On Friday evening, the Cinémathèque in Luxembourg city centre hosted two screenings within the context of the 7th annual British & Irish Film Season (BIFS); first-off was the England-Norway drama Bliss!, followed by The Carer.
The screening of Bliss! was attended by the writer / director / producer Rita Osei and actors Freya Parks and Montserrat Lombard, who participated in the post-screening Q&A. Rita Osei explained that the film was based on a stage play written by Alex Ferguson and that she had spent nine years in getting it to the screen. She talked about the financing, the vasting, the shooting and the cinematography. Freya Parks and Montserrat Lombard informed the audience about their preparation for their roles and recalled a couple of anecdotes, primarily around the weather and either how dry or how cold it had been.
The audience was delighted to be able to mingle with the guests during a post-screening reception, many requesting photographs with the stars.
The Carer was then screened, with the audience delighted both both the drama and the comedy.
Film synopsis (Bliss!): With its World Premier suitably on Fathers Day, this thoughtful drama tells the story of a dysfunctional family that needs father-figures. Set in north-east England and the west coast of Norway, it follows teenager Natasha who sets off for Norway to search for her father whom she knows just as "The Viking". Superb cityscapes and landscape cinematography.
Film Synopsis (The Carer): A witty drama that can be described as a cross between Still Alice and 45 Years, showing the human elements behind a debilitating disease and its effects on those around who all suffer. A retired Shakespearian actor suffers from Parkinson's and his family arrange a live-in carer, a young Hungarian woman who herself aspires to be on the stage. Wonderful performances with great dialogue and superb comical timing.
The festival screenings at the week-end move back to Ciné Utopia in Limtertsberg with Saturday (19:00) seeing Jodie Whittaken in her latest film, Adult Life Skills. On Sunday, the matinee at 14:00 is Swallows and Amazons, based on the classic children's story by Arthur Ransone, and The Library Suicides, a Welsh-language thriller starring Catrin Stewart at 19:00 (EN sub-titles).
For full details and ticketing, see www.bifilmseason.lu
Photos by Ali Sahib
