Beatings, escapees and Hollywood producers at the London Film festival.

Scottish director Peter Mullan takes no prisoners in The Magdalene Sisters (released in the UK, 21 February 03). Unlike the nuns who ran the Magdalene Laundries, which “punished” girls for sins against the Catholic faith, right up until 1996. “Sins” that included being raped and getting pregnant out of wedlock. Set in 60s Ireland, it’s a grim film to watch. One girl gets beaten, another goes insane and a third has her spirit broken by evil nun Geraldine McEwan. It’s worth the effort, though. Almost.

For more suffering, on an even bigger scale, see Roman Polanski’s Cannes winner The Pianist. Adrien Brody plays Wladislaw Szpilman, a concert pianist who goes on the run in occupied Warsaw after his family have been shipped off the Nazi labour camps. Based on his own experiences in the Polish ghettos when he was a boy, Polanski has been wanting to make this film for years. Obviously, it’s brutal in places but it’s beautifully paced, with a truly moving performance from Brody. It’ll be released nationally on
24 January 03.

Watch interview: normal

The Kid Stays In The Picture chronicles the rise and fall of former underwear salesman and Hollywood producer Robert Evans, whose credits include The Godfather, Chinatown and Rosemary’s Baby. Now, 72, he “lived life to the full” (ie, took loads of drugs and had some dodgy friends) then collapsed with a stroke four years ago. “I was paralysed,” Evans told Collective. “And I beat it.” He points to the ceiling. “The guy upstairs wanted me to live. He wanted me to do something down here, and I’m going to do it. I’m going to spread the gospel of inspiration.” So get ready to be inspired when it’s released in the UK early
next year.

Watch Nanette Burstein interview:
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Watch Robert Evans interview:
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“We’re gonna live forever,” sang Beatles copyists and gobbledygook lyricists Oasis back in 1994, at the dawn of Britpop. No you’re not said Blur, and the rest is history. Director John Dower’s documentary Live Forever features all the right talking heads (although not Talking Heads, obviously), but somehow fails to capture the spirit of the times, before Noel went round to Tony’s and spoilt it all. See it at a cinema near you next February.

Jonathan Carter 14 November

useful link: london film festival official site