10th edition CIFF – 10-14 April 2024

Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool (2018 Feature Film)

Paul MCGUIGAN | United Kingdom | 2017 | color | DCP | 105′ | English | n.s.

CLOSING FILM 2018_In this stylish film set at the end of the 1970s, 55-year old Hollywood diva Gloria Grahame has what proves to be a unique affair with Peter, who is in his twenties. He sees something the studio bosses of yesteryear never did: she is more than just a pretty face.

Another astounding role for Annette Bening (20th Century Women), who plays a 55-year-old Hollywood diva in this stylish production. Once, the flighty Gloria Grahame acted opposite stars like Humphrey Bogart. Now she’s trying to retain her style and charm in shabby, late-1970s Liverpool. She meets a young actor Peter, charmingly portrayed by Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot), and the two have a passionate, yet doomed affair.

The narrative, based on real events, sheds new light on perspectives on women. Even the most liberated actress who resisted the objectifying looks of the old studio bosses, ultimately asks her lover “How do I look?” Wonderful roles for Vanessa Redgrave and Julie Waters as well as a telling scene in which the real Grahame accepted her Oscar. A powerful, tragic portrait of idolized actresses over the years.

Place: The Cinemas 1

Date: 15 April 2018

Time: 21:00

Duration: 1:20

Year in
Festival

2018

Director

Paul MCGUIGAN

Camera

Urszula Pontikos

Cast

Annette Bening
Jamie Bell
Julie Walters
Vanessa Redgrave
Stephen Graham
Kenneth Cranham
James Bloor

Country

United Kingdom

Editor

Nick Emerson

Language

English

Length

105′

Music

J. Ralph

Producer

Barbara Broccoli
Colin Vaines

Production Company

Bad & Beautiful Productions

Production Design

Eve Stewart

Sales

IM Global

Scenario

Matt Greenhalgh

Sound Design

Paul Davies
John Midgley

Year of Production

2017

Paul MCGUIGAN (1963, Verenigd Koninkrijk) begon zijn carrière als fotograaf, waarna hij zich toelegde op het maken van muziekvideo’s, commercials en later documentaires voor Channel 4. Hij begon toen met het maken van speelfilms, met een sterke interesse naar thrillers en misdaad, waarvan The Acid House (1998) de eerste is. Sindsdien heeft hij vele speelfilms gemaakt met bekende acteurs, zoals Wicker Park (2004), Lucky Number Slevin (2006), Push (2009) en Victor Frankenstein (2015). McGuigan heeft ook gewerkt voor televisie, en regisseerde afleveringen voor bijvoorbeeld Sherlock en Luke Cage.

 

Filmography

(selection) The Acid House (1998), Gangster No. 1 (2000), Little Angels (2002, TV), The Reckoning (2002), Wicker Park (2004), Lucky Number Slevin (2006), Push (2009), Victor Frankenstein (2015), Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool (2017)