Victoria

Sixty Glorious Years is an exercise in the creation of iconography, both for Victoria and its star, Anna Neagle (who subsequently became known as 'Regal Neagle'). Just as Elizabeth I commissioned artists to create flattering iconic images for public consumption, so this film performs a similar function, for Neagle is more beautiful than the real life Victoria. Controversial events (such as the 'Irish problem') are omitted and unpleasant aspects of Victoria's character (her petulance, arrogance, favouritism and 'right to privilege') are glossed over as endearing little 'whims'. Albert acts as a moderating influence when she goes too far.　　The film followed a year after the highly successful Victoria the Great (d. Herbert Wilcox, 1937). Again the screenplay is by Miles Malleson and Robert Vansittart, and many of the supporting cast (the cream of acting talent of period) repeat their roles, this time for the colour cameras. This was the first full length Technicolor film of cinematographer Freddie Young, who captures the spectacle of royal weddings, grand balls and opulent interiors, with scenes actually filmed at royal palaces. Vivid battle scenes, set in Alexander Korda's empire territory (Sevastopol and the Sudan), rival those in The Four Feathers (d. Zoltan Korda 1939).　　The title music sets the tone a regal choir sings over a shot of the crown. Elgar's 1901 'Pomp and Circumstance' march is heard during the diamond jubilee celebrations and, as Victoria's coffin lies in state, the film concludes with Anthony Collins' stately music accompanied by the text of Rudyard Kipling's 'Lest we forget'. Combined with the emotional appeal of scenes of Victoria connecting with her 'ordinary folk', this is stirring stuff.　　The film connects with contemporary events of 1938. The release of two celebratory royal films was intended to boost public affection for the monarchy in the wake of Edward VIII's abdication. Anglo-German relations were another touchy subject. With another war on the horizon, influential voices wanted appeasement, and the film could be seen to fit that agenda. Victoria herself was of mainly German descent, nicknamed 'the grandmother of Europe', while Albert is a 'good German', charmingly played by Anton Walbrook as a cultured, decent man.　　Sixty Glorious Years now seems unduly formal and reverential. Had movies existed during Victoria's reign (they only emerged at the end) this might have been the kind of film produced. Unlike Mrs Brown (d. John Madden, 1997), it is all so very 'Victorian'.　　Roger Philip Mellor

Ernesto lives life in a limbo of sorts, stuck somewhere between the promise of an exit visa and the fear of rotting away in Havana. But his smooth-talking schemes to secure papers are complicated when he crosses paths with Anita, and is faced with the only incentive to stay in Cuba—love. Screenwriter Alejandro Brugués makes his directorial debut with this poignant romance about the price of freedom, the power of sacrifice and the meaning of happiness.Alejandro Brugues was born in Buenos Aires, but he is a Cuban national. After studying Advertising, Psychology and Philosophy, he graduated with a Screenwriting major from the Escuela de San Antonio de los Banos. After taking his first steps as a screenwriter, he directed and wrote this first work, which received awards at the Cine en Construcción section of the Guadalajara Film Festival. Personal belongings is a love story that takes on the everyday reality of Cuba: Ernesto keeps his "personal belongings" in a briefcase, waiting for the moment when he will finally be able to leave the island; meanwhile Ana has decided to stay and not go with her parents, who fled on a raft. The two youngsters meet when he goes to the policlinic where she works, and although by falling in love they each find what they were looking for in each other, they also know they have decided on very different paths and at some point they’ll have to make a final choice.

Following the success of their feature debut Jennifer’s Shadow (2004) – an exercise in American Gothic set in a scary land called Argentina – Pablo Parés and Daniel de la Vega worked for a US company on a post-mega-disaster wasteland zombie film in which South America had been turned into an all-purpose, all-materials junkyard, with the undead as the last humane entities around (forget about the humans here!).　　The project never materialised, but Diego Parés, Pablo’s brother, started to write and draw a comic series based on the screenplay – which so far remains a ruin, as only parts were finished and published. The ECish beauty and balls of Diego P.’s labour of love have now been congenially transformed by the directorial duo into a delightfully old-(1970s)school low-budget production, closer to Romero and Dante than Fulci and Lenzi. And the IFFR audience is in for the treat of treats they get to see the film and can also enjoy the unfinished comic in an exhibition.

AfastpaceddramaticthrillersetinlocationsthroughoutVictoria,Australia.Grady(MarcusGraham)anex-soldierwhoselifehasbeendisruptedandhisemotionsdisturbed,byhisexperiencesatwarandinprison,escapesfrompolicecustodyafterattendingtheburialofhismurderedbrother,Chris.Althoughfreeheis'ontherun'andisdrivenbyhisdesireforfreedomanda...

Having witnessed his junkie father killed Russell Stevens grows up to become a policeman and make a difference. When he is offered an undercover job by Gerald Carver he accepts and begins to build a relationship with David Jason in order to get to the main dealers. However as he is forced to deal drugs and kill to keep his cover he finds the lines between cop and criminal being lost – is he a cop pretending to be a dealer or a dealer pretending to be a cop　　Larry (as he was then) Fishburne's first lead role was a typically dark vehicle. The story is the usual one of cop losing himself when undercover, however it manages to be more than that for most of the time. Co-written by Tolkin, who wrote The Player, this naturally has a nice cynical edge to it when it looks at the US's hypocritical approach to drug control and the political links between the street hustlers and the political high rollers who court respectability. The story does eventually settle into a traditional setting but even then it works well as a thriller.　　The multi-talented Bill Duke directs well with a gritty feel and a few nice touches. However several things are a bit iffy. For most of the film Fishburne's narrationvoice over is a bit like a cross between Apocalypse Now and Blade Runner – it comes across as a little too dark and heavy and also explains things like we can't figure it out ourselves. However once you get into the film it's not as big a deal. My main problem lies with the characters.　　Fishburne is excellent, a real model of underlying anger and violence, Goldblum is good but perhaps a little OTT on the yuppieviolence thing, but there's good support from Smith and Spin City's beautiful (and often underused – but not here) Victoria Dillard. However the two main white characters (Goldblum and Smith) are both smeared with racist insinuations – Smith appears to insult his black officers and doesn't care about the junkies, while Goldblum is fascinated about all things black and talks about them as wild beautiful beasts and loves having sex with black'. These things aren't a major problem, but with basically only two white characters in it, it's a little worrying that both are given that edge.　　However these are minor complaints that get lost with a good thriller. Fishburne excels and Duke delivers a story that is a good thriller but also has a jaded, subversive edge.

Victoria, 8 year old girl whose mother just passed away, relocates with her father in a small mountain village. She finds solace in the adoption of a puppy of unknown origin found in an isolated farm.

　　猎金骑士是由寰球顶级大学选择出来的蠢才干人先生构成的一个精英构造。构造从成破之初的重要目的就是反抗寰球的不良金融权势。猎金骑士的引导者黄破丕（老丕）,被威逼接了一次义务。老丕破刻招集散落在上海的别的4位骑士：池少!Victoria!诸葛键!Tman。此次义务的目的——聂浪,预备应用华尔街的杠杆并购的手段歹意收购凯润团体。4自我经由多重的剖析跟层层深刻,终于揭露了聂浪的诡计。但故事并不绝止,猎金骑士在陆家嘴的战役,才刚开端……　　在瞬息万变的市场上,猎金骑士的存在显得尤为主要,他们为保卫逐步被世俗!物资所蒙蔽的公理精力做出了尽力。无论是华尔街仍是陆家嘴,都须要这种公理精力的支持。

Whensix-year-oldSophieistragicallyorphanedguardianshipisassignedtoherestrangedauntAnnabelle.Thetwomoveintoalarge,eerie,VictorianhousewhereSophieunearthsalockedwoodenboxwithastrangesymboldrawnonit.DesperatetoconnectwithhernieceAnnabellepriesthelockopenrevealingabeautifulmusicbox.Eachtimethemusicboxiswoundandreplayeditssurprisinglychillingmelodyplaysslightlylonger,captivatingSophieevenmore.WhenthemusicboxbeginsaffectingSophiesbehaviorandhealthAnnabelleseekstheaidofachildpsychologistandclairvoyantwhosoondiscoverthemusicboxispossessedbyanevilspiritwhoseekstohauntSophieanddestroyAnnabelle.AsthehauntingintensifiestimebeginstorunoutandAnnabellefindsherselfracingagainstthemusicboxsmelodytodefeatthespiritbeforethelastnoteplays.