Projects in genres: Drama

Synopsis

The Graduate meets Harold and Maude in this rites-of-passage comedy with yet another dreary school holiday coming around for the shy and downtrodden Ben (Rupert Grint). Seventeen years of living in an absurdly conservative and traditional household with his highly-strung and overbearing mother (Laura Linney) and quiet, mild-mannered vicar father have taken their toll on young Ben. While the other kids are out having fun, Ben spends these precious few weeks attending Bible classes, having driving lessons with his mother and helping out at a local old people's home.

However, Ben's world is turned upside down when he's employed by an eccentric retired actress Evie (Julie Walters). Vulgar, dignified and childish all at once, she certainly is not the kind of person Ben expected when searching through the job listings in the stuffy parish magazine, Hello Jesus. Evie enters Ben's life with a cataclysmic force, whisking him away on a series of adventures from camping to performing Shakespeare in the garden, to attending the Edinburgh Festival - where he finally meets a girl much nearer his own age.

Evie's unconventional and often downright bizarre behaviour challenges Ben's beliefs, and forces him to confront the very idea of who he wants to be. Then, when it seems that his new-found freedom is about to be taken away, Ben has to suddenly choose: should he continue to conform, or break out and live his life as his own man?

Driving Lessons is a heartfelt, touching and positively hilarious look at the effect one delightfully eccentric older woman can have on a young man with a lot to learn.

Synopsis

Every Saturday, Colin, Neil, Dexter and Darren cruise the streets of Nottinghamshire, talking about any subject that comes into their head. At home their wives and girlfriends wonder what keeps them out of the house all day and how four grown men can be so indulgent of a juvenile pursuit. As the day unfolds and a dare to partake in an activity that may test the moral fibre of the group begins to unearth deep rooted resentments, the guys come to realise that maybe they have grown apart and not acknowledge it up until now. Decisions, arguments, accusations and confrontations, lead the four friends back to their home town where life is waiting for them. And the harsh reality that we all have to accept ourselves and situations sooner or later.

Synopsis

An all-gay football team in an amateur football league gets the chance of a lifetime when they have the opportunity to play against the big guns.

Synopsis

Simon has organised his first Speed Dating night in a crumbling community centre in London's East End. Ten lonely people come together for their own reasons: romantic, physical, emotional, business.

Encounters is a funny, sad and touching insight into the quest for love in the Big City.

Synopsis

It is September and end of season in the Italian holiday resort of Forte dei Marmi.

Synopsis

Calloway, an art collector, announces a £1 million competition for the most innovative work of art from his stable of young artists. In Calloway's stable is the eccentric Duncan Jones, who produces a canvas that stretches even Calloway's expectations.

Synopsis

One word - five lives. Five people, on the very same street, at the very same time, use the very same word, for five very different reasons.

Synopsis

When Brazilian teenager Eva turns up to work as a stripper in a London pub, she appears to be just another foreigner from the agency. But Eva has never done the job before and English Rachel, an old hand, is less than delighted to see her.

Synopsis

In a small town in the north of France, Francois, who runs a garage, has an appointment with Vincent, a psychiatrist. 'My wife tells me that she only feels pleasure when making love with murderers. If there's no crime, there's no orgasm. What should I do?' Francois asks. Vincent's answer is simple. 'Embrace her fantasy. Invent a fake crime.' The only problem is, just when Francois admits to a murder, a man is actually killed near his garage. And it's not just any old corpse - the dead man is Maurice Weckmann, a dreaded thug no-one dared to chase out of town. Francois, whom has always envied because he's married to the most beautiful woman in the region, then becomes a local star. But who really killed Maurice Weckmann?

Synopsis

Based on the true story of A R Cikatilo, also known as the Monster of Rostov. A R Evilenko (Malcolm McDowell) is a serial killer who killed and ate more than 50 children in the old Soviet Republic. Lesiev (Marton Csokas) is the detective who tracks down and catches him.

Synopsis

The timely story of a normal family disintegrating under financial pressure, eventually driven to the unimaginable. We witness the terrifying events unfold through daughter Judith's video camera, which subsequently becomes Exhibit A.

Synopsis

When Emma Lassiter’s boyfriend dumps her, she decides to make a video diary documenting her quest to get him back. A selection of abortive ideas later, she opts for the radical path of cosmetic surgery, but when the price proves to be prohibitive, Emma takes things into her own hands.