WINDOW ON THE WORLD Premieres, Previews & New Releases of World Cinema

World Premiere – New Zealand MYSTERIOUS WAYS

When a media storm threatens the marriage between a vicar and his Samoan boyfriend, something extraordinary happens.

‘Mysterious Ways’ tells the story of Peter Simmons, a vicar who wants a church wedding with his Samoan boyfriend Jason. For Anglicans, this is not allowed, and homosexuality itself is still taboo in Samoan culture. When news of the marriage makes headlines, a storm erupts in the media and God is forced to step in! It’s a side of the rainbow community not often explored on the screen despite the impact of religion on millions of LGBTQ+ people around the world. At its heart, ‘Mysterious Ways’ is an interracial love story. There was real chemistry between the leads, British actor Richard Short and screen newcomer Nick Afoa – who bravely takes on the controversial role after a successful stage career, most famously as Simba in the West End production of ‘The Lion King’. Afoa, who is of Samoan and Croatian heritage, was drawn to the role, saying: “This film bravely confronts issues around sexuality and religion.”

New Zealand 2023 Paul Oremland 90m

Our thanks to Peccadillo Pictures for this screening.

Preview – Canada BROTHER

Francis and Michael, sons of Caribbean immigrants, face questions of masculinity, identity and family amid the pulsing beat of Toronto’s early hip-hop scene. Adapted from David Chariandy’s awardwinning novel of the same name and propelled by the energy of Toronto’s early hip-hop culture, ‘Brother’ follows the story of Francis (Lamar Johnson) and Michael (Aaron Pierre) as they mature into young men. During the sweltering summer of 1991 escalating tensions set off a series of events that change the course of the brothers’ lives forever. The questions of what exactly happened to Francis and why, and how deeply it affected his doting younger brother are left deliberately ambiguous by the film’s ambitious, time-shifting structure. This is a timely story about the profound bond between siblings, the resilience of community and the irrepressible power of music. Clement Virgo unabashedly admires the work of Barry Jenkins, particularly ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’, and there’s a dash of Steve McQueen’s ‘Small Axe’ movies in here too.

Canada 2022 Clement Virgo 120m

Our thanks to Curzon Film for this screening.

Wed 16 Aug 11:30 – Studio

UK Premiere – Iran THE ANNOYED AZORDEGAN

Three film directors battle against the odds as they try to realise their most difficult projects to date.

The first, wishing to emigrate, learns that his lead actor has been condemned to death, so decides to make a movie about the execution. The second, a woman, wishes to examine abuse, but her husband objects. The third, told by his doctor that he has cancer, determines to make his last definitive work. With this portmanteau in three sections, Ghaderi offers an absorbing insight into Iran’s creative community and its restrictions, using economical music, unflashy photography and authoritative acting to underscore the clash between ideals and practicality. (Subtitles)

IRAN 2023 MEHDI FARD GHADERI 81M

Manifesto

Sun 20 Aug 20:45 – Studio

Tue 22 Aug 13:30 – Pic Palace

See Cate Blanchett Retrospective on pg54 for full details.

Don Quixote

Sun 27 Aug 12:30 –Auditorium

See Special Events on pg83 for full details.

TRIP TO TETLAPAYAC MEXICO/JAPAN

Mon 14 Aug 16:00 – Studio

Tue 15 Aug 13:15 – Pic Palace

We welcome Ian Christie to introduce the film.

See Documentary strand on pg37 for full details.

Saleem

Mon 14 Aug 11:15 – Studio

See Animation strand on pg86 for full details.

VICEROY’S HOUSE INDIA

Wed 23 Aug 13:30 – Auditorium

See Bonneville strand on pg50 for full details.

Sat 19 Aug 21:00 – Auditorium

Mon 21 Aug 21:00 – Auditorium

UK Premiere – Kazakhstan GOLIATH

Sergio Leone on the Kazakh Steppe. The Kazakh village of Karatas is terrorised by a criminal boss called Poshaev, a muscular no-neck thug. As the self-proclaimed ruler of his territory, he is surrounded by a group of armed, merciless killers tasked with punishing anyone who dares to question his unwritten laws.

Set in a dramatic landscape with naked mountains and open grassland, ‘Goliath’ is a modern Western with nasty cowboys and fearful locals whose options to survive are reduced to doing what they are told, or fleeing. The humour is downsized, the characters almost as sinister as their deeds. Daniyar Alshinov, a regular in Adikhan Yerzhanov’s movies, shines in his role of as a ruthless mobster who is never far from his Kalashnikov. The film is a direct reaction to the global resurgence of autocracies and dictatorships, seen from the perspective of a small community. Politicians, the representatives of law and order, and even clerics are painted as corrupt cowards who stand aside and let things happen out of personal interest. In some ways, it is reminiscent of the Coen brothers’ ‘No Country for Old Men’.

KAZAKHSTAN/RUSSIA 2022 ADILKHAN YERZHANOV 93M

Our thanks to Jinga films for this screening

Roger has attracted many very special guests to Chichester: Inc. Alec Guinness, Kathleen Turner, Daniel Brühl, Ralph Fiennes, Simon

Callow, Elaine Page, Mike Leigh, Derek Malcolm, Ken Russell, Ronald Harwood, Stephen Poliakoff, Carl Davis, Derek Jacobi, Tony Palmer, Nick Moran, John Lithgow, Steve Coogan, Virginia McKenna, Cate Blanchett, Phylis Logan, Timothy Spall, Elizabeth McGovern, Hugh Bonneville and many more.