Glasgow Film Theatre’s 50th: top programme picks
2 min read
Having played host to several film festivals in recent months, it may seem like the Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT) has been in a state of perpetual celebration this year. Well, the party is set to continue as the GFT’s 50th anniversary programme kicks off next Thursday.
Celebrating the cinema first opening its doors back in May 1974, the programme aims to showcase some old-school cinematic crowd pleasers along with honoring the GFT’s reputation for platforming acclaimed foreign language films. Paul Gallagher, programme manager at the GFT, commented: “My hope is that this celebratory programme goes some way to capturing the essence of what makes watching a film at GFT so special.”
Whilst some of the programme’s timeless classics including Calamity Jane, Blade Runner: The Final Cut and Cinema Paradiso need no introduction, here are three more flicks you won’t want to miss:
Whilst on initial read its plot may appear salacious, Wong Kar-wai’s critically acclaimed film In the Mood for Love which first premiered at Cannes back in 2000 is in fact an incredibly tender portrayal of love that cannot be. The film follows the kindling romance between two residents of a crowded Hong Kong apartment block who come realise that their partners are having an affair with each other. Renowned for its thematically rouge and dream invoking cinematography, In the Mood for Love meditates on loss, longing, and all that’s left unsaid.
Over 20 years since its original release, City of God remains an assault to the senses. Told from the perspective of kids growing up in a Brazilian favela, director Fernando Meirelles expertly sets the tone for both a gentle coming-of-age tale and a brutal gang saga in this Latin new wave hit. Loosely based on Paulo Lins’ novel of the same name – but cinematically transformed into something completely authentic – City of God serves as a disturbing and enticing masterpiece of modern filmmaking.
Who would have thought a film about a single dad and his daughter on a package holiday in Turkey could tug so hard on the heartstrings? Scottish director and writer Charlotte Web’s feature length film Aftersun does so precisely due to its understated style and subtle tone. With the film’s cinematography capturing the haze of nostalgia, and its 80s infused soundtrack powerfully anchoring the plot, Aftersun asks us to make peace with what we come to understand about those we love.
As part of the celebrations, the GFT is also launching a “50 for 50 appeal”, which asks people to support the 50th anniversary with £50 donations to help the independent cinema cover its annual costs.
