Glasgow Youth Film Festival – Young Programmers' Picks

A Bunch of Amateurs (N/C 12+)
Dir. Director Kim Hopkins

In A Bunch of Amateurs, community is everything. It's a film about creating, and the collective joy of a round of tea after a job well done – or one poorly done but what the hell, everyone’s spirit was in it so let’s just get the kettle on.

The main story throughout most of the film is the group’s attempt to recreate the opening of classic musical Oklahoma! as a love letter to one member's terminally ill wife. The comedy is there: the mutual eye-rolling at every silly decision and mistake, the deadpan way many members state facts, as well as the simple fact that these are all just funny people. But the heart – and the melancholy – is in here too, sometimes just under the surface.

The documentary flip-flops between tones effortlessly, weaving an immensely compelling, accessible and – above all – human story entirely out of real life. “I get to be ‘Joe, filmmaker’,” says one of the members. “Otherwise, it’s just ‘Joe.”’ [Jay]

GFT, 17 Sep, 3.15pm, followed by a Q&A with Kim Hopkins and producer Margareta Szabo

Moulin Rouge! (12A)
Dir. Baz Luhrmann

Moulin Rouge! follows Christian (Ewan McGregor), a poor writer who falls in love with Satine (Nicole Kidman), an aspiring actress who’s... Alright, there’s no point in trying to summarise this story as the director, Baz Luhrmann, seems less interested in the plot and more interested in the spectacular stylistic opportunities it presents.

The danger is that this could easily be a case of style over substance, but here style informs the substance. This overwhelmingly stylistic approach – involving black and white and colour photography and a mix of pop songs – helps to bring new energy to a familiar story. Luhrmann builds momentum through movement, either moving the camera or the actors or both, creating constant motion and finding unique visuals for every scene (you almost never see the same shot twice).

Luhrmann’s film is expressionistic, from sound effects that feel sampled from Looney Tunes to editing that creates pace through fast cuts. This also applies to the cast, specifically McGregor and Kidman. Both give huge and animated performances that feel straight out of Toulouse’s theatre productions. Luhrmann’s maximalism guarantees the audience’s engagement, so much so that you still get a sense of the film's scale while watching on your laptop – on your phone, even. To appreciate its full intended effect, however, Moulin Rouge! must be watched on the big screen. [Sean]

GFT, 16 Sep, 6.30pm

Moonlight (15)
Dir. Barry Jenkins

Moonlight is a film that explores masculinity in the African American community through the lens of a man named Chiron, who we are shown at three different stages in his life: firstly as a young boy, then as a teenager and finally as a man. This structure carries the film as we watch Chiron develop over this time and observe the ways in which all of the people in his life affect his perception of himself, as he struggles to come to terms with who he is – and particularly with his sexuality.

The film boasts a brilliant cast, in particular the three actors portraying Chiron, who keep the character consistent while all providing their own touches. It pairs well with Barry Jenkins’ subtle direction, the blues creating a specific cool relaxing yet melancholic vibe that permeates throughout the whole film, further punctuated by the slow, moody score creating a dreamlike atmosphere and tone. The film also features some beautiful cinematography with shots of the boundless and endless ocean that make the world feel so large and foreboding, much like the life Chiron has to live through.

Moonlight stands as an important examination of manhood and the toxic expectations of what a man should be, and serves as a perfect exploration of the intersectionality of being gay in the African American community. It stands out like a rainbow in an ocean of grey. [Sonny]

GFT, 18 Sep, 3.30pm

Angry Young Men (N/C15+)
Dir. Paul Morris

Paul Morris’s feature film debut transports us to a fictitious area of Scotland called Mauchton (the locations are actually Lanarkshire) where a group of children, The Bramble Boys, set out on a mission to take over from the more established gangs. This isn't a pint-sized Scottish Scarface, though. The violence here is light-hearted, with The Bramble Boys' unconventional weapons and attire bringing a comical feel to the film as they seek revenge on a rising new enemy, The Campbell Group.

Morris’s cinematography and the location create a raw feel and provide a recognisable backdrop for a Scottish audience. The gang here serves the community, which is refreshing and rare in films. Angry Young Men was clearly made on a shoestring, but it has going for it a clever, well-thought-out script, and crisp editing and visuals, especially the final drone shots at the end, which drives the narrative forward. The passion of Morris – credited as the producer, director, scriptwriter, production designer, cinematographer, editor and actor – proves that it is possible to make an ambitious film in Scotland with limited means. Overall, the film was far from ‘pish’ and more like ‘yaldi’, as Glaswegians would say. [Lorna]

GFT, 17 Sep, 5.45pm; followed by a Q&A with Paul Morris

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Glasgow Youth Film Festival runs 16-18 Sep; full programme and tickets at glasgowfilm.org