Film: Benda Bilili!
Country of Production: Democratic Republic of the Congo/France
Benda Bilili! is a real-life world music fairytale, lifting the lid on the Congolese music scene to reveal the incredible true story behind Kinshasa’s ghetto stars; Staff Benda Bilili, the world music sensation who have exploded onto the scene with their critically acclaimed debut album Tres, Tres, Fort and electric performances at Glastonbury, Womad and other festivals worldwide. Staff Benda Bilili’s distinct musical style is a seductive mix of Congolese rumba, James Brown-esque funk, Cuban mambo, ancestral trance and Jimi Hendrix-esque flourishes from Roger Landu, the former street kid virtuoso.
Opening Directors Fortnight at Cannes this year, Renaud Barret and Florent de la Tullaye’s uplifting film is a frank and intimate portrait of the band, their musical energy and social observation of the realities of life in the Congo. Hotly tipped to be the next Buena Vista Social Club, Benda Bilili! Is a rare cinematic discovery; a powerful and inspirational film that follows the extraordinary journey of the band over the course of six years, from the streets of Kinshasa to headlining international music festivals. Benda Bilili! is the story of a dream become reality; a tale of triumph over adversity which embraces the band’s creed; to be true to oneself, take pride, be strong, and never give up.
Series: Naruto Shippuden - Box Set 5
Country of Production: Japan
Episodes 54-65 of the 'Naruto' anime spin-off series.
The fifth set follows Naruto, who is troubled by nightmares after his second failed attempt to bring Sasuke home. Kakashi, recovering in the hospital, suggests a new training regimen for Naruto that puts him in touch with his wind chakra nature.
Film: Biutiful
Country of Production: Mexico/Spain
Oscar-nominated for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Actor (Javier Bardem), Biutiful is directed by Mexican auteur Alejandro González Iñárritu (Amores Perros, 21 Grams), and tells the story of a man who struggles to reconcile fatherhood, love, spirituality, crime, guilt and mortality amidst the dangerous underworld of modern Barcelona.
Uxbal (Javier Bardem, No Country For Old Men, Vicky Cristina Barcelona) is a man with a bright side and a dark side. On the one hand a caring father, strong but affectionate towards his two children, he struggles to maintain a healthy relationship with their mother, Marambra (Maricel Álvarez), despite her problems with alcohol and instability. But Uxbal is also a criminal who oversees a small underground empire alongside his impulsive brother Tito (Eduard Fernández) and fellow crime boss Hai. Uxbal's dealings range from drugs to construction, but, unlike his partners, he tries to treat those around him with dignity, even as he trades in human misery. Uxbal's precarious world begins to collapse when he's diagnosed with a serious illness and told he has only a few weeks left to live; he comes to consider what his life will mean for the legacy he leaves his children, and sets about trying to make a better life for them before he departs.
Film: The Wedding Song
Country of Production: France/Tunisia
César nominee writer/director Karin Albou's bold second feature lifts the lid on a chapter of WWII history that has rarely been shown. Reminiscent of women-led wartime films such as Aimée & Jaguar and The Diary Of Anne Frank, The Wedding Song explores both Jewish and Arab cultures and female sexuality to winning effect.
Tunis, 1942: Against the Allied bombs and the goosesteps of the Nazi occupiers, two teenage girlfriends, one Muslim, the other Jewish, cling to the bond they’ve shared since childhood. However, the world shared by Jews and Arabs is being split by German promises of liberation - they’ll rid Tunis of the French and the Jews. As Myriam is no longer safe, her mother attempts to marry her off to a wealthy doctor to save them both. But Myriam doesn't want to get married, so she and Nour make efforts to scupper the wedding plans.
Series: Gunslinger Girl: II Teatrino – The Complete Series
Country of Production: Japan
All 13 episodes from the follow-up series to the Japanese anime that follows the exploits of brainwashed assassins working for a branch of Italian intelligence.
When the Social Welfare Agency investigates the disappearance of an operative, their inquiry leads them right into the lair of their rival, the Five Republics. The assassin Triela infiltrates the hostile organization, but her search is cut short when she finds herself staring down the barrel of a gun.
Film: Trackman
Country of Production: Russia
Horror lurks underground in this new, twisted Russian horror film, from the makers of 30 Days Of Night and The Grudge.
A perfect bank heist turns deadly when the criminals and their hostages flee to an abandoned underground subway station to escape the authorities. Searching for a way out, they don’t realise that they are being hunted by the Trackman; a madman that prowls the darkness, looking for potential victims. Existing in the dark, dank tunnels of an abandoned subway system and preying on those who venture from the safety of the streets above, the Trackman is a lone serial killer who specialises in collecting eyeballs.
Film: My Friend From Faro
Country of Production: Germany
Nana Neul's blistering directorial debut has drawn comparisons with Boys Don't Cry and Unveiled. An assured, mature piece of work that draws heartfelt performances from its leads, Neul's future work will be worth watching out for.
Eternal daydreamer Mel can't wait to quit her ‘sucky’ catering job and fly to her dream destination: Portugal. Things change when the beautiful Jenny literally crashes into her life when Mel nearly runs her over in her classic BMW. It is love at first sight; however, there is just one problem: Jenny mistakenly assumes Mel to be a boy. Despite this, the pair become boyfriend and girlfriend. With Mel attempting to disguise her true gender at every turn, her journey from tomboy to out lesbian is fraught with life-defining dilemmas and sweet surprises.
*The release date is subject to change for any of these titles.
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