the film world really is a small place, Ikimi has been able to hire several actors who have graced the screen in Christopher Nolan’s comic book series. Monique Gabriela Curnen (The Dark Knight) and Richard Brake (Batman Begins) join Idris Elba (The Wire) in Legacy, a psychological drama about Malcolm Gray, a black ops soldier who locks himself in a hotel room following escape from a botched mission in Eastern Europe. Elba has already been the topic of much online debate, with many curious to see how he fares in the role. For Ikimi, his involvement as actor and producer was invaluable. “I’d heard he was a sort of down to earth guy, but I was surprised at how much he brought to the table. He was really committed”, he says. “[Legacy is] such a departure from anything he’s done before. It was surprising to me how well he did – it’s a big, big jump. You’re forced to think of him in a different way and when his fans actually see the film I think they’ll be surprised at the range he has. He’s literally in about 99% of the movie – you’re just following this one guy the whole time and there are very few actors who can do that without losing intensity
or boring [the audience].” As well as this partnership with Elba, Ikimi joined forces with Black Camel Productions, a Glasgow based production company. Using what one imagines are slightly unconventional methods, Ikimi placed an advert in Total Film magazine, and soon Black Camel responded. It was their suggestion to film Legacy in Glasgow, despite its Brooklyn, New York, setting. “They said, it’s set in one room and the flashback stuff is set in some nondescript part of Eastern Europe, there’s no reason why we can’t shoot in Glasgow” Ikimi recalls. “At first I was sceptical but then I came over and saw the facilities and the film city in Govan. To be honest it’s more about creating the aura and atmosphere than anything else. If we could achieve that we’ll be able to sell the movie as if it was really Brooklyn”. Ikimi declares his aim is to make Legacy “in the style of Hitchcock”. Just looking at the promotional material shows the director’s influence - one poster bears a strong resemblance to Saul Bass’s iconic Vertigo imagery. “Hitchcock is probably the director I’ve learnt the most from on a technical level”, he agrees.
“I knew I was going against the grain trying to make an old-school thriller when we’ve got Bourne and James Bond and all that stuff. There’s an expectation about what a thriller’s going to be like now”. Yet rather than expansive sets and high-octane action, Ikimi’s style is centred around his interest in human psychology and philosophy, similar to Hitchcock. “What he used to do primarily was entertain an audience, so he’d make movies that were entertaining on a basic level but he’d look at the current climate of society and put a backdrop to his film. With Legacy it’s essentially just a thriller; it’s supposed to entertain people but it’s got the backdrop of terrorism and politics just to give it a place in modern society and modern psyches. I’m interested [in politics] but I don’t think I’m trying to make political films. I’m much more interested in making something entertaining than getting on a soap box and preaching.” With his début having opened one film festival, it seems fitting that his second feature should close another. Needless to say, Ikimi is very happy to have the opportunity to align himself with Glasgow Film Festival.
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“They position themselves as an audience friendly festival, taking films directly to the people. I think that’s the best way for Legacy to start out. I really believe the life of this film will be tied to word of mouth and the fans who actually really like the movie, as opposed to the studio or distributors. [Being chosen as] the closing gala film has really shone a light on the project and that’s what’s going to be the springboard to connect it to the audiences who will take it forward.” With that, Thomas Ikimi is gone again, off to put the final touches on his film. He might be cutting it close, but with the ambition and commitment he’s shown already there’s no doubt that it will be ready for its first audience on Sunday.
Legacy is showing as part of Glasgow Film Festival. GFT, 28 Feb 2010, 20.30
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Reviews GREGORY’S GIRL
Director: Bill Forsyth Starring: John Gordon Sinclair, Dee Hepburn, Clare Grogan
DO YOU know who made Gregory’s Girl? It was Bill Forsyth, a romantic realist at the very top of his game, that’s who. That’s really interesting isn’t it? It’s a well-known fact. Another fact is that some people haven’t seen this little masterpiece, with its superb young cast and a script that perfectly captured the pains, awkwardness and eccentricities of adolescence. If you’re one of them, then we Gregorites can only envy you, because you can experience one of the best film comedies for the first time, just like its original audience. You’re in for a treat. John Gordon Sinclair is perfect in the lead
role, and Forsyth’s ear for dialogue is timelessly hilarious. A film for the teenager in all of us, it’s nuanced, low key and really rather lovely. Prepare for female footballers, rotten ravioli, Cumbernauld’s classiest cook, a boy whose vices will have vanished by the time he’s turned sixteen, mythical quest to Caracas and… a penguin.[Michael Gillespie]
GFT, Sun 28 Feb , 15:30
BURNING
THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN
Director: Vincent Moon, Nat Le Scouarnec Starring: Stuart Braithwaite, Dominic Aitchison, Martin Bulloch
Director: Andre Téchiné Starring: Emilie Dequenne, Catherine Deneuve, Michel Blanc
FILMED OVER three nights in Brooklyn, Burning is a beautifully shot, black and white account of a Mogwai live set interspersed with scenes of New York by night. Vincent Moon, who has gained a reputation for his online ‘take away shows’, partners with Nat Le Scouarnec to capture the group in stunning, grainy monochrome. Between songs the filmmakers include elegant footage of the local area, capturing beauty in the mundane through shots of taxis in the rain and a night-shift worker trying to stay awake. Mogwai are known for having an incredible stage presence
IT’S AN interesting story, and one based on a true event: a woman, Jeanne, presents herself as the victim of an anti-Semitic hate crime, sparking nationwide condemnation of the fictional attack. But in the beginning, Jeanne enjoys a nice suburban life with her mother, and her only problem is that she needs a job. When Franck displays an interest in her, she’s oblivious to his obsessive, manipulative behaviour. The trajectory of their relationship makes for tense viewing – things are obviously set to go wrong at some point, it’s just a question of how. The segue from this to the
and translating this to screen is no easy task, the filmmakers respond to this by letting the music drive the film, which fans will no doubt appreciate. The downside is that to the uninitiated the sole focus on the live performance for 90 minutes may well feel a little repetitive.[Becky Bartlett]
GFT, Sun 28 Feb, 18.30
fabricated assault, however, doesn’t quite add up, and although race and class prejudices contribute to the response of the media and politicians, the national context very much takes a back seat to the tale of a naïve young woman and a possessive boyfriend. Yet despite these insufficient answers the film is gripping throughout and makes for compulsive viewing.[Nine]
Cineworld, Sun 28 Feb, 13:30
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SUNDAY FEBRUARY THE THECINESKINNY CINESKINNY 3 3 MONDAY 2028 FEBRUARY
Comprehensive film and event listings for each day of the festival SUN 29 FEB
BERGFEST @ CINEWORLD (RENFREW STREET) 01:45PM
AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER @ GFT 01:00PM THE SILENT ARMY @ GFT 01:15PM THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN @ CINEWORLD (RENFREW STREET) 01:30PM
DOPE (MONORAIL) @ GFT 04:00PM
ISLAND OF DREAMS @ GFT 06:45PM
ARTIST TALK @ TRAMWAY 02:00PM
RABBIT WITHOUT EARS 2 @ CINEWORLD (RENFREW STREET) 04:00PM
CLOSING GALA: LEGACY @ GFT 08:30PM
GREGORY’S GIRL @ GFT 03:30PM
DAVID HAYMAN @ APPLE STORE 04:00PM
SCHEHERAZADE @ CINEWORLD (RENFREW STREET) 03:45PM
BURNING: MOGWAI @ GFT 06:30PM
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First to know what’s on
EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP @ GFT 09:00PM
15/12/09 12:38:23 www.seeglasgow.com
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THE CINESKINNY
THE OFFICIAL
DAILY GUIDE SUNDAY 28 FEBRUARY
WHAT’S INSIDE? 1>> FEATURE: LEGACY Thomas Ikimi talks about his thriller Legacy which closes this year’s festival. 3>> REVIEWS Gregory’s Girl Burning The Girl on the Train
4>> LISTINGS Comprehensive guide to what’s going on at the Festival
THE CINESKINNY Produced by The Skinny magazine in association with the Glasgow Film Festival.
TEXT: BECKY BARTLETT IT’S THURSDAY 11 February and Thomas Ikimi’s film, Legacy, is still in post-production. Its first official viewing will be taking place in just two weeks and will be the closing film of this year’s Glasgow Film Festival. “I’m not really a fan of being under pressure”, Ikimi laughs. Maybe he really doesn’t enjoy, or need, the pressure of a deadline closing in, but Ikimi’s approach to filmmaking has been, so far at least, full speed ahead. His début film, Limbo, the tale of a lawyer who’s forced to repeatedly relive an hour of his life as the result of a rooftop chase, was an ambitious project
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completed in the midst of his English Literature degree at Columbia. It was funded using student credit cards, costing a paltry $9000 to make, but it was enough for the film to be chosen to open Taormina Festival in Italy in 2004. “That was crazy – it was really a once in a lifetime situation. There’s no reason why a student film made for nine grand should open a festival like that. Batman Begins was in that festival and it cost $153 million, but the programmer happened to just really like my movie. He watched Limbo and that afternoon sent my invitation to the festival.” Now, in what is either an amazing coincidence or just evidence that
EDITOR Gail Tolley EDITORIAL Becky Bartlett ASSISTANT DESIGNER Emma Faulkner
GFF BOX OFFICE Order tickets from the box office at www.glasgowfilmfestival.org.uk or call 0141 332 6535 or visit Glasgow Film Theatre 12 Rose Street, Glasgow, G3 6RB info@glasgowfilmfestival.org.uk