Day 4

One of the great things about film festivals is getting to see films before they make the general rounds. For example, I had a moment of deja-vu when I saw a poster for Sherrybaby at the Cameo cinema the other day, when I saw it in the same cinema at last year’s festival. Being a film journalist also affords you the privilege of preview screenings, although it is for practical purposes it does sometimes feel a bit like one-upmanship. Seeing big studio pictures at festivals just ahead of their commercial release does seem like a bit of a cop out but it does give the general public a chance to taste the exclusivity of industry professionals – for what it’s worth.

This morning I watched Knocked Up, which is on general release at the end of the month. It is a film a probably wouldn’t normally go and see as I have almost got out of the habit of paying to go to the cinema, but I am glad I did see it.


Knocked Up is Judd Apatow’s follow-up to 40-Year-Old Virgin, and it is hilarious. The story is simple. stoner-slacker Ben (Seth Rogen) goes to a nightclub where he meets beautiful Alison (Katherine Heigl) out celebrating her promotion as a TV presenter. They get drunk, have sex and she gets pregnant. Then it is all about both of them coming to terms with the situation and their relationships with each other and the people they live with. The stoner humour is brilliant and will make you laugh as much as actually participating in one of their bong sessions. In contrast to this is the often poignant, bittersweet look at couples in long-term relationships in the form of Alison’s sister and her husband. It is presented in a way that I’m sure many married men could relate to, and probably married women too.

The film is also about growth as human beings, not only just inside the womb but also with the main characters. Yes it does have the safe, happy Hollywood ending, but it is supposed to be entertainment and it would be pointless putting any other sort of finish to it after so much fun. Although there is plenty of live comedy from the country’s best performers happening on the Fringe this film will give you just as many laughs.

Knocked Up is showing at Cineworld Fountain Park on Sunday 19 at 18:30 and Monday 20 at 21:40.

Between films I managed to grab an interview with Alex Holdridge director of low budget feature In Search of a Midnight Kiss. We chatted for almost an hour and I’ll try and get it transcribed for this blog, time permitting. Although the screenings have finished here it will be showing at this year’s Raindance Festival.

After the funny ho ho of Knocked Up I went to the funny peculiar of I’m a Cyborg, but that’s OK from respected Korean director Park Chan-wook. This is quite a departure from his previous films like Old Boy and Lady Vengeance.


Young-goon thinks she is a cyborg, although her family is not as convinced and has her committed to an institution. As a cyborg she cannot eat normal food and tries to recharge herself from the batteries she carries with her. It is only the intervention of fellow inmate Il-sun that she is able to eat again. This is rather an oversimplification of the plot but it has so many things going on it is difficult really know what is happening.

Visually it is stunning and filled with ideas but it is not really gripping. I spent most of the time wondering what was going on and why. The final pay-off was quite sweet but it is a long wait. There are a lot of people that enjoy these quirky Asian films, but I’m not one of them.

I’m a Cyborg, but that’s OK is showing at the Cameo on Sunday 19 at 22:00 and Wednesday 22 at 17:30.