Projects in genres: Drama

Synopsis

Set in 17th century Holland, Girl With A Pearl Earring tells the imagined and highly suspenseful story behind one of Vermeer's greatest and most enigmatic paintings. Griet, a tilemaker's daughter, is forced by tragedy to become a maid for the master painter.

Fascinated by his craft, she soon shows an aptitude for helping in his studio, where she finds herself drawn to the man and his world of colour and light. As she becomes part of his work, their growing intimacy spreads disruption and jealousy within his ordered household and beyond, fuelling a scandal which threatens to ruin them all.

Synopsis

Goldfish Memoirs is a film that focuses on five middle-class Roman Catholic schoolboys: George, Edmund, Berty, Harry and Matthew. Through a series of loosely connected and at many times ambiguous events the film looks at the relationship between the boys and explores universal themes of individualism, tribalism, violence, freedom and love.

With minimal dialogue composed from contemporary speech and the Shakespearean stage, the film employs a non-casual and stylised structure as we follow the group of boys and gradually come to understand the relationships and friendships within.

Using a bold, original uncompromising form, Goldfish Memoirs presents a surprisingly fresh perspective on the ensemble piece, offering a subtle range and understated performances from the excellent young cast.

Synopsis

H3 is set in the H-Blocks of the Maze Prison in the North of Ireland during the period, early January 1981 up to the death of Bobby Sands on hunger strike on 5 May 1981.

Seamus Scullion is the man chosen to select the names of his fellow prisoners in the H3 prison block who are ultimately prepared to die for what they believe in.

Synopsis

In this charming romantic comedy, British artist Colin Ware (Colin Firth) discovers that his fiancé, Vera (Minnie Driver), the love of his life, is going to marry another man. Distraught and despondent, he gets on a plane for America and ends up in the tiny town of Hope in New England. At first, Colin is depressed, but soon finds more than a shoulder to cry on when his innkeepers introduce him to Mandy (Heather Graham), a beautiful nurse. All's going well and Colin has almost forgotten his old flame until Vera suddenly shows up with a surprise of her own. Hope Springs is about finding happiness where you least expect it.

Synopsis

Tina's cheating on Grant. Grant's too drunk to care. Mandy is still in love with Alastair. Alistair is still in love with himself. Jackie is trying to keep her drug habit secret from Clark. Clark is keeping a secret of his own. Gav is desperate to go out with Sophie. Sophie's just desperate and Lee just wants to quit smoking. Housewives, dealers, coppers, cabbies, media execs and rent boys all cross paths in this tale of interconnected lives set in the chaos that is London. They are all searching for an escape from an unforgiving city. When Lee attempts to quit smoking he sets in motion a chain of events that ultimately ends in death and disaster.

Synopsis

Bulgaria 1952. 12 year-old David (Ben Tibber) escapes from the labour camp where he has lived most of his life. He races for freedom and stows away on a cargo ship bound for Italy.

Forced to deal with strangers for the first time in his life, David finds solace in the memory of his friend and mentor in the camp, Johannes (Jim Caviezel). He is given money for helping out some tourists and is able to buy food.

David comes across some children playing around an old shed. The shed catches fire with a little girl trapped inside and David rescues her with seconds to spare. Her grateful parents take David in but, unable to trust them, David runs away.

At the Swiss border, David meets an artist named Sophie (Joan Plowright). Sophie takes David to a bookshop where he sees a book that was written by a woman who lost her husband and son at the end of the war. He recognises the photo on the dust-jacket as his mother.

Urgent arrangements are made for David to fly to Denmark where, on the airport runway in Copenhagen he has an emotional reunion with his mother.

Synopsis

I Capture The Castle is a classically romantic tale of a young girl's emotional journey into adulthood, as she discovers the secrets of her own feelings and sexuality. Along the way she must encounter the trials and tribulations that life throws at her - many of which are hilarious, some of which may prompt a tear. Set against the stunning backdrop of awe-inspiring castles, dramatic landscapes and glamorous 1930's London; this is a film that will charm and delight.

Based on the novel by the best selling author Dodie Smith (One Hundred And One Dalmations). Produced by the Oscar* winning David Parfitt, (Gangs Of New York, Shakespeare In Love*, Wings Of The Dove, The Madness Of King George, Much Ado About Nothing) Directed By Tim Fywell (The Woman In White, North Square, Madam Bovary) with acclaimed Oscar* nominated cinematographer Richard Greatrex (A Knights Tale, Shakespeare In Love*, Mrs Brown).

Synopsis

I'll Sleep When I'm Dead is a taut, provocative character-driven thriller about contemporary life, justice and revenge. Will Graham (Clive Owen), a legendary London gangster, has given up the crime life to seek solace in the rural forest-land of North West Wales. His past will always affect him - he hardly sleeps; works without credentials - as he tries to make peace with himself.

His young, womanising, street-smart brother Davey (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers), to whom he's devoted, is a dashing, minor criminal. After scoring a deal and partying late into the night, he's followed home and attacked.

Sensing something is amiss, Will is pulled back to the city. Shocked and distraught, Will's antennae are re-tuned to the rush of London as he begins to investigate the disturbing event.

He seeks the counsel of his former gang-mates, ignites the jealousy of crime boss Turner (Ken Stott), visits the distressed Mrs Bartz (Sylvia Syms), tracks the mysterious Boad (Malcolm McDowell) and rekindles his relationship with Helen (Charlotte Rampling), the wise, romantic restauranteur.

Synopsis

The Salford-based story of Bernard, a loner. Since the loss of his wife, Bernard becomes trapped in the past and unable to break out of a funereal ritual that comes to define him.

Synopsis

This compelling film follows refugees Jamal and Enayatullah as they travel overland to London, passing through Iran, Turkey, Italy and France. Their fictitious journey is a distillation of the experiences of a multitude of real life asylum seekers and migrants - courageous and resourceful people seeking a better life but whose stories so often end in tragedy.

Synopsis

A couple break up briefly (the intermission of the title), sending ripples through the lives of everyone around them. Ripples that become shockwaves as a film-maker teams up with a cop for a journey into violence: a jilted wife plots revenge on her husband; three men team up for a daring kidnap-robbery. These and other stories collide, dovetail and climax in extreme ways, pushing the couple toward a reunion which in turn restores a kind of order.

Synopsis

'Me? Take it easy now, calm down. It couldn't be me, it couldn't be me! I mean if you don't know yourself who do you know? But the blood - It seemed crazy but how else could I be sure? So I set the camera up, tied myself to the bed and lay there, waiting - Guess I must have nodded off somehow, 'cos the next thing I know it's morning and I'm there just where I left myself. No problem, I'm telling myself, no problem - Then I played the tape. I just couldn't take it in. Me, a fuzzy black and white image in pyjamas, getting out of bed, leaving the room.'

Leonard Grey, superintendent of Jericho Mansions. His world may be small but he cares for every inch of it. The fading wallpaper in the entrance hall, the ageing carpet on the stairs, the clank of the elevator and above all, the faint but continuous refrain of lives being lived around him - For the last thirty years the building has been his universe. Beyond the front door of the apartment block lies a terrifying agoraphobic nightmare into which, for as long as he can remember, he has never dared to venture.

But Leonard's sanctuary is beginning to crumble; forces are conspiring to kick him out. Constant accusations by Lily Melnik, the landlady, of stealing worthless items from her apartment, stirrings of discontent among the residents, infidelities and finally a murder.

Bill Cherry, one of the building's inhabitants is found dead, his body thrown down the garbage chute. Though the cops believe they have their killer and motive - a jealous tenant taking revenge on his wife's lover - Leonard begins to discover clues that point to a different kind of killer. Himself.