Carol Allen

The official trailer has been released for THE PENGUIN LESSONS, which debuts across the UK and Ireland on 18th April 2025.

April 18, 2025 Carol Allen

The Penguin Lessons (12A) |Close-Up Film Review

I used to think way back in the Alan Partridge days that Steve Coogan was just a comedian, whose comedy wasn’t to my taste. I was wrong.

Coincidentally when I saw this film I was at the time reading Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, on which is based the film of the same name.

Reviews

April 18, 2025 Carol Allen

Sinners (15) |Close-Up Film Review

Coincidentally when I saw this film I was at the time reading Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, on which is based the film of the same name.

This is the story of 18 year old Totone, (Clément Faveau), living in the Jura agricultural region of southern France, who has to take care of his 7 year old sister after their father dies.

Reviews

April 14, 2025 Carol Allen

Holy Cow (Vingt Dieux), (15) |Close-Up Film Review

This is the story of 18 year old Totone, (Clément Faveau), living in the Jura agricultural region of southern France, who has to take care of his 7 year old sister after their father dies.

With its sombre colours combined with a picture book style it feels in its opening scenes like a Grimm’s fairy tale.

Reviews

April 3, 2025 Carol Allen

The Most Precious of Cargoes (12A) |Close-Up Film Review

With its sombre colours combined with a picture book style it feels in its opening scenes like a Grimm’s fairy tale.

Adapted from Italian director Gianni Di Gregorio’s 2008 film Mid-August Lunch and convincingly relocated to Dublin by director Darren Thornton and his brother Colin, this works effectively and amusingly as a very Irish tale.

Reviews

April 3, 2025 Carol Allen

Four Mothers (15) |Close-Up Film Review

Adapted from Italian director Gianni Di Gregorio’s 2008 film Mid-August Lunch and convincingly relocated to Dublin by director Darren Thornton and his brother Colin, this works effectively and amusingly as a very Irish tale.

I will confess to a fascination with apocalyptic tales about the end of life as we know it and how what’s left of humanity deals with the situation.

Reviews

March 30, 2025 Carol Allen

The End (12A) |Close-Up Film Review

I will confess to a fascination with apocalyptic tales about the end of life as we know it and how what’s left of humanity deals with the situation.

Writer director Francois Ozon is very versatile. Each of his films is different from the last, but they are always good stories with one common thread.

Reviews

March 22, 2025 Carol Allen

When Autumn Falls (Quand vient l’automne) (12A) |Close-Up Film Review

Writer director Francois Ozon is very versatile. Each of his films is different from the last, but they are always good stories with one common thread.