Universal Pictures’ US indie drama Red Rocket opens in a busy weekend at the UK-Ireland box office, with 12 new films arriving in cinemas but none on wide release as Warner Bros’ The Batman moves into its second week on screens.
Opening in 171 sites, Sean Baker’s Red Rocket is the biggest release of the weekend. It is about a washed-up porn star who returns to his small Texas hometown where no-one really wants him back. The film premiered in Competition at Cannes 2021, and has since played festivals including Telluride, New York, San Sebastian, London and Busan. It stars Simon Rex, a former pornographic actor and MTV video jockey, who won the best actor prize at the Film Independent Spirit Awards this month.
It is the seventh feature film of US filmmaker Baker, who broke through with his fifth title, 2015’s iPhone-shot Tangerine (opened: £34,323; closed: £88,849). He moved to a bigger stage with his next film The Florida Project, which debuted in Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes 2017. A strong awards run followed, primarily for Willem Dafoe in supporting actor categories, with nominations at the Baftas and Oscars. It opened to £242,170 in the UK and Ireland, ending on £941,029.
Ruth Paxton’s horror debut A Banquet is debuting in 12 sites through Signature Entertainment. UK filmmaker Paxton has had an extensive shorts career with titles including Paris/Sexy and Be Still My Beating Heart. A Banquet debuted at Toronto International Film Festival in 2021. It tells the story of a widowed mother who is tested when her teenage daughter insists a supernatural experience has put her body in service to a higher power.
Paramount is distributing the third of its Godfather rereleases this weekend, under the title Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone, with the film playing in 256 sites across its first week.
Mubi lets Freedom reign
Mubi is handling a 30-location release for Sebastian Meise’s Great Freedom, which debuted in Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2021. The film stars Franz Rogowski as a gay man repeatedly imprisoned for his homosexuality in post-war Germany. During decades of incarceration, he develops an unlikely bond with his cellmate. Meise won the Un Certain Regard jury prize for the film, which was nominated for four European Film Awards last year, winning for European composer and European cinematographer. It has also picked up multiple prizes on the festival circuit, including best film at Sarajevo and Seville, and the Spotlight award at Tallinn.
Eclipse Pictures is opening Séan Breathnach’s Irish drama Foscadh in 11 sites. Adapted by Breathnach from Donal Ryan’s novel The Thing About December, it stars Screen Star of Tomorrow 2020 Dónall Ó Héalai as a recluse whose over-protective parents die, leading to his discovery of the great value of their land. The film shot in Galway, and then debuted at Galway Film Fleadh in summer 2021.
Munro Films has Sideshow in 29 locations. Adam Oldroyd’s comedy stars Les Dennis, April Pearson, Anthony Head and Nathan Clarke, in the story of two inept criminals who break in to the home of a washed-up psychic and get more than they bargained for.
Cosmic Cat has documentary Young Plato, set in post-conflict Belfast’s Ardoyne, where a headmaster dreams of empowering children beyond the limitations of their community. It has 20 bookings across the territory over the coming weeks.
Trinity Film has Giddens Ko’s Taiwanese romance Till We Meet Again in 12 locations; it was the opening night film of Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival in July 2021.
New Wave Films is releasing Catarina Vasconcelos’ documentary The Metamorphosis Of Birds in 10 locations, having garnered extra interest beyond the anticipated bookings. The film debuted in the Encounters section at Berlinale 2020.
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