- Title: UK: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ANNUAL EDINBURGH FILM FESTIVAL
- Date: 15th August 1997
- Summary: EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND , UNITED KINGDOM (AUGUST 16 1997) (REUTERS) RED CARPET BEING ROLLED OUT FOR "MRS BROWN" PREMIERE "MRS BROWN" DIRECTOR JOHN MADDEN ARRIVING FOR PREMIERE DAME JUDI DENCH ARRIVING, SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS/ DAUGHTER FLINTY WILLIAMS IN THE BACKGROUND (BOTH WEARING TARTAN SASHES) BILLY CONNOLLY ARRIVING WITH HIS WIFE PAMELA STEPHENSON CONNOLLY SIGNING AUT
- Embargoed: 30th August 1997 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVA8NRAKDJ3A5BLP9S5IVDPH5AUX
- Story Text: It's the world's longest-running film festival.This year the Edinburgh event is celebrating its 51st anniversary with 35 world, European and UK premieres.
Some of the hottest British and European stars appeared in the picturesque Scottish capital to promote their new releases.
Robert Carlyle, star of both Peter Cattaneno's "The Full Monty" and Edinburgh favourite Antonia Bird's "Face", was joined by respected British thespian Dame Judi Dench and Scottish comedian Billy Connelly, stars of "Mrs Brown." "Secrets and Lies" director Mike Leigh screened his haunting examination of the 1980s, as seen through the eyes of two college friends in "Career Girls." It was the third-most-popular limited-release film in the United States this week, bringing in 74,891 U.S.dollars in six days.
The film was to have had its world premiere at Edinburgh, but was in fact screened at the Locarno Festival just days before.
"Face" stars Ray Winstone ("Nil by Mouth"), Steve Waddington ("Ivanhoe"), Robert Carlyle ("Trainspotting") and, in his screen debut, "Blur" frontman Damon Albarn.
The film, which had is world premiere on Friday (August 15), is the second collaboration between Bird and Carlyle.Carlyle stars as Ray - the 'Face' of the title - who is ready to retire from a career in crime after his last armed robbery goes wrong.The loot is missing and it appears his gang has been betrayed by one of its own.
Despite comparisions to "Reservoir Dogs," director Bird prefers to describe it as a London-set underworld thriller in the tradition of British crime drama.
"You can't really complain if you're being compared to people as successful as that (Tarantino) but there is a lot more depth in the characters in our film and, of course, we have a love story," she said.
Despite worldwide renown as a pop star, Albarn was trained at a drama school."I enjoyed it.The more I did of it, the easier it got," he said.
John Madden's opulent Victorian drama "Mrs Brown" was another favourite, opening to European audiences for the first time on Saturday (August 16).
The film, which investigates the relationship between a grieving Queen Victoria (Dame Judi Dench) and her loyal servant John Brown (Billy Connelly), took the Cannes Film Festival by storm and is already tipped as an Oscar chance.
Connelly had the Edinburgh press in fits of laughter as he recalled anecdotes from the making of the film.
It tells how the widowed queen, who withdrew from society after the death of her husband Prince Albert, returned to her imperial duties thanks to Brown's devotion and persistence.
It portrays a growing intimacy between the queen and her servant, but stops short of presenting a physical relationship.
The relationship has always been the subject of intense speculation and the release of the film in Britain is likely to re-ignite the debate.
Dame Judi does not believe the unlikely real life relationship was consummated but admits: "I don't suppose anyone will ever actually know." Connolly, however, sees it otherwise and believes consummation of the relationship was "pretty much regarded as a home run" by many people.
He said: "Usually you get a song in your honour in Scotland when you do something like that - to be chanted at international matches.
"Personally I hope they did.There is no evidence at all whether they did or did not, but I hope so.
"What else could they do? How many picnics can you go to?" Director Mike Leigh follows the emotional turmoil of "Secrets and Lies" with "Career Girls" -- a funny and poignant story of friendship, youth, love and memories.
Hannah (Katrin Cartlidge) and Annie (Lynda Steadman) haven't seen each other in the six years since they left university.
The film follows the two women over the course of a weekend, as they catch up and reflect on the early days of their friendship.
As Annie embarks on a train trip to reunite with Hannah, she is flooded with memories of their rocky introduction in the mid-80's.
They meet up again six years later.The film follows the women as they cruise through London, flashing back to their lives in the mid-80's which is full of the usual teenage mischief, jealousies and heartbreak.
It follows them through a chance encounters with both old and new friends.And before Annie boards the train back home, the audience comes to know how she and her friend have changed.
"Career Girls" marks Katrin Cartlidge's second collaboration with Mike Leigh, havinging her appearance as Sophie in "Naked".
Steadman is making her film debut in "Career Girls".
The Edinburgh Film Festival finishes on August 24.Film Festival patron Sean Connery is expected to attend the gala closing ceremony. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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