What's On Scotland 22-29 Nov: Fokus film festival

Fokus: Films for Germany returns for its fourth edition, kicking off at Edinburgh's Filmhouse tonight. Plus, Christine and the Queens, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Rambert: Life is a Dream, Marcellus Pittman and more...

Feature by Nadia Younes | 22 Nov 2018

Programmed by the Goethe-Institut in Glasgow and Edinburgh's Filmhouse, Fokus: Films for Germany continues to celebrate contemporary German filmmaking for the fourth year running.

Opening in Edinburgh tonight, with a screening of Conny Plank: The Potential of Noise – a documentary about the German music legend, known as a pioneer of Krautrock – the festival will also take in Aberdeen, Ayr, Dundee and Glasgow, running until January 2019. Of the contemporary titles, there’s workplace drama In the Aisles, feminist film Freedom and documentary Berlin Excelsior, among others.

The highlight of this year’s festival though is its quartet of films by Margarethe von Trotta, who Fokus describe as “one of the most gifted – but often overlooked – directors of the New German Cinema”. This mini-retrospective includes The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum, The Second Awakening of Christa Klages, Rosa Luxemburg and The German Sisters.



Christine and the Queens
Usher Hall, Edinburgh. 24 Nov, 7pm
Héloïse Letissier threw down the gauntlet with one of the best albums of the year in September. Her second album as Christine and the Queens, Chris is an 80s indebted, funk-fuelled pop gem and should be celebrated endlessly – also a good way to brush up on your français. Letissier is a big fan of a dance routine or two, so some serious shapes are also sure to be cut.

Ms. Lauryn Hill
SSE Hydro, Glasgow. 23 Nov, 6.30pm
It’s been 20 years since Lauryn Hill released her seminal album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and, believe it or not, it’s still the only solo album she has ever released. Tax dodging and persistent lateness aside, Hill is one of the most influential artists of her generation and you’d be a fool to miss this show. Image: Roosa Päivänsalo


ADVERTISEMENT | Wasps Artist and Makers Market
The Briggait, Glasgow, 8 Dec, 11am
Back by popular demand, Wasps Artist and Maker Market returns to the Briggait this festive season, showcasing work by Wasps studio holders from across Scotland. This unique market is the perfect way to do your Christmas shopping whilst supporting artists, makers and independent businesses at the same time. All work will be for sale, bought directly from the artists, ranging from fine art to design and crafts. We will have hot food, hot drinks and a host of Christmas cheer on offer.


An Evening with Jason Reynolds & Kayus Bankole
Scottish Poetry Library, Edinburgh. 27 Nov, 7pm
Independent publisher 404 Ink and multi-arts collective Neu! Reekie! join forces to bring forward An Evening with Jason Reynolds & Kayus Bankole. Reynolds – an award-winning American young adult fiction author – will discuss his new book, For Every One, with Bankole – one-third of Edinburgh band Young Fathers – which serves as a manifesto for dreamers. Image: Ben Fractenberg

LO-MID-HI
ISO Design, Glasgow. 23 Nov, 7pm
Initially presented as a three-part series at Glasgow's Sub Club, RE-ND-ER-ED’s LO-MID-HI series created a sensory environment, combining Virtual Reality and real time projection installations with techno frequency waveforms. The culmination of those three installations will be presented across multiple spaces at ISO Studios in the Merchant City tomorrow night. Image: Brian Sweeney

Rambert: Life is a Dream
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh. 22-24 Nov, 7.30pm
Kim Brandstrup teams up with London-based contemporary dance company Rambert once again, following his 2016 National Dance Award-winning contribution to Transfigured Night, which was awarded best modern choreography. This time around, Brandstrup and Rambert are taking on Pedro Calderón de la Barca’s 17th Century play, Life is a Dream. Image: Johan Persson

An Evening with David Rudolf from Netflix's The Staircase
O2 Academy, Glasgow. 26 Nov, 7pm
True crime TV series are basically millennial kryptonite, and the latest to add to your binge list is Netflix’s The Staircase, which follows the high-profile murder trial of American novelist Michael Peterson. Clearly milking his five minutes of fame, Peterson’s attorney David Rudolf is heading out on a tour where he’ll be in conversation, discussing details of the case and trial.

Pulse 9th Birthday with Paula Temple
The Mash House, Edinburgh. 24 Nov, 11pm
Long-running techno purveyors Pulse celebrate their ninth birthday with a scorching hybrid set from Paula Temple. Her crafty, punchy afternoon set back at Riverside Festival earlier this year was our highlight of that weekend, so we can't wait to see what mayhem she conjures up in the intimate surrounds of The Mash House. Image: Anna Wachsmuth

Subculture: Marcellus Pittman
Sub Club, Glasgow. 24 Nov, 11pm
Detroit don Marcellus "Malik" Pittman makes the long journey across the pond for a set at Sub Club institution Subculture this weekend. Pittman is pretty much one of the biggest names on the scene, and was an integral member in forging the Detroit sound as part of the 3 Chairs collective, alongside Rick Wilhite, Theo Parrish and Kenny “Moodymann” Dixon. Be there or be a total square. Image: Boiler Room

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