Free insulation offer: Council urges caution over doorstep callers 

The council wants households to take extra care when speaking to insulation contractors who call at their door. They have received complaints from some householders who have had unsatisfactory work carried out by a company claiming to be part of the local authority’s current free insulation offer.

The local authority today issued a letter to the company concerned, asking them to stop making these claims immediately. They also notified Trading Standards, who will take action if the situation is not resolved quickly.

The Council’s free insulation offer is only being delivered by appointed installer Carillion Energy Services in partnership with local social enterprise Changeworks, which runs the Energy Saving Scotland advice centre for South East Scotland. As with all doorstep callers it is very important to check their ID and even verify it by calling the advice centre to confirm that they’re meant to be working in the area.

Councillor Cammy Day  said: “The number of complaints received remains small but we are not prepared to ignore the issue and want to do everything we can to prevent this from becoming more widespread.”

“If you’re not sure whether the person on your doorstep is working for the Council’s free insulation offer, call the Energy Saving Scotland advice centre on 0800 512 012 to verify their ID; look for their company logo and headed paper, business cards and uniform, and don’t commit to anything unless you’re confident that they’re genuine, and working for Carillion or Changeworks.”

You can call the Scottish Government-funded Energy Saving Scotland advice centre free on 0800 512 012 to check. For peace of mind, you can even book a free no-obligation insulation survey over the phone and receive a visit from the appointed contractor at a time and date that suits you.

Whether it’s home insulation on offer or something else entirely, any genuine doorstep caller will be more than happy to show you ID and arrange to call back later – giving you time to do a quick background check.

The Council’s free insulation offer is available throughout Edinburgh, and is set to target South Queensferry, Kirkliston and Drumbrae with a letter campaign over the next few weeks. Loft insulation saves a household around £175 a year, and cavity wall insulation saves around £135 – wherever you live in Edinburgh you can now have these measures installed absolutely free.

With many insulation companies canvassing for work in the capital, it can be difficult to choose the best option for your home. The Energy Saving Scotland advice centre is a Scottish Government-funded service offering free and impartial advice – and working in partnership with The City of Edinburgh Council and Carillion Energy Services on the city’s free insulation offer.

Legionella outbreak – Council committees today – TED Global – Armed Forces Day 30 June 2012 – Art exhibition

The Holyrood Health and Sport Committee will meet at 10.30 this morning to take evidence on the Legionella outbreak in Edinburgh from:-

Pam Waldron, HSE Director, Scotland, and Head of Field Operations Directorate, Scotland and Northern England Division, Health and Safety Executive;

Dr Alison McCallum, Director of Public Health and Health Policy, and Dr Duncan McCormick, Consultant in Public Health, NHS Lothian;

Dr Jim McMenamin, Consultant Epidemiologist, Respiratory Team, Health Protection Scotland;

Colin Sibbald, Food Health and Safety Manager, City of Edinburgh Council.

The latest reports on the Edinburgh Legionnaires’ outbreak show an increase in cases of the disease – one confirmed and one suspected. This means the total number of confirmed cases is now 48 and the total number of suspected cases is 47.

The total number of overall cases is now 95.

At noon yesterday, of those cases being treated in hospital, three are in intensive care – an increase from two on Friday – and 12 are on general wards.

A total of 20 cases are being treated in the community, 51 have been discharged from hospital and two people have sadly died. Seven cases are being treated outwith the NHS Lothian area. The ages of the confirmed cases ranges between 33 and 85, with more males than females affected. The Health and Safety Executive and Edinburgh City Council are continuing their investigations into the possible source of the outbreak.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said:

“As well as the efforts being made by health service staff to treat those who are critically ill in hopsital, a tremendous amount of work is being undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive and the City of Edinburgh Council to identify and deal with the source of the outbreak.”

Shadow Dancer

Some very good Belfast accents.

Belfast, 1973. Young Collette McVeigh sees her younger brother shot to death during a skirmish between the British Army and the IRA. Twenty years later, Collette is a member of the IRA herself. Picked up by MI5 while on an unsuccessful mission to place a bomb in the Underground, she is convinced to spy on her republican brethren in order to protect her own son’s wellbeing. As Collette finds herself deeper in trouble, can she trust her handler to help?

Academy Award-winning director James Marsh (Man On Wire) turns his attention to my old home town during a time of considerable upheaval – December 1993. This was the official beginning of the end of the Troubles, as the Downing Street Declaration of December 15th led directly to the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 and the eventual setting-up of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Also in 1998, ITV’s Ireland Correspondent Tom Bradby released his first novel, Shadow Dancer. Fourteen years later, he has adapted it into a screenplay.

Although set in Belfast, Shadow Dancer is not a “Troubles movie”. The political situation is merely a backdrop for this intelligent and tense thriller based on the themes of family, betrayal and the lengths we will go to to protect the ones we love. Geordie actress Andrea Riseborough plays Collette and this deserves to be a breakout film for her. Even in scenes without dialogue, such as the extended opening sequence as she tries to evade her MI5 tail through the Underground, she is a captivating presence at the head of an exceptional cast. Clive Owen as Mac, her MI5 handler, brings his usual calm gravitas and a certain ambiguity to a role that could have been fairly one-note. Collette’s brothers and fellow IRA members are played by Domhnall Gleeson and Aiden Gillen. The two roles are relatively small and unshowy, but Gleeson (son of Brendan) manages to show that the talent has not skipped a generation, and we get reserved and pensive Aiden Gillen as opposed to wacky, out there Aiden Gillen. More The Wire than Blitz, shall we say.

Marsh and his art department done a fantastic job in recreating Belfast of the early nineties, with the wardrobe, the cars, even the set dressing. My parents had the same bedroom furniture as Collette, that’s how accurate it is. All of this would just be empty window dressing without a good script though, and this is a very good script. Where it excels most is in its restraint. Bradby isn’t afraid of silences, trusting that his director and actors will be able to get across the point of a scene without words. I mentioned it before, but that opening sequence is a bravura piece of filmmaking; I didn’t have my stopwatch, but it must have been maybe six or seven minutes with no dialogue, only background noise, and not for one second are we in any doubt about what is happening. The film starts off tense and never eases off; it just keeps ratcheting it up until the shocking ending.

Shadow Dancer will be screening this Friday and Saturday, with a full nationwide release scheduled for 24 August 2012. As always, tickets for this and any other film showing here can be picked up at the festival box office at The Filmhouse, Lothian Road, or via the festival’s website, here.

Princes Street, west of Waverley Bridge, is set to re-open to buses, cycles and taxis by 30 June according to the council. Subject to complete handover by the infrastructure contractor and sign-off , the move should provide a welcome boost to the city centre at the start of summer. The Mound will also reopen to general traffic, helping to free up north and southbound traffic flow in the city centre.

As work continues in the project’s busiest period of construction, the next major programme of city centre tram works has also been announced for York Place.

From 14 July, following the re-opening of Broughton Street, works will commence on York Place, allowing for bus only access between North Street, Andrew Street and Broughton Street. Access to the bus station from Elder Street will be maintained during this phase. Detailed information regarding these diversions will be made public in advance of work getting underway.

Transport Convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds, said: “The new Administration is determined to make sure that the project will continue to move forward, in a spirit of cooperation, with all the parties working together.

“Edinburgh tram works are being managed to a clearly defined programme with this work scheduled to start now in order to deliver the project by the summer of 2014.

“Meanwhile the re-opening of Princes Street, west of Waverley Bridge, will come as a welcome boost to business at what remains a challenging period for traders.”

Sue Bruce, Chief Executive, City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Throughout the tram works, people have adapted quickly to the new traffic systems and bus diversions once they have had the chance to bed-in. This is a significant work package in the programme and its implementation is in itself a clear indication of continuing meaningful progress.

“The bus station will be required to be temporarily re-located later in the year. This will happen following the conclusion of detailed discussions with bus operators and bus station management. We have managed a similar relocation before and are confident this process will be a relatively smooth transition.

“We appreciate the continued support of the public as work gets underway on this latest phase of the project.”

As construction progresses, and a single signalised bus lane can be accommodated on Princes Street at the junction of Waverley Bridge and South St Andrew Street, York Place will be closed to all traffic between North St Andrew Street and Broughton Street.  Details when this will take place will be made public closer to the time. However, it is currently anticipated that this will take place at the end of September.

The York Place closure will require the temporary relocation of the bus station and discussions with bus operators and bus station management are ongoing. These plans will be made public after they have been finalised. During this time access to the St James Centre and Multrees Walk will be maintained via Little King Street.

Officers have been speaking to businesses about the plans in advance of implementation and offering logistical support for planning for and receiving deliveries. In addition, traders affected by the works continue to be supported by the ‘Open for Business’ fund set up by the Council to help them through the construction phase of the project.

Better Together? – Trams – Queensferry bid for a BID – Plastic bags – Mercat Bar

Here is the music which accompanies the Better Together campaign video which will be launched today in Edinburgh. Alistair Darling MP will be at the forefront of the movement against independence which is said to have the support of all three opposition parties in Scotland.

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The Edinburgh Evening News reports that the erstwhile directors of the tram company tie were not paid as employees and thus saved income tax on the payments made to them on cessation of their contracts. Rather than paying higher rate tax, they are said to have paid corporation tax as the payments were made to limited companies.

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Businesses in Queensferry today (22 June) voted yes to creating change, attracting further investment and having a real say in decisions that impact their business.

The Greens have welcomed news that the Scottish Government will publish a consultation on reducing plastic bag waste, despite being almost a year later than promised.

Alison Johnstone MSP tabled questions in the Scottish Parliament last week asking why the consultation had not been published in autumn 2011 as set out by the Environment Secretary last summer. (1) A promised marine litter strategy has also failed to materialise, two years after it was promised during the passage of the Marine Act.

The introduction of a 5p charge in Wales last year has led to a reduction in the use of plastic bags of up to 90%, and a similar charge will come into force in Northern Ireland in April 2013. (2). A Green motion was submitted to Parliament congratulating Wales on their success. (3)

Green MSP Alison Johnstone said:

“Scotland is now trailing far behind Wales and Northern Ireland in tackling this very visible form of waste, and the SNP need to explain why they delayed this consultation by almost a year. The evidence from Wales is that a small charge is easy to implement and has a huge impact on shopper’s behaviour, which can only be a good thing for litter in our towns and for our wildlife, seas and beaches.  Countries as diverse as Rwanda, Italy and Bangladesh have gone even further and have an outright ban on certain plastic bags because they recognise the negative impact that they are having.

“I ask those who oppose this policy to question whether there is such a thing as a free plastic bag and who picks up the bill for littered cities and polluted seas. The SNP must now stop dragging its feet and deliver the marine litter strategy that was promised two years ago and is nowhere to be seen. Greens will always fight for the strongest possible measures on waste because a zero-waste economy means more jobs and a better environment for all.”

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The award-winning Mercat Bar & Restaurant in Edinburgh’s West End, recently had its function area refurbished and to celebrate, they are offering free hire between now and 31 August 2012.

The stylish, private function area can accommodate up to 100 guests (45 for table dining and 100 for receptions) and is ideal for family gatherings, wedding receptions, birthday parties, team meetings, corporate dining through to early morning business breakfasts.  The normal hire price ranges from £150 to £500 for exclusive use of the function area.

However, for the Mercat’s special promotion, this area will be complimentary for bookings between now and 31 August 2012 based on a minimum of 30 for a two-course meal (priced from £11.20pp) or 80 for a buffet and drinks (priced from £8.50pp).

The refurbished function area boasts a private bar, new flooring, upholstered leather chairs, lovely lighting (all energy efficient) and new ladies and gents washrooms – all set within attractive stone feature walls.  There’s also a 50” plasma screen and sound system if required.

The Mercat’s talented head chef Claire Allan can tailor an excellent selection of catering options, from a four-course meal, canapés or buffet for private events.  The team prides itself on providing customers with wholesome and tasty dishes with fresh produce sourced from Scotland’s impressive larder.  There’s also a wide selection of quality wines, beers from around the world, spirits and soft drinks.  And guests will be exceedingly well looked after by the Mercat’s friendly, attentive and well trained team.

Private events can be held anytime from 9am until 1am, seven days a week at The Mercat Bar & Restaurant and subject to availability, the venue can also open earlier.

For more information please contact The Mercat Bar & Restaurant on 0131 225 8716 or email info@mercatbar.com.

GHQ are the proud sponsors of Pride Scotia 2012 and say they are honoured to have Kieron Richardson, star of Hollyoaks and Dancing on Ice, appearing on 30 June 2012.

The celebrations however starts from Friday 29th with the Energy Bears who will be in GHQ from 22.30 till 3a.m.  DJ Robb White and DJ JT will be playing all the latest tunes to kick off the weekend celebrations.

The 30 June will be a day to remember. The Day starts off at the City Chambers on the High street for speeches, followed by the march from the city centre at 1300. The March will then arrive at about 1400 at the Omni Centre where there is a Health & community fair, tea dance and the Main Stage.

Kieron Richardson along with numerous acts will be gracing the stage to entertain the crowds. GHQ will have entertainers and staff throughout the crowds who will have passes for the club. GHQ opens from 2pm with Barbra La Bush who will be entertaining with a Pride show until 5pm. Followed by Kieron Richardson who will be in GHQ for the duration of the night. Not forgetting the resident DJs Reuben Lowenthall and Dowser will be bringing you the tunes till the early hours on Sunday!

Later in the evening  GHQ will also be welcoming the regular Naughty Angel Butlers who will be interacting and photo opportunities will be available.

The weekend celebrations won’t stop at the end of Saturday. GHQ is open from 11pm with Motown Hodown with DJ Lynne to bring an end to a fabulous weekend! Let’s just hope the weather stays nice for everybody.

GHQ ‘s PR staff will be out & about from Thursday giving out Wristbands so keep an eye out for them these will give you discounts from Friday till Sunday night.

Contacts for further information – E: ghq@g1group.com  Twitter @ghqedinburgh T:  0131 550 1780
Follow the chat @ghqedinburgh #prideatghq

We seem to have had so many things to see and do over the last couple of weeks. Most recently the Royal Highland Show finished today at Ingliston, and now we are looking forward to August when the Festival willfield vast shows at Royal Highland Centre

Three shows impossible to stage in conventional theatres are waiting in the wings as the2012 Royal Highland Show draws to a close at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston.

An expert 80 strong team will transform the 4,500 square metres of Lowland Hall into a theatre space for Edinburgh International Festival 2012. Over 50 tonnes of set will also be put in place for three productions by a roll call of world-leading directors.

In an epic undertaking, all three sets will be built alongside each other, beginning on July 26 ready in just 16 days for the first performance on August 11 – 2008: Macbeth.

An enormous three-storey construction with multimedia screens is the set for  a stunning multi-media take on the Scottish play.2008:Macbeth relocates Shakespeare’s work to a contemporary and brutal Middle East in a production from Warsaw-based director Grzegorz Jarzyna and TR Warszawa.

In the year The Artist has taken cinemas by storm, a spectacular fantasy about the early days of silent movies and an amateur’s attempts to shoot a film is just the beginning of Les Naufragés du Fol Espoir (Aurores). This complex, beautifully designed show is brought to the Scottish capital by Théâtre du Soleil and Ariane Mnouchkine, the legendary French director whose work has not been seen in the UK for more than 20 years.

Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison it’s not. With a soundtrack that includes Bryan Adams, George Michael and Wagner, a hilarious and surreal version of My Fair Lady, Meine faire Dame – ein Sprachlabor opens at Lowland Hall on 14 August and is the UK debut for director Christoph Marthaler.  Fife-born actor Graham Valentine – a star of musical theatre in mainland Europe – plays both Eliza Doolittle and Professor Higgins in a rare UK appearance.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz1afc6cuDg&w=560&h=315]

Over 3000 artists from 47 nations will gather in the Scottish capital this year for Edinburgh International Festival 2012 (Thursday 9 August to Sunday 2 September) to share the live experience of theatre, dance, opera and music with audiences from approximately a third of the world’s nations.

This very special project for 2012 has been supported by The City of Edinburgh Council, Creative Scotland and EventScotland.

The three plays are also part of the London 2012 Festival, a UK wide festival from 21 June – 9 September 2012 featuring leading artists from around the world.

Richard Borthwick of Corstophine completed the  Edinburgh Half Marathon on Sunday 27 May 2012 and raised over £500 for The Katie Piper Foundation

Local man, Richard Borthwick  of Corstophine  completed the Edinburgh  Half Marathon on Sunday 27 May 2012 in 2 hours and 10 minutes and raised a total of £255 for burns charity, The Katie Piper Foundation www.katiepiperfoundation.org.uk   His employer, HSBC, have matched the sum to bring it to a total of £510.

“This is the hardest run I have done to date and I am happy to have finished it in a decent time.   Well done to everyone who took part, I think I will be back next year for the full marathon!   I am so pleased to have been able to raise this sum for The Katie Piper Foundation and thanks to my employers, HSBC, who matched the sum I raised and took the total to over £500.” said Richard.

Head of Fundraising at The Katie Piper Foundation, Carol Borwick comments, “We’re so grateful to Richard for completing the Edinburgh Half Marathon on our behalf and thanks to all his friends, family, colleagues and HSBC for supporting him.   The money raised will help us make a positive difference to burns survivors through life-changing treatments and workshops”.

Launched in July 2010, The Katie Piper Foundation www.katiepiperfoundation.org.uk is a registered charity which aims to make it easier for people to live with burns and scars by progressing extended rehabilitation and scar management for burns survivors, providing information on and access to non-surgical treatments for burns and scars, campaigning for consistent clinical care and developing a support network for people living with burns and scars.   The Foundation helps disfigured people to reconnect with their lives and their communities.

• If you would  like to add to the money Richard has raised, please visit his fundraising page at: www.justgiving.com/Richard-Borthwick
• Donations can also be made at The Katie Piper Foundation website: http://www.katiepiperfoundation.org.uk/donate-now/

The Mela is a festival that brings communities together offers a spectacular range of talent from all cultures. Here’s what to look out for this year.

DANCE

The 2012 festival is centred around dance, and is determined to showcase the most diverse and artistic performances.

One highlight this year is Rama & Sita, by Scotland’s Indian dance company – Dance Ihayami – and outdoor theatre company – Walk The Plank. Traditional dance and puppetry is used to reenact this classic story – and it’s free! The show will also be enhanced by special effects, pyrotechnics and a firework display. Click here to see other highlights of the dance category.

MUSIC

The spectacular Babylon Arabic Band is a fusion of traditional Arabic music with Scottish, Irish and German influences. This is sure to be a wonderful combination. A variety of other renowned artists will also be making an appearance. Ones to look out for are Bhangra legend Jassi Sidhu and Desi starlet Ramee. Read about the rest of the lineup for music here.

FASHION

The Mela Fashion Show featuring both international and local designers will include a mix of contemporary and traditional clothing. Keep an eye out for some beautiful Asian bridal wear and evening wear as well as a wide range of contemporary Western designs. The show will be choreographed by Nadim Saleem, who returns after experience running the London-Pakistan Fashion Week and the Newcastle Mela. To read more about the fashion show click here.

FOOD

Do not leave the Mela Festival without visiting at least one of the more than 20 stalls offering not only fresh Bombay street food; mouth-watering curries, sweetmeats and snacks, but also food from South and East Asia, South America, Eastern Europe and, of course, Scotland. All this can be found at the Global Food Village. Make sure you try the haggis pakora!

KIDS ACTIVITIES

This year the Mela Kidzone promises to take its young audience members Around the World in Eighty Minutes. With a series of workshops, kids can explore ‘stories and traditions of the four points of the compass’. The Mela Storytelling Boat will guide their way with a crew of Vikings and Norsewomen. This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to become immersed in other cultures and to learn, and under 12s get free entry.

Other performances listed here.

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Steve Cardownie, Chair of the Mela board,  said that “A big part of the Edinburgh Mela’s appeal is that it originates from, and represents, the city’s own diverse communities… Edinburgh boasts an unrivalled and hugely varied year-round calendar of events and the Edinburgh Mela truly is one of the highlights of the summer months.”

The Mela will run from 31 August-2 September in Leith Links. Go to the official Edinburgh Mela website for more details.

Just one film today, I’m afraid. It’s a cracker though.

Leave It On The Track

Sex, violence and roller skates.

Benjamin Pascoe’s debut feature documentary tells the story of modern roller derby by focussing on the two teams battling for the TXRD League’s 2009 Calvello Cup: the Hellcats and the Cherry Bombs. Despite being one of the fastest growing sports in the USA, it still retains an air of ramshackle improvisation that makes everybody seem like the endearing underdog. But as the clock runs down, which team will come out on top?

Most of the documentaries I have been watching recently tend to be more politically minded or issue-based. This one, on the other hand, is more where my tastes lie; a real DIY effort full of charm and humour and casual – but friendly – violence. I loved it.

The film plays out as a series of intercut interviews with the players on both sides as they discuss the game and each other, with the championship match as a backdrop throughout. All the women that Pascoe speaks to share one thing in common: they all love each other, and not just their own teammates, but all the other players as well. You can really feel the camaraderie that holds the TXRD League together. It certainly isn’t money they play for anyway. It is implied that the players are all unpaid – most of them have day jobs as well – and the league is so poor that when one of the players gets seriously injured in the big match, players from both teams start passing helmets through the crowd for donations to her medical bills. Watching that kind of consideration between supposedly sworn enemies is quite a touching moment.

Shot on digital camcorders (frequently by one of the film’s participants in fact), the movie has a bit of a punk rock look to it that neatly echoes the DIY aspect of the league itself. This was obviously a labour of love for Pascoe, and he has managed to get some wonderful personalities involved. With names like Cherry Chainsaw, Miso Vicious, Alison Chains and Kate Or Dye (because her name’s actually Kate and she’s a hairdresser!) these girls defy all expectations. Far from the random brawl on wheels that you might expect it to be, Roller Derby as actually a very structured game and the players are very devoted and well trained. Also, I don’t know about you, but I am required by law to love any sport where the champion can be decided by a pillow fight.

You could say this is modern feminism in a microcosm – women who careen around a track battering seven bells out of each other while still embracing their femininity with their skimpy team uniforms (mostly consisting of fishnets and underwear-flashing skirts) – but I’m not sure the players or the film would agree with you. That seems like a bit of a lofty ideal for a movie clearly made with the simple goal of showing off the TXRD League and the personalities that are drawn to take part in it. Accompanied by a fantastic soundtrack of rockabilly tunes, this is not only a fun documentary packed with endearing characters, it is also one of the best sports movies I have seen in quite a while.

Leave It On The Track is another World Premiere for the EIFF, screening on Sunday evening and again next Saturday if you can’t make it tonight.

Day Of The Flowers

Viva la revolución, big yin.

When their father suddenly dies, two Glasgow sisters – one a socialist activist, the other a party girl – take his ashes to Cuba to scatter them at the place where their parents met. Along the way, there’ll be trouble with the law, trouble with the locals and trouble with each other, not to mention a revelation or two.

In 1998 John Roberts directed Paulie, a movie about a parrot telling his life story to a Russian janitor (it was for kids). Besides a TV movie in 2001, this is his only credit since then. I don’t know what else he has been up to these last 14 years, but he has hit the ground running with this enjoyably realistic, almost Loachian comedy-drama. Eva Birthistle plays Rosa, the super-socialist whose politics are the sole driving force in her life. Her gradual awakening to the truth about her family and her relationship with her sister is the main focus of the story. Birthistle does a very good job as the intelligent and driven but shockingly naive Rosa. There are times in the movie where her ignorance is almost annoying, and Birthistle is never afraid to be unlikeable, but at the same time she really pulls you in to the story and you want everything to work out alright for her. Charity Wakefield is her sister Ailie; a whirlwind of heels and hairspray. Ailie is the type who brings an electric sandwich maker on holiday with her, but her apparent superficiality masks a much deeper understanding of things than her emotionally stunted big sis. The cast are all very good in fact, especially when you consider that out of the four main actors, only Carlos Acosta as Tomas is playing a native of his own land. The two Scottish sisters are actually Irish and English and the suspiciously handsome Cuban Ernesto is in fact half Irish, half Greek/Rwandan!

What we see of Cuba is beautifully shot by DoP Vernon Layton – whether it’s the countryside Rosa ends up travelling through or the sweat-fuelled clubs where Ailie dances the night away – though he and Roberts seem to leave every scene with a faint air of danger hanging over it. This is writer Eirene Houston’s first feature after doing her bit for British TV with Monarch of the Glen and Eastenders, and it is an assured debut. She captures the sibling tensions very well, and while both sisters might feel a bit like one-note caricatures at first, they both show much more depth and similarity as the story progresses. It may suffer slightly in comparison to Paul Laverty’s similarly-themed work, but what wouldn’t? The bait-and-switch ending is a bit predictable but refreshingly underplayed.

The script doesn’t really do anything new with the themes of familial dischord and reconciliation, but it is still an entertaining watch bolstered no end by the two strong female leads. Day Of The Flowers is screening in competition for the Michael Powell Award for best British feature and is having its World Premiere (yes, another one!) on Monday 25th, with the writer, director and some of the cast in attendance. There is a second showing on Wednesday 27th as well.

The Ambassador

Danes don’t just do thrillers.

Danish journalist, satirist and television presenter Mads Brügger decides to expose the corruption that is rife within the diplomatic community in Africa by becoming a part of it. With cameras in tow (some hidden, some not) he buys the post of Consul for Liberia to the Central African Republic and starts trying to smuggle some blood diamonds. Wacky hijinks (and murder) ensue.

Mads Brügger is either one very brave man or one very foolish one. Either way, he has brought to EIFF a documentary that is as frightening as it is entertaining, and filled with characters and situations that are so absurd they have to be real. This film is a shocking indictment of the depth of corruption in some of these fledgling governments. It seems there is almost nothing that cannot be bought or sold if you know the right people and have deep enough pockets.

Things I Learned From Watching The Ambassador:

• A diplomatic passport costs between $100,000 and $150,000, depending on who you ask.
• If you follow Brügger’s lead and try this for real, there is a very good chance you will end up cheated out of millions of dollars and/or dead.
• Pygmies always travel in pairs.

After a few minutes research, it seems that a lot of people are of the impression that The Ambassador is a Borat-style mockumentary, but Brügger assures us that is not the case. The film follows his travails as he tries to set up a relationship with a mine owner in the CAR, while simultaneously establishing his cover business of a match factory employing exclusively pygmies. The third strand played out sees Brügger go through the nerve-wracking process of having his bona fides confirmed by the government of Liberia. It is this last that is the most nerve-wracking, since without the proper accreditation from his “home” government, a diplomatic passport provides about as much protection as a chocolate fireguard if you are trying to leave the country with a case full of blood diamonds.

Brügger is a hugely entertaining host to this world, playing the role of the rich and dodgy businessman with considerable style. Even though what he’s trying to do is shockingly illegal and immoral, you can’t help but want him to succeed. I’m sure some will say that his irreverence will be making light of a terrible situation, but I disagree. This is an important story that deserves to be told, and if tying that message up in a funny wrapper makes it more palatable, then so be it. I do have one ongoing question though: where exactly did Brügger get his hands on so mush cash?

The Ambassador is showing as part of the festival’s Focus On Denmark strand. Its first screening is this afternoon, with the second show on Monday evening. Tickets for all festival screenings can be bought in person at Edinburgh’s venerable Filmhouse Cinema or through the EIFF site here.

His Holiness The Dalai Lama visited Edinburgh yesterday. He delivered a speech and answered questions from the audience made up of local dignitaries and schoolchildren along with those who had been lucky enough to get tickets for the event.

Photos by Colin Hattersley Photography
07974 957388
colinhattersley@btinternet.com
www.colinhattersley.com

Stirling Tastes Good at the Royal Highland Show!

This year’s Royal Highland Show running till Sunday features Stirling Tastes Good, a new group of local food and drink businesses showcasing the best of the Stirling region’s produce at the Food Hall.

This will be the first year Stirling Tastes Good visits the Royal Highland Show and will feature the following food and drink businesses:

• Get Juiced – Delivering a range of 100% freshly squeezed juices, made in Scotland!
• Allanwater Brewhouse – Launching Scotland’s very first gluten free beers, including Blonde Honey and Dark Treacle gluten free beers.
• Deanston Distillery – Producing an outstanding Highland single malt Whisky. They are also launching their new visitor centre opened with a £500,000 investment.
• Monachyle Mhor Hotel – MHOR is a family business based in the heart of the Trossachs National Park, priding itself on using seasonal, local produce.
• T&R Skinner home of the Extraordinary Sausage Co – A butcher and deli that strives to provide a wide range of highest quality locally produced food
• Knockraich Creamery – A family run dairy farm, including a restaurant and tearoom, in Fintry, owned and managed by Robert and Katy Rodgers and family.
• Edenmill Farm Shop – A real farm shop and smokery outlet producing tasty beef, lamb, pork, venison and game.
• Mushrooms (Scotland) Ltd – Producing the very highest quality Scottish mushrooms.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said:-

“Scotland has a fantastic array of high quality and delicious local produce, from all corners of the country. Stirling Tastes Good -supported by the Forth Valley and Lomond LEADER Programme – is an excellent example of local businesses coming together to work cooperatively and promote their products.

“I am sure that their stand at the Royal Highland Show will attract a lot of interest and increase exposure for the bountiful food and drink offering from the Stirling area.”

For directions and more information please visit www.royalhighlandshow.org

Working with local food and drink producers, STEP is the economic development agency for Stirling. STEP’s Stirling Tastes Good Food Stand was secured following funding from both Stirling Council and the Forth Valley and Lomond LEADER programme.

For more information on STEP and Stirling Tastes Good please visit www.stepstirling.co.uk

Dalai Lama – Edinburgh International Book Festival – Festival of Politics – Wifi on the trains! – Planning application at Fort Kinnaird

Cutting edge technology will be used on Scotland’s rail network to significantly enhance the experience for passengers on the network. As part of the significant £5 billion package of investment announced today for the new rail franchise from 2014, significant new technological improvements will be required.

Smart ticketing technology will be rolled out across the network by the end of the franchise period. Bidders will be encouraged to develop plans to link with other forms of transport, including bikes, and efforts will be made to better integrate rail journeys with connecting ferry and bus services.

In addition to this, the new franchise agreement will also include a requirement to install Wi-Fi technology across the network by 2019. The results of the trial which began this week on the Edinburgh-Glasgow line will help to establish which technological solution will be used.

Commenting on these developments, SNP MSP Kevin Stewart said:

“It is right that Scotland should learn from innovations around the world and bring the best of technological solutions to our rail network. Improving the experience for passengers should always be at the heart of improvements to Scotland’s railways.

“Smart ticketing has clearly worked well in London and other areas, so I am delighted that we will be bringing the technology to Scotland’s railways. It is clearly a far more convenient and efficient solution and I am confident it will be warmly welcomed by passengers across the country.

“It is also important that we do more to integrate the various types of transport available in Scotland as far as is possible and I am sure that requiring the next ScotRail franchisee to develop plans for this will bear fruit.

“The warm welcome that the rollout of Wi-Fi on the Edinburgh-Glasgow line received this week shows the strength of demand for internet access on the move.

“Rolling the technology out across the network by 2019 is an ambitious step forward and I am sure that the lessons from the current trial will be well learnt.”

***

The owner of Fort Kinnaird Shopping Park says it has taken a vital step forward in the continued regeneration and improvement of the park with the submission of four planning applications to The City of Edinburgh Council.

The applications represent a £24 million investment in Fort Kinnaird with 285 new positions created on opening, in addition to a significant number of jobs during the construction period.  Fort Kinnaird employs 1,600 people, rising to 2,500 during the Christmas peak.

The applications seek detailed consent for the design of a number of new shops and restaurants which already have planning permission, a new seven screen multiplex cinema, new toilets and a security office to replace the existing offices.  The applications also propose upgrading and revitalising the public areas throughout the park with a fully equipped children’s play area and cafe to provide a new heart for the centre and major improvements to the pedestrian crossing on Newcraighall Road.

If approved, it is anticipated that work will start on site in early 2013 with completion scheduled for summer 2014.  The location of the cinema and restaurants on the same site as the retail creates opportunities for linked trips between the various elements on the park, creating new jobs but also safeguarding existing ones.

Liam Smith, Centre Manager at Fort Kinnaird, said: “These plans demonstrate our commitment to continued investment in Fort Kinnaird and will release its full potential, making spending time here an even better experience for our customers.

“As well as creating vital new jobs and local investment and improving public areas, the new shops and restaurants will enable us to attract and accommodate new and exciting retailers which are not currently represented in the area.

“There was previously a cinema at Fort Kinnaird and this replacement will provide a modern, digital cinema with stadium style seating; something not possible with the previous building.”

As the name suggests, there is a very international flavour to this festival, with the majority of films being at least partially in another language. Both of my picks for Saturday are subtitled movies: one Swedish and one Chinese.

Flicker

Happy endings, but no meatballs.

In small-town Sweden, a local telecoms company is going through a rough patch, as are many of its employees. Whether it’s a technician with dry roasted nuts, a cleaner with arachnophobia or an executive with terminal loneliness, everyone could be doing a little better.

Like a cross between The Office and Robert Altman’s Short Cuts, Flicker tells several stories that weave in and out of each other and are bookended by a pair of power cuts that leave the town of Backberga in complete darkness. Writer/director Patrik Eklund has crafted an astonishingly tight screenplay for his first feature-length film; absolutely everything is connected in some way. This is a movie that will reward repeat viewings, and will probably be just as funny every time. The comedy in Flicker is the comedy of real life, of frustration and irritation – something everyone can relate to.

Flicker’s best asset though is its cast. Everyone in the large ensemble is uniformly excellent, so much so that it would be unfair to single anyone out. Each creates a real person that we can relate with, sympathise with and laugh with (or at, as the case may be) while Eklund keeps things moving from one story to the next at just the right time. Despite the various disasters that each character faces – everything from a Blue Screen Of Death at just the wrong moment to sterility, via an allergic reaction to electricity itself – the movie ends on an uplifting sense of optimism. Let’s call this the feel-good hit of the year, shall we? Maybe that will get me a poster quote.

Saturday evening’s screening will be the first time Flicker is shown outside its homeland. Trust me, you don’t want to miss it.

Dragon (or Wu Xia)

If Holmes had been Chinese…

It is 1917. Liu Jingxi is a simple man, working in his village’s paper mill. One day a pair of bandits come through the village and try to rob the general store. Liu is there at the time and hides, but when the bandits are about to kill the elderly storekeeper, he suddenly attacks them, killing them both. While the rest of the village hails him a hero, the detective Xu Baijiu arrives to investigate the deaths. What he discovers will change everything.

Dragon is the latest film from director Peter Chen (The Warlords). Playing out as a mix of A History Of Violence and One-Armed Swordsman, with a dash of Sherlock thrown in for good measure, it is the latest movie to show off what a movie star Donnie Yen is. Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li are the most well-known in the West, but Donnie Yen should be more famous than all of them. Arguably a better martial artist, he is definitely a better actor than any of those three. Here he plays Liu, a man trying to forget his past by living a brand new future, and coming to realise that the past has a way of catching up with you. He is matched by Takeshi Kaneshiro (House of Flying Daggers) as Xu, the eccentric detective with exceptional deductive skills. Watching Xu recreate in his mind the fight between Liu and the bandits should be enough to keep the Cumberbatch Brigade sated until Steven Moffat makes some more episodes.

This film is one of the most successful genre-blending pictures I have seen from China in a long time. Instead of just wall-to-wall action, this has only three fighting sequences in its 110 minutes. The fights aren’t just fights though; they are critical parts of the development of Liu as a character, just as much as the scenes of him at home with his family. Then we get the noirish detective story as Xu tries to piece everything together to get to the truth of who and what Liu really is, accompanied by the dramatically-rendered visual aids seen through his mind’s eye. Both halves come together to make a thrilling whole.

While the fights may be short in running time, they are not short in quality. Yen himself served as action choreographer and, like the story, the action is a blend of styles from the more traditional sword- and fist-fights to parkour. He even involves the cattle at one point! Yen’s ability to fuse all these influences together means that none of it ever feels anachronistic, even though parkour wasn’t invented until about 80 years later.

By the way, that One-Armed Swordsman reference wasn’t made lightly: Jimmy Wang – the eponymous amputee himself – stars in Dragon as the gangster leader Liu escaped from all those years ago.

Dragon was a huge hit at Cannes in 2011, and finally has its UK premiere on Saturday evening at the same time as Flicker. Luckily, they are both on again on Sunday afternoon.

Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter.

Hat? Check. Beard? Check. Axe?

What if everything we knew about one of America’s greatest presidents was only part of the story? After his mother is killed by a vampire in his youth, Abraham Lincoln devotes his life to training in the art of hunting and killing the undead abomination, at the hands of his new friend Henry Sturgess. From his days as a shopkeeper in Springfield, Illinois, through his law practice and on to the White House, Lincoln constantly faced this immortal menace. You think the Civil War was just about slavery? Think again.

This film has been one of the biggest victims of negative hype in years. Deservedly? Not so much. Yes, it has problems. Of course it does. But are these deal-breakers? No. The script was written by Seth Grahame-Smith, adapting his own novel. This is the man who invented the recent trend of mash-up alt. history with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (a book I really enjoyed, by the way). The film tracks Lincoln’s whole life, inserting the vampires as the unseen motivation behind almost everything he did. The fact that it is all presented with such a straight face makes it that bit more successful. The movie wants to be an actual biopic of Abe, not a parody. For my money, that was certainly a wise choice by Grahame-Smith and director Timur Bekmambetov – the Russian filmmaker who turned James McAvoy into an action hero in Wanted.

Lincoln is played here by relative newcomer Benjamin Walker. Better known around New York as a stage actor and occasional stand-up comedian, Walker is very good. He handles both the oration and the fighting with equal aplomb, throwing that axe (and himself) around like a boss, and he is backed up by a host of rising talent including Mary Elizabeth Winstead as his wife Mary Todd, Anthony Mackie as old friend Will Johnson, and Howard Stark himself, Dominic Cooper as Sturgess. Rufus Sewell is suitably snarly and devious as Lincoln’s nemesis Adam, the oldest and possibly even the first vampire. His Louisiana accent slips at times, but since Adam is obviously not a native of the area in the first place, I suppose it can be understood. Considering he had $70 million to spend though, you’d think Bekmambetov could have spent a bit more money on makeup. Walker gets subtle but effective prosthetics to age Abe through life, but all Winstead and Mackie get are some mild grey streaks in their hair. The vamps look good however, that I have to admit. They are brought to unlife with a combination of makeup and contacts with some CG enhancement. They sort of bridge the gap between the animalistic viciousness of 30 Days Of Night, and the cultured aspect of Underworld. Grahame-Smith plays a bit fast and loose with the “rules” as well. These vampires walk around freely in the daytime with just the mildest application of sunblock (at least they don’t sparkle) and there is no mention of stakes or crosses; silver is the only weapon shown to be effective. Oh, but how effective it is.

The biggest problems with the film can be traced back to its ambition. By cramming an entire life into barely 100 minutes – and such a widely-known and eventful one at that – certain things must be sacrificed. In this case, that means anything not directly related to the ongoing forward momentum. For example, Lincoln spends a big chunk of the second act making it known that he is studying law while working in a shop. Then there is one short scene where he sits at a desk behind an “Abraham Lincoln – Attorney at Law” nameplate, and then it’s off to Washington we go. Also, using vampires as an excuse for slavery (so the vamps living in the Confederacy can freely buy and sell food) comes off a bit pat, bordering on insensitive, without the time to explore the idea further. I don’t often say this, but I think this story would have been better served had it been split into two or even three movies.

But that’s enough about the story, you want to know how it looks. Well, I’m a bit mixed on that score too. There are times when the camera soars out over Washington or the Gettysburg battlefield, and these scenes do not come off as well as they should. The digital extras have a cartoony aspect to them that I thought we had said goodbye to years ago. The smaller, character-driven sequences are much better though. The natively-shot 3D comes off quite effectively when the scene is well-lit but unfortunately the big climactic fight scene is on a train barrelling through the countryside, at night. That the background is little more than a dark grey haze is just unforgivable. The fights themselves are presented very stylistically, with lots of slo-mo and speed ramping, 300-style.

Overall, the film is enjoyable as a period action-horror. Building it around a known person does away with most of the need for character set-up, but it also spoils a certain level of suspense. Of course Lincoln is not going to be bitten, for example, but anyone with more than a rudimentary knowledge of history will know full well which characters are likely to end up in jeopardy. I think the biggest stumbling block for Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter will be the expectations caused by Grahame-Smith’s reputation as a humourist. I’ll say it again: this is a period action-horror. Nowhere in that sentence – or in the film – does comedy appear. If you go in determined to see otherwise you are likely to be disappointed. Go in with an open mind though and you could well enjoy yourself quite a bit.

The film is showing at Cineworld at various times.

If you are thinking of going to the Highland Show out at Ingliston, but are a bit fearful of the bad weather, then there are two things you can do. One is to take the Lothian Buses service 98 from St Andrew Square all the way to the show, and the other is dress for the worst weather and then have a good time. The reason you may wish to take the bus is really for convenience, although there is space out there for 20,000 vehicles.

There is so much to see that it is difficult to know where to start. The Food Hall is a great place to shelter from the rain, full of goodies of all kinds, either to eat for your lunch or to bring home again. There are craft tents where you will find the ideal gift for just about anyone, from jewellery to paintings, mugs to wooden bowls made with wonderful skill.

This is the Greatest Show on Earth. Over the last three years the attendance figures have crept up to over 182,000, and people come from near and far to see what makes the agricultural world tick.

However we had some problems knowing what the correct time was when we were at the show… Johnny Watson provided the clock at the side of the arena some years back, but quite honestly it was more confusing than informative for anyone looking at it this year. Clearly someone needs to get inside and give it a bit of a service!

But it is in fact the animals who steal the show. In spite of the rain the sheep, cattle and horses were all spruced up and looking wonderful. Months, if not years, of planning have gone into their appearance at the Highland Show and some of them are taking home the silver.

There are 1500 sheep, 2000 horses, at least 100 goats and about 500 poultry, and there will be around £50,000 handed over to horse riders at the show in prize money.

This is a show for people of all ages, and there are people of all nationalities visiting too. his year, delegates to the World Charolais Conference will be attending. It is reckoned to have an economic benefit of around £70million.

Show Opening Times and Ticket Prices:Thursday: 07.00 – 20.00. Friday and Saturday: 08.00 – 20.00. Sunday: 08.00 – 18.30. Admission price on all four days is £25 with concessions at £20 available for senior citizens and students. All children under 16 accompanied  by an adult go free. There are “early bird” discounts available at £22 and £18. Car parking is £8 per day. For “early bird” tickets, visit the website www.royalhighlandshow.org

And on Friday this is a sample of what you might expect to see:-

• 8.00 Farriery Competitions – Forge Ave 13
• 10.30 Connemara Ponies In-Hand – Ring 5
• 11.20 Elite Falconry Display – birds of prey in-flight – Countryside Area
• 11.00 Pole Climbing up 90’ poles – Forestry Area
• 1.00 Bobbin Lace Czech Style – Handcrafts Pavilion
• 1.00  Fashion Show – I Love Wool
• 3.00 Live music – East Stage
• 4.00 Kids cooking – RHET Discovery Centre – all day
• 4.30 A Celebration of East Lothian Food & Drink with Wendy Barrie
• 5.15 Heavy horse turnout
• 6.00   West Stage.  Take the floor is BBC Radio Scotland’s long running Scottish Dance music programme appearing at the Highland Show for the very first time.  Transmitted at 7.05pm on Saturday nights and again on Sunday’s at 1.05pm presented by Robbie Shepherd  Guests are: John Carmichael Ceilidh Band, Piper Lorne MacDougall with Ross Kennedy on Bouzouki and Adam Brown on hodran, Guitarist and vocalist – Jim Malcolm

Ian Rankin celebrates 25 years of Rebus as well as giving a sneak preview of his new novel; poet Alice Oswald gives a rare reading of Memorial, her reimagining of Homer’s Iliad; and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond gives a glimpse into his life outside politics to author Ian McEwan in just three of over 800 events in this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival, which was launched this morning in the sumptuous surroundings of the Signet Library.

Among an A to Z of highlights from the festival, director Nick Barley also announced the Edinburgh World Writers’ Conference 2012-13, which marks five decades since the 1962 Writers’ Conference that brought together 70 authors to discuss pressing issues of the day. The 2012-13 conference will address the same five questions as the 1962 event – whether literature should be political, the relationship between style and content, the concept of a national literature, censorship and the future of the novel – and will tour to 14 countries throughout the following year.

A glittering cast of writers from 44 countries, including such well-known names as Will Self, Pat Barker, Zadie Smith and Val McDermid, will be in Edinburgh to launch and discuss their new books, and the festival also features some more unusual names. Pop music icon Nile Rodgers visits to look back on a career working with Madonna, Bob Dylan and Prince, among many others, and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown looks forward to a new relationship between Scotland and England.

Four guest selectors – children’s author Vivian French, BBC stalwarts James Naughtie and Sue MacGregor, and illustrator Chris Riddell – have also curated elements of the programme and will chair several of the festival’s events.

An equally rich children’s programme includes visits from David Walliams and Val McDermid, both unveiling their first books for young readers, as well as a sneak peak at Jacqueline Wilson’s new book Four Children and It and illustrator-in-residence Chris Riddell’s new drawings for Neil Gaiman’s spooky Coraline.

Festival director Nick Barley said: ‘In 2012, the Year of Creative Scotland, we are delighted to showcase some of the best Scottish writing, from well-established authors to debut novelists, as well as welcoming some extraordinary literary talent from around the world to help us rethink aspects of society that affect our everyday lives. This is a year for taking stock about what matters to us in a time of uncertainty, doubt and data overload.’

See the Edinburgh International Book Festival’s full programme at www.edbookfest.co.uk

The Royal Highland Show – Trams – Cycling – Friends of Meadows and Bruntsfield Links – Potholes

The Royal Highland Show begins today at Ingliston and runs till Sunday. Lothian Buses are running a special service to get you there more easily. Bus Number 98 will take you from Jenners to the Showground with a few stops on the way. More details here. 

The Royal Highland Show is one of Scotland’s most iconic, enduring and historic brands – an annual showcase of all that’s best in farming, food and countryside.

A top summer attraction, the show has seen record-breaking attendances in recent years with the three-year average now standing at over 182,000.

In 2011, visitor numbers were 182,984 –  the second highest ever attendance and  just a few thousand short of the record set in 2010 of 187,644.

A visit to the “Highland” – marketed as “The Greatest Show On Earth” – offers a multitude of features to enjoy with prize-winning livestock, the latest farm machinery, fine food and drink, outdoor living and countryside, traditional rural skills, renewable energy, music, cookery demonstrations, forestry events, handcrafts, children’s discovery centre, heavy horses, show-jumping, motor zone and shopping arcades just a few of the attractions.

All of these are contained within well-signposted designated areas making it easy for visitors to find their way around the showground.

This year’s show will take place from 21-24 June 2012.

Show Opening Times and Ticket Prices:Thursday: 07.00 – 20.00. Friday and Saturday: 08.00 – 20.00. Sunday: 08.00 – 18.30. Admission price on all four days is £25 with concessions at £20 available for senior citizens and students. All children under 16 accompanied  by an adult go free. There are “early bird” discounts available at £22 and £18. Car parking is £8 per day. For “early bird” tickets, visit the website www.royalhighlandshow.org

***

Tonight the Friends of Meadows and Bruntsfield Links hold their AGM at The Croquet Club in Leven Terrace.

***

And today we have another broken paving stone for you from a New Town pavement. Where is your pothole? Do send us photos!

http://video.unrulymedia.com/wildfire_65710311.js

Grabbers

Drink up, they’re after you.

Erin Island, Ireland. Garda Lisa Nolan arrives from the mainland for a two-week tour of duty, just as another guest arrives from a bit further away. Now Lisa must team up with her new alcoholic partner, the local marine ecologist and a boozy fisherman to save the island, and the world.

The festival is just getting started but I can tell you right now that this will be my number one film of the fortnight. Combining the best elements of other monster classics like Tremors, Jaws, Deep Rising and Aliens into a new – and very Irish – whole, Grabbers is feckin’ brilliant. It’s another leading role for Richard Coyle (yesterday’s Pusher) as Erin Island’s resident cop Ciarán O’Shea; a part that couldn’t be further from Frank. The film belongs to Ruth Bradley as Lisa though. Her strait-laced Garda starts off as cute but a little dull, a by-the-book character who loosens up considerably once the plan to avoid the monsters kicks in, and ends up channeling Ripley in the best way. And what is that plan? Well, let me put it this way: the alien monster lives on blood, and it really doesn’t like alcohol.

And what about the monster? It’s gorgeous. A rolling mass of tentacles and stingers with a very, very big mouth, it’s a prime example of how CGI can be used sparingly and effectively, alongside practical on-set effects that add to the illusion of the monster affecting its surroundings – whether it’s the big guy flipping a car or one of its babies swinging on a light fixture. Belfast-born director Jon Wright has paced the film just, eh, right – working with debut screenwriter Kevin Lehane – starting off slow and keeping the Grabber itself hidden until late in the game, while also allowing us to get to know and like the cast of characters that will be facing off against it.

This film really could have been made just for me. It’s funny, suspenseful, scary, deliciously vulgar and delightfully whimsical. Grabbers is getting its European premiere on Friday night at EIFF with a second screening on Monday. The nationwide release date is not yet confirmed, but will be sometime later this year.

Rent-a-Cat

Sweet, funny and delightfully charming.

Are you lonely? Do you like cats? Meet Sayoko. She spends her days doing chores around her feline-filled house, talking to herself, and pulling her cart full of cats through the park by the river. If you pass her inspection, she will rent you one for as long as you need the company. But are any of her customers as lonely as Sayoko herself?

As this new film from writer/director Naoko Ogigami (Kamome Diner) unfolds, I defy you not to fall in love with Sayoko, played by Mikako Ichikawa, the same way we all did with Audrey Tautou in Jeunet’s Amelie. She is the most adorable cat-lady you’ve ever seen in film or otherwise, as far from the stereotype as it is possible to get. Ichikawa’s performance is all the more impressive for the fact that she spends most of the movie in her house alone, talking either to her cats or her shrine to her dead grandma, and never once is it boring.

This is a film about loneliness and how that loneliness can be abated by either a small furry friend or just someone to talk with. It gives a peek behind the curtain of the formality of life in Japan, and asks what cost to human relationships that stricture exacts. The repetition of the faintly episodic set-up works as sort of a lullaby, bringing you into the magical-realist world that Sayoko and her cats inhabit. It is definitely a world worth visiting, and you can do so this Friday evening, or Sunday afternoon. There is no information available yet about a nationwide release, but it will most likely be out on DVD and Blu-Ray soon enough.

One general criticism I have about the Edinburgh International Film Festival – especially in the last couple of years – is that is can be very arty. I realise that festivals like this are the only times some films are able to be shown on the big screen, but at the same time they tend to appeal to a more niche audience; they’re often not very accessible to the casual moviegoer. Well these two films are perfect for the casual moviegoer. If you’ve been on the fence about going to see something during the festival for that very reason, then these two come highly recommended.

You can see more from me at my own movie review site, here.

RECYCLE YOUR MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

Over 600 tonnes of plastic bottles have been recycled in the past year in Edinburgh but that’s still only 26% of all plastic bottles thrown away by households.

Now The City of Edinburgh Council is encouraging households to do their part during Recycle Week 2012 to help reach the capital’s targets of recycling 50% of domestic waste by 2015.

A series of recycling roadshows are being held across the city tomorrow and Friday when Council recycling officers will be advising people about different services available and how recycling can help keep the city clean and green.

On average each household in Edinburgh sends 0.524 tonnes of waste to landfill a year at a cost of £100 per tonne. If every household reduced this amount by 10% it would save the Council £1,231,500 a year.

An added focus of this year’s campaign is the recycling of plastic bottles. Thanks to new technology bottles of all shapes and sizes can be recycled but despite this only 26% of them currently make the recycling bin which is equal to 623 tonnes.

Councillor Jim Orr, Vice Convener for Environment, said: “This Council is committed to meeting our 2015 recycling targets and part of this is getting more people to consider their environment when disposing of waste.

“Every tonne of waste that goes to landfill costs the Council £100 while recycling costs a small fraction of that. It is our aim to make Edinburgh a more sustainable city but to do this we need everyone to play their part.”

Recycling not only protects the world’s natural resources, but provides energy savings too. If everyone in Scotland recycled just one extra plastic bottle during Recycle Week, this would save enough energy to power over 6,000 plasma screen televisions for a year. It also benefits the environment by significantly reducing air and water pollutants.  There is also a heavy financial cost for the Council due to landfill costs.

Currently 147,000 tonnes is sent to landfill every year and if current recycling rates remained static then the cost of this would increase from £10.37m to £16.24m by 2014. If more residents reduce, reuse and recycle this figure could reduce to £11.85m.

The Council has a range of recycling services for everyone in Edinburgh – from kerbside collection, to paper and packaging recycling points in tenement areas – making it easier for residents to recycle more.

Roadshow dates are as follows:

Thursday 21 June: South Neighbourhood Office, 40 Captains Road, Edinburgh, EH17 8HN between 10am and 3pm

Friday 22 June: East Neighbourhood Office, 86 Niddrie Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH16 4DT, between 10am and 2pm

by Ryan McNeely

Pusher

A week in the life…

In this English-language remake of Nicolas Winding Refn’s 1996 debut, Richard Coyle stars as Frank, a small-time coke dealer in London. Over the course of seven increasingly frantic days, Frank goes from the good life to staring death in the face.

There have been so many London-set crime films over the last decade that they have almost become a self-parody. At least this one doesn’t star Danny Dyer. Instead, it has the pedigree of Refn’s electric source material (with the Dane acting both as executive producer on this version, and as Dutch Bob in a brief cameo) and a tone more reminiscent of Layer Cake than anything else. Coyle’s Frank and Daniel Craig’s nameless dealer could almost be two sides of the same person, in an alternate world.

The performances brought out by director Luis Prieto (in his first English-language feature) are stunning across the board. If you only know Richard Coyle from the sitcom Coupling then this will blow your mind. You can see every flicker of fear and doubt and anger in his eyes as his week from hell continues. He is in every single scene and he owns them all. Zlatko Burić reprises his role from the Danish trilogy as Milo, Frank’s supplier, flipping convincingly from put-out friend to mortal enemy in the blink of an eye. The biggest surprise for me was the model and occasional singer Agyness Deyn as Frank’s stripper girlfriend Flo. Yes, she’s beautiful, and she’s also a talent to watch.

Simon Dennis’ cinematography is devastatingly effective at taking you inside the mindset of a desperate man who happens to be coked out of his nut. He pulls out all the tricks – super-close-ups, speed-ramping, flickering – but never gratuitously, and the original soundtrack by dance legends Orbital really sets the time and place of the story perfectly.

Pusher has its World Premiere at the EIFF on Thursday 21 June 2012, with a second screening on Friday, then a wide release across the UK from 12 October.

Lovely Molly

Be careful. She’ll screw you.

Tim and Molly are a young couple, newly married. Molly has had some problems in the past, but that’s all behind her now. Her old family home has lain empty since her father died, so Molly and Tim move in and start to settle down. It’s not long before things start going wrong. With Tim on the road driving a truck all the time, Molly starts to hear things go bump in the night. But is it real, or all in her head?

In the thirteen years since his record-breaking debut, writer/director Eduard Sanchez has never been able to recreate the success of The Blair Witch Project. That film’s main legacy now is as the instigator of the oft-maligned ‘found footage’ subgenre. With Lovely Molly, Sanchez brings it all full circle, borrowing considerably from the filmmakers he inspired – in particular Oren Peli. Like in Peli’s Paranormal Activity, this flick features someone using a camcorder to try and prove that their house is haunted. Luckily for us though, the camcorder is just an occasional treat; the bulk of the movie is filmed traditionally. While this is an effective little chiller for the first hour or so though, it is undone by the last two scenes.

If this film is to be remembered at all, it deserves to be remembered as the debut of Gretchen Lodge. In an absolutely fearless performance, she shows Molly’s increasingly steep descent from a normal life to complete madness. This is one of the most effective portraits of insanity I have seen since Catherine Deneuve in Repulsion. The other stand-out of the movie is sound designer Matt Davies. With Sanchez eschewing visual effects almost entirely, all the fear in Lovely Molly is in the throbbing and droning soundtrack. This sort of approach is so rarely taken these days but it harks back to the days of classic psychological horror: what you can imagine is always scarier than what you can see.

It is unfortunate, then, when Sanchez decides to fluff the landing. Or does he? A late revelation about Tim (a sympathetic and relatable turn by Johnny “Halfsack” Lewis) makes no sense, and a story that was leaning towards psychological terror seems to take a turn into supernatural territory right at the climax, or it could be Sanchez deciding to finish off with a glimpse into Molly’s own delusion. You can make your own mind up when Lovely Molly gets its UK premiere on Thursday night as part of EIFF’s Night Moves strand. It’s screening at the same time as Pusher on Thursday, but will be shown again within EIFF on Sunday 24 June 2012, then is officially released on Friday 29 June 2012.

Ryan writes for his own film review site here.

Cycling Safety Week – Edinburgh International Film Festival – somewhereto at The Mound on Thursday – Alastair Darling MP – Remploy

In cycling Safety week the council are putting on a Bike Breakfast with Spokes this morning from 8 am at the City Chambers. Later on there are bike related events in Festival Square from 11. There is a Drive Safe Cycle Safe event to mark National Bike Week, in the square from 11am to 2pm.

Organisations from across Edinburgh will gather there to provide tips and advice to road users on the dangers of large vehicles and blind spots.

A practical demonstration will also be staged –  blind spots will be marked on the ground around a large vehicle and cyclists encouraged to swap places with the driver to understand his limited visibility.

Cycling safety videos and campaign messages will also be shown on the Big Screen.

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The Edinburgh International Film Festival starts today. The opening night film is to be Killer Joe, and our preview is here…. The Edinburgh Reporter went to watch The French Connection at the Filmhouse last night when director of both films, William Friedkin (and director of The Exorcist!) was available for a Q & A afterwards. Basically he said that none of the cast of The French Connection were his choice but the Movie Gods must have been watching over him as it all fell into place. (rather well we thought – the car chase is one of the best)

And  then there will be the closing night offering which everyone in The Scottish Government is certainly very excited about:- Brave made by Disney Pixar. PR Newswire reports that VisitScotland has just launched its biggest ever global marketing campaign, working alongside Disney-Pixar and their much-anticipated epic action adventure “Brave” to reach millions of potential visitors across the world.

You can watch the Visit Scotland video here. More information about the Film Festival on their website.

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The council provided the bacon sandwiches, orange juice and the coffee while cycling organisation, Spokes, organised people to attend the Bike Breakfast at the City Chambers this morning.

Feeder rides came from all areas of the city to attend the city cycling event of the summer.

Speeches were kept to a minimum (video below!) as Lothian and Borders Police were marking bikes for free, and the Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative did a quick safety check on many bikes. People queued with good humour to await their turn for all of the services on offer.

The good weather added to the event which is now historic as Transport Convenor Lesley Hinds declared that she hopes to become a cyclist before the end of her term….suggestions for a suitable bicycle for her please?

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by Ryan McNeely

Killer Joe

Sleazy, in the best way.

Chris Smith has a problem. Owing more than he can afford to a local loan shark, the only alternative to a duct tape grave is to have his dear old mother bumped off for her life insurance. Roping his dad and step-mother into the plan, they recruit “Killer” Joe Cooper – a local police detective who does some freelancing on the opposite side of the law – to do the deed. Unfortunately for Chris, since he can’t pay up front, Joe decides to take his sister Dottie as collateral. Wacky hijinks ensue.

After 2006’s Bug, Killer Joe is William Friedkin’s second collaboration with screenwriter Tracy Letts, again working from one of Letts’ own plays. The story of Chris Smith and the increasingly deep pile of trouble he finds himself in plays out like an episode of Jerry Springer taken to its absurdist extreme; a white trash noir epic with laser-tight focus. Friedkin’s films have often dealt with the criminal, amoral or sexually deviant, and all three collide here in fine style. As well as being utterly filthy though, Killer Joe remains blackly comic throughout; it is one of Friedkin’s funniest pictures in fact. There is a distinct schadenfreude to be had as we watch Chris fall ever deeper into the hole he has dug for himself.

The five-man band Friedkin has assembled for his main cast are all fantastic. Emile Hirsch plays Chris as a tightly-wound ball of nervous energy and desperation, with an undercurrent of something even more unsavoury. He needs the insurance payout to keep himself alive but hates what Joe demands in payment. Thomas Haden Church and Gina Gershon are both excellent as his man-child father and aging (but slutty) step-mother, Ansel and Sharla. The movie belongs, however, to Juno Temple as Dottie and Matthew McConaughey as Joe. 22-year-old Temple has been building up a career as a bit of indie darling over the last few years, working with such directors as Noah Baumbach and Gregg Araki, and is due to pop up in next month’s The Dark Knight Rises, but it is going to be hard for her to top this performance in the years to come. In her hands, Dottie is a complete enigma who teaches herself kung fu from Bruce Lee movies and dances by herself in the street. We’re never told how old she is, but it could be anything from mid-teens to early 20s. What we are told – via a throwaway exchange right at the start of the movie – is that she has a propensity for sleepwalking; a fact that in hindsight makes you doubt the intent behind every word she says. As for McConaughey, this is the role of his career. His Joe is like a great white shark: relentless forward motion behind deep, dead eyes. If you only know him from such lightweight fare as Failure To Launch, you’ll be surprised at how unnerving and scary he can be.

The film was shot by legendary cinematographer Caleb Deschanel who does some amazing things with the limited light in the Smiths’ trailer-park home, making the same small space alternate between dingy yet welcoming or unsettlingly claustrophobic, often within the same scene. Whether it’s in the trailer park, or a freeway overpass, or an ancient wood-frame roller coaster, he and Friedkin have created a vision of Dallas that is a million miles away from the Ewings of twenty years ago. Even as heightened as it is, this is probably closer to the real thing though.

Time for a brief disclaimer: this is not a film for the faint of heart. It has been rated 18 for its sexual content and violence, including a memorable introduction to Sharla and a particularly brutal beating suffered by Chris, and the climactic dinner sequence is one for the ages. If you can get over any residual Puritanism in your psyche however, consider this highly recommended. Friedkin’s twisted and twisty family sitcom with a killer ending is unlike anything I’ve seen in quite a while. This is two hours of good, dirty, sleazy, grimy, sweary fun. Killer Joe has its gala UK premiere on the opening night of the Edinburgh Film Festival tomorrow night (there are still some tickets available at the time of writing – you can get them from the Filmhouse or at www.edfilmfest.org.uk), followed by a general release on 29th June.

Ryan writes for his own film review site here where you can see a photo of him with William Friedkin..!

A spectacular series of the Edinburgh Lectures will wrap up this Friday with a special talk from His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Usher Hall.

This year’s 20^th anniversary series has enjoyed record ticket sales with almost all lectures sold out. Over 4,000 people have attended the ten programmed Edinburgh Lectures across the city between February and June.

Entitled ‘Extraordinary Feats, Extraordinary People’, the series featured various thought-provoking and illuminating talks, during a year in which many in the sporting world will attempt to push the boundaries of human endeavour.

On Friday, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will deliver the final Edinburgh Lecture of the series entitled ‘Beyond religion: ethics for a whole world’ presented in partnership with the Edinburgh Interfaith Association. He will be visiting Edinburgh as part of a UK tour in June.

The Rt Hon Donald Wilson, Lord Lieutenant and Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, said: ““Since 1992, the Edinburgh Lectures have provided a platform for prestigious speakers to address major public issues in a national and international context.

“Over 20 years, the series has opened minds and horizons to many aspects of life and society, allowing a dialogue with speakers from all walks of life and corners of the globe.

“I am delighted to welcome His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Edinburgh and I will be very much looking forward to hearing what will undoubtedly be a fascinating and inspiring talk.”

This year’s programme has seen a host of illustrious speakers grace the stage, such as Kate Adie, Lord David Puttnam and Olivia Giles. The series has celebrated those who have achieved the extraordinary in their own field.

Previous Edinburgh Lectures have seen over 200 high calibre speakers from home and abroad provide insightful and stimulating contributions. They have included Stephen Hawking, HRH The Princess Royal, Mikail Gorbachev, Sir Jackie Stewart and First Minister Alex Salmond.

The Lecture series are organised in partnership with a number of organisations. For more information visit the Edinburgh Lectures website. (but be aware that the tickets for this sold out very quickly!)

We are chatting with Chief Inspector Murray Dykes from the West Neighbourhood area today from 12.30. This is to be the first in a series of live web chats introducing you to the police in your area and giving you the opportunity to put your questions and comments to the people in charge.

So get in touch! The Twitter hashtag is #askLBP We are bringing you the live event from Lothian and Borders Police HQ at Fettes.

Lothian and Borders Police Live – Witness appeal – Skyscanner – Cycling Safety week and the Bike Breakfast – Potholes

Today at lunchtime we are running a live web chat with Lothian and Borders Police. We will be discussing all kinds of things with Chief Inspector Murray Dykes from 12.30 onwards, so if you have a general policing enquiry, or if you would just like to know more about how it all works then do join us online! Natalie Hoy community safety officer for Western Edinburgh is also joining us from Fettes. The hashtag is #askLBP

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Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for information to trace a woman who was involved in an altercation with a man in Edinburgh on Sunday afternoon.

A witness who saw a disturbance between the elderly lady and a man outside the Cameo Cinema on Home Street about 4.40pm called police as it was reported that the man had taken something from the woman, but had then given it back.

The woman is believed to be between 65-70-years-old.

A police spokesman said: “We are appealing for the woman to come forward, although nothing may have been taken, we are still keen to establish exactly what happened.

“In addition, we would ask anyone else who may have been in the street at the time, and who may have witnessed this incident, to get in touch on 0131 311 3131.”

Anyone with information should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

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Business7 reports that growing Edinburgh firm Skyscanner is moving to take up residence at Quartermile near the Meadows. The company is planning to grow  to 300 employees.

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This is Cycling Safety Week and you can read more here. There is to be a Spokes Bike Breakfast tomorrow at the City Chambers from 8a.m. See you there?

Tim BrekPoster.2

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Today our two photos show the uneven surface at the junction of Northumberland Street and Nelson Street. If you are a car driver then this is pretty uneven but on a bike it is ten times worse! Where is your local pothole or uneven road surface?

CYCLE SAFETY IN EDINBURGH STEPS UP A GEAR DURING NATIONAL BIKE WEEK

Efforts to promote cycle safety in Edinburgh will be stepping up a gear this week as the city’s road safety partnership, Streets Ahead, launches a new campaign to tackle the dangers of large vehicles and blind spots (areas where a driver’s view is restricted resulting in limited vision).

The latest in the series of ‘Drive Safe, Cycle Safe’ campaigns will coincide with National Bike Week (18-24 June) and aims to raise awareness of the scale of blind spots faced by those driving large vehicles, whilst highlighting to all drivers the need to thoroughly check for cyclists before turning left.

A road safety event will be held in Festival Square on Wednesday when representatives from The City of Edinburgh Council, Lothian and Borders Police, Lothian Buses and Spokes will also be on hand during the event to give drivers and cyclists advice and information on how to avoid high risk situations.

Cycle safety videos will be shown on the Big Screen with free bike maintenance on offer at the event. Cyclists can also have their bikes security marked by Lothian and Borders Police.

In addition, Lothian Buses and the Council will provide HGV vehicles for practical demonstrations on where blind spots are located and how best to check for cyclists.

Here is a video by Lothian Buses about buses and cycling

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-71rEJNvMXQ&w=560&h=315]

Councillor Jim Orr, Vice-Convener of Transport, said: “HGVs are involved in 14% of collisions with cyclists, higher than would be expected from the number moving around on the city’s roads.

“This campaign looks at the issues from both the cyclist’s and motorist’s perspective with a view to increasing understanding of each other’s point of view. This includes inviting cyclists and motorists to swap places during live demonstrations with large vehicles at our roadshow events.

“The message is that both need to take responsibility for safety on the roads and take extra care in high risk situations where cyclists are at their most vulnerable.”

The most frequently attributed causes of collisions leading to injury with cyclists and other vehicles are ‘failure to look properly’ and ‘failure to judge the other person’s speed/movement’ for both cyclists and other vehicles.

Nearly half of cyclist fatalities and serious injuries result from other vehicles either turning left/right across the cyclist’s path or by opening vehicle doors.

The campaign will be supported by a series of adverts run on bus rears and roadside billboards throughout July that feature safety messages aimed at drivers and cyclists.

Superintendent David Carradice, Lothian and Borders Police said: “By working with our partner agencies under the Streets Ahead banner, Lothian and Borders Police are trying to make cycling in Edinburgh safer.

“Together, we want to reduce bike-related accidents by making people more aware of the dangers drivers, cyclists and pedestrians face, particularly from large vehicles such as lorries and buses.

“Officers on bikes will talk to members of the public throughout the campaign, encouraging them to take responsibility for their actions, supporting the sharing of road space and promoting respect towards all road users.”

Cyclists across the city will also be invited to a free bike breakfast at the City Chambers on Wednesday morning.

The campaign is supported by Ian and Lynne McNicoll, whose son was recently killed in a collision with an HGV.

Lynne McNicoll, Co-founder, of The Andrew Cyclist Charitable Trust, said “Ian and I strongly support the City of Edinburgh Council and Lothian and Borders Police in their initiative today and indeed their Drive Safe Cycle Safe campaign.

“It is clear that we all must work together to improve road safety and this is another important step on that journey.”

Further safety campaigns will run throughout the year addressing a range of issues affecting cyclists’ junction manoeuvres, and visibility of cyclists. More information on www.streetsaheadedinburgh.org.uk