Director Tsai Ming-Liang’s debut feature is a masterful exploration of urban alienation and sexual malaise. Living a stifled existence, teenager Hsiao Kang becomes fascinated with petty thief Ah-Tze. Foregrounding themes of queer desire, the film introduced cinemagoers to Tsai’s signature minimalist style, and to his muse, actor Lee Kang-Sheng.
In this sumptuous opera film, maiden Chu Ying-Tai disguises herself as a boy in order to attend school. There she meets the dashing Liang Shan-Po, with whom she falls passionately in love. The film made Ivy Ling Po an icon and was a huge hit in 1963.
A collection of short films that explore the nuances of the mother figure within LGBTQ+ families. With raw emotions and tenderness, these films investigate the complex emotional terrain of these intergenerational relationships, offering a glimpse into the struggles, triumphs and enduring love that shape the intricate bonds between mothers and their queer kids.
Filmmaker and activist He Xiaopei’s first feature-length documentary takes the audience on a journey from the 1920s through to the 2020s, documenting the experiences and desires of three generations of Chinese women – He’s mother, herself, and her daughter – as they come to terms with political and social change.
To support Filmhouse’s campaign to OPEN THE DOORS, Edinburgh trio S!nk perform their epic live soundtrack to Nanook of the North – Robert Flaherty’s iconic film examining Inuit culture in the icy Arctic. S!nk’s score juxtaposes a sense of pervading harshness with the humorous spirits who inhabit this inhospitable environment.
To support Filmhouse’s campaign to OPEN THE DOORS, Edinburgh trio S!nk perform their epic live soundtrack to Nanook of the North – Robert Flaherty’s iconic film examining Inuit culture in the icy Arctic. S!nk’s score juxtaposes a sense of pervading harshness with the humorous spirits who inhabit this inhospitable environment.
Focused on a fortune teller, the film employs a narrative structure akin to classical Chinese novels. It provides a comprehensive portrayal of the lives of marginalized individuals in China, including prostitutes, gamblers, beggars, and the disabled.
Diplomacy is Andrei Sannikov’s life. Having succeeded in demobilizing the world’s most dangerous nuclear weapons arsenal, this master diplomat is now armed with a tie and business cards fighting for the return of a vanished democracy.
Yannick is the latest absurdist comedy from prolific French filmmaker Quentin Dupieux, who previously directed Rubber, Mandibles and Deerskin. Watch this slice of Gallic deadpan surealism for free with The CineSkinny Film Club and MUBI.
Convenient, tired and vapid, ‘East-meets-West’ is a cliché that has for decades been used to sell the ‘Hong Kong story’ to the world. Yet in the forgotten legend of Harry Odell, Hong Kong’s first impresario, a rediscovery of the city’s soul awaits.
A vivid and unflinching adaptation of Amy Liptrot’s wrenching personal memoir of addiction, powered by an extraordinary central performance from Saoirse Ronan. Addicted to hedonism, drink and drugs, a young woman must wrestle with recovery in the remote islands of Orkney whilst reckoning with her complex family history. Powered by a pounding soundtrack, a kinetic visual style and intricate narrative structure, this extraordinarily moving film is redemptive, cathartic and utterly riveting
Raw, commanding and thoughtful Taiwanese drama about compassion and decency in the face of inequality and invisibility. An undocumented Thai careworker living in a remote region of Taiwan cares for the disabled and elderly, as he is forced to navigate their mutual lack of status and currency. This is a subtle and carefully painted portrait of disenfranchised people who are victims of a system that barely acknowledges them
A profoundly moving meditation on ageing, loneliness and love in unexpected places. An elderly Iranian widow encounters a lonely taxi driver in Tehran, where female oppression and strict social structures are subverted as a delicate kinship blooms against the odds.
A cantor undergoing a crisis of faith runs into his high school music teacher who is intent on having a late life Bat Mitzvah in this sweet, melancholic comedy. Jason Schwartzman stars alongside Carol Kane as the unlikeliest of odd couples drawn together later in life
A powerful account of the Kolbari covert goods traden between the Kurdish cities and towns of Iran and borders of Iraq. The film follows Hamid and Yasser over six years as they contend with the life threatening conditions they and their families have to face to survive. A rare insight into the plight of the Kurdish people, this is an elegant portrait of a marginalised people, where the palpable sense of risk and danger is contrasted with the gentle rhythms of family life under harsh conditions.
A richly poetic and moving film about a young person journeying to bury their lover in the heart of the Peruvian jungle. Slow revelations and reflections begin to paint a picture of the deceased and a life before as we learn of a troubling past haunted by intimidation and violence. Deliberately paced and defined by a unique visual and sonic style, this haunting and emotional film is an unforgettable sensory experience.
An intricately constructed, lyrical and heart-breaking film about two young men wrestling with their sexuality in the repressive English society of the 1920s. Told in elegant flashback, an institutionalised novelist recounts the story of his love affair with a friend, convinced their shared sexuality could be “cured”. Visually striking, beautifully acted and defined by a haunting mix of romanticism and unflinching horror, this bold film bravely examines a shamefully neglected period in queer history.
An intimate portrait of family bonds, rural life and the importance of human connection in the survival from grief. The Payne family lead an idyllic, off-the-grid lifestyle in the Norwegian wilderness. When a tragic event shatters their world, they are forced to give up their home for a less rural model of living
With a career best performance from Colman Domingo, Sing Sing is a poignant drama that unfolds within the walls of the notorious prison in upstate New York. We meet wrongly imprisoned Divine G (Domingo), who discovers new purpose through a theatre program called Rehabilitation Through the Arts. Sing Sing is a story of resilience and the restorative impact of art, whilst offering us pieces of hope in even the darkest places.
Get ready for an after hours, after dark screening of Danny Boyle’s seminal 2002 horror masterpiece.
Presented with a special introduction from the film’s Producer Andrew Macdonald.
A delicate portrait of a young Mexican boy, struggling to deal with the death of his parents, who wants to know what happens when we die. The boy forms an unlikely friendship with a local hermit whose inconceivable age and ailing health feeds his curiosity along with the world around him, which is full of mystery and intrigue.
A bold short film programme highlighting pioneering work from Scotland and beyond. Ranging from themes of family trauma and gender identity to existentialist molluscs and werewolves, this year’s competition traverses documentary, stop-motion animation, comedy and drama all within a limited runtime.
Alice Lowe’s vibrant second feature offers a playful take on the romantic comedy with a reincarnation twist. Agnes chases her true love across the centuries, but can’t quite seem to get the happy ending she’s looking for. Her various unlucky deaths and a cast of offbeat side characters repeatedly get in her way
An immersive documentary from acclaimed director Sophie Fiennes, looking behind the scenes of the acting process, from voice exercises to text analysis and the thrills of performance. In an old castle, theatre director Declan Donnellan leads a dozen young actors as they work on Shakespeare’s Macbeth. His insights unlock their imagination and help them find their own way through this challenging text.
