He escapes and makes his way to London where he falls in with the Artful Dodger, a boy of his own age, who introduces him to the villainous Fagin. Fagin runs a gang of boys who are pickpockets and thieves, and whose associates are Bill Sykes, a violent criminal, and his girlfriend, Nancy.
 
Oliver is caught up in a series of misadventures in which he is wrongly accused of thieving, is taken in by Mr Brownlow, a kindly benefactor, and is recaptured by Fagin. Forced to take part in a robbery with Bill Sykes, Oliver is saved by the humanity of Nancy who betrays her former friends. Bill Sykes murders her and is himself eventually trapped but dies before he can be arrested. Oliver is taken in by Mr Brownlow and given the promise of a better life.

Synopsis

Omagh is the true story of the families of the victims of the Omagh bomb, and their courageous and inspirational pursuit of justice.

Synopsis

Frank (Peter Mullan) determines to salvage his self-esteem and to tackle his demons by attempting the ultimate test of endurance - to swim the English Channel. On a Clear Day is a classic blend of comedy and high drama, an inspiring tale of triumph over adversity that will touch you and leave you wanting more.

Synopsis

Leni Dalinsky arrives home to introduce her fiance Rafi to her Jewish family. Everything goes wonderfully until he reveals he is Palestinian. Trying to ingratiate himself, Rafi offers to help in the kitchen, but accidentally drops the soup he was meant to defrost out of the seventh floor window, hitting a pedestrian below who looks remarkably like Leni's father.
 
In a heightened state of anxiety, Rafi is forced to continue supper made somewhat unplatable by the first course being soup. During the meal, Leni's sister Tania, single mum and part time belly dancer, reveals her suspicion that their father is having an affair.
 
Gloria, Leni's mother, is in a state of apoplexy and insists on going to the office to catch him in flagrante delicto. Gloria drags the rest of the family with her to bear witness. While the search is on, Rafi and Tania slip off and Tania demonstrates her belly dancing technique to an ecstatic Rafi, leading to an illicit kiss. Gloria, returning from her search, is depressed and sits down beside Rafi demanding to know whether or not he finds her attractive. Rafi is frozen with shock: not only has he apparently killed the father and kissed the sister but now the mother is coming onto him.

Synopsis

Pobby and Dingan are invisible: you don't have to see them to believe them. They live in a harsh wilderness, the opal capital of the world and are friends with Kellyanne. This is the funny, uplifting and touching story of the bizarre and inexplicable disappearance of Pobby and Dingan, Kellyanne's imaginary friends, and the impact this has on her family and the whole town.

Synopsis

The seaside town's closing up. Pierre's ready to leave. Kelly has other ideas. She gets Simeon to steal his money. Then she gets him a job with Simeon, working as a look-out. On his first job, Pierre's curiousity gets the better of him. He breaks in to Harry's Bar.

Harry catches him red-handed. Seeing something in Pierre that reminds him of his son, Harry offers to teach him the art of burglary, his former trade.

Pierre embarks on a crash course with Harry and Kelly competing for his attention, until Kelly proposes the perfect robbery - her parents, Michael and Eileen.

Meanwhile, Simeon has agreed to help Eileen. The plan is to stage a robbery and kill Michael. Simeon gets the jewellery. Eileen her freedom. Unknowingly, they pick the same night that Kelly suggests to Pierre.
Harry comes clean. He was a small-time thief, harbouring great dreams which led to the tragic death of his son. Seeing that things are about to come full circle, Harry halts the training.

But, like the gravity-driven roller-coaster running ominously throughout the film, Pierre is powerless to stop himself fulfilling what he now sees as his destiny.

Synopsis

Take one television chef, past his sell-by date, add three armed robbers, stir in the police and simmer for three days. Bring to the boil and serve with a dressing of sexual tension and confusion. On screen, Felix Limb appears to be the perfect convivial TV chef. Off screen he is a neurotic with rapidly plummeting ratings and an American wife, Michelle, who seems to do most of the cooking. Tonight he is hosting one of his regular dinner parties for influential guests, and a few old rivals, plus an ambitious nubile PA – Amy. As the dinner party reaches the final course, with a drunken Felix about to come to blows with Bruce, in walk two masked and heavily armed strangers - Simon Cooper had planned to kidnap a bank manager with the help of a mysterious American mercenary, Vaughn. But Simon has written down the wrong address and before he can correct his mistake the police arrive. With the house surrounded, this dinner party is going to last longer than anyone expected.

Synopsis

First kiss. A moment repressed? The story is about a woman named Sim in her mid-twenties. Sim is happy with her life and has a good relationship with her girlfriend. Then, out of the blue she gets an unexpected call from her childhood love, Maya, who is now married.

Synopsis

Four useless Neds steal a priceless painting from a Scottish castle in return for ten percent of its insurance value. The four art thieves are not quite the smooth operators they believe themselves to be, and their plot to blackmail the owner of the painting is foiled by their own incompetence. Instead of beating a quick retreat abroad, the boys remain in Scotland and try to blend into the background by becoming high profile tourists in golfing ranges and hunting lodges. They are noticed quickly when the heavy handed William accidentally shoots James, his feckless sidekick, on a hunting trip. As each tourist escapade becomes more ridiculous their plans unravel, but they are powerless to resist the lure of the many pretty women who find their money and time irresistible.

Synopsis

South Africa, 2000. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has arrived in Smitsrivier, opening a window onto a bloody past, and dragging three people in its wake.

Sarah Barcant, hotshot New York lawyer, has returned to her old hometown to help a torture victim confront his tormentor. Alex Mpondo, now a celebrated politician, has found himself back where he was 18 years ago - reliving his ordeal and hoping to expose the truth.  And Dirk Hendricks, ex-police officer and torturer, has been brought out of jail to confess his crimes before the Commission.

A compelling drama about the secrets of the past and the healing of a wounded country.

Synopsis

Molly's battle with cancer is finally over. Her son, Ricky, promises her a last supper and a morphine cocktail to help her on her way.
 

Synopsis

A 19th century adventure, River Queen is the story of a young woman's search for identity and love; a woman torn between the two worlds of white colonial New Zealand and native Maori culture.