BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL 2011 october 12 - october 27, 2011

55th BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL: SELECTED FILMS 2011

Putting a humorous spin on a tragic situation, 50/50 tells the story of Adam, a 27 year old nice-guy, who is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and his struggle to beat the terminal illness. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard and Angelica Houston. Written by Will Reiser. Directed by Jonathan Levine.

ANONYMOUS

What if William Shakespeare never wrote a single word of any of his plays? Set amid the tumultuous political climate surrounding Elizabeth the First’s succession to the throne, Anonymous explores the theory that the Earl of Oxford, Edward De Vere, was the true mastermind behind Shakespeare’s prolific literary career. Starring Rhys Ifans, David Thewlis, Rafe Spall, Joely Richardson and Vanessa Redgrave. Written by John Orloff. Directed by Roland Emmerich.

THE ARTIST

With the advent of sound, silent film veteran George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) fears his Hollywood stardom is in jeopardy, while Peppy Miller, a young extra, becomes a major movie star. Staying true to the period and the subject of the film, director Michel Hazanavicius filmed The Artist in black and white and entirely without sound. Starring Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, Malcolm McDowell, John Goodman, James Cromwell, Penelope Ann Miller and Missi Pyle. Directed by Michel Hazanavicius.

THE AWAKENING

The year is 1921. The Spanish flu and the First World War have shattered the spirits of England’s population and created an environment rife with grief, terror, and stories of the missing undead. Ghost debunker Florence Cathcart (Rebecca Hall) seeks to validate her supernatural suspicions when an alleged ghost terrorizes a boarding school.

THE BLACK POWER MIXTAPE 1967-1975

A group of Swedish Filmmakers came to the United States in the 1960s and ‘70s to examine the Black Power Movement in America. Decades later the footage was discovered and pieced together by Swedish documentarian Goran Olsson to create The Black Power Mixtape, a revealing and powerful look inside an important and turbulent time in American History where race, politics and economics collided head on. Directed by Goran Hugo Olsson.

CARNAGE

Two couples agree to sit down and cordially discuss a schoolyard brawl involving their sons, but the mask of civility quickly begins to slip and both sets of parents find themselves embroiled in a confrontation of their own. Based on the 2009 Tony Award-winning play “God of Carnage” by Yasmina Reza. Starring Kate Winslet, Jodi Foster, John C. Reilly and Christoph Waltz. Directed by Roman Polanski.

CORIOLANUS

William Shakespeare’s revenge tragedy leaves Ancient Rome and gets a modern makeover in Ralph Fiennes’ directorial debut, Coriolanus. Fiennes directs and stars as Coriolanus, a revered Roman hero who is banished from his city when his political opponents successfully conspire to brand him a traitor. With the help of his former enemy, Coriolanus embarks on a campaign of vengeance, determined to destroy Rome. Also starring Gerard Butler, Jessica Chastain, Brian Cox and Vanessa Redgrave.

A DANGEROUS METHOD

A Dangerous Method, the latest from director David Cronenberg, examines the complex relationship between the fathers of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. Based on the book “A Most Dangerous Method” by John Kerr and adapted from the play “The Talking Cure” by Christopher Hampton. Starring Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightly, Vincent Cassel and Sarah Gadon. Directed by David Cronenberg.

THE DESCENDANTS

When Matt King’s wife dies in a boating accident, the Hawaiian land heir and apathetic father of two girls learns that his wife had been having an affair. King (George Clooney) sets out to confront his wife’s lover, and in the process, is forced to reassess his life as he faces an uncertain future. Based on the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings. Starring George Clooney, Judy Greer, Shaliene Woodley, Matthew Lillard, Beau Bridges and Amara Miller. Directed by Alexander Payne.

DRAGONSLAYER

Dragonslayer follows SoCal skateboarder Josh “Skreech” Sandoval as he wanders the decaying suburban landscape of Southern California in search of love, booze, drugs and empty swimming pools. Tristan Patterson’s brilliantly crafted documentary digs beneath Skreech’s destructive lifestyle to reveal a man conflicted with the real world, the future, and the responsibilities of employment and fatherhood.

FOOTNOTE

Historic rivalries are commonplace within Hebrew University’s world-renowned Talmud Department, even ones between father and son. When a father wins the Israel Prize, the most prized honor in Israel, his son (and fellow professor) must choose between advancing his father’s career or sabotaging it. Starring Lior Ashkenazi, Shmuel Shiloh and Yuval Scharf. Written and directed by Joseph Cedar. From Israel. Hebrew with English subtitles.

THE FUTURE

Sophie and Jason decide to adopt a cat thinking it only has a short time left to live, but they soon discover that may not be the case. With their sense of freedom destroyed, the couple set out to rid themselves of the shackles that have been holding them back from living their lives to the fullest. Starring Miranda July and Hamish Linklater. Written and directed by Miranda July.

THE IDES OF MARCH

In the final days before the heavily contested Ohio Democratic presidential primary, a hot shot campaign staffer finds himself involved in a political scandal that could cost his candidate a shot at the presidency. Based on the play “Farragut North” by Beau Willimon. Starring George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Paul Giamatti, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Marissa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood. Directed by George Clooney.

LIKE CRAZY

The only thing standing in the way of college sweethearts Jacob (a handsome Californian boy) and Anna (a striking British exchange student) is Anna’s expired student visa. Director Drake Doremus draws upon personal experiences to chronicle this complicated long distance relationship as it evolves over the course of 8 years. Starring Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones and Jennifer Lawrence. Written and directed by Drake Dormeus.

MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE

After escaping from an abusive cult, a young woman struggles to come to grips with what happened to her inside the cult and re-adjust to life on the outside. Starring Elizabeth Olsen, Sarah Paulson, John Hawkes, and Hugh Dancy. Written and directed by Sean Durkin.

MISS BALA

In Tijuana, 23 year old Laura Guerrero dreams of becoming a beauty queen on the pageant circuit. But when she finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time, she is thrust into the world of organized crime, forced to become a mule for a violent drug cartel. Starring Stephanie Sigman, Irene Azuela and Miguel Couturier. Written and directed by Gerardo Naranjo. From Mexico. Spanish with English subtitles.

RESTLESS

The story of a terminally ill teenage girl who falls for a boy who likes to attend funerals and their encounters with the ghost of a Japanese kamikaze pilot from WWII. Starring Mia Wasikowska, Henry Hopper, Schuyler Fisk, and Ryo Kase. Written by Jason Lew. Directed by Gus Van Sant.

TAKE SHELTER

Writer/director Jeff Nichols’ extraordinary follow up to 2007’s Shotgun Stories stars Michael Shannon as a man haunted by visions of the apocalypse. Curtis LaFourche (Shannon) becomes obsessed with building a storm shelter for his family. But are his premonitions real, or is he losing his mind? Starring Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain. Written and directed by Jeff Nichols.

TERRI

A high school assistant principal takes an overweight outsider under his wing. Official selection of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. Starring John C. Reilly, Jacob Wysocki and Creed Bratton. Written by Patrick DeWitt and Azazel Jacobs. Directed by Azazel Jacobs.

THIS MUST BE THE PLACE

Answering the dying wishes of his estranged father, a retired punk rocker (Sean Penn) embarks upon an American odyssey to track down the Nazi war criminal that humiliated his father over half a century ago. Starring Sean Penn, Frances McDormand and Judd Hirsch. Directed by Paolo Sorrentino.

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

When a sociopathic teenager goes on a spree killing at his high school, his mother struggles to come to terms with the horrific act committed by her son and contemplates her own culpability for his shocking actions. Based on the novel We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. Starring Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller. Directed by Lynne Ramsay.

WUTHERING HEIGHTS

In 19th century England, a poor boy is taken from the streets of Liverpool and is raised by a wealthy, albeit abusive, foster family. The only solace the boy finds is in the intense relationship he forms with his foster sister. Director Andrea Arnold uses rustic imagery and minimal dialogue to faithfully recreate the brooding setting of Emily Bronte’s classic novel. Starring Kaya Scodelario, James Howson, Nichola Burley, Oliver Milburn and James Northcote. Directed by Andrea Arnold.