Four Lions screening at Sydney Film Festival
May 13th 2010 02:58
Four Lions, now screening all over the UK has been chosen to screen in official competition at this years Sydney Film Festival.
Having entertained audiences in Britain with such cult classics as BRASS EYE and THIS DAY TODAY, this is Morris' debut feature film and looks to be a surefire international hit already having doubling the number of screenings available in Britain after only a few short weeks
Chris Morris' "Four Lions" is a funny, thrilling comedy that illuminates modern jihadism through the prism of farce. It understands jihadists as human beings. And it understands human beings as innately ridiculous.
What "This Is Spinal Tap" did for heavy metal and "Dr Strangelove" the Cold War, "Four Lions" does for the modern face of terrorism.
In a British city, four men have a secret plan. Omar (Riz Ahmed) is disillusioned about the treatment of muslims around the world and is determined to become a soldier. This is the most exciting idea Waj (Kayvan Novak) has ever heard. Better still it’s a no brainer because Omar does his thinking for him. Opposed to Omar and everyone else on earth is the white islamic convert Barry (Nigel Lindsay). He’d realize he joined the cell to channel his nihilism - If he had half the self knowledge of a duck. Faisal (Adeel Akhtar) is the odd man out. He can make a bomb – but he can’t blow himself up just now coz his sick dad has “started eating newspaper”. Instead he’s training crows to fly bombs through windows. This is what Omar has to deal with. They must strike a decisive blow on their own turf but can any of them strike a match without punching himself in the face?
“Four Lions” plunges us beyond seeing these young men as unfathomably alien. It undermines the folly of just wishing them away or, even worse, alienating the entire culture from which they emerge. The film is neither pro nor anti religious. The jokes fly out of the characters’ conflicts, excesses and mistakes. Crackling with wit and tension, “Four Lions” is the essential response to our failure to engage with reality and a high toast to the idea that laughter is better than killing.
www.four-lions.co.uk
Clip - Jihadi Video
FLASH
QUICKTIME
WINDOWS
REALPLAYER
IPHONE LoRes
IPHONE HiRes
Festival Screenings of this brilliant new comedy are Saturday June 12 7pm and Sunday June 13, 10am at the State Theatre.
Tickets films and screening times are available from
www.sff.org.au or call 02- 96905390.
THE SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL RUNS FROM JUNE 2-14 2010.
Having entertained audiences in Britain with such cult classics as BRASS EYE and THIS DAY TODAY, this is Morris' debut feature film and looks to be a surefire international hit already having doubling the number of screenings available in Britain after only a few short weeks
Chris Morris' "Four Lions" is a funny, thrilling comedy that illuminates modern jihadism through the prism of farce. It understands jihadists as human beings. And it understands human beings as innately ridiculous.
What "This Is Spinal Tap" did for heavy metal and "Dr Strangelove" the Cold War, "Four Lions" does for the modern face of terrorism.
In a British city, four men have a secret plan. Omar (Riz Ahmed) is disillusioned about the treatment of muslims around the world and is determined to become a soldier. This is the most exciting idea Waj (Kayvan Novak) has ever heard. Better still it’s a no brainer because Omar does his thinking for him. Opposed to Omar and everyone else on earth is the white islamic convert Barry (Nigel Lindsay). He’d realize he joined the cell to channel his nihilism - If he had half the self knowledge of a duck. Faisal (Adeel Akhtar) is the odd man out. He can make a bomb – but he can’t blow himself up just now coz his sick dad has “started eating newspaper”. Instead he’s training crows to fly bombs through windows. This is what Omar has to deal with. They must strike a decisive blow on their own turf but can any of them strike a match without punching himself in the face?
“Four Lions” plunges us beyond seeing these young men as unfathomably alien. It undermines the folly of just wishing them away or, even worse, alienating the entire culture from which they emerge. The film is neither pro nor anti religious. The jokes fly out of the characters’ conflicts, excesses and mistakes. Crackling with wit and tension, “Four Lions” is the essential response to our failure to engage with reality and a high toast to the idea that laughter is better than killing.
www.four-lions.co.uk
Clip - Jihadi Video
FLASH
QUICKTIME
WINDOWS
REALPLAYER
IPHONE LoRes
IPHONE HiRes
Festival Screenings of this brilliant new comedy are Saturday June 12 7pm and Sunday June 13, 10am at the State Theatre.
Tickets films and screening times are available from
www.sff.org.au or call 02- 96905390.
THE SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL RUNS FROM JUNE 2-14 2010.
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SimonC
