The Angels' Share (2012)

The Angels' Share (2012)
101 min


Director: Ken Loach
Writer: Paul Laverty (screenplay)
Stars: Paul Brannigan, John Henshaw and Gary Maitland


Country: UK
Language: English

The Angels' Share is a Scottish comedy-drama film directed by Ken Loach, starring Paul Brannigan, John Henshaw, William Ruane, Gary Maitland, Jasmin Riggins, and Siobhan Reilly. It tells the story of a young Glaswegian father who narrowly avoids a prison sentence. He is determined to turn over a new leaf and when he and his friends from the same community payback group visit a whisky distillery, a route to a new life becomes apparent.

The Angel's Share has been met with critical acclaim from critics. Film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 93% of critics gave the film a positive review, based on a sample of only 28 reviews, with a rating average of 7.2 out of 10.(Wikipedia)

This bitter sweet comedy follows protagonist Robbie as he sneaks into the maternity hospital to visit his young girlfriend Leonie and hold his newborn son Luke for the first time. Overwhelmed by the moment, he swears that Luke will not have the same tragic life he has had. Escaping a prison sentence by the skin of his teeth, he's given one last chance......While serving a community service order, he meets Rhino, Albert and Mo who, like him, find it impossible to find work because of their criminal records. Little did Robbie imagine how turning to drink might change their lives - not cheap fortified wine, but the best malt whiskies in the world. Will it be 'slopping out' for the next twenty years, or a new future with 'Uisge Beatha' the 'Water of Life?' Only the angels know.(IMDB)

Awards

Jury Prize: Cannes 2012
BAFTA Scotland Award 2012: Best Actor, Best Writer

TRAILOR

Albert Einstein by Yousuf Karsh (1948)

Albert Einstein by Yousuf Karsh (1948)
Photographer: Yousuf Karsh

Yousuf Karsh, CC (December 23, 1908 – July 13, 2002) was an Armenian-Canadian photographer, and one of the most famous and accomplished portrait photographers of all time.

Near Heaven, Near Earth (1968)

Near Heaven, Near Earth (1968)
Nær himlen, nær jorden
26 min  -  Documentary, Short


Directors: Ole John, Jørgen Leth
Writers: Ole John, Jørgen Leth
Stars: Jørgen Leth


Country: Denmark
Language: Danish

Near Heaven, Near Earth is a film about hippie life in Nepal shot completely at the same level as its participants. A couple of interviews provide insight into the hippie philosophy and we follow a visit to a temple in which the hippies seem like peaceful beings from another planet. The visuals, in black and white and colour, are kaleidoscopic, and reveal a dramatic interest in the camera as a physical object: there is a constant toying with zoom, the camera swings back and forth, and in a series of zany shots from a rickshaw the film provides some very tangible sensory impressions from Kathmandu. Two sequences stand out in terms of form: flickering fast motion communicates what is clearly a filmic acid trip and towards the end of the film six or seven different visual materials are blended into a repetitive, metrical montage. On the soundtrack Bach's St. John Passion is used as film music as are a number of Beatles songs.(IMDB)

Magritte with Hat (1965)

Magritte with Hat (1965)
Photographer: Duane Michals

"I was lucky because I never went to photography school and I didn't learn the photography rules. And in not learing the rules, I was free. I always say, you're either defined by the medium or your redefine the medium in terms of your needs."

Duane Michals

Points of Contention (2011)

Points of Contention (2011)
Sculpture
Artist: Jonathan Latiano
Wood, plastic, acrylic, styrofoam, glass, plexiglass and salt


Jonathan Latiano was born and raised amongst the rural hills of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Since graduating from Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA in 2006 with a degree in Studio Art, he has lived and exhibited in New York City and Baltimore, Maryland. In May of this year, Jonathan received his Masters of Fine Art from the Maryland Institute College of Art.

Currently, Jonathan resides and works in Baltimore, Maryland and teaches at The Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington DC.

Convex and Concave (1955)

Convex and Concave (1955)
Artist: M. C. Escher
Dutch
Lithograph


Convex and Concave is a lithograph print by the Dutch artist M. C. Escher, first printed in March 1955.
It depicts an ornate architectural structure with many stairs, pillars and other shapes. The relative aspects of the objects in the image are distorted in such a way that many of the structure's features can be seen as both convex shapes and concave impressions. This is a very good example of Escher's mastery in creating illusion of "Impossible Architectures". The windows, roads, stairs and other shapes can be perceived as opening out in seemingly impossible ways and positions. Even the image on the flag is of reversible cubes. One can view these features as concave by viewing the image upside-down.
Note that all additional elements and decoration on the left are consistent with a viewpoint from above, while those on the right with a viewpoint from below: hiding half the image makes it very easy to switch between convex and concave.(Wikipedia)

Hand with Reflecting Sphere (1935)

Hand with Reflecting Sphere (1935)

Artist: M C Escher
Dutch (1898 - 1972)
Lithograph


Maurits Cornelis Escher (17 June 1898 – 27 March 1972), usually referred to as M. C. Escher, was a Dutch graphic artist. He is known for his often mathematically inspired woodcuts, lithographs, and mezzotints. These feature impossible constructions, explorations of infinity, architecture, and tessellations.(Wikipedia)

Escher and the interior of his studio in Rome are reflected in the mirrored sphere that he holds in his hand. Escher's preoccupation with mirrored reflections and visual illusion belongs to a tradition of northern European art established in the fifteenth century.