mustang is a 2015 internationally co-produced drama film directed by turkish-french film director deniz gamze ergüven .

the film is set in a remote turkish village and depicts the lives of five young orphaned sisters and challenges they face growing up as girls in a conservative society .

the event that triggers the family backlash against the five sisters at the beginning of the film is based on ergüven 's personal life .

it was screened in the directors ' fortnight section at the 2015 cannes film festival where it won the europa cinemas label award .

mustang is the first feature film directed by deniz gamze ergüven .

she explains her motivation to make the film was to uncover the women issue in turkey .

the film won the 2015 lux prize .

it was selected to be screened in the special presentations section of the 2015 toronto international film festival .

the film won polish filmmakers ' association award for best feature movie at the 33rd ale kino ! festival .

the film was nominated for the best foreign language film at the 88th academy awards .

it was also nominated for a golden globe award for best foreign language film .

it received nine nominations at the 41st césar awards , and won four , for best first feature film , best original screenplay , best editing and best original music .

mustang has received widespread critical praise .

mustang ( film )

mustang is a superb , thought provoking film and one i really hope that you will watch .
ergüven studied at a film school in paris , where she met mustang’s co - writer , alice winocour .
turkish - french film director deniz gamze ergüven thanks parliament for awarding her the 2015 lux prize for her film mustang . © eu 2015 - european parliament
in 2015 , mustang received an oscar nomination for best foreign film . it lost out to son of saul .
we ' ve recently been at the edinburgh international film festival and the cannes film festival .
high - profile crowd gathers to celebrate u . k . film at the toronto film festival
ilyada akdoğan , centre , as sonay in mustang . photograph : allstar / canal +
arnaud desplechin’s “my golden years , ” xavier giannoli’s “marguerite” and deniz gamze ergüven’s foreign - language oscar nominee “mustang” were the frontrunners for the best film nod .
ci : you wrote mustang with a french co - author . how did the writing process work ?
ci : how do you explain mustang’s success ? it could have just been a “confidential” independent turkish film . why do you think it resonates among so many people ?
foreign film oscar contender
mustang
is a turkish - language film from a turkish - born director that was filmed in turkey and tells a distinctly turkish story with turkish actresses . but it was not turkey that submitted the film for consideration for the academy awards  it was france .
mustang is now on dvd , blu - ray , and hd digital to rent and own . order your copy !
as a new yorker raised in turkey , i dig deep into the issues raised by “mustang” with the filmmaker below .
can ım istanbul : hi deniz ! we’re very happy to talk with you today . first let’s talk about mustang’s life in the past few months . the film was well received in cannes , then 450 . 000 people saw it in france , currently mustang is being shown at film festivals around the world and now it is perhaps on the road to the oscars… i guess you weren’t expecting all of this when you made the film . how does it feel ?
but the story in
mustang
represents a truth about the country and the situation for girls there that she needed to tell .
mustang
also recently won best picture at the lumiere awards , france & apos ; s equivalent of the golden globe awards .
but i also thought your film was very universal about all women ( not just turkish ) , perhaps thanks to the film’s fairytale - like nature .
ci : so now you started the path to the oscars , as france’s official movie for best foreign language film . would you have preferred mustang to represent turkey instead of france ? or do you not care ?
from left , tugba sunguroglu , doga zeynep doguslu , elit iscan , ilayda akdogan and günes sensoy , who play sisters in “mustang . ”
she studied literature and african studies at university , after which she enrolled at film school in paris , one of only two women in her class ( the other was mustang ’s co - writer , alice winocour ) .
the florida film critics circle ( ffcc ) is an organization of 25 film critics and writers from florida - based print and online publications . founded in 1996 , the ffcc strives to recognize outstanding work in film , further the cause of good movies , and maintain the highest level of professionalism among film critics in florida .
announcing season 2 of ' cohen film classics ' on kcet and link tv .
asghar farhadi ' s the salesman wins the oscar® for best foreign language film .
the premise of “mustang” may sound familiar—and visually , director and co - writer deniz gamze ergüven does seem to have borrowed a few cues from sofia coppola ’s stirring 1999 debut , “ the virgin suicides , ” in making her own feature film debut . but “mustang” grabs you with its own sense of haunting melancholy , as well as an increasing feeling of urgency and outrage .
best foreign language film “son of saul” “mustang” “the fencer” “brand new testament” “the club” immediate reaction : “son of saul , ” from hungary , france’s “mustang” and the chilean film “the club” have been getting plenty of buzz . the big surprises here are “the brand new testament” ( belgium ) , a comedy about god — who lives in brussels , apparently — and “the fencer” ( finland ) , which follows an estonian fencer who gets mixed up with russian secret police .
the association voted son of saul as the best foreign language film of the year . runners - up included the assassin ( 2 ) , the second mother ( 3 ) , mustang ( 4 ) and goodnight mommy ( 5 ) .
we ' re bringing you all the latest from the karlovy vary international film festival .
for now , ergüven is continuing work on a film about the l . a . riots that she & apos ; s been toying with since before
mustang ,
and enjoying the final stretch of the experience of this little , personal film with a big global impact , regardless of whose name is called on sunday .
title mustang year 2016 distributor ( s ) artificial eye film co . ltd classified date ( s ) 09 / 02 / 2016 main language turkish submitted run time 97m 5s approved footage 8737 + 8 bbfc reference aff335920 registration number cfj38677 remarks subtitled
russell smith award ( named for the late dallas morning news film critic . the honor is given annually to the best low - budget or cutting - edge independent film . )
it’s also cleaning up during awards season . the day before i get 37 - year - old director deniz gamze ergüven on the phone , it’s announced that mustang has received a pack - leading nine nominations for the césar awards ( french film’s highest honor ) , and that’s not to mention its golden globe nod or its oscar nomination in the hotly competitive best foreign film category . mustang is one of only two female - directed films nominated for an oscar this year ( the other is liz garbus’s documentary what happened , miss simone ? ) , and , true to the spirit of her film , ergüven had plenty to say about the state of women in the film industry . we also talked about the movie’s controversial reception in turkey , the oscars’ diversity problem , and , of course , that time the mustang sisters met george clooney .
semaj : but the situation is even a little different in “mustang , ” because there are five of them , and they’re all so good , so specific .
ifestival award : tisure by adrian geyer voted for by the 2015 stockholm film festival audience .
dallas - fort worth film critics association all rights reserved . theme by colorlib powered by wordpress
james : i think this is my favorite film this year . at least so far .
james : as they should . it’s a beautiful film — beautiful acting and beautiful directing .
president martin schulz announced that mustang had won the 2015 european parliament lux prize for cinema at a ceremony in the chamber in strasbourg at noon on tuesday . mustang tells the story of five sisters who have been promised to husbands through forced marriages but who , determined to live their own lives , break the yoke of tradition .
on being awarded the prize , the winning director , deniz gamze ergüven said :
in its way , mustang promotes the ideals of the european union . [ . . . ] thank you for the impact this film has through the lux prize .
beautifully shot and performed , the oscar - nominated mustang is both a rousing tale of spirited youth and a powerful , moving and timely work of engaging social cinema .
for
mustang
director deniz gamze ergüven , it makes sense . she was born in turkey , but raised mainly in france . france was also where she was educated in cinema , and the country has supported the film  her first  from the start , choosing it as an official directors & apos ; fortnight selection at the cannes film festival .
‘it took us nine months to cast’ : güneş şensoy , doğa doğuşlu , tuğba sun guroğlu , elit işcan and ilayda akdoğan in mustang . photograph : allstar / canal +
also recently acquired for u . s . distribution — this time by cohen media group — turkish - french helmer deniz gamze ergüven’s mustang nabbed the label europa cinemas prize . mustang will now receive the support of the europa cinemas network , with additional promotion and incentives for exhibitors to extend the film’s run on screen . sold internationally by kinology , it’s a drama about sexual repression that sees five orphaned sisters held captive in their grandmother’s home .
we had the chance to talk with deniz gamze ergüven , mustang ’s director . as you probably understood last week , we loved this film ( it’s coming out tomorrow – if you missed our review , it’s here ) so we were thrilled to spend some time with deniz .
dge : i’m slightly afraid that the film will go unnoticed . i would like for turkey to embrace it fully . the discussion around “is this a turkish film or not ? ” went too far and shocked me . in cannes , there was a turkish producer who was writing a blog about the festival . here we have a film in turkish , with turkish actors , shot in turkey… and she didn’t even mention it . when we started talking about the film in turkey , we had to explain to people that it’s a turkish film but they would reply “no , it’s a french film” .
never miss a story from austin film critics association , when you sign up for medium . learn more
the dallas - fort worth film critics association voted the newsroom drama spotlight as the best film of 2015 , according to the results of its 22nd annual critics’ poll released today . this year’s awards are presented in memory of philip wuntch , the longtime dallas morning news film critic who passed away in october .
leads 2015 florida film critics circle ( f . f . c . c . ) awards nominations .
in this tuesday , feb . 9 , 2016 photo , cast members tugba sunguroglu , from top left clockwise , director deniz gamze erguven , elit iscan , doga zeynep doguslu , gunes sensoy and ilayda akdogan from the film ,
mustang ,
pose for a portrait in west hollywood , calif . the 88th academy awards best foreign language film nominee
mustang
is a unique case , being a turkish language and made film submitted for consideration by france , and also for being the only narrative feature nominated from a female director , erguven . the oscars will be presented on sunday , feb . 28 , in los angeles . ( photo by rich fury / invision / ap )
best script : deniz gamze ergüven and alice winocour , mustang the writers of this film depict a serious topic with both humour and warmth . it is a touching story of sisterhood , an empowering film that challenges patriarchal oppression with its stale views on female sexuality . conservative values are placed in opposition to modern society , the life within each of us – and every person’s right to their own bodies .
the austin film critics association ( afca ) announced its 2015 awards today , with george miller’s “mad max : fury road” winning best film and best director and leading the group’s top ten list . “room” received three awards , the most for a single film . “ex machina” and “inside out” also won multiple awards this year .
“kumiko , the treasure hunter , ” directed by david zellner , received the austin film award . this award is given to a film made by a director whose primary residence was austin during the time of filming .
the louis delluc prize kicks off the french awards season , which culminates with the cesar awards in february . the louis delluc jury is presided by former cannes film festival president gilles jacob and comprised of film critics .
however , ergüven’s film is not , for the most part , a tough watch . ( its most upsetting moments take place off camera . ) instead , mustang has a lightness of touch . it is funny ( i laughed much more than i thought i would ) and there are many uplifting scenes .
the association voted tangerine as the winner of the russell smith award , named for the late dallas morning news film critic . the honor is given annually to the best low - budget or cutting - edge independent film .
you can film a point of view with desire by focusing on a specific parcel of skin . i remember a film of jean - claude brisseau [ “secret things” ] . during the first shot , i was so disturbed by the look he had on his [ female ] actors . some people—and it shocks me each time— say , “i see something erotic in a mustang . ” but again , it’s their look .
in this interview , she talks about mustang ’s incredible journey ( from indie first - movie to the cannes film festival… to the oscars ) , how living between france and turkey gives her perspective on women’s condition here , the difficulty of talking about sex in turkey , female characters in cinema and much more .
some have likened the film to the virgin suicides . ergüven thinks it’s more like escape from alcatraz – with frocks
reviewed at cannes film festival ( directors’ fortnight ) , may 13 , 2015 . running time : 97 min .
mustang is a subtitled turkish language drama about five young sisters who are imprisoned in their house by their grandmother as punishment for their perceived flirtatious behaviour , and to keep them unsullied for their future husbands .
mustang , by deniz gamze ergüven , won the europa cinemas award , which aims to enhance the promotion , circulation and box - office runs of european award - winning films on the screens of a cinema network stretching across europe . in the film , five turkish adolescent sisters have their basic freedoms unjustly stripped from them .
when asked about their oscar prospects , the “mustang” girls lit up and crossed their fingers in unison . “we’re so proud that france has trusted us , given this responsibility to us , ” said iscan . “it’s great for the women of turkey , because this film is making their voice heard all around the world . ”
ci : i heard in one of your first interviews that you were a bit worried about the film coming out in turkey . is it still the case ? with the film’s success , are you feeling more relaxed or stronger ?
the washington , d . c . area film critics association comprises 52 dc - va - md - based film critics from television , radio , print and the internet . voting was conducted from december 5 - 7 , 2017 .
summary mustang is a subtitled turkish language drama about five young sisters who are imprisoned in their house by their grandmother as punishment for their perceived flirtatious behaviour , and to keep them unsullied for their future husbands .
that this is happening in today’s supposedly enlightened world , is outrageous and almost beyond belief . and yet mustang does not incite a sense of rage . instead it provokes a more thoughtful ( albeit insistent ) response .
mustang ’s international success has brought with it some extraordinary experiences for its young stars . ergüven wasn’t able , in spite of her best efforts , to bag them tickets for the oscars ( they had to stay back at the hotel ) . but at least they managed to get themselves photographed with george clooney at the toronto film festival .
best film : louder than bombs by joachim trier the prize for best film goes to an aesthetic masterpiece , a film that innovatively uses all cinematic components to move freely between present , past , dream and imagination . with this tightly woven family drama , the director gradually patches together our broken inner places and makes us visible to ourselves – and to each other .
the florida film critics circle is an organization of 30 writers from florida - based print and online publications . founded in 1996 , the ffcc strives to recognize outstanding work in film , further the cause of good movies , and maintain the highest level of professionalism among film critics in florida . bill gibron of urltoken and urltoken has served as chairman since march 2013 .
“mustang” won four nods including first film , original screenplay , music and editing . “my golden years” won best director . both “my golden years” and “margerite” were nominated for 11 nods each . after winning best actor at cannes , vincent lindon won the best cesar nod for his performance in stephane brize’s social drama “the measure of a man . ”
“mustang” director deniz gamze erguven and cast members ( ilayda akdogan , gunes sensoy , doga zeynep doguslu , elit iscan and tugba sunguroglu ) sat down with variety‘s deputy awards editor jenelle riley to discuss the film’s real - life roots , the casting process and how the story deals with the end of childhood as part of the variety screening series .
the film’s reception speaks to a cultural divide that the director has been navigating for years . “mustang” was a box - office success in france , selling more than 500 , 000 tickets . released in turkey in october , it met mixed reviews . one critic called it “disturbingly orientalist , ” and others said it was tailored to western tastes .
sign up : stay on top of the latest breaking film and tv news ! sign up for our email newsletters here .
the turkish reception to the film ranged in extremes . there was love , but then you saw the flip side too .
nicolas pariser’s “the great game , ” meanwhile , won for the louis delluc prize for best directorial debut . “the great game” won over deniz gamze erguven’s “mustang” which is the french candidate in the foreign - language oscar race . clement cogitore’s “the wakhan front , ” thomas salvador’s “vincent” and cyprien vial’s “young tiger” also competed for the first film award .
“mustang” director deniz gamze erguven and cast members ( ilayda akdogan , gunes sensoy , doga zeynep doguslu , elit iscan and tugba sunguroglu ) sat down with variety ‘s deputy awards editor jenelle riley to discuss the film’s real - life roots , the casting process and how the story deals with the end of childhood as part of the variety screening series .
mustang is a movie starring günes sensoy , doga zeynep doguslu , and tugba sunguroglu . when five orphan girls are seen innocently playing with boys on a beach , their scandalized conservative guardians confine them while forced marriages are arranged .
at the cannes film festival ' s atelier for beginner film makers where they were the only two women attending the program . ergüven was there to work on a film entitled
kings
about the la riots . after she failed to attract producers and financiers winocour suggested ergüven should do a smaller scale movie to prove that she was capable of directing . together they started working on
director lászló nemes’ “son of saul” won best foreign - language film and director joshua oppenheimer’s “the look of silence” won best documentary .
also competing for nine cesar kudos is “mustang , ” a coming of age tale centering around five sisters struggling to break free from their conservative upbringing in northern turkey . produced by charles gillibert’s cg cinema , the movie has been on a winning path since opening at directors’ fortnight . pic is nominated for best film , directorial debut , director and original screenplay .
xavier giannoli’s “marguerite” and arnaud desplechin’s “my golden years” are leading the nominations at this year’s cesar awards , along with “mustang , ” deniz gamze ergüven’s oscar - nominated feature debut , and jacques audiard’s palme - d’or winning “dheepan . ”
have you been following the # oscarssowhite controversy ? what’s your take on that ? i have . before mustang , i wrote a script that took place in south central los angeles , with mostly african - american characters . i remember , when i spoke with producers , people very candidly said that a film with african - americans is an urban film , and that’s a more restricted audience . it went way further than just the frontiers of the u . s . ! i remember a producer telling me , “i can’t sell a film with african - americans to japan or german television . ” i remember exactly those sentences .
for a long time , it seemed like mustang was a film that would never be made . set in a lush turkish village on the black sea , the five youthful , wild sisters at its heart have as much of a hold on the local boys as the lisbon girls do in the virgin suicides . and , though it is no fault of their own , their allure becomes the sisters’ downfall in their conservative muslim society . the controversial story and its message of freedom made it even harder for first - time filmmaker deniz gamze ergüven , a woman director working in turkey , to pull off . partly raised in paris , ergüven learned today that mustang was nominated for a best foreign language film oscar , as france’s entry .
in february , ms . ergüven and her husband welcomed a son . at cannes , in may , she was breast - feeding between meetings at which distributors from around the world vied to pick up “mustang . ” “he’s the co - director , ” ms . ergüven said of her son . “i was as much pregnant with the film as with the baby . ”
the short film illy award went to rate me ! by fyzal boulifa with a special mention for the exquisit corpus by peter tscherkassky .
the oscar - nominated french - turkish film is a tender , funny , and painful portrait of five sisters fighting for their freedom .
ergüven is certainly doing that . mustang , nominated for best foreign language film at the 2015 oscars and the winner of four césar awards in france , has opened countless new doors for its director and , as a result , her appetite for work is more voracious than ever . even so , she finds it hard to imagine working in turkey again . her second feature , which she is shortly to start shooting , is an english - language picture set in los angeles at the time of the 1992 riots . “i detested the response [ to mustang ] in turkey , and so i withdrew from it . ”
after triumphing at the césars just two days ago , deniz gamze ergüven ' s mustang has been named audience favourite at the 2016 glasgow film festival . i just eat lou mcloughlan ' s documentary 16 years till summer , whose festival screenings may sadly have been its last in scotland after it was attacked by the brother of its subject , who called it a work of fiction .
on wearing chanel throughout the mustang press tour :
that has been a bit my shield during this experience . and in places where we were the most attacked , i felt like wearing chanel at 8 o ' clock in the morning .
the french academy controversially selected the french - financed award - winner to contend for the oscar over a strong roster of festival hits including jacques audiard’s palme d’or - winning “dheepan” and xavier giannoli’s “marguerite . ” yet , an assured female point of view is always a welcome addition to the oscar race . “mustang” is playing well for academy members and is considered a best foreign film frontrunner .
in this tuesday , feb . 9 , 2016 photo , director deniz gamze erguven poses for a portrait in west hollywood , calif . the oscar best foreign language film nominee
mustang
is a unique case , being a turkish language and made film submitted for consideration by france , and also for being the only narrative feature nominated from a female director , erguven . the 88th annual academy awards will be presented on sunday , feb . 28 , in los angeles . ( photo by rich fury / invision / ap )
this photo provided by courtesy of cohen media group shows , tugba sunguroglu , from left , as selma , doga zeynep doguslu as nur , elit iscan , as ece , ilayda akdogan as sonay , and gunes sensoy as lale in the film ,
mustang ,
directed by deniz gamze erguven , in turkey . the movie is nominated for best foreign language film at the 88th annual academy awards . the oscars will be presented on feb . 28 , 2016 , in los angeles . ( cohen media group via ap )
sorrentino won best film two years ago with the great beauty at the efas , along with the directing prize and best actor for toni servillo . that movie went on to the best foreign language film oscar but youth is not eligible in the upcoming race as it’s predominantly in english . he said tonight that youth is “a small film about the perception of freedom , a theme more timely than ever in europe . ”
“beasts of no nation , ” netflix’s first move into original feature film making , also picked up a second nod for fukunaga for cinematography .
mustang ' s sisters are full of life and are wonderfully at ease with one another . indeed , they are often seen as a single entity - a tumbling tangle of happy limbs . it is easy to forget that we are watching actresses here .
the film comes close to being a beautiful but ultimately tragic bit of cinema , until mustang ’s exhilarating final act rescues it from ending on a wholly grim note . some might see the conclusion as the product of wish - fulfillment . but ergüven isn’t peddling blind optimism so much as a realism animated by the belief that freedom—far from being inevitable—must be fought for . that it will be fought for .
the dallas - fort worth film critics association consists of 31 broadcast , print and online journalists from throughout north texas . for more information , visit
best animated film honorees include “anomolisa , ” “the good dinosaur , ” “inside out , ” “the peanuts movie” and “shaun the sheep movie . ”
subscribe to the cmg newsletter and receive information about theatrical releases , home video , classic cinema , and news from the world of independent film .
i realised just how invested i was in her story when , towards the end of the film , i had to remind myself to breathe .
in its final act , mustang becomes extremely tense . gone are the scenes of youthful rebellion - when escape was a game to play . lale’s situation is grave , her life at stake . she must use all of her strength and resourcefulness to break away .
the foreign language category includes two films on the academy’s short list . the biggest studio in contention for the foreign language trophy is sony pictures classics with the first person perspective holocaust film son of saul . the other ffcc nominee to share a spot on oscar’s short list is turkey’s mustang . the category was rounded out by hou hsiao - hsien’s intimate martial arts masterpiece the assassin , canada’s mommy and germany’s phoenix .
how have the girls dealt with the success of the film ? it’s like a dream . we’ve been together a lot accompanying this film around , and they’re even more like a litter of kittens . they really became like sisters — and they take it as a responsibility as well . i feel responsible towards france right now , and they feel responsible , mostly , towards the girls who live lives close to the ones pictured in the film .
in september , france selected “mustang” as its official oscar submission . it was a surprising and political choice , given france’s historically turbulent relationship to its muslim immigrant population . despite french crew members and a distinctively western sensibility , the film is deeply turkish : it was shot in turkey , in the turkish language , with turkish actors and crew . but ergüven said this decision isn’t entirely unprecedented . she points out that france has a tradition of supporting foreign directors , and that the cannes film festival , supported by the french government , is the epicenter of world cinema .
“dheepan , ” meanwhile , is nominated for nine awards , including best film , director and original screenplay for noe debré , thomas bidegain and audiard .
alejandro gonzalez inarritu’s “birdman” won best foreign - language film , beating laszlo nemes’ “son of saul , ” one of the foreign - language oscar contenders .
they might have a better idea if they knew what you went through to get the film made . yeah , honestly it was quite a fight .
the academy in 2006 changed its rules to allow for countries to submit films that aren & apos ; t in their native language , as long as the film played theatrically in the country . but it also reflects something bigger about the inherent complexities in tethering a foreign film to a particular country .
telia film award : mediterranea by jonas carpignano with a warm , humanistic touch jonas carpignano has written and directed a film with acute relevance and unexpected humour . populated by brilliantly crafted and depicted characters with complexity , throughout the story , with an outstanding koudous seihon in the male lead . a beautiful film that humanizes what it is to live in the world today and offers a unique glimpse into experiences shared by many of the people fleeing across the mediterranean sea .
james : yeah , that movie was awesome . but “mustang” is different because there is no mediating group of characters looking at the sisters here . the narrator is lale , the youngest of the sisters . we see almost all of the action through lale’s eyes , and because of that the sisters are more present to us . we are situated in a much closer relationship to them than in “the virgin suicides . ” there , the sisters are meant to be mysterious , and removed . semaj : and “mustang” is in some ways more active , less bleak . “the virgin suicides” gets much of its power from the pall of inevitable tragedy that is cast over the sisters . even the title tells us that things are not going to end well , as opposed to the “mustang” title , which i read as a characterization of the youngest daughter , lale , because she is like a little feral horse , bucking against her situation . james : yes , the sisters in “mustang” are less resigned to their fate . they all actively push back against their imprisonment , and the patriarchal mores forced upon them .
the ballad of narayama
is a japanese film of great beauty and elegant artifice , telling a story of startling cruelty . what a space it opens…
getting intimate with the cast of the year ' s most powerful ( not to mention portentous ) film about what happens when we hold young women back .
named for the wild - horse - like power of the sisters , “mustang” opens on the girls swimming in the ocean in their school uniforms and riding on the shoulders of boys , causing a scandal . the scene was taken from an incident involving ms . ergüven’s relatives . as soon as she recounted the story to her friend alice winocour , a screenwriter and director who co - wrote the film , they knew they had a movie .
she and ms . winocour wrote “mustang” quickly over the summer of 2012 . “we were making fun and having jokes all the time , ” said ms . winocour , who met ms . ergüven when both had scripts chosen for the cannes’ cinéfoundation , which helps young filmmakers secure financing .
girls , both the song and the french - turkish film mustang declare , want to have fun . they want to go to dance all night , wear cute clothes , swim , go to soccer games , hook up with boys , and , generally speaking , not have fussy adults always telling them what they can and can’t do . but the five sisters at the heart of mustang also want to choose who they marry ( or if they marry at all ) . they want to drive , have their own money , go to school , and see the world that lies beyond their remote , oppressive seaside town . they want their lives to be their own , even if it means taking drastic measures to make them so .
philippe faucon ’s “ fatima , ” a tender portrait of a devoted moroccan single mother living in france , won the louis delluc prize for best french film .
on an especially gray february afternoon in new york city , the five young stars of mustang are gathered with their director around small , warmly lit tables at cafe gitane . just weeks ahead of this sunday’s oscars , they’re taking a break from promoting their best foreign language film–nominated movie , which follows five young orphaned sisters in rural turkey as they become literally and figuratively imprisoned by an increasingly conservative society . “the film is written in a fairy - tale way , ” explains director deniz gamze ergüven . “but it’s very much a reflection on the question of freedom in turkey today and the place of women . ”
best short film : a few seconds by nora el hourch in a very unique and bold way of storytelling the director manage to show how much humanity in the characters in such a short time . there are so many layers of emotions in this film . we are excited to discover this new talent in her future work .
paris — for a film about death , “mustang” is incredibly alive . it tells the story of five orphaned sisters in rural turkey whose boundless lust for life runs up against the confines of a conservative muslim society , leading some to suicide . a first feature by deniz gamze ergüven — directed , written by and starring young women — it was a hit when it played the directors’ fortnight for independent films at cannes and is france’s foreign - language oscar submission .
. there are a few categories where the film i really think deserves the award was not even nominated , plus a few i don’t have a real opinion on .
though the “mustang” actresses — elit iscan ( 21 ) , ilayda akdogan ( 17 ) , güneş şensoy ( 14 ) , doga zeynep doguslu ( 15 ) and tugba sunguroglu ( 16 ) — have experienced a liberal youth compared to the characters they portray , they too feel restricted by turkish gender norms .
mustang has been well received around the world . however , the reception in turkey has been deeply troubling . both ergüven and the five central actors have been threatened , leading the director to question ( in a fascinating interview with the guardian ) if she would return to her home country to work again .
natalie portman’s “a tale of love and darkness , ” based on amos oz’s bestselling novel , will receive its north american premiere following its debut at the cannes film festival .
so there was no way in the world that exists today that turkey could’ve claimed this film as their own ? no , it didn’t happen that way . the feeling there has been uneasy to this point : it’s like , “okay , we’re not going to do anything against the film , but we’re not fine with it , either . ”
founded in 2005 by cole dabney and bobby mccurdy , the austin film critics association is a group dedicated to supporting the best in film , whether at the international , national , or local level . the afca has seen its numbers grow to more than 30 members with a diverse roster of professional film critics who regularly review movies for national television stations , daily newspapers , weekly alternatives , local radio , monthly magazines , and websites with international prominence . each december , afca members vote on the year’s best in film , celebrating excellence on both sides of the camera . the outlets afca members represent include ain’t it cool news , the austin american - statesman , the austin chronicle , birth . movies . death . , cinapse , dvdactive , fandango , film school rejects , firstshowing . net , gotchamovies . com , hill country news , horror’s not dead , koop 91 . 7 fm radio , movies . com , one of us , screencrush , slackerwood , smells like screen spirit , twitch , we live film and ynn austin .
after getting a master’s degree in african history in johannesburg , she entered la fémis in paris , france’s premier film school , where the french director olivier assayas led the jury that chose her for its selective directing program . “deniz really stood out , ” mr . assayas said . he said her years of trying to get a bigger project off the ground didn’t weigh down “mustang . ” “it doesn’t feel like someone making her first feature , ” he said . “it’s very confident .
i imagined you already had a speech prepared from when mustang was nominated at the globes . are you basically going to just use that one since you didn’t get to deliver it ? no . from where we stand in the world , the oscars is the one and only universal tribute . along with cannes .
“mustang” ( deniz gamze erguven , france ) . set in a remote turkish village , erguven’s debut ( co - written with alice winocour ) tells of a 13 - year - old girl who tries to break free with her sisters from the rigid destiny imposed on them by their family . ( sales : kinology )
while watching deniz gamze ergüven ' s mustang , which became france ' s official 2016 oscar entry for best foreign language film after it took home the europa cinemas prize at the cannes film festival , one gets the unsettling sense of being swallowed . the film follows a group of orphaned sisters living in turkey , whose budding sensuality is viewed as a threat to their marriageability . and as it progresses , the cinematography grows purposefully murkier―the light nearly siphoned from the frame―as does the livewire spark that makes the group of girls so irresistible . it ' s as if we can actually see their inner flames being violently snuffed . and as the sisters find themselves figuratively ( and literally ) imprisoned by their caretakers in a fortress - like house , we find out that the key to breaking wild horses is simple : you have to break up the pack .
the florida film critics circle has announced its nominees for the best films and cinematic performances of 2015 , and it looks to be a strong race between major studios indie subsidiaries .
turkish people look very closely into how you represent the country and i guess they wanted to have more of a film that looked like a postcard ,
said ergüven .
david gordon green’s “ our brand is crisis , ” starring sandra bullock and billy bob thornton ; james vanderbilt’s cbs scandal film “ truth , ” starring cate blanchett and robert redford ; and “twilight” director catherine hardwicke’s “miss you already , ” starring drew barrymore and toni collette , will world premiere at the 2015 toronto international film festival , it was announced tuesday .
philippe faucon’s “fatima , ” a tender portrait of a devoted moroccan single mother living in france , won the louis delluc prize for best french film . the film , which world premiered at cannes’ directors fortnight , raises contemporary issues , such as the economic and social situation of immigrants living in france through the tale of a middle - age woman [ … ]
semaj : oh , well it is and it isn’t . yes , it is about five sisters who get locked in their house ostensibly for their own protection , but the way their stories play out , and the way that the characters are accessed in “mustang” is completely different than what happens in “the virgin suicides . ”
though set in turkey , shot in turkish , and telling a turkish story about the demonization of female sexuality , deniz gamze erguven ’s beautifully mounted debut , “ mustang , ” has an unmistakable west european sensibility . whether that’s a good thing or not depends on audience perspective , but while many turks will find the final salvation distinctly inorganic , few can argue with the director’s talent or that of her exceptionally fine , largely unknown cast of young women . set in a remote black sea village where five sisters are forced to suppress their burgeoning sensuality , “ mustang ” will gallop through fruitful festival fields , finding fertile pastures on euro arthouse screens .
previous , 11 am pt : the european film awards are being handed out tonight in berlin and we’re updating the winners below as they’re announced . leading nominations for the 28th ceremony is paolo sorrentino’s bittersweet relfection on life , youth . sorrentino took the top prize from the european film academy for the greaty beauty two years ago , and went on to win the best foreign language film oscar . the efas regularly align with the u . s . academy’s eventual outcome , but two of tonight’s major nominees , youth and yorgos lanthimos’ the lobster , are in english which means they are not in contention for that race whose shortlist will be unveiled next week . of the other movies in the top efa category , three are their countries’ reps : sweden’s a pigeon sat on a branch reflecting on existence , france’s mustang ; and iceland’s rams . check out the winners below :
by showing us the joyous , unrestrained nature of the five sisters , we feel the dangerous claustrophobia of their confinement . as the film progresses , so the situation becomes increasingly desperate .
the girls in
mustang
are essentially put under house arrest by their conservative uncle after they cause a minor scandal by playfully frolicking in the sea with a group of boys , and sitting on their necks in a game of chicken . the adults in their world see the act as disgusting and worthy of drastic punishment .
david gordon green’s “our brand is crisis , ” starring sandra bullock and billy bob thornton ; james vanderbilt’s cbs scandal film “truth , ” starring cate blanchett and robert redford ; and “twilight” director catherine hardwicke’s “miss you already , ” starring drew barrymore and toni collette , will world premiere at the 2015 toronto international film festival , it was announced tuesday . natalie [ … ]
received a nod for best director , and the film is also in contention for best picture . it’s other nominations include best score , best art direction / production design and best cinematography .
indies dominated the best documentary and foreign language film categories . the most recognizable distributor is a24 with the tragic story of singer - songwriter amy winehouse via amy . another musician , however , took to directing a film essay on death and national surveillance with the moving heart of a dog . other documentaries nominated include best of enemies , cartel land and the look of silence .
1 km film - scholarship : i turn to you by victor lindgren two siblings are forced to experience the implosion of their parents’ relationship . the director poses an inconvenient question to us in the audience , can a child’s will to survive overcome the self - destructive desires of the parent . the film seamlessly connects refined form with emotional impact and the director shows great courage and promise .
inside out was named the best animated film of 2015 , with anomalisa as runner - up . tom mccarthy and josh singer shared the best screenplay award for spotlight over emma donoghue for room .
zhao is one of three female filmmakers represented in the program : the others are turkey’s deniz gamze erguven , making her debut with “mustang , ” a drama about rigidity and intolerance in a remote turkish village ; and chile’s marcia tambutti , presenting “allende , mi abuelo allende , ” a documentary portrait of her grandfather salvador allende . another film from south america , bolstering the region’s limited presence in cannes this year , is “embrace of the serpent , ” an amazon - set drama from the colombian director ciro guerra ( “the wind journeys” ) .
there’s such striking intimacy between the actresses that sometimes it’s hard to believe “mustang” isn’t a home movie . “there was this scene where we were playing in our rooms , and i felt like there was no camera there , that’s how comfortable we were with each other , ” said iscan . “the camera became like our sixth sister , ” added akdogan .
it was the norwegian director joachim trier who received the bronze horse at the award ceremony on friday evening . below are all the winners who were awarded at the stockholm international film festival award ceremony .
zita hanrot won best female newcomer for her perf in “fatima” while the film’s protagonist , soria zeroua , had scored a nomination but lost to catherine frot for her role in xavier giannoli’s “margerite . ”
sometimes they also redo scenes from the film . when we were in new york , they were in a car with the top open , and of course they had to redo the bus scene .
though set in turkey , shot in turkish , and telling a turkish story about the demonization of female sexuality , deniz gamze erguven’s beautifully mounted debut , “mustang , ” has an unmistakable west european sensibility . whether that’s a good thing or not depends on audience perspective , but while many turks will find the final salvation distinctly inorganic , few can [ … ]
production : ( france - turkey - germany ) an ad vitam release ( in france ) of a cg cinema , vistamar filmproduktion , uhland film , bam film , kinology production , with the participation of canal plus , cine plus , zdf / arte . ( international sales : kinology , paris . ) produced by charles gillibert . co - producers , frank henschke , anja uhland , mine vargi .
alicia vikander received best supporting actress for “ex machina , ” which was tied for # 6 on the afca top ten list . directed by alex garland , “ex machina” also was named best first film .
rounding out the program are “peace to us in our dreams , ” the eighth feature from lithuanian director sharunas bartas , and “the here after , ” a first film by swedish helmer magnus von horn .
are the ones predicted to win by our readers ( we’ll have a full rundown of the predictions at noon , after the contest ends ) . if i am predicting a different film , those are in
she dumped it because she thought a pregnant woman shouldn’t be out of the house ? yeah . she sent a letter to everyone on the film saying that i was pregnant . and she’s a woman !
while ergüven must be commended for her light touch with some of the more tragic sequences , she and co - writer alice winocour have a few opportunities for a snip . some of the voiceover narration has a tendency to describe exactly what it is we’re seeing , and while some of the third act’s action ( ish ) scenes are thrilling , there are one or two contrivances that don’t quite feel realistic . nevertheless , mustang is a gripping film , and one that ought to stir up a bit of controversy in turkey . it’s worth noting that this is a french production .
what’s beautiful for me is that this is prolonging the life of the film’s family . we’re always together , living this adventure all together . that’s a big luxury and it makes us all stronger over time .
not just as a woman filming in turkey , but a pregnant woman . yes ! the producer dumped the film three weeks before shooting . i had found out i was pregnant just one week before that .


chariots of fire is a 1981 british historical drama film .

it tells the fact-based story of two athletes in the 1924 olympics : eric liddell , a devout scottish christian who runs for the glory of god , and harold abrahams , an english jew who runs to overcome prejudice .

the film was conceived and produced by david puttnam , written by colin welland , and directed by hugh hudson .

ben cross and ian charleson starred as abrahams and liddell , alongside nicholas farrell , nigel havers , ian holm , lindsay anderson , john gielgud , cheryl campbell , and alice krige in supporting roles .

it was nominated for seven academy awards and won four , including best picture and best original screenplay .

it is ranked 19th in the british film institute 's list of top 100 british films .

the film is also notable for its memorable electronic theme tune by vangelis , who won the academy award for best original score .

the film 's title was inspired by the line , " bring me my chariot of fire , " from the william blake poem adapted into the popular british hymn " jerusalem " ; the hymn is heard at the end of the film .

the original phrase " chariot ( s ) of fire " is from 2 kings 2:11 and 6:17 in the bible .

chariots of fire

stage • student actors give national premiere of adaptation of
chariots of fire .
as olympics fever mounts , helen brown examines the renaissance of chariots of fire .
— re - release trailer for chariots of fire . chariots of fire tells the story of two very different men who compete as runners in the 1924 paris olympics
dr rice said :
obviously the most famous of these productions is chariots of fire .
the prince of wales box at colombes stadium . | chariots of fire | pinterest | wales
chariots of fire [ blu - ray . . . has been added to your cart
the real chariots of fire is on itv1 on monday , 2nd july at 9pm .
chariots of fire photograph : the kobal collection / www . kobal - collection . com
vangelis - chariots of fire ( synthesizer greatest vol . 1 by star inc . )
' we want another chariots of fire , ' i was told . ' it is another chariots of fire , ' i said . ' men against the establishment .
a victory lap for the u . s . premiere of chariots of fire | utah theatre bloggers
even after 31 years , chariots of fire doesn ' t simply impress ; it inspires .
founders of chariots of fire ( l to r ) lewis isaacs , jeremy francis , bill matthews .
chariots of fire is one of cambridgeshire’s largest annual charity events . teams of six each run a 1 . 6 mile course in relay format . chariots of fire is organised and managed by hewitsons charitable trust .
this cast list of who was in chariots of fire includes both lead and minor roles . ( 64 items )
if you want to answer the questions ,
who starred in the movie chariots of fire ?
and
what is the full cast list of chariots of fire ?
then this page has got you covered .
jolly inspiring stuff , but chariots of fire won ' t be allowed anywhere near the history medals podium .
chariots of fire
, includes images from the film and vangelis playing the piano , smoking a cigarette .
the trinity great court run , made famous by the film chariots of fire , has defeated many top athletes .
looking for movie tickets ? enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing chariots of fire near you .
finishers were spurred on in the final 300m by the sound of the theme from classic athletics film , chariots of fire .
talented teenagers are being recruited to line the flame’s route and perform the iconic music from the film chariots of fire .
it was the unforgettable scene from chariots of fire in which determined runners compete against each other - and the clock .
rowan atkinson played 1 , 021 d flats on the keyboard during chariots of fire ( yes , i counted ) .
emotionally lacking , chariots of fire is only limitedly entertaining as a piece of cinematic history and a glimpse into the history of a handful of olympic hopefuls .
west sands in st andrews was used to portray broadstairs in kent for one of the best - known scenes in chariots of fire .
peter lambert plays eric liddell and alex diaz plays harold abrahams in byu ' s new production of
chariots of fire .
nate
stephen moore plays sam musabini and alex diaz plays harold abrahams in byu ' s new production of
chariots of fire .
nate
nate edwards | byu photo peter lambert plays eric liddell in byu ' s new production of
chariots of fire .
running for
if the games immortalised by chariots of fire helped change sport , the film itself wrought a minor transformation on havers himself .
comment : shipped within 24 hours . you buy : vangelis - chariots of fire ( soundtrack , 1981 ) [ cd ]
committed british runners strive for the 1924 olympics in the academy award - winning best picture chariots of fire ( 1981 ) .
chariots of fire opened in britain in april 1981 . immediately the press divided over its merits . david robinson of the london times said :
meg flinders plays sybil evers and alex diaz plays harold abrahams in byu ' s new production of
chariots of fire .
nate e
eventually chariots of fire took £26 million at us box offices alone – and al fayed made a reported £6 . 5 million .
chariots of fire
was the seventh most popular 1981 movie at the u . s . a and canada box office .
titles ; five circles ; abraham ' s theme ; eric ' s theme ; 100 metres ; jerusalem ; chariots of fire .
continue onto broughton place where scenes from chariots of fire and the illusionist were created , then head up towards west register street .
i took rocket to america immediately after chariots of fire had come out ,
he wrote in the guardian in 2001 .
chariots of fire cast list , listed alphabetically with photos when available . this list of chariots of fire actors includes any chariots of fire actresses and all other actors from the film . you can view trivia about each chariots of fire actor on this list , such as when and where they were born . to find out more about a particular actor or actress , click on their name and you ' ll be taken to a page with even more details about their acting career . the cast members of chariots of fire have been in many other movies , so use this list as a starting point to find actors or actresses that you may not be familiar with .
chariots of fire tells the story of runners harold abrahams , a jew , and edinburgh - born christian eric liddell and the 1924 paris olympics .
the film ' s producer david puttnam gave dr rice an example of the pride scots have in chariots of fire ' s close connections with scotland .
chariots of fire producer david puttnam said welland was
an unswervingly good man ; a fine actor , and a seriously gifted screenwriter
.
peter lambert plays eric liddell and alex diaz plays harold abrahams in byu ' s new production of
chariots of fire .
nate edwards | byu photo
meg flinders plays sybil evers and alex diaz plays harold abrahams in byu ' s new production of
chariots of fire .
nate edwards | byu photo
stephen moore plays sam musabini and alex diaz plays harold abrahams in byu ' s new production of
chariots of fire .
nate edwards | byu photo
nate edwards | byu photo peter lambert plays eric liddell in byu ' s new production of
chariots of fire .
running for stage glory at byu
spurred on by the arrival of global running day four teams of lawyers from hewitsons solicitors have committed to join chariots of fire , the region’s longest running charitable relay race .
i loved coming into the tunnel when they were playing chariots of fire , it brought a lump to my throat ,
said sarah .
' ' chariots of fire , ' ' which is rated pg ( ' ' parental guidance suggested ' ' ) , contains some vulgar language .
we know all this because the film chariots of fire told us so and took four oscars as a consequence in 1982 , including best picture .
welland won an oscar in 1982 for best original screenplay for writing the film chariots of fire , about two athletes at the 1924 olympic games .
“chariots of fire” is one of the best films of recent years , a memory of a time when men still believed you could win a race if only you wanted to badly enough .
in his 1982 oscars acceptance speech for “chariots of fire , ” he created something of a stir by declaring at the end , “the british are coming . ”
chariots of fire runs until june 16 at the hampstead theatre , and at the gielgud theatre w1 until november 10 . ( 020 7722 9301 ) .
after the success of chariots of fire , he tried to make a film titled rocket about george and robert stephenson , the father and son who developed rail travel .
now there will be an official unveiling and mike has ensured that the re - enactment of the iconic beach run from the film chariots of fire will take place in aid of charity .
a re - enactment of the famous chariots of fire run and an unveiling of a blue plaque in honour of the 1924 olympic games athletes who stayed at a broadstairs hotel will take place next month .
london olympics - inspired film , fast girls ( above ) , has been described by the guardian as the
new chariots of fire
. stars lenora crichlow
chariots of fire is hitting the stage – with nine races on an indoor athletics track . lyn gardner finds out what happens when performers are pushed to the limit
— trailer for the 1981 classic chariots of fire . director hugh hudson ' s absorbing drama , based on a true story , deals with the personal struggles faced
welland won an oscar in 1982 for best original screenplay for “ chariots of fire , ” about two very different british athletes competing at the 1924 olympic games .
film producer lord puttnam has revealed he ordered dodi fayed off the set of chariots of fire after the man who later stole princess diana’s heart tried to give the cast cocaine .
lord puttnam continued :
these gifts not only brought him most of the accolades tv and cinema can ever offer , but cemented the careers of everyone who rode on the back of his chariots of fire .
bring me my arrows of desire . . . bring me my chariot of fire . . .
as the film is re - released , producer david puttnam reveals . . . i threw dodi fayed off chariots of fire set for trying to give the cast cocaine
it was this company that provided nearly £2 million to finance the early development of chariots of fire , meaning its future hinged on the whims of an unreliable and often drug - addled young man .
cambridge , eton , what ' s the difference ? … ben cross and nigel havers in chariots of fire ( 1981 ) . photograph : allstar / cinetext / warner bros
nigel havers ( who portrayed lord andrew lindsay in the film ) hosted a 2012 documentary , the real chariots of fire , where he further explores the lives of harold abrahams and eric liddell .
london — joseph fiennes , who was bafta nominated for “shakespeare in love , ” has taken the role of scottish runner and devout christian eric liddell in “the last race , ” which plays like an unofficial sequel to “chariots of fire . ” liddell’s feats as an athlete , and his rivalry with harold abrahams , were immortalized in “chariots of fire , ” [ … ]
adapted by mike bartlett and directed by hampstead artistic director edward hall , chariots of fire runs from 22 may ( previews from 9 may ) to 16 june 2012 ahead of the forthcoming london olympics .
brigham young university presents the u . s . premiere of
chariots of fire ,
with production assistance from ed eyestone , the university & apos ; s track coach and former olympic runner .
“you leave chariots hyped up and humming ‘jerusalem , ’ party to england’s colonial willfulness . little wonder it ' s the opening night selection ( in new york ) : chariots of fire salutes the condescension and noblesse oblige of the dress shirts in the audience . ” ( 10 )
the first chariots of fire charity race took place in 1992 and was the initial idea of bill matthews , race director for many years , who joined the committee of a local charity and was looking for fundraising ideas . watching the famous film re - kindled memories of an earlier trip to olympia in the peloponnese and he came up with the inspired idea of a local charity fund - raising race in the vein of the chariots of fire film .
despite its bombastic tendencies , chariots has a healthy glow that ' s charming .
chariots of fire is not one of my more anticipated best picture winners , and this might have been a self fulfilling prophecy . sure , i probably should have paid a bit more attention to chariots of fire as it played in front of me , but nevertheless i though it was pretty dull . like the best oscar bait , it seems to focus more on its own importance than anything else .
warren beatty wasn’t the only one surprised when chariots of fire finished ahead of his megabudget reds as 1982’s oscar - winning best picture . made for a scant $ 6 million , the uplifting story of england’s 1924 olympic heroes was an oscar long shot and an even bigger box office gamble whose gross is now some $ 42 million . but then chariots of fire ( the name is taken from a william blake poem ) is about winning against the odds through courage , discipline and character . most of chariots’ olympians have died in the nearly 60 years since their youthful triumphs , but people correspondents have sought out surviving runners and the descendants of the others to continue the fascinating story that chariots of fire began .
chariots of fire is a tale of sport untainted by commercialism , made when the country seemed to be falling apart . its director tells geoffrey macnab why now is the right time to re - release it
in its promotion of essentially victorian values and its resolute focus on the past , chariots of fire strikes me as the most reactionary film i ' ve seen in some time .
( 2 )
“ chariots of fire ” director david puttnam told the bbc that welland was “an unswervingly good man ; a fine actor , and a seriously gifted screenwriter . these gifts not only brought him most of the accolades tv and cinema can ever offer , but cemented the careers of everyone who rode on the back of his ‘chariots of fire . ’ the depth of his feelings , and sense of identity with the people he wrote about , was achingly real . ”
as the film is re - released , producer david puttnam reveals . . . i threw dodi fayed off chariots of fire set for trying to give the cast cocaine | daily mail online
the organisers of chariots of fire have selected cambridgeshire community foundation ( ccf ) as the official charity for 2018 . money raised will contribute to the cambridgeshire high sheriff’s award scheme , a fund managed by ccf .
the scene where clark and rusty are running in slow motion to the song from
chariots of fire
was also the parking lot of santa anita racetrack in arcadia ca . [ thanks to dino falabrino ]
stream chariots of fire - the play by vangelis and 40 million songs on all your devices with amazon music unlimited . exclusively for prime members . new subscribers only . terms and conditions apply .
a track seemed necessary for actors to portray runners in brigham young university & apos ; s national premiere of
chariots of fire ,
a stage adaptation of the iconic movie about athletes competing for honor in the 1924 olympics .
she married harold m . abrahams , the 1924 olympic champion in the 100 meter dash and subject of the film chariots of fire . ( miss evers is misidentified in the film as
sybil gordon .
)
stephen moore as sam musabini , peter lambert as eric liddell , alex diaz as harold abrahams and meg flinders as sybil evers in byu ' s new production of
chariots of fire .
nate edwards | byu photo
mr . bean instantly springs back to life and finishes off
chariots of fire
with an upbeat flourish . the olympics crowd goes wild , but the conductor still doesn ' t seem very happy .
lord puttnam , creator of the film “chariots of fire , ” started the race in 2003 and said “i am very proud of the fact that , twenty five years after its production , chariots of fire is still proving its value by , among other things , helping to raise money for charities in cambridgeshire year after year after year . it must have struck a chord for i know of no other film that manages to evoke the same , entirely positive reaction” .
he went on to star in a series of hollywood television projects , none of which brought him as much acclaim as chariots .
with the london olympics just weeks away , chariots of fire is about to be re - released in our cinemas . for the film’s extras , it’s another chance to relive their unexpected moment of glory , writes dani garavelli .
the final , subtlest , and most effective reactionary idea that chariots peddles is fundamentalist religion .
' ' chariots of fire ' ' is a celebration of a number of things , not the least of which is a kind of highly committed , emotionally involving drama that knows the difference between sentiment and sentimentality . it also introduces more a than half - dozen talents , mostly english , and celebrates the british film industry , which , with ' ' the french lieutenant ' s woman ' ' and now ' ' chariots of fire , ' ' is quite evidently in top form once again .
liddell’s feats as an athlete , and his rivalry with harold abrahams , were immortalized in “chariots of fire , ” which won four oscars , including best picture . “the last race” portrays liddell’s life after the events depicted in “chariots of fire , ” when he worked as a teacher and missionary in china , the independent newspaper reported . he was interned by the japanese in 1943 , and died in the prison camp of a brain tumor .
monday the 1 st may is the official launch of chariots of fire 2018 , the region’s largest charity relay race , and this year all sponsorship monies raised will go to this year’s official charity cambridgeshire community foundation ( ccf ) .
in pre - olympic britain , a familiar piece of film music from more than 30 years ago is once again stirring the popular imagination . this , after all , is going to be britain ' s chariots of fire summer .
in a week when lord puttnam of queensgate has called for more support for p & a funding across the film industry , the bfi announces lottery funding through its p & a ( prints and advertising ) fund to bring chariots of fire to cinemas up and down the uk from friday 13 july – just two weeks before the opening ceremony of the london 2012 olympics . the bfi has provided lottery funding of £150k through its prints and advertising ( p & a ) fund to support the 2012 theatrical release of chariots of fire . the bfi’s funding is specifically aimed at broadening the release of the film , to give audiences across the nations and regions of the uk the opportunity to see chariots of fire on the big screen in celebration of britain’s filmmaking and sporting achievements .
chariots of fire is being released in cinemas and on blu - ray in july in time for the olympics . the department of film studies at the university of st andrews has been looking at the 1981 film ' s legacy in the fife town .
the beach run , which opens and closes chariots of fire , has become one of the most iconic scenes in british cinema , often imitated and , as a multi - oscar winning film , widely recognised at home and overseas . for st andrews , this short sequence , depicting a group of runners along the west sands beach , may be the defining visual depiction of the town . however , it was only by chance that chariots of fire came to be filmed in st andrews .
films which use previous music by vangelis include
the year of living dangerously
( l ' enfant ) ,
my life
( chariots of fire ) ,
someone to watch over me
( symphonic version of memories of green ) ,
warriors of virtue
( song of the seas ) .
there have been a lot of sports dramas made into films over the years , including
rocky
and last year ' s over - praised
the fighter ,
but
chariots of fire
remains one of the best because it transcends sports .
vangelis was accused of having plagiarized the main theme from chariots of fire . during the trial ( in which vangelis was fully cleared of all accusations ) vangelis showed his methods of composing by setting up his gear in court and improvising new music with the entire courtroom as audience .
debuting in chariots of fire , which will be directed by garnhum with set and costumes by the award - winning bretta gerecke , are harry judge , who is frequently at the chicago shakespeare theatre and shaw , and charlie gallant , who has appeared at a number of vancouver - based theatres including the arts club , studio 58 , and bard on the beach . judge and gallant are the lead actors ( and runners ) in this north american premiere of the stage adaptation of chariots of fire .
i was thinking that there would be chariots in this movie , but it ' s a story of some guys running during a real early olympics . i really want to see movies where there ' s chariots .
london — joseph fiennes , who was bafta nominated for “shakespeare in love , ” has taken the role of scottish runner and devout christian eric liddell in “the last race , ” which plays like an unofficial sequel to “chariots of fire . ”
though ' ' chariots of fire ' ' is mostly about the very privileged , it is so carefully balanced that it doesn ' t deny the realities of lives less privileged . it ' s an exceptional film , about some exceptional people .
robinson makes no mention of anti - semitism , instead concentrating on
uninhibited britishness .
so begins the acceptance of chariots ' veneer .
certainly liddell ( who hailed from a family of missionaries ) led his entire life with a selflessness rarely seen . and as his biographer sally magnusson once put it : “the story in chariots of fire stopped just before his life got interesting . ”
an official designation of paris for the 2024 olympics has yet to be announced . assuming it clinches the summer games for that year , it would mark the centenary of the 1924 paris olympics , depicted in the 1981 oscar - winning motion picture
chariots of fire .
rowan atkinson , who may be best known as the character
mr . bean ,
was the talk of the 2012 london olympic opening ceremony after he sneezed , texted , prodded , and daydreamed his way through playing
chariots of fire .
twitter users have been quick to post about how happy they were with the skit .
mr . bean ,
chariots of fire ,
and
rowan atkinson
were all trending topics , with mr . bean even
38 . andrew sarris ,
chariots of mixed feelings ,
village voice , 7 october 1981 , p . 51 .
the charity race follows in the heroic footsteps of the famous film “chariots of fire” . the film tells the story of harold abrahams , a cambridge runner , and his bid to win a gold medal in the 1924 olympics . it includes the iconic scene of the race around trinity college great court .
conductor and composer harry rabinowitz , who conducted the scores for films including chariots of fire , the english patient and cold mountain , has died at the age of 100 . his family tells the jewish times rabinowitz died at his home in provence , france .
emad mohamed al - fayed , egyptian - born producer of motion pictures , including the world according to garp and the oscar - winning chariots of fire , and playboy son of multimillionnaire mohamed al - fayed , the owner of harrods department stores . fayed was killed in an automobile crash with diana , princess…
chariots of fire , british dramatic film , released in 1981 , that tells the true story of two british runners who brought glory to their country in the olympic games of 1924 in paris . the film won both the bafta award and the academy award for best picture and also garnered the…
' robert stephenson couldn ' t read and write , yet he was the greatest engineer of his generation . he had the world against him , yet he fought through . it is another chariots of fire . ' but they wanted another film about runners .
chariots of fire is now being re - released in a new digitally re - mastered version in july just before the summer olympics in london . it was hudson ' s debut feature but it remains the title for which he is best known .
vangelis has always been one of my favourites and chariots of fire one of his most famous works . for the 2012 olympic revival of chariots of fire as a stage play , vangelis re - worked the music written for the film to adapt it for the stage version . as the stage play and the film differ in a number of respects it is not totally surprising that the two versions of the music have important differences . just as the music enhances the film , the re - worked music was a wonderful feature of the stage version , which i enjoyed a great deal . this was an excellent purchase and a great souvenir of a superb thearical adaptation .
that is the persistent question at the heart of chariots of fire , the newest offering and united states premiere of the stage adaptation of the iconic 1981 film currently running at byu’s pardoe theatre . wonderfully and inventively adapted by mike bartlett , the play opened in london in 2012 and was “partially inspired” by the london olympics .
winner of four academy awards including best picture , chariots of fire is the inspiring story of eric liddell , harold abrahams and the olympic team of 1924 , who brought britain one of its greatest sporting victories . this internationally acclaimed film came back on the big screen in a brand new digitally remastered version in july 2012 as an official part of the london 2012 festival celebrations .
without doubt one of scotland ' s greatest sporting heroes , eric liddell , owes much of his fame more to a race he didn ' t run than any he did . however , the uplifting manner in which he lived his life , as portrayed in the film chariots of fire , truly marks him as one of the greatest of scottish heroes .
chariots of fire is in most respects the kind of picture for which we have been looking in british cinema , in vain , for many years . it is proudly and uncompromisingly british in theme and temperament , with no debilitating concessions to chimerical notions of ' international ' style .
( 7 )
since the event started in 1992 , chariots of fire has raised over £1 million for local and regional charities , with an estimated 6 , 245 teams having taken part in the race , with approximately 37 , 470 individual runners pitting themselves against each other .
there ' s barely a whiff of melodrama in chariots of fire , which makes the film - watching experience all the more effective – director hugh hudson shows respect for the integrity of his material and the intelligence of his audience . the absence of mawkish moments provides the narrative with a genuine quality that supports its factual background . not only do we care about the characters , but we accept that they really existed . in fact , the entire production claims that same sense of verisimilitude . most sports movies rely on nostalgia and adrenaline – chariots of fire stands on strong writing , direction , and acting . appreciation of this picture doesn ' t demand a love of sports , merely an understanding of human nature .
and he said , this will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you : he will take your sons , and appoint them for himself , for his chariots , and to be his horsemen ; and some shall run before his chariots .
london march 23rd 2012 for the first time in a generation audiences across the uk will have the opportunity to enjoy hugh hudson and lord puttnam’s internationally acclaimed , multi oscar® - winning olympic drama , chariots of fire on the big screen as an official part of the london 2012 festival celebrations .
several londoners are cast in the coming season including jim doucette , patrick monaghan , owen barteet ( who makes his acting debut as tiny tim in a christmas carol ) , and artistic director of london’s original kids theatre company , andrew tribe who will be assistant director for chariots of fire .
extras : this single - disc blu - ray platter also serves up an agreeable assortment of supplementary material . all of the extras from fox ' s 2005 two - disc special edition uk dvd release are present , including director hugh hudson ' s informative audio commentary , the polished 27 - minute wings on their heels : the making of chariots of fire documentary , 19 - minute chariots of fire : a reunion roundtable featurette , seven additional scenes and the thatrical trailer . also present are ben cross and ian charleston ' s screen tests , which previously appeared on warner bros ' 2005 us dvd release .
the subsequent success of chariots of fire has left a lasting legacy on st andrews . aside from the international recognition provided by the film , the film is memorialised in a myriad of ways : a heritage plaque commemorates the filming on the west sands ; a local bar is named ‘chariots’ and contains a historical picture of the film’s protagonist eric liddell outside , while hotels and local businesses publicise their connections with the film . furthermore , events are regularly staged revisiting and recalling the film , such as the annual charity ‘chariots’ fun run , which takes place in period costume on the beach .
chariots of fire has already become a piece of u . s . culture , to be quoted from as a modern classic . a current budweiser commercial imitates the now famous beach running sequence , complete with horse ( instead of men ) splashing in the surf and mock - vangelis synthesized music . the commercial makers knew that chariots has become so popular and so acceptable that pirating from it would be a sure - fire advertising gimmick . even now , many people consider this film a truly inspirational masterpiece or at least a harmlessly entertaining piece of fluff . in the future , the voices of the few insightful reviewers and a fraction of the public who saw the film ' s true meaning will be forgotten , and they have already begun to shrink under the weight of the film ' s popular and critical successes . like abrahams and liddel , chariots of fire will become a legend , and the reactionary elements will be even harder to point out .
this is strange . i have no interest in running and am not a partisan in the british class system . then why should i have been so deeply moved by “chariots of fire , ” a british film that has running and class as its subjects ? i ' ve toyed with that question since i first saw this remarkable film in may 1981 at the cannes film festival , and i believe the answer is rather simple : like many great films , “chariots of fire” takes its nominal subjects as occasions for much larger statements about human nature .
chariots of fire plays tuesdays through saturdays at 7 : 30 pm and saturdays at 2 pm through april 15 at the pardoe theatre in the harris fine arts center on the brigham young university campus . tickets are $ 8 - 16 . for more information , visit urltoken .
in 2011 , the year before the london olympic games , he thought he would see if the broadstairs and st . peter’s town council would agree to a blue plaque being erected to commemorate the true - life story which was depicted in the film , chariots of fire .
review : chariots of fire is a pleasant , mildly inspirational movie but hardly worthy of all the accolades it received . this true story , based on an original screenplay by colin welland , is about what it means to win and what one must do to achieve it . eric liddell… ( more )
at the dedication of the vietnam memorial on the mall in washington dc on november 13 , 1982 the soundtrack to
chariots of fire
was repeatedly broadcast over loudspeakers as thousands of vietnam veterans , most wearing old service uniforms , walked up to the wall , many for the first time . it was chilling to see .
there ' s a touching moment at the end of the new stage production of chariots of fire when , after winning gold in the 100m of the 1924 paris olympic games , harold abrahams reflects on the differences between himself and his fellow british athlete , “flying scotsman” eric liddell . “i was faster , ” he says , “but eric was better . ”
a stage adaptation of chariots of fire seems almost inevitable in the year that london hosts the olympics . some might call it cynical . but mike bartlett’s generous interpretation of the oscar - winning early - eighties film is already scheduled to transfer to the west end , and it’s the sort of stirring crowd - pleaser that is likely to do well there .
2 porritt came third in the 100 metres final even though he had never been properlycoached . the race was immortalised in chariots of fire , though in the film the third place winner was called ‘tom watson’ , as porritt self - effacingly refused to be named in the script .
we made an invasion upon the south of the cherethites , and upon the coast which belongeth to judah , and upon the south of caleb ; and we burned ziklag with fire .
chariots of fire is a british film released in 1981 . written by colin welland and directed by hugh hudson , it is based on the true story of british athletes preparing for and competing in the 1924 summer olympics . the film was nominated for seven academy awards and won four , including best picture .
watching chariots of fire in the 21st century , the viewer notes , with a wry smile , the few desultory advertisements hung around the stadium . runners may have dug their own starting blocks for thin , black leather shoes , but sport was on the cusp of becoming the big business it is today .
chariots of fire is a pleasant , mildly inspirational movie but hardly worthy of all the accolades it received . this true story , based on an original screenplay by colin welland , is about what it means to win and what one must do to achieve it . eric liddell ( ian charleson ) is a serious
1981 fangio – una vita a 300 all ' ora ( fangio , a life at 300 km / h ) – doc . 1981 chariots of fire 1984 greystoke : the legend of tarzan , lord of the apes 1985 revolution 1989 lost angels 1995 lumière and company – doc . 1999 my life so far 2000 i dreamed of africa 2011 rupture : a matter of life or death – doc .
the best portrayals of sport are never about the sport itself , but rather the human condition in pursuit of its glories , which is why you can excuse chariots of fire its intentional inaccuracies . it captures the inherent decency of liddell . he is much more fascinating and likable than the relentlessly driven abrahams , presented as his implacably bitter rival to ratchet up the drama .
there was a misprint of polydor ' s release of jean michel jarre ' s
rendez vous
album ( 1986 ) as the track list and artwork including print on the cd claimed the jarre album while the music on the disc itself actually was vangelis ' chariots of fire . obviously this is an extremely rare collectible for both camps .
the location for a bbc remake of the 39 steps , based on the classic novel by scottish author john buchan , and set in the build up to the first world war , starring rupert penry jones ( burn up , spooks ) as richard hannay . restaurant scenes for chariots of fire were filmed in the restaurant of the café royale .
so from the outset , the lines of critical opinion were drawn , but imeson ' s view was overshadowed as chariots began to travel around the world .
the documentary - makers have dug up some extraordinary archive footage of abrahams in training . as executive producer dan goldsack explains : “the story of chariots of fire is also the beginning of professional sport . when abrahams hired a professional coach , he was flying in the face of that old , amateur , corinthian attitude to sport . his goal wasn’t to do his best – he wanted to win . ”
in the opening scene of the 1978 memorial to harold abrahams , by a mistake aubrey montague is shown as one of only two remaining survivors of the 1924 olympic gb runners . in fact montague died on 30 january 1948 , coincidentally the day that mohandas k . gandhi was assassinated . gandhi ( 1982 ) won the best picture oscar the year after chariots of fire did .
since it began over 20 years ago , the grand’s high school project has produced some of the country’s top actors . several alumni of the program return to the grand this season including ellen denny , david michael moote , and anwyn musico in chariots of fire , as well as aidan desalaiz , kelsey falconer , and moote in a christmas carol .
ian charleson , scottish stage actor best known for his work in the film chariots of fire ( 1981 ) , which won an academy award oscar for best picture . charleson received an m . a . in architecture from edinburgh university ( 1970 ) before training at the london academy of music and dramatic art . very soon…
three decades on , hudson is still in touch with many of his other collaborators from chariots of fire . he saw ben cross recently in bulgaria , where cross now lives .
ian holm i keep in touch with , nigel havers i keep in touch with . puttnam is a very close friend . i ' ve known him for a very long time right from the early 1960s . . . we ' re very closely bonded by chariots .
as they were walking along and talking together , suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them , and elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind .
2 kings 2 : 11 ( niv ) is a verse from the bible that has the title of the film . the old testament is read by both people of the jewish faith like harold and people of the christian faith such as eric .
as vangelis’ instrumental ‘chariots of fire’ reverberates in audiences ears , one cannot close their eyes without imagining the famous slow motion running sequence from the film . the stage adaptation packs just as much energy , passion and conviction as its screen - based predecessor and audience members will not be disappointed in this fantastic celebration of british olympic history .
antalya , turkey — it’s been 16 years since the release of hugh hudson’s last feature film , “i dreamed of africa , ” but the 80 - year - old helmer has hardly been in an artistic drought . directing three documentaries over the past decade – while also bringing his iconic “chariots of fire” to the stage in london – hudson seems to [ … ]
it ' s to the credit of both mr . hudson and mr . welland that ' ' chariots of fire ' ' is simultaneously romantic and commonsensical , lyrical and comic . david watkin ' s photography is very fine , and the track sequences - even to someone who has no real interest in track - are charged with poetry .
i doubt that even the olympic games themselves will provide a more satisfying and uplifting experience than the rerelease this week of chariots of fire , the classic british film from 1981 . in a time when drug tests and synthetic fibres have replaced gumption and moral fibre , the tale of two runners competing against each other in the 1924 olympics has a simple , undiminished power .
this is undeniably bombastic fare . if you’re the sort of person who sheds a tear at jerusalem , there’s a strong chance you’ll love it . if you’re not , you may still marvel at the hearty physicality on show . although not in the end a gold - medal performance , energy and conviction make chariots of fire a satisfying experience .
this makes ' ' chariots of fire ' ' as festive a film as one could imagine to open the 19th new york film festival tonight with two showings , at 7 : 30 at alice tully hall and at 9 at avery fisher hall . it will begin its regular commercial run tomorrow at the cinema i .
cameron saunders , managing director , uk theatrical at twentieth century fox uk , said : “thanks to the bfi’s support audiences throughout the uk will be able to make chariots of fire their first olympic experience of the summer . i challenge anyone not to be extraordinarily excited about london 2012 having enjoyed this most iconic olympic film on the big screen . ”
picture : visually , chariots of fire ' s avc 1 . 85 : 1 1080p blu - ray encode is unlikely to win gold from those av fans looking for the absolute pinnacle of hi - def imagery . however , for a piece of british cinema of its vintage , this blu - ray release appears to do a pretty good job of capturing the authentic look of the original filmstock and measures up well to films of a similar age that have been given a blu - ray release .
makeup artist joyce bonelli reaches out to the kardashian clan on instagram . . . after the famous family ' fire ' and unfollow her on social media
“chariots of fire , ” which weaves the stories of two former british track aces who both won major events at the 1924 paris olympics , is about the will to win and why . it’s also a winner for director hugh hudson in his theatrical bow after an apprenticeship in commercials . with strong script values and top - notch performances , [ … ]
vangelis has composed 15 film soundtracks in total , including ridley scott ' s blade runner , 1492 : conquest of paradise and oliver stone ' s alexander . apart from film and personal compositions , he created the music for wayne eagling ' s ballet frankenstein and over the years has released no fewer than 40 albums – his 41st , a new edition of chariots of fire , comes out at the end of july .
antalya , turkey — it’s been 16 years since the release of hugh hudson ’s last feature film , “i dreamed of africa , ” but the 80 - year - old helmer has hardly been in an artistic drought . directing three documentaries over the past decade – while also bringing his iconic “chariots of fire” to the stage in london – hudson seems to have settled into the late - career stage of his life .
little did they realise they were about to carve themselves a place in cinematic history . the scene they were about to shoot was the iconic opening sequence of the multiple oscar - winning movie chariots of fire . within a few months of its release , the poster on which they featured would adorn the wall of many a bedsit and the theme tune , by greek - born composer vangelis , would be instantly recognisable on both sides of the atlantic .
byu & apos ; s
chariots of fire
features choreography mixing dance , gymnastics and running ( created by becky wright phillips ) that nods to the slow - motion running sequences employed so memorably in the film . that kind of abstract movement might be difficult to pull off onstage , threlfall admits .
we & apos ; ll find out .
vangelis has always been a favourite of mine for the past thirty years or so . he is such a talented musician . the first time that i noticed a piece of his music was hearing the jon and vangelis
i hear you now
. and then someone played me the original recording of chariots of fire . i instantly fell in love with it , such a brilliant film score . and i never tire of hearing it played . now i have recently purchased his new cd for the stage production of chariots of fire , the play . i have played the disc a few times and i have to say that i think it is beautiful . the newly composed tracks fit around the original ones so nicely . i think that any vangelis fan will find this cd a valuable addition to their collection .
losing a dearly fought athletic contest may very well build character . but winning the contest can build self - confidence as well as character - there ' s no need to settle for less . this is one of the points made in ' ' chariots of fire , ' ' the unashamedly rousing , invigorating but very clear - eyed evocat ion of values of the oldfashioned sort that are today more easily satirized than celebrated .
hugh hudson ' s chariots of fire seemed nostalgic enough when it was first released in 1981 . at the nadir of the thatcher era , when there were riots in english cities as well as rising unemployment and racial tension , hudson made a movie about patriotic british athletes striving for success at the 1924 paris olympics . thirty years on , that nostalgia is amplified .
producer lord puttnam of queensgate cbe said : “chariots of fire is about guts , determination and belief . just as the film succeeded in raising spirits and aspirations thirty years ago , i believe it could deliver exactly the same message today . at the heart of the film is the quest for olympic glory , and i find hard to imagine anything more likely to resonate throughout the country this summer . ”
the most common piece that’s used around the world is [ the theme to the movie ]
chariots of fire
by vangelis ,
guegold says . whatever the music , however , audiences can expect it to be a kind of fanfare .
the the brass , percussion , marching band sort of big piece , something that is kind of grand , seems to fit the venue . it seems to fit the visual spectacle of the olympics very well .
remember the exhilarating opening scene from chariots of fire : those barefoot athletes pounding through the icy water of that flat , grey british beach ? after 22 seconds , 28 - year - old nigel havers appears on the left of the screen , mud spattering his crisp white shirt and an expression of sheer , uncomplicated joy on his face . playing the fictional lord andrew lindsay , he’s laughing into the wind as he pelts from the screen .
director tim threlfall saw the london show and thought its themes about determination and religious integrity would play well at byu . he and jeff martin , who directs byu & apos ; s bravo ! performing - arts series , spent five years pursuing the rights for
chariots of fire ,
now receiving its first production since its london debut .
chariots of fire is a pleasant , mildly inspirational movie but hardly worthy of all the accolades it received . this true story , based on an original screenplay by colin welland , is about what it means to win and what one must do to achieve it . eric liddell ( ian charleson ) is a serious scottish christian who runs for the glory of jesus . harold abrahams ( ben . . . read more