Deception Comes Home As The Imposter To Get January Home Release

Be the first to witness the most unbelievable true story in the highly anticipated box office smash, THE IMPOSTER. As well as being shortlisted for an Oscar nomination, this critically-acclaimed and award-winning documentary thriller is out on DVD, Blu-ray, Download and On-Demand on 7 January 2013 from Picturehouse Entertainment and Revolver and will leave you wondering if the truth really is stranger than fiction.

In 1994, 13-year-old Nicholas Barclay disappeared from his home in San Antonio, Texas. Three and a half years later, he was found alive, thousands of miles away in Spain. Disorientated and quivering with fear, he divulges his shocking story of kidnap and torture. His family is overjoyed to bring him home, but all is not what it seems.

Despite having the same tattoos, he looks decidedly different and now speaks with a strange French accent. It’s only when a private investigator starts asking questions that this astonishing true story takes an even stranger turn.

Directed by Bart Layton, this bold and utterly unmissable true crime story is one of the most talked about films of the year. Intriguing and gripping in equal measures, Layton combines both documentary and stylised visualisations to unveil the jaw-dropping true story of Nicholas Barclay’s disappearance. As the truth begins to dawn on you, another emerges leaving you even further on edge as deception comes home...

The film creates a wonderful cohesion between real interview footage and filmed re-enactments, making THE IMPOSTER a thriller filled with twists that you don’t see coming – it’s about the lies that we tell ourselves to find the truth.

An absolute must-see for all film fans this New Year, THE IMPOSTER is available on DVD, Blu-ray, Download and On-Demand on 7 January 2013 from Picturehouse Entertainment and Revolver and available now for pre-order (see below).



DVD & Blu-Ray Extras:

• Making the Imposter (30 min edited version)
• Q&A with Bart, Dimitri and Charlie Parker hosted by Jon Ronson (40 mins)

Pre-Order The Imposter:DVD / Blu-ray

From Disney To Michael Gondry 2013 Glasgow Youth Film Festival Programme Announced

The programme for the fifth annual Glasgow Youth Film Festival – the only film event in the UK curated entirely by 15-18 year olds – launches today, at Tramway’s Fresh Faced Winter Fayre. Working with staff at Glasgow Film Festival, the team of young programmers have organised workshops, special preview screenings of soon-to-be-released films, and even an outdoor dance party on the banks of the Clyde!

This year’s opening gala will be an advance preview screening of Disney’s latest, video game-themed release, Wreck-It Ralph, starring John C Reilly and Sarah Silverman; the festival closes with a preview of The We and the I, the hilarious, off- beat new film from director Michael Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind).

A number of extra special events make the programme particularly unique this year. A team of street dancers and DJs will take over the River Clyde Embankment, creating a live homage to the innovative music/dance film Girl Walk // All Day, which saw dancers interacting with the public all over New York; the film will be simultaneously projected onto the riverbank. Elsewhere, London’s Paper Cinema company use puppetry, live animation, music and performance to create a one-off big screen version of The Odyssey, and members of the cast and crew of Channel 4’s hit sitcom Fresh Meat drop by for a masterclass. Enduring teen icon Ferris Bueller gets another day out, and a number of films get UK premieres, including Dutch comedy The Deflowering of Eva van End, Belgian drama The Day of the Crows, and from the US, Matthew Lilliard’s Fat Kid Rules the World, about a suicidal teen rocker.

The programme also includes a vibrant, internationally-focused range of animation, documentaries and films reflecting issues and experiences of young people around the world, and a series of workshops where industry professionals offer advice, tips and practical experience to young people interested in making a career in cinema. There’s plenty for little brothers and sisters too, from innovative family-focused short films to a live appearance by Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson.

The 2013 festival will run from 3-13 February 2013, the actual Glasgow Film Festival starts the day after Glasgow Youth Film Festival finishes,running from 14-24 February.

Love Crime (Crime d'amour) Review

The final film of late French filmmaker, Alain Corneau receives a posthumous British cinematic release this month. Love Crime (Crime D'amour) remains a testament to the high quality of Corneau's work.

Christine, a controlling business executive (Kristin Scott Thomas), leads a young associate, Isabelle, (Ludvine Sagnier) into a controlling game of manipulation and domination. After embarrassing her at a staff function, Isabelle vows deadly revenge on Christine.

Love Crime boasts a near Hitchcockian narrative, proving to be a completely unpredictable ride. Corneau's film opens with a meeting between Christine and Isabelle,  which verges on seduction - we see the young associate drawn to magnetic persona of Christine.  As this character dynamic builds we gradually see this idolisation turn into a passionate contempt between both women, as Christine continually toys with Isabelle's emotions - this cat and mouse relationship makes Love Crime a truly absorbing watch. We see the tension build between the pair until Isabelle  reaches breaking point in a twist that completely overturns the narrative of the whole film. This twist creates dozens of questions and mysteries throughout the remainder of the film, which gradually get unravelled in Corneau and Nathalie Carter's sharp script. The pair pay a strong attention to detail, with meticulous answers to any plot-hole or inconsistency, a viewer may attempt to pick. However, one small flaw lies in Love Crime's ending which feels too outlandish and contrived to be wholly satisfying, yet is unlikely to spoil your enjoyment of Cournea's film.

Corneau is a master of crafting intrigue and suspense, allowing us to empathise with Isabelle but keeping us distanced from her motivations, gradually unravelling them by the conclusion of Love Crime.  This allows for a magnificent performance from Sagnier as we see the character turn from vulnerable underdog to a more-than-fitting opponent of Christine.  The actress is equally convincing as both victim and challenger, boasting her finest performance since Francois Ozon's Swimming Pool.  Kristin Scott-Thomas brings a cold, self-satisfying presence to the role of Christine, truly commanding the screen.

Love Crime may not cover any new ground to a traditional euro-thriller, but proves engaging, sharp and fast paced enough to  prove completely enjoyable, particularly thanks to performances from Sagnier and Scott Thomas.

Andrew McArthur

★★★★☆

Stars: Ludvine Sagnier, Kristin Scott Thomas,;Patrick Mille
Director: Alain Corneau
Release: 14th December 2012
Certificate: 15 (UK)

Win Christmas Slasher Christmas Evil On DVD

Better watch out.... Better not cry.... Or you may die! Courtesy of Our Friends at Arrow Films we have a special Christmas treat for Cinehouse readers as we have 3 copies of the cult 1980's Christmas slasher Christmas Evil (aka You Better Watch Out) on DVD!

When little Harry sees his Dad in a Santa Claus outfit, groping his mother one Christmas Eve, life changes for the quiet little boy. Thirty odd years later, you’d better watch out in this 80s horror classic from the small but perfectly formed micro-genre of Yuletide Slashers.

Because now - all grown up and disgruntled by his dead end job in a depressing toy factory - he’s making a list, checking it twice and descending into a self-created Christmas nightmare where he is Father Christmas and his judgement is final! Dressed as St. Nick, Harry is going to show his bullying co-workers and all the other naughty people what the true spirit of the season is... Run for your miserable lives, the vengeance is going to be swift and bloody!

 In your hands is a true dark Christmas oddity that cult movie kingpin John Waters described as "greatest Christmas movie ever made."

To win Christmas Evil on DVD, lease answer the following question:

Q.Which one of the cast of Christmas Evil recently starred in The Walking Dead?

Send your name,address, postcode and your answer only to winatcinehouseuk@gmail.com
Deadline for this competition is Sunday 5th January 2013 (2359hrs) Must be Aged 18 or older to enter.

Read our recent review of Christmas Evil here

Terms & Conditions:1.This prize is non transferable.No cash alternatives apply.UK & Irish entries only.2.The Peoples Movies, Cinehouse and Arrow Films. have the right to alter, delay or cancel this competition without any notice3.The competition is not opened to employees, family, friends of The Peoples Movies, Cinehouse,Arrow Films employees 4.This competition is promoted on behalf of Arrow Films 5. If this prize becomes unavailable we have the right to offer an alternative prize instead 6.To enter this competition you must send in your answer, name, address only, Deadline 5th January 2013 (2359hrs)7.Will only accept entries sent to the correct email (win [at] thepeoplesmovies [dot] com), any other entry via any other email will be void.8.If the above form fails please send the information required from the form email it to winatcinehouseuk@gmail.com (label christmas evil) If any info required from the form is not sent in the email your entry will be void 9.automated entries are not allowed and will be disqualified, which could result you been banned.10.The Peoples Movies, Cinehouse takes no responsibility for delayed, lost, stolen prizes 11.Prizes may take from days to a few months for delivery which is out of our control 12.The competition is opened to Aged 18 and over.13. Majority of the prizes on offer will come from representatives of the distributor, no The People’s Movies &Cinehouse, when we do have the prizes we will inform you.14. Unless Stated Please Do Not Include Telephone Numbers, we don’t need them and if you include your telephone number Cinehouse and The People’s Movies are not responsible for the security of the number15.The winning entries will be picked at random and contacted by email or announced via facebook, sometimes we are unable to confirm winners.16.This competition is bound by the rules of Scotland,England & Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland.17.By sending your entry for this competition you are confirming you have read and agreed to these Terms & Conditions.

UK Competitions and Prize Draws at UKwins
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ThePrizeFinder – UK Competitions

Hi Ho Willy! Watch Animated Penis Western Short - The Willies- Wanted Melody

Before you start climbing on the moral high horse demanding I wash my mouth out with soap, this is not porn or anything sexually explicit apart from all the characters are all penis! It's time to marvel in the animated short of The Willies: Wanted Melody by Paul Jaulmes and Boris Croise. These French animators are attempting to create a series of shorts in a number of genres with all the characters penises! They need your support and you can support them through the indiegogo so they can create those other genres then releasing everything online!

Below we actually have one of the shorts based on a Western, but if they get the funding you can expect world of pirates, horror even a musical! For Wanted Melody it's not the size that matters it's what you do with it and in this way its create great little animated short films!

Wanted Melody by wantedmelody

Horror Channel to screen Classic Cronenberg Season

Pascal Laugier, Simon Rumley & Sean Hogan present three of Cronenberg’s most influential masterpieces,Saturdays January 12 until January 26, 10.55pm

Horror Channel showcases three of David Cronenberg’s most defining films with a season that can’t fail to shock and awaken the senses. SHIVERS, RABID and THE DEAD ZONE all receive their Horror Channel premieres, exclusively introduced by top horror directors Simon Rumley (Red White & Blue), Sean Hogan (The Devil’s Playground) and Pascal Laugier (Martyrs).

Saturday January 12 @ 22:55

The season kicks off with the premiere of SHIVERS (1975), Cronenberg’s debut full-length feature that helped coined the phrase ‘Body Horror’. The infectious plot sees a parasite enter the bodies of people living in a Montreal apartment block and consequently turns them into libido driven, sex mad zombies. Clearly a fan of the genre, Cronenberg cast the unforgettable Hammer Horror siren Barbara Steele in what was to become one of the most iconic scenes in the film.

Sean Hogan on SHIVERS: “I chose Shivers because, much like the sexual parasites that drive the plot, the film burrows under your skin and leaves you with strange, dark feelings. It announced the arrival of a bold new voice in horror and after it, the genre was utterly transformed: The New Flesh had arrived”.

Saturday January 19 @ 22.55

Next up is the premiere of RABID (1977) in which Cronenberg is once again flirting with the themes of strange science and even stranger sex in this blood-lusty follow up to Shivers. This time a young woman becomes a test subject for an experimental skin graft when she survives a horrific motorbike crash – but her new skin demands feeding…Starring Marilyn Chambers, this is Cronenberg’s twisted take on the Vampire genre.

Saturday January 26 @ 22.55

Last in the season is THE DEAD ZONE (1983), in which Cronenberg teamed up with Stephen King when he adapted his novel THE DEAD ZONE. Filmed during a relentless deep freeze in Southern Ontario, this horror thriller stars Christopher Walken. As Johnny Smith – a man who wakes from a coma to find he’s lost five years of his life but gained psychic powers to foresee the future – something of a gift that soon becomes a curse.

Simon Rumley on THE DEAD ZONE: “This was one of the many classic small town American movies I watched when I was growing up and for a teenager from Kent it was intriguing and creepy and had, at the time, two of the coolest actors in the world - Christopher Walken and Martin Sheen”.

TV: Sky 319 / Virgin 149 / Freesat 138 

 www.horrorchannel.co.uk | twitter.com/horror_channel

Take This Waltz Set For UK January Home Release

TAKE THIS WALTZ, written and directed by Sarah Polley and starring Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Luke Kirby and Sarah Silverman. TAKE THIS WALTZ is out to own on JANUARY 7th, 2013 and the summertime setting of Toronto will surely thaw any January blues!

Following the success of her Academy Award nominated film Away From Her, Sarah Polley weaves another intelligent, sensitive drama in TAKE THIS WALTZ.
When Margot (Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine), meets Daniel (Luke Kirby, The Samaritan) on a business trip, their chemistry is intense and immediate. Margot suppresses her sudden attraction as she is happily married to Lou (Seth Rogen, Green Hornet), a cookbook writer. When Margot learns that Daniel lives across the street from them, the certainty about her domestic life shatters. She and Daniel steal moments throughout the steaming Toronto summer, their eroticism heightened by their restraint.
Filled with colours, TAKE THIS WALTZ leads us, laughing, through the familiar, but uncharted question of what long-term relationships do to love, sex, and our images of ourselves.

DVD & Blu-ray Extras: Taking the Waltz / Trailer



Pre-Order:Take This Waltz [Blu-ray] / DVD

Berberian Sound Studio Picks Up Most Wins at 2012 British Independent Film Awards

Berberian Sound Studio picked up the most wins at the 2012 British Independent Film Awards last night Sunday 9th December.

The film won four Moët British Independent Film Awards in the following categories:

Best Director - Peter Strickland (Berberian Sound Studio) - WINNER

Best Actor - Toby Jones (Berberian Sound Studio) - WINNER

Best Achievement in Production - Berberian Sound Studio - WINNER

Best Technical Achievement - Joakim Sundström, Stevie Haywood AMPS IPS - Sound Design (Berberian Sound Studio) - WINNER

Commenting on the wins Philip Knatchbull, CEO of Curzon Artificial Eye said, “Artificial Eye are delighted that Berberian Sound Studio has been honoured with four awards at this year's British Independent Film Awards and are proud to continue supporting outstanding British film talent”

Winner of the Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor awards at the 2012 Film 4 Frightfest, Peter Strickland’s disturbing, eerie chiller is a must-see for fans of the work of Dario Argento, Roman Polanski and David Lynch and features a revelatory central performance by Toby Jones and a superb soundtrack by British indie electronic band, Broadcast.

Berberian Sound Studio is release on DVD & Blu-Ray and VOD 31 Dec 2012 (stayed tuned for review) and is available now on Curzon on Demand.

The soundtrack to Berberian Sound Studio, composed by renowned Warp-signed band Broadcast (aka Trish Keenan and James Cargill) is released a week later, on Jan 7th 2013. Time Out said of the film that the “stylistically ambitious, morally radical, thematically complex work…deserves the highest praise”. This turns out to also be an apt description of the film’s sublime soundtrack.

Initially conceived as the soundtrack to The Equestrian Vortex, the film-within-a-film (watch opening credits Below) around which Berberian Sound Studio unfolds, it would eventually spill outwards to encapsulate the entire world Strickland had created and populated with eccentric, magnetic characters. On it’s own, the music sets a sinister and atmospheric tone that still exists well within Broadcast’s sonic universe.



synopsis:It’s 1976 and timid, Dorking-based sound engineer, Gilderoy, has been transplanted to Italy’s run-down Berberian Sound Studio to work on “The Equestrian Vortex”, the latest low-budget horror movie by notorious exploitation maestro Giancarlo Santini. Gilderoy’s task is a seemingly simple one: to create, record and mix the sounds of bloodcurdling screams, limbs being severed and the insertion of red hot pokers into human orifices, mostly using a variety of everyday household items such as old vegetables and a hammer. But Gilderoy is totally unprepared for the graphically grotesque images on show, the effect they have on him and for the unusual working practices of his employers. As he becomes more deeply involved in his work, the line between fantasy and reality becomes blurred and, very subtly, Gilderoy’s life begins to imitate art in a nightmare scenario from which he may never escape.
Buy Soundtrack :Berberian Sound Studio

Press Release: British Independent Film Award Winners

An impressive array of British talent turned out this evening for the 15^th Moët British Independent Film Awards. The winners were announced at the star-studded ceremony, held at Old Billingsgate which was hosted by BIFA Winning actor James Nesbitt.

Best British Independent Film was won by BROKEN with Peter Strickland picking up Best Director for BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO; Andrea Riseborough won Best Actress for SHADOW DANCER and Toby Jones won Best Actor for BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO. Olivia Colman collected her second BIFA in two years, this time for Best Supporting Actress for HYDE PARK ON HUDSON and Rory Kinnear took home Best Supporting Actor for BROKEN.

BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO won the most awards on the night, picking up four trophies for Best Director, Best Actor, Best Achievement In Production and Best Technical Achievement. THE IMPOSTER won two awards: Best British Documentary and The Douglas Hickox Award (Directorial Debut) for Bart Layton, matching the tally for BROKEN which also won two for Best British Independent Film and Best Supporting Actor. SIGHTSEERS won Best Screenplay and THE HUNT was awarded Best International Independent Film. James Floyd picked up the Most Promising Newcomer Award for his role in MY BROTHER THE DEVIL.

Joint Directors, The Moët British Independent Film Awards Johanna von Fischer & Tessa Collinson said: "It is wonderful to see so many films acknowledged by our jury which goes to prove what a strong year 2012 has been for British Independent film. We were delighted that so many of the winners were with us tonight to collect their awards and celebrate our 15th Birthday, along with a number of previous winners, patrons, and friends of BIFA. We are extremely proud that The Moët British Independent Film Awards continues to highlight the extraordinary talent that is so plentiful within British independent filmmaking today."

As previously announced, Sir Michael Gambon was awarded the coveted Richard Harris Award for outstanding contribution by an actor to British film, and Jude Law the Variety Award, which recognises an actor, director, writer or producer who has helped to focus the international spotlight on the UK. The Special Jury Prize went to Sandra Hebron.

Emelie De Vitis, Marketing Director for Moët & Chandon, commented:  "Moët & Chandon is delighted to celebrate BIFA's 15th anniversary, as the stature of the awards continues to grow with so many world class winners. We are thrilled that so many of the brightest stars of the British film industry supported our ‘Toast for a Cause’ initiative, helping raise thousands of pounds for their favourite charities.”

The Raindance Award was won by STRINGS. Elliot Grove, Founder of Raindance Film Festival and BIFA added: “This year’s BIFA nominations demonstrate that British filmmakers are now an international force to be reckoned with.”

The Moët British Independent Film Awards are proud to announce the following winners for 2012 (highlighted below in red): 

BEST BRITISH INDEPENDENT FILM

Sponsored by Moët & Chandon

Berberian Sound Studio

Broken

Sightseers

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

The Imposter

BEST DIRECTOR

Sponsored by AllCity & Intermission

Bart Layton – The Imposter

Ben Wheatley – Sightseers

John Madden – The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Peter Strickland – Berberian Sound Studio

Rufus Norris – Broken

THE DOUGLAS HICKOX AWARD [BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR]

Sponsored by 3 Mills Studios

Bart Layton – The Imposter

Ben Drew – Ill Manors

Rowan Athale – Wasteland

Rufus Norris – Broken

Sally El Hosaini – My Brother the Devil

BEST SCREENPLAY

Sponsored by BBC Films

Abi Morgan – The Iron Lady

Alice Lowe, Steve Oram, Amy Jump – Sightseers

Mark O'Rowe – Broken

Paul Andrew Williams – Song for Marion

Peter Strickland – Berberian Sound Studio

BEST ACTRESS

Sponsored by M.A.C

Alice Lowe (Tina) – Sightseers

Andrea Riseborough (Colette McVeigh) – Shadow Dancer

Elle Fanning (Ginger) – Ginger & Rosa

Judi Dench (Evelyn Greenslade) – The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Meryl Streep (Margaret Thatcher) – The Iron Lady

BEST ACTOR

Riz Ahmed (Aaron) – Ill Manors

Steve Oram (Chris) – Sightseers

Terence Stamp (Arthur) – Song for Marion

Tim Roth (Archie) – Broken

Toby Jones (Gilderoy) – Berberian Sound Studio

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Alice Englert (Rosa) – Ginger & Rosa

Eileen Davies (Carol) – Sightseers

Maggie Smith (Muriel Donnelly) – The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Olivia Colman (Queen Elizabeth) – Hyde Park on Hudson

Vanessa Redgrave (Marion) – Song for Marion

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Sponsored by Sanderson & St Martins Lane

Billy Connolly (Wilf) – Quartet

Cillian Murphy (Mike Kiernan) – Broken

Domhnall Gleeson (Connor) – Shadow Dancer

Rory Kinnear (Bob Oswald) – Broken

Tom Wilkinson (Graham Dashwood) – The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER

Sponsored by Studiocanal

Elliott Tittensor (Tits) – Spike Island

Eloise Laurence (Skunk) – Broken

James Floyd (Rashid) – My Brother the Devil

Paul Brannigan (Robbie) – The Angels' Share

Zawe Ashton (Joyce Vincent) – Dreams of a Life

BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PRODUCTION

Sponsored by Company3

Berberian Sound Studio

Ill Manors

Sightseers

The Imposter

The Sweeney

BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT

Sponsored by LightBrigade Media

Nic Knowland BSC– Cinematography – Berberian Sound Studio

Joakim Sundström, Stevie Haywood AMPS IPS– Sound Design – Berberian Sound Studio

Electric Wave Bureau – Music – Broken

Robbie Ryan – Cinematography – Ginger & Rosa

Andrew Hulme – Editing – The Imposter

BEST DOCUMENTARY

Dreams of a Life

London: The Modern Babylon

Marley

Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir

The Imposter

BEST BRITISH SHORT

Supported by the BFI

Friday

Junk

Skyborn

Swimmer

Volume

BEST INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT FILM

Amour

Beasts of the Southern Wild

Rust and Bone

Searching For Sugar Man

The Hunt

THE RAINDANCE AWARD

Frank

Strings

Love Tomorrow

City Slacker

Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet

THE RICHARD HARRIS AWARD (for outstanding contribution by an actor to British Film)

Sir Michael Gambon

THE VARIETY AWARD

Jude Law

THE SPECIAL JURY PRIZE

Sandra Hebron

Chasing Ice Review

Climate Change has become an alarmingly polarising topic. Arguments and counter arguments, denials and debates feature heavily across news channels and a montage of these, complete with Fox News’ raging lune Glenn Beck open the cinematic documentary Chasing Ice.

There’s no mistaking the leanings of director Jeff Orlowski’s cast here who set out to prove, in the most tangible way they can, the existence of, and the damaging effect that Global Warming is having on our planet. Focussing on the work of photographer and former scientist James Balog the film we see his creation of the Extreme Ice Survey and its intention to photograph decaying glaciers around the world.

Initially a sceptic of global warming Balog had his views altered dramatically when he saw first hand the effect it was having across the globe. On photographic shoots and work with National Geographic he realised the severity of the situation and became determined to share this with as many people as he could. An article for National Geographic saw him photograph the changing landscape of the Antarctic and the shocking rate of calving (the term for glaciers breaking off into the Ocean) quickly becoming the magazine’s most read feature and paving the way for this feature length documentary in an attempt to capture a wider audience.

Knowing the answer lay in the changing ice, Balog went about documenting the change in these great colossal structures in a way that could be simply acknowledged and understood en masse. The film introduces the rest of his ensemble, rounding up the crew as if in an Oceans film or, more suitably, Philippe Petit’s bunch of daring sidekicks in Man on Wire. Between the engineers, photographers, scientists and science geeks they manage to create cameras that would survive such harsh conditions and go about setting them up in spots in Alaska, Montana, Iceland and Greenland where we meet the closest a glacier will get to celebrity status having been the one to send out the iceberg that sank the Titanic.

Capturing these images is no mean feat (one effort sees Balog and a young assistant literally hanging over a bottomless pit) and the excursions begin to take their toll on the intrepid photographer, in particular his already dodgy knee. This is an opportunity to show the action man nature of Balog as he heroically soldiers on over the icy mountains with nothing but a pair of sticks to hold up his amputated stump of a leg - a grand exaggeration but there’s an element of Chasing Ice that plays up to one mans relentless pursuit of change at all costs. We see him break down in tears at one point and there are fleeting moments spent with his family as even they understand the noble quest of our protagonist.

A large amount of the film’s success rides on the images and the impact they have. It’s packed with powerful, provoking visuals of these dying giants and interspersed with Balog’s photography highlighting the magical, other worldly qualities of the architectural marvels and white canvases. The film’s payoffs are the shots they were able to capture from the stationed cameras and when at the end they are shown the results are staggering. We see the largest ever glacier calve recorded on camera, the size of Manhattan and 3 times the height of the Empire State Building and time-lapse footage of the glaciers receding at a rate far greater than at any point in history. These images are, says Balog, key to realising the dangers of climate change. Despite the relatively small temperature change, the altered atmosphere and change this has on the air itself is far more significant with these glaciers acting as a canary in a coalmine alerting us to significant danger.

Much like Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, Chasing Ice may be met with acclaim among those who believe whole-heartedly in the perils of the topic but equally with a general sigh of ambivalence by an unwilling majority. The recent hype around the Kony 2012 project showed that passion projects can be seen in large numbers and while those featured here are unlikely to come under the levels of scrutiny Invisible Children did, they may miss out too on the amount of coverage it they received.

We are not patronised or offered a quick fix scheme as Balog realises it will not come from a film but hopes this offers enough definitive evidence to enough people to demand some kind of reaction as he takes his finding higher up the government hierarchy. Orlowski has certainly helped his cause whose cinematic portraits fittingly elevate Chasing Ice into more than just science lectures for the screen.

Matthew Walsh

★★★☆☆

Rating: NC
Director: Jeff Orlowski
Release Date: 14th December 2012 (UK)

Cast: James Balog, Svavar Jonatansson, Adam LeWinter