GFF 2021: What we watching?!

​By Adam Ray Palmer
 
It’s that time of the year again, and one of the best festivals around kicks off in the United Kingdom once more… It’s GFF 2021!
 
This year sees a lot of diversity and talent on show and we are excited to be covering the Scottish festival for a fourth year. Here’s s selection of what’s coming up over the next 10 days…

APPLES
Director: Christos Nikou
Cast: Aris Servetalis, Sofia Georgovassili, Anna Kalaitzidou
Country: Greece
 
What the festival says:
Any fan of Charlie Kaufman or Yorgos Lanthimos will love this haunting first feature from director Christos Nikou. He deftly blends deadpan comedy with soulful reflections on identity, memory and all the little things that make us human. Aris (Aris Servetalis) is the latest victim of a mysterious pandemic that causes sudden amnesia. When nobody seeks news of him, he is placed in a recovery programme. He must now complete a series of tasks designed to build confidence and construct a new identity. Social interaction and self-awareness have rarely seemed so difficult.

BLACK BEAR
Director: Lawrence Michael Levine
Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Sarah Gadon, Christopher Abbott
Country: USA
 
What the festival says:
Lawrence Michael Levine’s disturbing, darkly comic tale constantly surprises as it brutally blurs the boundaries between life and art. Filmmaker Allison (Aubrey Plaza) heads to an idyllic lakeside retreat in search of relaxation and inspiration. There she meets Gabe (Christopher Abbott) and his pregnant partner Blair (Sarah Gadon) who could not be more welcoming. After a meal and a few drinks, truths are shared and secrets revealed as playful bickering turns to blatant flirtation. Everything is turned upside down in a second act that views the dynamics of the evening in an entirely different light.

CREATION STORIES
Director: Nick Moran
Cast: Ewen Bremner, Suki Waterhouse, Rebecca Root
Country: UK
 
What the festival says:
Written by Irvine Welsh and starring Ewen Bremner as the infamous Alan McGee, Creation Stories charts the rise of one young Glaswegian who went on to change the face of British culture, whilst navigating a sea of obstacles that would ultimately lead to his downfall. Scottish-born McGee, founder of Creation Records, helped launch the careers of influential bands such as Oasis, Primal Scream and My Bloody Valentine to name but a few. Charismatic with a reputation for living fast and partying hard, McGee’s ear for music and marketing genius was unmatched at the time, with only his lack of business acumen causing the label to burn out and fade away. 

THE MAURITANIAN
Director: Kevin Macdonald
Cast: Tahar Rahim, Jodie Foster, Benedict Cumberbatch
Country: UK/USA
 
What the festival says:
Justice seems an impossible dream in The Mauritanian, a powerful adaptation of Mohamedou Ould Slahi’s bestselling memoir. Snatched by the USA Government in 2001, Slahi (Tahar Rahim) spent years in Guantanamo Bay proclaiming his innocence. Lawyer Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster) agrees to represent him and force a trial. Lt. Colonel Stuart Couch (Benedict Cumberbatch) heads a prosecution hell-bent on conviction. Contrasting the legal battle with scenes of the torture and humiliation that Slahi experienced, director Kevin Macdonald (One Day In September, Touching The Void) has created a heart-rending true-life drama.

MINARI
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Cast: Steven Yeun, Yeri Han, Yuh-Jung Youn, Alan S. Kim, Will Patton
Country: USA
 
What the festival says:
We are thrilled to be opening the 2021 Glasgow Film Festival with the eagerly-awaited UK premiere of Lee Isaac Chung’s heartwarming Minari. His award-winning, semi-autobiographical drama paints a beguiling portrait of a Korean American family weathering all of life’s joys and sorrows. In the 1980s, Jacob (Steven Yeun) and Monica (Yeri Han) arrive in rural Arkansas determined to make a fresh start for their family. The dream is to grow Korean vegetables for the other immigrant families. The reality is a dilapidated trailer in a muddy field and the daily grind of paid work at the local chicken hatchery. They also worry over the future of their son Daniel (Alan S Kim) who has a heart murmur. The arrival of Monica’s mischievous mother Soon-ja (a scene-stealing Yuh-Jung Youn) to help with childcare adds further tensions to the mix. Named after a Korean herb, similar to watercress, Minari has the authentic taste of those precious little moments that make up our daily lives. A beautiful, uplifting film told with charm, humour and a fond regard for everyday struggles.

SURGE
Director: Aneil Karia
Cast: Ben Whishaw, Ian Gelder, Ellie Haddington
Country: USA
 
What the festival says:
Ben Whishaw gives an award-winning performance as a man careering towards a breakdown in Surge. Whishaw previously starred for director Aneil Karia in the short film Beat. The two are now reunited for the story of Joseph, a security guard at Stansted airport crumbling under the strain of his job and the pressures of a dysfunctional family. Whishaw’s raw, full-blown performance as the unravelling Joseph is compelling, and Karia makes ambitious use of sound and imagery to immerse us in the jittery, deeply distressing way Joseph experiences the world around him.

Follow our coverage of the Glasgow Film Festival 2021 on our website and our socials.