Author: Ben Gummery

B&B is a new LGBT-themed thriller from writer director Joe Aherne (Doctor Who) in a Hummingbird Films production; funded by Creative England, Film Cymru, and Pont Neuf Productions. The film id being distributed in the UK by Peccadillo Pictures.

‘Marc (Tom Bateman) and Fred (Sean Teale) return to bait the owner (Paul McGann) of a remote Christian B&B who they had successfully sued him for not allowing them to share a bed. Events take a deadly turn when another guest arrives, who they think might have something sinister in mind’

Perhaps sitting comfortably in the suspenseful thriller/horror genre this film at it’s heart is a dark comedy in the vein of Shallow Grave, In Bruges & Blood Simple; however this film has it’s own unique conceit which comes from a world which will seem very real to anyone who has read a newspaper in the last few years. The plot presents itself as being very straightforward to begin with but don’t let it fool you; there are several twists and turns that will leave you asking questions about right & wrong and viewing the film from different perspectives.

McGann plays homophobic B&B owner Josh who is on one level battling with the gay couple that have targeted him and on another level his own beliefs & fatherhood of son Paul (Callum Woodhouse); it’s a very subtle, understated performance from McGann as we see the character follow his own path through the story while never really faltering. It could be seen as a despicable character but it is left to the story and the audience to decide what he is rather than being exaggerated. McGann continues to show his excellent range (having recently played a Nazi general on-stage). This plays well against Bateman as Fred; who essentially plays ‘the other side of the coin’ as the more protagonist part of the couple and it is the tension between these two that provide some of the best moments in the film.

It’s a small, claustrophobic film with an excellent ensemble cast and almost perfect pacing which to me was very reminiscent of ‘Shallow Grave’. The cinematography is simplistic and deliberately bland and with a subtle scoring which allows the story and performances to be powerfully effective. It questions your beliefs and flirts with stereotypes and tropes without ever distracting from the core of the story.

4/5 – Highly recommended.

The film is released on on DVD and VOD in the UK on October 23rd (already available in USA).

To find out more about B&B, upcoming screenings, and its creators, please check the film’s official website www.bnbfilm.co.uk.

My Life as a Courgette is a 2016 Swiss and French stop motion ‘adult animated comedy-drama’ film directed by Claude Barras and based on a novel by Gilles Paris. 

Following a successful festival run, the english-dubbed version of the film features a stellar cast including Will Forte, Nick Offerman, Ellen Page and Amy Sedaris. While the film speaks for itself, this casting and the performances really bring it to life for the english medium. Nick Offerman’s ‘cop that cares’ is instantly lovable but also has his own depth.  

Don’t let the title fool you; the story at the heart of this film is completely serious; although there is some comedy and light-hearted moments in the re-telling.

After losing his mother, a young boy (with the titular nickname ‘Courgette) is befriended by a police officer, Raymond (Nick Offerman), who accompanies him to his new foster home filled with other orphans his age. At first he struggles to find his place in this often strange and hostile environment. Yet with Raymond’s help and his newfound friends, Courgette eventually learns to trust and love, as he searches for a new family of his own.

We start off by seeing some of his troubled child-hood and alcoholic mother inter-twinned with the ‘normal’ life of a child (in this case; his toys are beer cans) and then move on to his interaction with other misfortunate kids of similar but varied backgrounds and we get to see their naive views of several adult themes (i.e sex and drugs) which are woven into the story which is quite frankly charming but important.  The animation here is similar in style to the studio Laika (BoxTrolls, Paranorman, Coraline) and similarly deals with ‘adult’ issues through a childs eyes. It also continues. the great tradition of French stop motion and animation such as The City of Lost Children and The Triplets of Belleville. I really appreciated things like little details they added into backgrounds (i.e. Courgettes drawings) which help tell the story in their own way.

A subtle and understated score from Sophie Hunger compliments the picture beautifully which is in some ways melancholic but always moving forward.

This is an easy 5/5 – Moving, beautifully real and thought-provoking for children and adults alike. Go see this film!

My Life As A Courgette is distributed in the UK by Thunderbird Releasing (Formerly Soda Pictures) and is on limited theatrical release in UK from June 2nd – catch it while you can!