Radical, uncompromising and pioneering. That sums up British director Alan Clarke, one of the greatest artists of his generation. Slovak audiences will get an up-close look at his life\u2019s work at the upcoming Art Film Fest, held from 21 to 27 June 2014 in Tren\u010dianske Teplice and Tren\u010d\u00edn. The new section Profile: Alan Clarke will feature the most prominent films from this contemporary of Ken Loach, Mike Leigh and Stephen Frears. <\/p>\n
Though today his name has been more or less forgotten (possibly because his career was devoted, with few exceptions, to television), in the 1970s Alan Clarke\u2019s films aroused controversy and even provoked censorship. They criticized society, social institutions, and the government of the Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe uncompromisingly and at times very provocatively depicted various types of extremism and fanaticism\u2014from rowdy football hooligans, terrorism in Northern Ireland and the lives of inmates in young offender institutions, to radical skinheads\u2019 inability to conform to societal norms,\u201d described the section programmer Daniel Vadock\u00fd. <\/p>\n
Even decades later, his films have lost none of their relevance, and in many regards, remain unsurpassed. Art Film Fest\u2019s viewers will get to see three of Alan Clarke\u2019s best-known films, which could be described as a loose trilogy on youth violence.<\/p>\n
His film Scum in particular caused an enormous uproar. In 1977, when he\u2019d finished the first version for the BBC, censors seized it and suspended it from broadcast. Clarke reworked the film, and two years later it was released cinematically. Telling the story of a juvenile delinquent\u2019s attempts to gain dominance in a young offender institution, the film is full of gritty, naturalistic depictions of violence and psychological abuse. \u201cIt was largely in this film that Clarke developed the visual language and expressive elements he would later employ, in altered form, in his work during the following decade,\u201d said Daniel Vadock\u00fd.<\/p>\n
Clarke\u2019s subsequent masterwork, Made in Britain, was an openly critical slap in the face of society and Thatcher\u2019s regime. It follows a young skinhead who tries to navigate the social welfare system. On one hand he is certainly intelligent enough to remedy his situation; on the other he is too angry at the entire system to actually care. Clarke also introduced the film world to outstanding actor Tim Roth\u2014Made in Britain was his smashing debut.<\/p>\n
Clarke ended his directing career with The Firm, both his swansong and his most personal film. It presented an aberrant and spiteful attack on both Thatcher\u2019s Britain and the football hooligans who had tarnished the good name of the sport Clarke had loved since childhood. Gary Oldman excels as the fascinating protagonist. He leads the life of a normal family man, but he is also an avid supporter of his football club, and he takes any opportunity to express his \u201cfandom\u201d physically. This particular screening won\u2019t require a ticket, cinepass or accreditation; admission will be free to all Art Film Fest viewers.
\u201cYou\u2019d be hard pressed to find many among the current generation of British filmmakers whose work isn\u2019t inspired or influenced by Alan Clarke. His legacy remains timeless,\u201d concluded Daniel Vadock\u00fd.
Art Film Fest 2014 \u2013 22. Medzin\u00e1rodn\u00fd filmov\u00fd festival Tren\u010dianske Teplice\/Tren\u010d\u00edn
Organiz\u00e1tori: ART FILM, n.o., FORZA, a.s.
Spoluorganiz\u00e1tori: Mesto Tren\u010dianske Teplice, Mesto Tren\u010d\u00edn, K\u00fapele Tren\u010dianske Teplice
Festival sa kon\u00e1 pod z\u00e1\u0161titou predsedu vl\u00e1dy Slovenskej republiky Roberta Fica.
Festival finan\u010dne podporil: Audiovizu\u00e1lny fond<\/p>\n
Hlavn\u00ed reklamn\u00ed partneri: Slovensk\u00e1 elektriza\u010dn\u00e1 prenosov\u00e1 s\u00fastava, SLOVNAFT
Ofici\u00e1lny prepravca: Hyundai
Logistick\u00fd partner: DHL
Cinepass pre \u0161tudentov len za 5 EUR prin\u00e1\u0161a: Prv\u00e1 stavebn\u00e1 sporite\u013e\u0148a
Reklamn\u00ed partneri: DWC Slovakia, SEVITECH, LGM, \u010cEZ Slovensko, Slovak Telekom
Ofici\u00e1lni dod\u00e1vatelia: SUNwines, Mo\u00ebt, Barzzuz, ad one, AVI Studio, Print Hall, Tuli
Hlavn\u00ed medi\u00e1lni partneri: Rozhlas a telev\u00edzia Slovenska, R\u00e1dio FM, Pravda
Medi\u00e1lni partneri: Film Europe Channel, Central Europe Television, R\u00e1dio Ant\u00e9na, R\u00e1dio Beta, zoznam.sk, Eurotelev\u00edzia, Forbes, OK!, Kam do mesta, GONG SK, Film.sk, webnoviny.sk, BigMedia
Partneri: Eur\u00f3pska komisia – zast\u00fapenie na Slovensku, Slovensk\u00fd filmov\u00fd \u00fastav, hotel Fl\u00f3ra, Ministerstvo obrany Slovenskej republiky, \u017dSD Slovakia, Slovensk\u00e1 agent\u00fara pre cestovn\u00fd ruch, CzechTourism Slovensko, Asoci\u00e1cia slovensk\u00fdch filmov\u00fdch klubov, AutoCont SK<\/p>\n
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