Mike Leigh, one of the most distinctive and acclaimed directors of British cinema, will visit the IFI on October 19th at 18.30 for a special preview of his new film Mr. Turner, which will be released at the IFI and nationwide on 31st October. Leigh will introduce the film and take part in a post-show Q&A with John Maguire, film critic at The Sunday Business Post.
Mr. Turner fulfils Leigh’s long held ambition to make a film about British painter J.M. W. Turner. Focusing on the 25 years before his death, Mr. Turner depicts a character who in Leigh’s words was “a giant among artists, single-minded and uncompromising, extraordinarily prolific, revolutionary in his approach, consummate at his craft, clairvoyant in his vision”, but also “eccentric, anarchic, vulnerable, imperfect, erratic and sometimes uncouth. He could be selfish and disingenuous, mean yet generous, and he was capable of great passion and poetry”
These complexities are embodied in an incredible, physical performance from Timothy Spall, who veers from pontificating about art in high society to issuing guttural grunts, from claiming the moral high ground to visiting a brothel or sexually exploiting his housekeeper. Spall won the Best Actor award for Mr. Turner at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. More than a standard period biopic, Mr. Turner is an enigmatic marvel from a masterful filmmaker.
Mike Leigh’s long and distinguished career in theatre, television and film has seen him develop a distinctive creative process that develops his characters and stories through months of improvisational work with his actors. Since 1988 he has made eleven features including Secrets & Lies (winner of the Cannes Palme D’Or), Naked (Cannes Best Director), Vera Drake (Venice Golden Lion), Topsy-Turvy, Happy-Go-Lucky and Another Year.
Tickets priced €12 (€10 IFI Members) for the preview of Mr. Turner + Mike Leigh Q&A are available now from the IFI Box Office on 01 679 3477 or online at www.ifi.ie.