On Tuesday evening, Ciné Utopia in Limpertsberg saw two contrasting films being screened as part of the 6th annual British & Irish Film Season in Luxembourg.
Dedicated to Meredith Kercher, the British student who was killed in Perugia in November 2007, The Face of an Angel is a drama looking at a fictional murder in Siena in Italy from the perspective of a journalist and a documentary filmmaker. It traces the facts and fiction from the murder scene through to the various court hearings involving the murdered girl's roommate and Italian boyfriend.
Director Michael Winterbottom approaches the story from a different perspective, i.e. not from that of the victim or the accused, and in doing so creates a drama about the people in siena because of the terrible crime that had been committed. The characters are developed well and the storyline flows, but the ending fizzkles out somewhat.
The second film yesterday evening was Absolutely Anything, the second Simon Pegg-starring film of BIFS 2015. In a wonderful British cast he, a comprehensive schoolteacher, has been picked out at random by some inter-galactic aliens and bestowed with special powers, enabling him to do "absolutely anything". The premise is that if he uses the powers wisely then the planet will be saved; if not, it will be destroyed. A simple premise that leads to a hilarious and rip-roaringly funny comedy that is well written and expertly acted.
From the aliens' voices by the Monty Python gang, to Kate Beckinsale as his neighbour, Joanna Lumley as her boss, Eddie Izzard as the schoolmaster and even the late Robin Williams as the vocie of Dennis, his dog, the cast is truly stellar. The storyline rolls along at a perfect pace, aided by a catchy soundtrack. Hugely enjoyable, and made even more special by a special BIFS kessage recorded by Michael Palin and director Terry Jone beforehand.
