August offers a summer sizzler of films at the MAC. With films spanning all genres, there is something for all the family to enjoy.
Produced by Birminghambased Roger Shannon and directed by Edinburgh's Annie Griffin (C4'sThe Book Club ), Festival offers an inside look into what happens when the world comes to Scotland for festival season. This comic film follows the hopes, fears and dreams of strangers in Edinburgh, their lives intersecting during the festivals. Starring Stephen Mangan, Raquel Cassidy and Chris O'Dowd, the film runs from Friday 29th July - Thursday 4th August.
Italian film Bread and Tulips tells the tale of clumsy Italian housewife, Rosalba. On holiday with her husband and two sons, Rosalba is left behind at a service station. Rather than going home to them, she decides to set out on her own journey to Venice by hitching a lift, discovering more than she expected. This gentle romantic comedy, starring Licia Maglietta and directed by Silvio Soldini, is an Italian take on Shirley Valentine. The film is showing on Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd August and will be screened with Success with Sweet Peas, Screen Test Audience Award winner in March 2005.
Dubbed by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the most important films of radicalism in the 1970s, Punishment Park is a multi-faceted film, still raising questions about the treatment of prisoners who espouse radical beliefs. The film focuses on a group of draft-resisters who choose to go to a 'punishment park' rather than prison. Being challenged to raise a US flag 57 miles away within 3 days, without any food, and National Guardsmen hunting the 'players', their chance of earning freedom looks slim. As a 35th anniversary rerelease, this is one film not to be missed - its topics are as important today as ever. Showing on Monday 8th August with an introduction by Chris Nineham from Military Families Against the War.
With the school holidays upon us, Valiant is certainly one to take the children to (and adults alike). The all-star British cast boasts the voices of Ewan McGregor, Ricky Gervais and John Cleese (to name but a few), with animation from the producer of Shrek. Set in World War II, Valiant tells the tale of a humble pigeon (McGregor) who aspires to join the RAF's elite Homing Pigeon Service. Carrying messages from England to France, the birds risk life and wing in the line of duty. Showing Monday 8th August - Thursday 11th August.
Baadasssss! , Directed by Mario Van Peebles (son of Director Melvin Van Peebles), is a fictionalised eye-witness account into the making of Melvin Van Peebles' original 1971 film, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. With Mario donning the character of his father in the film, Baadasssss! is set to be an entertaining portrait of a seismic period in American history. Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song was an innovative success, telling of a black hustler turned revolutionary, inspiring film-makers such as Quentin Tarantino and Spike Lee. Mario Van Peebles' affectionate yet critical tribute to his father is set to entertain. The film shows on Monday 15th August and Tuesday 16th August, Tuesday's performance will be followed by a post-film soiree in the Parkside Room, not to be missed.
For full listings and bookings contact Mac Theatre 0121 440 3838 www.macarts.co.uk
Charlotte Feetum
