Orla Smith.

In anticipation of the 25th Raindance Film Festival – taking place from September 20th to October 1st in London – we spotlight ten of the most interesting films on this year’s programme.

Barrage

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENJUiV378Aw

DIRECTOR: Laura Schroeder

COUNTRY: Luxembourg, Belgium, France

STRANDS: Narrative, Europe

SYNOPSIS: Catherine (Lolita Chammah), a young mother struggling with substance abuse, is determined to rekindle her relationship with her estranged daughter, Alba, who has been in the care of Catherine’s strict and at times overbearing mother Elisabeth (Chammah’s real-life mother, Isabelle Huppert) since she was two years old.

Find out more here

Boys for Sale

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-D97Ip_tjE

DIRECTOR: Itako

COUNTRY: Japan

STRANDS: Documentaries, LGBT

SYNOPSIS: In Tokyo’s Shinjuku district are bars specialising in “Urisen” – young guys who have sex with men. Featuring candid interviews interspersed with animation detailed the awkward, unnerving, and sometimes funny situations these sex workers experience, the boys for sale boldly tell their stories of life in the Tokyo underground.

Find out more here

I Still Hide to Smoke

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jMDVhyfQyA

DIRECTOR: Rayhana

COUNTRY: France, Greece, Algeria

STRANDS: Narrative, Discovery

SYNOPSIS: In the heart of the hammam ― far from the accusing gaze of men, mothers, lovers, virgins and Islamic fanatics ― butts and burqas mingle and mix, confront one another with laughter, tears, rage, the Bible and the Koran… before the flash of a dagger and the silence of God.

Find out more here

The Joneses

DIRECTOR: Moby Longinotto

COUNTRY: UK, USA, Australia

STRANDS: Documentaries, LGBT

SYNOPSIS: The story of Jheri Jones, a 74-year-old transgender divorcee, and her family in ‘bible belt’ Mississippi. Reconciled after years of estrangement, and now living with two sons in her trailer park home, Jheri embarks on a journey to reveal herself to her grandchildren, while son Trevor begins a journey of his own.

Find out more here

Noble Earth

DIRECTOR: Ursula Grisham

COUNTRY: USA

STRANDS: Narrative, The Americas

SYNOPSIS: After getting fired from her job in New York, Emma travels to Florence to think her life through. During her stay, she meets Tancredi, and Italian nobleman. Their romance quickly progresses and soon she is treated as a fully-fledged member of his family. At first, Emma is enchanted by the handsome Italian, but soon she sees the true nature of his elitist, bourgeoisie kin. Her role is strictly imposed, but will she break ranks?

Find out more here

Oh Lucy!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufhs0pagQt8

DIRECTOR: Atsuko Hirayanagi

COUNTRY: Japan

STRANDS: Narrative, Opening Night Gala

SYNOPSIS: Setsuko is seemingly stuck with her life in Tokyo until she is convinced by her nice, Mika, to enrol in an unorthodox English class that requires her to wear a blonde wig and take on an American persona named ‘Lucy’. The new identity awakens something dormant in Setsuko, and she quickly falls for her American instructor, John (Josh Hartnett).

Find out more here

The Receptionist

DIRECTOR: Jenny Lu

COUNTRY: UK, Taiwan

STRANDS: Narrative, United Kingdom

SYNOPSIS: An illegal massage parlour in London is seen through the eyes of a Taiwanese graduate employed there as a receptionist.

Find out more here

Siblings

DIRECTOR: Laura Plancarte

COUNTRY: US, Mexico

STRANDS: Documentaries

SYNOPSIS: The film focuses on two parties: Vanessa, a single mother and Trump supporter living in California, and Chuy and Chato, two brothers who live in Mexico after their mother fled to the USA in the hope of finding her own dream.

Find out more here

Stuck

DIRECTOR: Michael Berry

COUNTRY: USA

STRANDS: Narrative, Closing Night Gala

SYNOPSIS: A modern musical film about six complete strangers who get stuck underground on a New York City subway. They are of different races, cultures and ages. The emotions of the trapped strangers fly as they reveal who they really are through song.

Find out more here

Transmania

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jjt5qV7Xh4

DIRECTOR: Various

COUNTRY: Croatia

STRANDS: Narrative, Europe

SYNOPSIS: One film, directed by 15 directors, each tasked with a 5 minute segment. Each director was only allowed to see the last minute of the segment previous to theirs.

Find out more here

Share this...

Linkedin

We hope you're enjoying BRWC. You should check us out on our social channels, subscribe to our newsletter, and tell your friends. BRWC is short for battleroyalewithcheese.

Trending on BRWC:

Cool Posts From Around the Web: