20th and 21st September

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE 

Olive is a little girl with a dream: winning the Little Miss Sunshine contest. Her family wants her dream to come true, but they are so burdened with their own quirks, neuroses, and problems that they can barely make it through a day without some disaster befalling them. Circumstances conspire to put the entire family on the road together with the goal of getting Olive to the Little Miss Sunshine contest in far off California.

USA, 2006, 101 minutes, Certificate 15

 In the Balkan town of Shutka, the Romani population is thriving and everyone is considered a champion at something, be it boxing or grave robbing. The Shutka Book of Records provides a walking tour of this vibrant community and along the way we meet some of the colourful and somewhat bizarre "champions."   This is a town of record breakers where even the most sublimely ridiculous of championships is hotly contested.

Czech (subtitled), 2005, 78 minutes, Certificate n/a

4th and 5th October

THE SHUTKA BOOK OF RECORDS

1st and 2nd November

CHILDREN OF MEN

 In 2027, in a chaotic world in which humans can no longer procreate, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea where her child's birth may help scientists save the future of humankind.  The film, which is loosely based on a P.D. James original novel, was nominated for three oscars.

UK, 2006, 109 minutes, Certificate 15

A marvellous evocation of a childhood imagination taking flight in a small fishing community. Filmed in Orkney, but based on Christopher Rush’s semi-autobiographical "Twelve Months and a Day" set in St Monans. Peter leads a magical existence, brought up by his grandfather and taught about life and beauty by his teacher, all against a background of an inbred and insular community. Intriguing and touching.  

UK Scotland, 1989, 94 minutes, Certificate 12

6th and 7th December

VENUS  PETER

3rd and 4th January

THE PASSENGER

A journalist researching a documentary in the Sahara Desert meets a gunrunner who dies suddenly. When the journalist notices that they have a similar appearance, he assumes the recently deceased's identity and accepts the consequences that it brings.  Michelangelo Antonioni's visually stunning film explores the emptiness of existence and the exploitation of developing countries, with a superb performance from Jack Nicholson.

USA, 1975, 119 minutes, Certificate PG

This latest film from Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding, Salaam Bombay) follows the story of American born Gogol, the son of Indian immigrants, who wants to fit in among his fellow New Yorkers - despite his family's unwillingness to let go of their traditional ways.  The film is a story of the power of a name and of family; the immigrant experience; the search for love, context and identity.

USA, 2007, 122 minutes, Certificate PG

7th and 8th February

THE NAMESAKE

6th and 7th March

HALLAM FOE

Hallam Foe is a darkly funny, bittersweet coming of age story about a 17 year old misfit who likes to watch the world from a tree-house in the grounds of his father's house.  After a confrontation with his beautiful step mother, he escapes to Edinburgh where he puts his tree-top skills to good use.

Filmed in Edinburgh and the Borders, it is adapted from Peter Jinks' novel of the same title.  It was chosen to open the 2007 Edinburgh International Film Festival.

UK Scotland, 2007, 95 minutes, Certificate 18

Raimunda lives in Madrid with her daughter Paula and her husband Paco, who is always drunk. Her sister, Sole, is separated and works clandestinely as a hairstylist for women. The two sisters lost their parents in a fire in La Mancha, their birth village, years ago. Their aunt, Paula, still lives in the village and continues to speak about her sister Irene, mother of the two sisters, as if she were still alive. When the old aunt dies the situation changes and the past returns (volver) in a twist of mystery and suspense.

Spanish (subtitled), 2006, 121 minutes, Certificate 15

3rd and 4th April

VOLVER

1st and 2nd May

JINDABYNE

Based on a short story by Raymond Carver and adapted to an Australian setting by first-time scriptwriter Beatrix Christian, it is an exquisitely beautiful film, not just in the sense of the natural beauty depicted, but also for its sensitivity. Every year four men from the town of Jindabyne go on a fishing trip in the remote high country of the Snowy Mountains. They have barely begun their much-anticipated expedition when they find the body of a murdered girl, floating in the river.  Rather than return to the town immediately, they continue fishing and report their gruesome find days later.

Australia, 2006, 123 minutes, Certificate 15

The Flying Scotsman is a film based on the remarkable true story of Scottish cyclist Graham Obree.  In 1993 as an unemployed amateur, he broke the world one hour record on a bike which he'd constructed out of scrap metal and parts of an old washing machine - only to have the title stripped from him.  With an outstanding performance from Johnny Lee Miller as Obree, this film may do something to raise the profile of amateur cycling.  However, more importantly it may highlight the issues associated with mental illness.

UK Scotland, 2006, 96 minutes, Certificate 15

5th and 6th June

THE FLYING SCOTSMAN