For culture lovers, August in Scotland normally means one thing: the Edinburgh Festival… but it’s not all about street performers and sold-out arenas. For those who prefer their entertainment to come on the silver screen and away from the throngs of tourists in Scotland’s capital, here’s a quick rundown of some of the new releases at the Edinburgh Filmhouse and the Glasgow Film Theatre.
Isabella Eklöf / Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden / 2018 / 93 mins
Young and naïve Danish beauty Sascha (Victoria Carmen Sonne) goes on vacation with her big shot drug lord boyfriend and his cronies to Turkey for the first time, only to discover that her role in this world is more degrading and debauched than she could have imagined. Dark, disturbing but powerfully compelling, this is one holiday you’ll be glad to come back from.
@ Edinburgh Filmhouse from Friday 2 August
@ GFT from Friday 2 August
Ritesh Batra / Germany, India, USA / 2019 / 119 mins
Struggling photographer Rafi (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) has to fight off the twin pressures of crushing debt and an overbearing grandmother who wishes to see him married post-haste. Seeking to escape the latter, he enlists the help of a complete stranger to pose as his fiancée, with results that both acknowledge and subvert traditional tropes of the genre.
@ Edinburgh Filmhouse from Friday 2 August
@ GFT from Friday 9 August
Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
Quentin Tarantino / USA, UK / 2019 / 159 mins
The godfather of gore and the specialist in snappy dialogue Quentin Tarantino returns with a throwback to 1960s Hollywood. Washed-up actor Rick (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his long-time stunt double Cliff (Brad Pitt) both find themselves marginalised by an industry changing before their very eyes and must fight to stay relevant. Expect them to do so in irreverent and amusing ways.
@ Edinburgh Filmhouse from Wednesday 14 August
@ GFT from Wednesday 14 August 2019
Pedro Almodóvar / Spain / 2019 / 113 mins
This semi-autobiographical effort from the Spanish cult hero follows the story of Salvador (Antonio Banderas), a disillusioned director who looks back on his life to try and gain inspiration going forwards. Equal parts a touching trip down memory lane and a love letter to the world of cinema, this poignant movie is sprinkled heavily with Almodóvar magic.
@ Edinburgh Filmhouse from Friday 23 August
@ GFT from Friday 23 August
Lila Avilés / Mexico / 2018 / 102 mins
A put-upon chambermaid at a fancy Mexico City hotel dreams of a better life for herself away from the tawdry business of making beds and vacuuming carpets. This intimate character study is aloof and unsentimental, but also manages to capture the emotion and inspiration of tiny little moments of life. A joy.
@ Edinburgh Filmhouse from Friday 23 August
@ GFT from Tuesday 30 July