The Nation that Banned Cinema

One question that seems to be raised a lot recently is on the subject of video-on-demand services, and whether studios should release their latest films on the platform simultaneously with the theatrical run. However, such a move would surely lead to the ultimate demise of cinema as we know it.

The question may not be so swiftly dismissed in Saudi Arabia though, a country that has no cinemas and is entirely dependent on the home entertainment market. This hasn't always been the case, and throughout the mid-20th century there was a thriving cinema industry. But following decades of debate and opposing views of its effect on society, all cinemas were forced to close and a ban is still in force today.

'Wadjda' (2012), Dir. Haifaa Al Mansour.

In the past 10 years there has been a rise in Saudi filmmaking, with the most recent example; the award winning 'Wadjda' (2012), being of particular note. It is the first film to be shot entirely in Saudi Arabia, and comes also from the first female Saudi filmmaker; Haifaa Al Mansour.

Due to segregation of the sexes in the country, the director could not interact with the cast and crew directly when filming outdoor scenes. This resulted in her having to remain in the back of a van with monitors, all the while communicating with those on set by way of walkie-talkies.

The moderate success of the film, as well as the rise of production within the country has led to a fresh call to lift the ban on cinemas in Saudi Arabia. But it has also sparked debate once more, with those opposing it warning of the true cost to their way of life. It is an issue that is not likely to be resolved any time soon, but in the mean time I would recommend that you see 'Wadjda'. Not only is it a well made and enjoyable film, but it also goes some way to bridge a gap in the understanding of certain cultural and religious subtleties. Issues that are often best portrayed through the medium of film, and surely a main reason why the ban on cinema should be lifted.

Ennio Morricone UK tour

One would think that at the age of 85, the stress and pressures that come with certain professions would be something a person would be glad to leave behind. However; famed movie composer Ennio Morricone has not let age get in the way of his work, with a career spanning over 50 years and 500 movie scores, he is showing no signs of slowing.

Though many people may not be as familiar with his name than some of the more mainstream composers, there will be at least a few of his themes that most will have heard. Probably most famous for his work on Sergio Leone's Dollars trilogy ('A Fistful of Dollars', 'For a Few Dollars More' and 'The Good, The Bad and the Ugly'), in recent years he has reached a new audience with music featured in movies such as Quentin Tarantino's 'Kill Bill' and 'Django Unchained'.

In December he will be conducting a collection of his most loved pieces, as he embarks on a brief tour of the UK and Ireland. It's a rare chance to see a real movie music legend perform his finest works, but it'll set you back a penny or two; with tickets ranging from £50 to £120 each.

Goblin UK Live Score Film Screenings

Fans of the horror genre in the UK will no doubt be intrigued by the lineup of this year's Grimm Fest, as it will feature two classic film screenings with live music accompaniment from the original artist.

The event will offer the chance to see Dario Argento's 'Suspiria' and George A. Romero's 'Dawn of the Dead' on the big screen, but along with the unique aspect of having their scores performed live by Claudio Simonetti's Goblin. The event will form part of Manchester's Grimm Fest, usually held in October, but single performances of each film can also be seen down in London next Monday and Tuesday.

Earlier in the year Goblin made a rare tour of the UK, performing one-off gigs of their (or rather; Claudio Simonetti's) music from various cult horror movies of the 1970s/80s. I was lucky enough to be at the Manchester part of the tour held at the city's Gorilla venue, and it was quite an experience, so this set of film screenings promises to be something special.

The split cinema release trend

Around the time of the early to mid-noughties, there seemed to be a popular trend of film studios releasing finished back-to-back sequels at the cinema several months apart. Examples of this include 'Kill Bill' volume 1 & 2, the 'The Matrix' sequels and most notably the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy; each of which hit the big screen at Christmas time for three consecutive years. A decade later this decision has been repeated for the associated 'Hobbit' trilogy, due to conclude at the end of this; the third and final year.

However, this trend is not quite as new as you might think. There are previous examples, though more out of a need than a want to separate releases. An early Chinese film which unfortunately no longer exists,'The Burning of the Red Lotus Temple' (1928), had a total runtime of around 27 hours and had to be screened in a number of sittings over several years. Similarly, the 1957 Russian Revolution movie 'And Quiet Flows the Don' was shorter at around 5 hours but still saw a separated release.

There were also cases prior to the digital age of cinema where theatres in remote areas could only show so much of certain movie releases, due to them having not received all of the reels. In this case the cinema and audience had to resume the film at a later date when the rest of the spools had arrived. As most of the films released today are filmed digitally onto hard disk drives rather than traditional celluloid film, the cost of updating projection technology suggests that some of these areas may still not be able to see some of the latest releases.