Light House & Pálás @ LFF

With a new Scorsese picture out this week, and a new Fincher following, this year’s festival films are finally making their way to our screens. But before festival season draws to a close, I took myself away from the Light House socials desk and set off to the BFI London Film Festival to see what’s on the horizon in the coming months.

I started off strong with Emerald Fennell’s wickedly delightful Saltburn starring our own Barry Keoghan and Euphoria star Jacob Elordi. The follow up to Promising Young Woman, with much lighter subject matter, is able to revel in pure pulp. It’s said that lots of people get lost in Saltburn and with its lush long takes through the sun soaked grounds, a deeply funny and outrageous script, and the best needle drops of the year; it’s not hard to see why.

Screening from Nov 17

Next up was Jeff Nichols’ The Bikeriders. Based on the photobook by Danny Lyons, the story of a Motorcycle Club in Chicago is told through Lyons’ (Mike Faist) interviews with Jodie Comer’s Kathy, the wife of club member Benny (Austin Butler). On the heels of his Oscar nom, Butler finds himself in a much darker, less sequined role as Tom Hardy’s right-hand man and Comer is, as ever, utterly charming. Although it never shies away from the violence of the gang, the film makes you want to don a leather jacket and hit the open road.

Release Date TBA

All Of Us Strangers was later that day, and my most anticipated of the festival. Loosely adapted from Taichi Yamada’s ‘Strangers’ by writer-director Andrew Haigh, the film has been met with unanimous praise. And it is not hard to see why. Andrew Scott leads with such a magnetic performance, supported beautifully by Paul Mescal, Claire Foy, and Jamie Bell. The film is incredibly moving, as evidenced by the wave of sniffles that echoed through the Southbank Centre - there truly was not a dry eye in the house.

Screening from Jan 26

Jacob Elordi graduates from aristocracy to royalty as Elvis in Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla. Nobody does gilded cage like Coppola, and combined her penchant for stories of girlhood, there’s nobody so uniquely suited to tell the story of Priscilla. Coppola manages to balance the appeal of the King with the deeply uncomfortable fact that a 24 year old Elvis met Priscilla aged 14, the relationship that followed was as toxic and turbulent as you might expect. Having won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at Venice, it’s safe to say we’ll be hearing a lot more from Cailee Spaeny, who carries this film with such grace.

Screening from Dec 26

How To Have Sex is the debut feature of Molly Manning Walker, the cinematographer on Scrapper which came out earlier this year. As the title suggests, the film is refreshingly frank about youthful hedonism and with a DoP at the helm it’s no surprise that stylish visuals totally immerse you in the world. Sure to spark discussion, you’ll never want to go near a resort again.

Screening from Nov 3 (and previewing for Loyalty+ members on Oct 24 in Pálás & 25 at Light House)

I was once again treated to an all-star Irish cast with Foe which brings us the inevitable pairing of Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal, as the decidedly not Irish Hen and Junior, who live on a farm in Midwest America in the year 2065. Even with its sci-fi setting, ultimately this is the story of a marriage and with two of our finest taking the lead, it’s one not to be missed.

Screening from Oct 20 (Light House) (Pálás)

Last, but most definitely not least, was Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things. The highly anticipated follow up to The Favourite, again starring Emma Stone, is nothing short of a riot. Endlessly funny, deeply absurd, and so touching in the strangest way. Every single aspect of the film is firing on all cylinders and it is an absolute treat. Stone’s central performance is unlike anything else and with support from Mark Ruffalo and Willem Dafoe, this is one to watch out for.

Screening from Jan 12

We look forward to welcoming all these films and more to Light House & Pálás - what are you most excited to see?