Bermuda International Film Festival 2009

Home grown entertainment: rub shoulders with the stars, enjoy identifying locations. Christopher Frith and his team have worked hard to deliver a dark, edgy tale of skulduggery, international espionage and redemption.

Charles Lloyd Tucker (1913 – 1971) was Bermuda’s first professionally trained black artist who influenced many notable Bermudians. An accomplished pianist, sculptor and painter, he was the first art teacher at Berkeley Institute. Although music was his foremost love, he went on to become a dominant figure in Bermuda’s art scene, and beyond, during the 1950’s and 60’s; painting and exhibiting in Europe, the USA and the Caribbean. This fine documentary concentrates on Tucker the man and looks back at his life, his work and some of the people he inspired.

Join Charlie and his very funny little sister, Lola, in this hilarious set of four short films from the award-winning British television series that is seen in 20 countries worldwide. Seven-year-old Charlie narrates the stories, which focus on the antics of his feisty four-year-old sister, Lola. Characters in the series also include Marv Lowe, Charlie’s best friend, plus Lola’s best friend, Lotta, and Soren Lorensen, Lola’s imaginary friend. Based on the series of children’s picture books by Lauren Child, the television series has won numerous awards worldwide. Join us for four hilarious episodes – I Will Not Eat A Tomato, I Just Love My Red Shiny Shoes, I Slightly Want To Go Home and Our Shop Sells Everything.

A convincing, thought-provoking consideration of the lives, hopes and fears of an Iraqi family trapped during the 2003 bombing of Baghdad by the Allies.

Charming and full of humour, this delightful romantic comedy by first-time director Mani Masserat-Agah focuses on Swedish attitudes towards immigrants and foreigners with a funny and thought-provoking story about young love, sex, ethnicity and the fear of being an outsider. Like the director, Mustafa (Poyan Karimi) is a Swede born in Iran. Still a virgin at 16, his prospects don’t look good when his girlfriend leaves him -- and he often hears casually racist remarks directed his way. His salvation comes in the form of the Italian team visiting the big youth soccer tournament in Gothenburg. Accepted into their fold, he re-invents himself – and is suddenly a girl magnet. Meanwhile, beautiful Linnea (Chanelle Lindell) is desperately searching for a stylish and passionate guy like those she met on holiday in Italy. Who knows what would have become of her had she not met Massimo, the most romantic Italian in the world? Nudity and teen sexuality may offend some.

This intimate, sensitive and cultured piece looks behind the scenes at the political and private dramas of former political dissident, leader of the Velvet Revolution, playwright and essayist Vaclav Havel’s presidential tenure at the helm of Czechoslovakia and, later, the Czech Republic. His friend, filmmaker Pavel Koutecky, began shooting in 1992 when Havel was considering his second candidacy for the presidential office, and continued shooting for more than a decade. Full of fascinating footage, this is Havel as you have never seen him. The film not only reveals a different side to one of the key figures in modern Czech history but, in doing so, it gives the viewer greater insight into the modern history of the Czech Republic.

Have you ever parked too close to the car in front, and then walked away? It’s very frustrating for the other driver. Arguably worse, is for the other driver to then annoy the entire neighbourhood by honking the horn incessantly. Claxon is a short study into what can happen when you annoy complete strangers.

Eva Sørhaug's memorable debut feature follows a disparate group of characters in Oslo. Lonsj (Cold Lunch) takes an unflinching yet compassionate look at what happens when a social safety net collapses for reasons other than poverty or neglect. In fact, all of the film's characters come from middle-class – or at least comfortable – homes. Like the creations of Todd Solondz and Lucrecia Martel, Sørhaug's characters are largely moral idiots, surrendering responsibility for their own actions. But even when their behaviour is appalling, it still possesses a grim humour. All of them are fabulously ill-equipped to deal with the circumstances into which they have been thrust. But it is ultimately Heidi's abject failure as a parent that is most troubling. Directing with a maturity rarely seen in a first feature, Sørhaug deftly balances a critical view of her own characters with considerable empathy. We never lose sight of these troubled souls' basic humanity. We may not like them that much, but we recognise each one of them.