On our Radar

Streaming

I’m Thinking of Ending Things (Netflix, from September 4) Having delivered a very Kaufmanesque tale for his debut novel, Antkind, Charlie Kaufman is at it again with his screen adaptation of the cult Iain Reid novel. Kaufman has taken the story of a young couple whose relationship is tested to the limit by a visit to the remote home of his parents, and added extra elements concerning the nature of time, the value of relationships and the fragility of the human spirit. The story now unfolds through the eyes of reluctant girlfriend, Jessie Buckley (above), here delivering a knockout central performance in a strong cast that includes such scene-stealers as Toni Collette, Jesse Plemons and David Thewlis. And if you think Tenet offers headscratching questions about the concept of time, wait until you get a load of this compelling drama.

Review

A White, White Day

(selected cinemas nationwide)

If you’re a fan of Scandi noir, check out this gem from Icelandic director Hlynur Palmason

( Winter Brothers). It could even be described as a Scandi blanc, given that the title refers to those days in which the landscape is completely obscured by fog, ice or snow. Already a hit at various festivals, including Cannes and Cork, the story surrounds a recently widowed police officer (Ingvar Sigurdsson) who discovers to his shock that his late wife had been having an affair with a neighbour. Beautifully paced and photographed using a strikingly austere palette, A White, White Day is a memorable study of grief and revenge, featuring strong performances from Sigurdsson and young Ída Mekkín Hlynsdóttir (above), as his granddaughter and constant companion.

Online

IFI International Documentary Festival

It’s almost time for the 18th

IFI International Documentary Festival and, for the first time, the festival will take place at both the IFI’s landmark building in Dublin’s Temple Bar, and nationwide on their new video- on- demand platform, IFI@Home. The festival will open on Monday, September 21, with the Irish premiere screening of Ron Howard’s, Rebuilding Paradise (above), focusing on the devastating 2018 fire that almost wiped out the

Californian town of Paradise. The festival closes on Sunday, Sunday, September 27, with a cinema- only screening of Michael McCormack’s inspirational Breaking Out, the story of remarkable musician and singer, the late Fergus O’Farrell. Tickets for all Temple Bar screenings are now available from IFI.ie, while online screenings can be pre- ordered from ifihome.ie.

Podcast

Mr De Mille

Hugh Cornwell is well-known as the voice of The Stranglers and as a celebrated solo musician, but he also hosts a cracking podcast. Ostensibly about music in the movies, Mr De Mille is also a fascinating study of all aspects of the film business. Some episodes are dedicated to cult figures such as Karen Black, Lee Marvin and Nic Roeg; others tackle specific topics such as British cinema in the 1960s and San Francisco on film; and then there are those special shows featuring major interviews with the likes of Ken Loach, David Puttnam and Debbie Harry.

Screen News

There’s plenty of excitement in Co. Antrim at the moment where Robert Eggers’ epic new drama, The Northmen, is currently in production. A Viking saga starring Ethan Hawke and Anya Taylor-Joy (who starred in

Eggers’ earlier gem, The Witch), The Northmen also boasts an impressive supporting cast including some Nordic stars (Björk, Claes Bang, Alexander Skarsgård (above); Irish talent (Olwen Fouéré) and an A-list Hawaiian, (Nicole Kidman).