Paid for contentAugust cinema highlights with Jenny Leask
With the August film schedule just getting underway, Shetland Arts’ cinema programmer Jenny Leask shares her thoughts on what’s coming up this month.
Jenny has been working with Shetland Arts as cinema programmer for six years, having previously worked at cinemas in Edinburgh and for the Edinburgh International Film Festival since the mid-1990s:
“Completing the Barben-heimer phenomenon as it hits our screens, Oppenheimer is the highly anticipated new feature from director Christopher Nolan (Inception, Interstellar, Dunkirk). It is an epic, thrillingly cinematic dramatization of the story of American scientist J Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb, and stars Cillian Murphy as the title character, with a supporting ensemble cast including Emily Blunt, Matt Damon and Robert Downey Jr.
Children and families have lots to look forward to – The Secret Kingdom is a delightful fantasy adventure about a mysterious world hidden beneath a bedroom floor full of magical creatures and Mavka: The Forest Song is an enchanting animation inspired by Ukrainian folk tales. Just Super proves that you don’t need to be a superhero to be super as eleven-year-old Hedvig and her delightfully canny Grandma go on a mission to save the day for their family and the entire town.
There’s plenty of action too, with Jason Statham returning in Meg 2: The Trench! An exploratory deep-sea dive spirals into chaos when a malevolent mining operation threatens their mission and forces them into a high-stakes battle for survival. Pitted against colossal Megs and relentless environmental plunderers, our heroes must outrun, outsmart, and outswim their merciless predators in a pulse-pounding race against time. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a stylish new animated adventure featuring the world’s favourite masked reptiles! After years of being sheltered from the human world, the Turtle brothers set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers through heroic acts, but they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them.
Two cult classics are also making a return to the big screen – a new digital restoration of Thelma & Louise (starring Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis and Brad Pitt) sees the two best friends set out on a getaway into a cross country escape that will change their lives forever. Celebrating 50 years since it’s release, the iconic folk horror The Wicker Man stars Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee and Britt Eckland, and features one of the most memorable endings in cinema – not to be missed on the big screen if it’s your first time watching!
As usual, we have a range of films from independent cinema included in the programme. Mother and Son is a beautifully tender and deeply moving drama, it is a vibrant portrait of a family, told from multiple perspectives and spanning twenty years. The Freedom Machine is a fascinating programme of archive film that celebrates and explores the ways women have used the bicycle to find independence on the road, the race track and beyond. In Sunlight, former addict Leon loves his best friend Iver more than anything else in the world. When Iver gets a terminal diagnosis and decides to leave this earth early, Leon’s not about to let him go without a fight.
Finally, the King of the Waltz invites you to his all-new cinema concert ‘Andre Rieu: Love is All Around’, filmed live in his beautiful hometown of Maastricht! A musical feast with heart-warming pieces lovingly chosen by André, covering classics, popular sing-alongs, and delightful waltzes. Along with his beloved Johann Strauss Orchestra, André teams up with the charming Gospel Choir and special surprise guests, bringing you and your loved ones a refreshing, romantic, fun party.
Explore August’s films and book tickets on the Shetland Arts website, pop into Mareel or give the box office a call on 01595 745500.
Cheap day tickets (£5.50) are available for all films on a Tuesday, during the day on Wednesday/Thursday and on Saturday/Sunday mornings, under 16s tickets are £5.50 all week. For all ticket prices (£5.50 – £10) see the Shetland Arts website.
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