FAR NORTH

Tuesday, October 30---------As the London Film Festival moves into its final days, it has, it might be argued, saved the best for last. In the next few days, the Festival will present a strong array of films and will welcome an international group of film talents to the Red Carpet. On Tuesday, the Festival will offer the UK Premiere of FAR NORTH, director Asif Kapadia's thrilling epic tale set in the forbidding tundra of the Arctic North. Joining the director on the Red Carpet are co-writers Tim Miller, Dario Maeianelli and Sarah Maitland. 

This will be followed by the Film On The Square Gala screening of JUNO, the sophomore film from American director Jason Reitman, which just won Best Film honors at the Rome Film Festival. The film, which features an all-star cast including Jason Bateman and Alliison Janney, is the quirky story of a young teenage girl who deals with her pregnancy in unusual ways that challenge her family and friends. Young actress  Ellen Page is making waves with her terrific performance as the wise-beyond-her-years teen who teaches everyone a lesson in humility and humanity. Director Jason Reitman (whose first film THANK YOU FOR SMOKING was an international success) walks the Red Carpet with the film's star Allison Janney and screenwriter Diablo Cody.

The UK's own Nick Broomfield is up next with his documentary/fiction mix BATTLE FOR HADITHA. This is the European premiere of the film, which deftly mixes dramatic style with the director's documentary technique to produce a scathing story of soldier abuses in the "war against terror". Director Nick Broomfield will be joined on the Red Carpet with actor Elliot Ruiz and editor Stuart Gazzard.

Tomorrow night, French director Francois Ozon, one of the leading lights of international cinema, will be in London for the UK Premiere of his first English-language film, the period piece ANGEL. The film is a rags-to-riches melodrama about a young woman who becomes a romance novelist in turn of the century England. The film's sweeping visuals and over-the-top performances offer a glossy period film that they just don't make anymore, but Ozon does. In his own way, the director is reviving the glamour of old time Hollywood, while also offering a feminist take on a classic success-comes-with-loss scenario. Romola Garai gives a memorable performance as the young woman who dares to dream, fulfills her fantasies and ends up learning that fame is not everything.

Also premiering tomorrow night is THE BANISHMENT, Russian director Andrei Zviaguinstev's mesmerisingly beautiful story of a marriage undone by masculine pride. Very loosely based on a short story by the American novelist William Sorayan, it allows Zviaguintsev ample scope to display his skills as master of mood and ambiguity. The director will attend the screening along with ace cinematographer Mikhail Krichman, who contributes immensely to the feel of the film. More cinema treats as the London Film Festival enters its final chapter.

Sandy Mandelberger, London FF Dailies Editor