Side by Side
Mohaq - ages 8+ - Ajyal Youth Film Festival 2013
Arthur Landon / Feature Narrative / United Kingdom / 2012 / 105 min / Colour / DCP / In English / Arabic subtitles / International Premiere
Rated: Parental guidance is advised. Some material may be inappropriate for young children.
Synopsis
Special Screening
Lauren and her younger brother Harvey live with their elderly grandmother, who needs constant care. When the old woman is sent to a nursing home, Lauren accepts a scholarship to a prestigious sports academy, on the understanding that she and Harvey will stay together and live with Janice, Lauren’s calculating and deceitful agent. It soon becomes clear, however, that Janice’s real intention is to split the pair up, the better to exploit Lauren’s talent for athletics. When Harvey runs away to fulfill a promise he made to Grandma to find their long-lost grandfather, who mysteriously disappeared years earlier, Lauren follows after him. En route, brother and sister discover that, despite all their differences, when they are side by side they are strong enough to deal with anything, even their biggest fears. As we follow their journey across the beautiful British countryside, we slowly come to realise that it is the trip, not the destination, that really matters.
Part road movie, part Bildungsroman, part family drama and part children’s escapade, Arthur Landon’s endearing feature-film debut explores the solid bond between a sister and brother, and celebrates the importance of coming together.
About the Director
Arthur Landon was born in London. After a brief stint at the Central School of Speech and Drama, he turned his focus to writing and production. During an internship at Merchant Ivory Productions, he trained in scriptwriting and script analysis with the late Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. In 2010, he directed the shorts ‘Idle-Hands’ (2010) and ‘The Crossing’ (2010), before partnering with producer Sara Giles and setting up Newtide Films. ‘Side by Side’ is his first feature film.
Credits
- Director
- Arthur Landon
- Screenwriter
- Arthur Landon, Matthew Wilkinson
- Producer
- Sara Giles
- Editor
- Simon Thorne
- Music
- Lorne Balfe
- Cinematographer
- David Rom
- Sales Company
- NEWTIDE Films
- Production Company
- Newtide Films
- Cast
- Bel Powley, Alfie Field, Diana Quick, Mark Powley, Sara Stewart, Alice Felgate