Set in El Salvador in the 1980s, Innocent Voices is based on the true story of screenwriter Oscar Torres's embattled childhood. In the midst of the country's civil war a young boy must decide between enlisting in the army or to join up with the guerrillas. In more than 40 countries children as young as 12 are enlisted to fight in the army and Chava is to be one of them. After his father abandons his family he has little time left to be a boy as he spends his last year of freedom. Already acting as the man of the house, he must now prepare himself for war. Chava's life becomes ever more complicated as he struggles to help his mother pay the bills, falls in love for the first time and keeps out of the way of the violence that surrounds his fragile life. Both heart warming and heart wrenching this is a political and personal tale of human endurance and courage.
A young drifter, Tae-Suk, enters strangers' houses - and lives - while the owners are away. He spend a night or a day squatting and repaying their unwitting hospitality by doing laundry or fixing broken items. One day he sneaks into a wealthy home where Sun Hwa cowers in fear of her violent husband., When the bully returns home and beats his wife Tae-Suk takes revenge with the 3-Iron club and flees with Sun Hwa into an enigmatic love story.
An Iranian offering, taking an uncompromising look at the gender bias that is rife in many Islamic countries. After the establishment of the Islamic Republic in Iran women are not permitted to enter stadiums. Sitting quietly at the back of the bus is a slightly odd looking boy on his way to see a football game. As he approaches the gates he is taken away by the security guard, and, on looking closely we see that it is in fact a girl; one of many Iranian girls who share a passion for the sport, but who are not allowed to share their leisure time or their interest with men. However, they will not give up until they have tried every last trick in the book to see that game. An inspiring social and political film about sexism and being silenced.
Released prior to the 7/7 bombing on the London underground, Red Mercury is the first British film to deal with a fictional terrorist attack on London. Unlike previous Hollywood movies about terrorism, it is a more personal take on Muslims in Britain today and the tension created by the War on terror. The Metropolitan Police discover that three Muslim youths are going to attack London with a 'dirty bomb' as the police take action the three men are tipped off and flee their London flat to take refuge in a local Greek restaurant. In the heat of the situation they take the diners and restaurant staff hostage. Realising the men have scientific academic backgrounds and access to the deadly chemical red mercury, the police realise they have the know-how and the equipment to make their own explosives and try to negotiate with the terrorists. A refreshing and occasionally humorous political thriller, examining the changing relationships between the young Muslims and the hostages.