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Month: October 2012

Inside the Outsider: Interview

Written by Jake Pummintr on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

What inspired you to start up Outsider fashion?

I studied Fashion Design at university and always knew I wanted to do my own work but I wasn’t quite sure how when I first graduated.  So I did work placements with small designers like Jessica Ogden and Susan Cianciolo who both did a lot of upcycling and hand embroidery, they both had a unique approach to making fashion.  I then went on to work for some high street brands which was a great learning experience but made me really question the way in which we manufacture garments, the materials we use, the motivations of the industry.  After about three years of research and trying to push for some sustainable/ethical approaches within the brands I worked for – I decided the only way for me to fulfil my interest was by doing my own thing.  So I started Outsider to create garments or fashion in an ethical and sustainable way without making myself or my customers look like a hippy.  That was the other inspiration – I am let’s say an Eco-worrier – I am conscious of the issues and want to make a difference but I also want to wear beautiful things.  When I began Outsider there weren’t any labels out there doing styles I wanted to wear made in a sustainable way.  So I also wanted to solve my own wardrobe dilemma.

When choosing your own outfits, do you always stick to ethical fashion? 

Well it’s very difficult for me now – I have to practice what I preach!  I do a lot of lectures to students at universities and when you stand up and tell them they should think about fashion in a different way the first thing they do is look and analyse what you are wearing!  So I mainly wear my own things – the luxury of running your own label!  And when I buy things – yes I try to make the most ethical choice available.  Which is getting easier all the time, I usually buy jeans from Kuyichi online from ethicsgirls.com, I go vintage for party dresses and for basics I head to Marks & Spencer as they have such a forward thinking approach to sustainability and business.  No one is perfect but I try to make informed and conscious choices rather than purchases on a whim.

 

Have you been pleased with the response to the line?

Yes I really have, the best thing is the customers who come back season after season and that send me nice encouraging emails.  My blog is all about how real women, i.e. my customers, wear Outsider styles and it’s so lovely to see people enjoying wearing something I created. The feedback you get is essential too, so I know which styles they like and what they want next.

What setbacks do you face in running a fashion line ethically?

I think running any new up-and-coming fashion label is challenging but I suppose for me it’s all about fabrics.  This is where I start and this can take a long time as I have to do a lot more research then perhaps a conventional designer would do.  But I really feel the “limitation” of fabrics I use actually pushes the creativity in a different way.  Plus it is worth it when people comment on the quality and feel of the fabrics.  There is a difference between a wool blend you find on the high street and the 100% organic merino wool suiting I have sourced from an ecological mill in Italy – you might not even realise by just looking at it – but when you feel it – people know quality instinctively.  Secondly of course it’s all about where you get your styles made, but I think all designers want to work with good factories now, whether they talk about their ethics or not.

Are they worth it?

I think I answered that above! But yes of course! I always think to what the founders of Howies said about how they make business choices – they use the rocking chair test – when making a choice on a factory for example they consider if they will feel proud of that choice when they are retired and sitting in their rocking chairs.  I am happy and proud to source and manufacture responsibly.  I couldn’t do it any other way.

Do you have any advice for students who want to spend more money on ethical fashion, but are on a budget? 

There are more and more brands coming through at various price points so hunt around – make thoughtful choices.  I think it’s all about buying a little less and buying better – think about investment pieces that are well made, will last and are versatile.  Girls – buy one amazing sustainable dress and experiment with changing the styling with opaque or patterned tights, belts, statement jewellery. Boys – invest in a sustainable jacket or organic jeans and same thing play with styling with scarves and vintage brogues. Then check out the sample sales for bargains – all ethical labels do sample sales at least once a year.  Of course vintage is a great way to go too as well as getting creative and revamping some charity shop finds.

We are aware that you have stockists in other European countries. How do you hope to expand further?

My main focus now is to build the online presence – I want to make it as easy as possible for people to shop sustainably.  I also am working on new product areas for next year but all in very early stages now.  Watch this space!

Nothing to say about something

Written by Robbie Davidson on . Posted in Theatre.

Silent physical comedy and puppets are two things I would not describe as great loves of mine. Yet they happen to be fairly dominant features in this original production, The Alchemystorium, at the Lowry transferring a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe. But I went in with an open mind and left pleasantly surprised but by no means a convert.

The absence of any dialogue demands that the three actors are forced to be highly expressive in conveying a simple story to the audience. This is at times impressive but unfortunately mostly irritating and put me more in mind of a mid-morning kids’ television show than adult contemporary theatre. But although the baby-squeaky talk is annoying, there is no denying that the three leads all have talent. They are all energetic and expressive throughout the one hour running time and maintain the high level of exuberance needed to keep an audience engaged in a wordless story.

The story itself follows three friends (Katie Cooper, Lizzie Franks and Sam Worboys)  working at the Alchemystorium Cafe who all are experiencing love in its various guises- two of them falling for each other  whilst the other is left pining for her unseen lover.

As ever tragedy and comedy go hand in hand: much of the comedy stems from the characters’ interactions with their imaginary customers at the cafe. The sadness felt by the lovesick member of the trio was surprisingly well conveyed with a puppet (which turned out to only be slightly creepy) and a good selection of romantic ballads.

Particularly impressive was the café-bar which was wonderfully utilised throughout the play for various purposes and became as integral to the story as any of the characters did.

However the ultimate failing of the play was that although the silent comedy aspect was original and occasionally funny, the ultimate story was a fairly basic one and wasn’t terribly original itself. At times I felt the play would be more appropriate for a younger audience as there was a certain ‘children’s entertainer’ quality about the actors’ performances. But the strange love scene performed out of sight put me in mind of what it might sound like listening to Pingu having sex- perhaps less appropriate for the younger audience. So whilst the play was novel in its production and execution, it was neither entertaining nor thoughtful enough to make for a unique theatre experience.

My Political Hero: Hans-Dietrich Genscher

Written by Hanna Krasmann on . Posted in Uncategorised.

There are many reasons why Hans-Dietrich Genscher, former (West) German Foreign Minister, may be called a political hero. As Minister for the Interior, he presented himself as a hostage in exchange for the Israeli athletes during the 1972 Munich Olympics. In 1989, he announced to several thousand East German refugees, camping at the West German embassy in Prague, that they were allowed to pass through the Iron Curtain – an event which literally marked the end of the Cold War. In these times of European crisis however, one should first and foremost consider his European politics and commitment to the European Union as political union.

Born in 1927, he belonged to the last generation of German politicians who actually lived under the Nazi regime. At the age of 16 he was forced to leave school to work as a flak unit auxiliary. Later he became an American and British prisoner of war before he deserted in order to escape Soviet imprisonment.  He joined the East German Liberal Democratic Party and started to study Law in East Germany. In 1952 he fled from the Communist regime in the German Democratic Republic, as he desired to live in a free and liberal country, reigned by democratic principles.

Genscher served as Bundesminister for 23 years, of which he spent 16 as Foreign Minister, making him the longest-serving Foreign Minister in the Western World. His East German roots played a big role in his politics. Having been subject to human rights restrictions in his home country, he put their compliance, especially in the Soviet Union, atop his political agenda. Whilst being Foreign Minister he met and supported political activists like Lech Walesa and the Czech opposition during the Prague Spring. To strengthen peace and stability, he put a lot of effort in the advancement of multilateral institutions, foremost the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, NATO and what was then the European Community. Genschers’ foreign policy established great trust in Western Germany on both sides of the Iron Curtain.

In his fight for reunification he never tired of citing the letter for German reunification which stated that “the political aim of the Federal Republic of Germany [is] to work for a state of peace in Europe in which the German nation will regain its unity through free self-determination.” He never doubted that a reunified Germany could only persist as part of a strong European Community. More so, by signing and actively shaping the Maastricht Treaty, he laid the foundation for the European Monetary Union. It was one of his last official acts.

Genscher voluntarily resigned as Foreign Minister in 1992. Today he is an honorary member of his party, the liberal Free Democratic Party. He is not one to still be omnipresent in the public sphere. However, with the Euro crisis he takes a clear stand and criticises the scattered voices in German politics that predict an end of the eurozone. With wagging forefinger, he reminded his former colleagues in the German daily Tagesspiegel that “size and strength do not automatically grant more rights but rather call for more responsibility”.

Blind Date: Tom and Alice

Written by Keir Stone-Brown on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Tom, 4th Year Medical Student

First impressions?
She was well dressed and attractive.

What did you have to eat?
I had the trof burger and a honeysuckle cocktail.

What did you guys talk about?
We talked about our courses, where we had been travelling and a bit about sport.

If they were an alcoholic beverage which one would they be and why?
Maybe some kind of Spanish drink because she has lived out there, Sangria.

Were there any awkward silences?
Not really, maybe a couple of short silences but they didn’t feel awkward.

Rating?
7/10

Finally, hug, kiss or something more?
Just a hug.

 

Alice, 3rd Year Spanish and Linguistics Student

First impressions?
Good! Clean, polite, and punctual.

What did you have to eat?
Cheese burger and chips and a chocolate brownie with cream. (Tom didn’t get pudding… but it’s free?!)

What did you guys talk about?
Mutual friends, lads, football, Wales. Star Wars, growing up without television. Tom’s friend who looks like a paedophile and sends him religious books from India.

If they were an alcoholic beverage which one would they be and why?
A cosmopolitan. Undoubtedly a huge hit with the ladies, but perhaps not to my taste.

Were there any awkward silences?
No, it was a really fun evening! we had plenty to talk about and got a bit boozy. (One awkward conversation when Tom called Tottenham the yids…. but generally a charmer.)

Rating?
Tom is a total 8 (fun, attractive, intelligent), but there was no spark between us…

Finally, hug, kiss or something more?
A hug and a friendly promise that he’ll teach me squash!

 

Tom and Alice ate at Trof, fallowfield. Thanks to the guys down there for getting involved. To check out their menu and what’s going on there head to http://www.troffallowfield.co.uk/

To sign up for blind date please e-mail your name, year of study and course to [email protected] with ‘blind date’ as the subject

The MUMS Lunchtime Concert series

Written by Louise Greenfield on . Posted in Music.

The MUMS Lunchtime Concert series this year boasts a grand variety of ensembles displaying a wide array of talent from across the university. All concerts are all held in the Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall in the Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, Bridgeford Street and are admission FREE.

 

Friday 2nd November, 1:10pm.  
Beginning our series are The Cosmo Singers (one might say ‘The Cosmo Speakers’ upon hearing a feature of their programme: Ernst Toch’s Geographical Fugue.) Other composers featured include James MacMillan and Arvo Pärt With a diverse repertoire of choral music, this concert will take you on a musical journey, quite literally.
Friday 9th November, 1:10pm.
The Saxophone Ensembles showcase their talent in their first lunchtime concerts since forming. With a varied, eclectic repertoire consisting of mostly contemporary music for different ensembles, this is one not to be missed.
Friday 16th November, 1:10pm.

The penultimate concert of the series presents the vocalists of the department. It brings together the close-harmonies of the acclaimed Manchester University Barbershop Chorus alongside the soaring sonorities and dramatic airs of opera arias, duets and art-songs, all performed by talented members of MUMS.

Friday 30th November, 1:10pm.
Concluding the series are the MUMS Brass Band. Newly-founded by 3rd year Jonathan Evans, this ensemble has made its mark in the department in an emphatic manner: past performances have provoked standing ovations and rapturous applause. Alongside Arutunian’s Trumpet Concerto, played by the guest soloist Christopher Avison, this concert features a new work by ex-Manchester University student Timothy Langston called “Greek”. Motivated by the music of Beethoven and Homer’s The Odyssey, it aims to replicate the sense of gravitas in these major works. Timothy will be experimenting with spatiality, so keep your ears AND eyes open!

Interview: Bastille

Written by Lisa Murgatroyd on . Posted in Music.

It’s hard to genrelise Bastille as anything other than ‘alternative’. The four lads, consisting of Dan Smith (vocals and keyboard), Kyle Simmons (keyboard), Chris ‘Woody’ Wood (drums) and Will Farquarson (bass), take their name from the day on which Dan was born; Bastille Day. Starting off modestly with self produced songs and videos released online, they’re now coming up to their one year anniversary with Virgin Records, and are currently performing on a sold out headline tour.

Meeting in the basement of Night & Day Café before their gig on Saturday 13th October, their modesty was evident, “It’s just mad to go play a gig, and people come.” Dan says incredulously, “It’s weird that people knew the words to songs which haven’t even been released online and were singing them at the gigs.”

Their debut album is set for release on 4th March, 2013. “Dan’s been in denial for a while,” Will jokes, “‘Hopefully next week’ has been heard many times. Dan’s been liberally lying for ages.” They had hoped to get it out at the beginning of January. The album is already available for pre-order and the band seem genuinely shocked that orders have been flooding in. “It’s awesome that people are buying it already, but five months up front is quite the wait … they might hate us by then!”

Considering that their mixtape, Other People’s Heartaches, has had over 25,000 downloads from their website, and their gigs across the UK and Republic of Ireland have sold out, their doubt seems a little overly pessimistic. Dan describes the covers mixtape as a “weird, bizarre mash up of loads of good but awful music”, which include crowd favourites ‘What Would You Do’ by City High and mash up of 90s dance classic ‘Rhythm is a Dancer’ and ‘Rhythm of the Night’.

“Despite the fact we’ve tried to make it incredibly easy for people to get hold of, for free, it’s still up on loads of bit torrent music ripping sites. ‘Guys! Get it from us!’ – Piracy doesn’t pay … us.”

It also features dialogue from films such as The Breakfast Club and Requiem for a Dream. Asking Bastille what film soundtracks they love, Dan pipes up immediately, “I love David Lynch. I think he’s amazing … You know sometimes in films or TV or whatever, they just get it completely right and you just can’t imagine the two not having each other.”

According to Will, ‘O Brother Where Art Thou’ is an ‘obvious’ choice. “We like to sing the songs before gigs … the really religious ones.” Dan adds, “Yesterday we were doing the ‘Down in the River to Pray’ song and the promoter kept coming backstage as we’re trying to warm up and every time he walked in we’d be singing the really Godly bit, almost to the point where we felt the need to be like, ‘We’re not praying together or anything.’ None of us are even remotely religious.” Will: “I am … I love God.” Dan: “He’s definitely lying.” Will also throws out there that ‘Forrest Gump’ has a really good soundtrack which was met with an awkward silence, “… not agreeing with me?”

Moving swiftly on, we discussed past, present and future collaborations. Over the summer, Bastille worked with Gabrielle Aplin on a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Dreams’. “She’s just really sweet, her music’s really nice. We wanted to do something together and saw that as an extension of the mixtape, something that was maybe outside her comfort zone. So I kind of forced her to sing kind of high, in an area of her voice that she’s maybe not that massively confident and comfortable so that was fun.” Vocal sadism aside, Dan also revealed a side project with best mates, To Kill A King. “We’ve got a cowboy band that we’ve been working on for a while.” Will chirps in with a laugh, “I love that you say that like it’s an established thing.” Defending this, ah, interesting collaboration, Dan continues, “I’ve written an album with Ralph [lead singer of TKAK], and we’re gonna get both bands together to record it, when we have time.” Woody: “Should be out in 2016.”

Aside from TKAK and Gabrielle Aplin, all four were eager to mention Jay Brown (supporting act) and Professor Penguin as well worth a listen.

Staying to check out the gig, front row no less, there was a realisation that these guys are even more incredible live than recorded. Speaking with Dan after, he said that producers will always tell you to tone it down in the studio, but you can just push yourself on a stage. The result was an energetic and heart felt performance that will not be forgotten anytime soon.

Recently featured as Steve Lamacq’s New Favourite Band, withold any expectations and check out their website, www.bastillebastille.com.

The art of adaptation

Written by Vicky Carter on . Posted in Arts.

“Literature is not easy but without Literature we are lost.” This message welcomes you into The International Antony Burgess Foundation, and being an English Literature student I wholeheartedly agree. It’s Saturday 13th October and I am attending an event by the Literature festival, “Bringing Literature to Life”. I have no expectations of this event, as awful as it sounds; I’ve never been to a Literature festival in Manchester, or anywhere really. The venue itself is tucked away in the heart of Manchester and seen as a “festival hub”, home to dozens of Antony Burgess’s literary creations and a cute cafe – I highly recommend the brownies, and seems perfect for the event I am attending.

“Bringing Literature to life” is jam packed full of established literary genius’s whom are novelists, television screen writers, radio writers, playwrights and scripted editors. Jeremy Dyson is the first to speak and with a Bafta under his belt and beautiful curly hair, he has my attention. He speaks of the rollercoaster ride of adapting Roald Dahl’s work to the stage, through gaining permission from Dahl’s relatives to the rehearsals of the production itself, and illustrates the challenges theatre imposes on adapting novels. Although seemingly stressful, he never hesitates to praise the final product and endlessly compliments the strong and inspiring cast that led to “an incredible experience”.

Jane Rogers then takes the stage, with numerous novels, award nominations and even has worked with the likes of Danny Boyle, she radiates success. Predominately now focusing on adaptations for radio and writing novels on the side, she tells us of her passion behind adaptations, “you have to love it as you live it”, and to need be more considerate of the original writers work, focusing on the structural elements as well as time. Next is Nick Stafford, whom has done various adaptations for television, radio and stage such as “War Horse”- which entails puppet wizardry and skilful acting and is still being performed on the West End today, which if you haven’t seen, you should. Nick tells us how the creation of the production itself was a work in progress, one that developed over time and numerous workshops to help the actors learn and establish interaction with the puppets themselves.  He goes on to describe the research he entailed to make the horse realistic which involved visiting stables and watching how horses move and react. Although he reflects that it was a long progress, we can see the immense pride he has from creating such a successful production.

Although all speakers have written from time to time their own work, they speak of and agree upon the struggles behind creating adaptations as your writing with an original text in mind. As well as the constraints of boring things like budget and time that also affect your work greatly they confided to us, however adaptations are a good way to relive and refresh a novel that you are passionate about, which I completely agree with. Their experience of the struggles in the industry, their fallbacks and constraints has taught me not to give up, whilst their success and overriding passion has inspired me to keep writing. I’d recommend the Literature festival to anyone as the professionals will inspire and educate you, or even to go to The International Antony Burgess Foundation for some tasty brownies.

 

Wählbar

Written by Ben Walker on . Posted in Food & Drink, Freshers' Guide.

‘Wähl’ is German for ‘choice’ or ‘selection’. Fallowfield’s Wählbar, as one of Manchester’s finest purveyors of bottled beer, offers exactly this.

Fallowfield is literally awash with offerings of gaudy franchises, weak cocktails and stale, soulless lager. Wählbar, on the other hand, is a game changer. Nestled between a run of kebab houses and a Wetherspoon’s, a bastion of liquid delights brings the concept of quality over quantity. Though it is by no means prohibitively expensive, the house lager Jever, 160-odd years in the making, is a crisp and hoppy offering at less than £4 a tankard. Jaipur (Thornbridge) has made a recent appearance on tap, as has 5am Saint (Brewdog). Making up a trio of phenomenal British beer with real depth of flavour and individual character is Red Willow. The selection of Odell and Sierra Nevada Beer is also good, plus they are currently stocking Flying Dog Oyster Stout, which reflects nicely the oncoming of autumn.

However, Wählbar does far more than merely open delicious bottles of beer. Their cocktails will not be beaten for the price they charge. The cost of a whiskey/amaretto/gin sours is only £3.50-£4, depending on your poison of choice, and are all magnificently refreshing and dangerously moreish. They have even taken off-menu requests in the past for an Old Fashioned and a Martini.

Lots of wood and industrial-style interior design gives this place all the coolness of the Northern Quarter, but is spared a lot of the pretension. Wählbar also boasts good bar food, free wi-fi and outdoor seating. The coffee is slightly disappointing, but the quality of soft drinks compensates the teetotalist.

Whether in search of a quick beverage, spot of lunch or a substantial session, Wählbar is a not a left field suggestion, it is very much becoming an imperative.

DJ Q – Live review

Written by Sam Bartram on . Posted in Music.

The booking of DJ Q is another demonstration of the growing reputation that the Chow Down crew are amassing – such is the legendary status of the bassline master come Radio 1 Extra presenter. For those currently unaware of DJ Q’s heritage, my excitement is justified by the Huddersfield man’s CV: DJ Q has been mixing lessons in bassline for the best part of a decade as well as producing some of its most recent anthems.

Understandably then, I arrived keener than ever to see exactly what Chow Down had in store after hosting two choice freshers nights. I descended into the Joshua Brooks basement to the sounds of residents Finn McCorry and Baxio who started the night with a tight blend that really encapsulated the Chow Down pallet.

As the crowd slowly began to grow, Artifact took to the decks. On the back of his recent ‘Worn’ EP, it was an injustice that more people did not witness this set, which on another night, would have been fantastic.

A moment of silence spread as Arfifact winds down his last track. With the floor at capacity, DJ Q comes in for an hour of flawless crowd control, as they react with cheers every time a new sounding bassline is heard. Which is a lot, as DJ Q moves quickly from track to track, creating a pulse raising mix of 4×4. It was not long before the first pull up of the night was demanded: the setlist boasted forthcoming DJ Q track; ‘More Than You’, as well as both sides of his ‘All Junglist’ EP. The chaos of the night only mounted when Baauerr’s recent club wrecker: ‘Harlem Shake’ was mixed into one of many Burgaboy tracks dropped.

On this performance, the swift mixing and near-perfect track selection from DJ Q proves his legendary status to be just deserved and with the crowd still in shock at what they had just witnessed, it was down to Tom Lea, followed by Slackk and more Chow Down regulars to keep the party going into the early hours.

Uni life on the big screen

Written by Flora Anderson on . Posted in Film.

How I Met Your Mother’s Josh Radnor turns to the big screen this month, starring, writing, and directing his homage to University education, Liberal Arts.  From the perspective of his 30-somethingish character remembering his old College days, they seem the best thing, like, ever, to the point where he starts rolling in the grass outside the library in ecstasy of his bygone ‘Uni lifestyle’. But is it really possible to sum up the university experience in one movie? The highs? The lows? The Crazy bus lady?

In the case of American cinema, we generally get the all-drinking-not-much-thinking approach, which has given global notoriety to the Red Party Cup. Upgrading from the high school flick means the disappearance of the school lunchroom clique set-up, but never fear! The socio-political element in College is explored through the vast amounts of Fraternities and Sororities. This format gave us the iconic National Lampoon’s Animal House, arguably the creator of the ‘gross-out’ movie genre and the inspiration for all crazy college movies that followed in its wake (Old School, Van Wilder, Road Trip to name but a few). Even the USA’s Library of Congress deemed it to be ‘culturally significant’, probably due to it bringing us the immortal line ‘TOGA! TOGA!’

But there are also films about people who actually do their work too. Both set in Harvard, Legally Blonde and The Social Network give University a greater sense of future worth which can give you a morale boost when watching them, despite the fact you might be doing so to actually avoid your work.

Back in Britain, film-makers have recently focused on the tricky process of actually getting a place (An Education, The History Boys) perhaps there’ll soon be an epic Odyssey-style adventure film entitled “The UCAS Form” or “Nick Clegg: the Revenge”!

A rare film which actually depicts the UK University lifestyle is Starter for Ten, which shows James McAvoy as he goes off to Bristol, trying to get out of his hum-drum life, meanwhile landing himself a place in the University Challenge team.  Despite not being the best movie of all time, instead of glamorising uni like its American cousins, we get loads of horribly familiar stereotypes: gap year bores, impassioned student politics, getting painfully drunk in order to relieve the awkwardness of a crap freshers party and the constant warning that uni will make our protagonist “a complete wanker.” It even has a performance from Benedict Cumberbatch who as an alumnus of Manchester, brings the film even closer to home! There’s not many more like it, and it’s a subject ripe for a transition to the silver screen; Inbetweeners 2 perhaps?

For now Fresh Meat is as accurate as you’re going to get, yet it differs to the films in this article as it isn’t fuelled by a sense of aching nostalgia for the good old university days. The uniting factor of most university films is a warning to enjoy it whilst you can before, as Liberal Arts warns, “life happens.”

Preview: ‘Rust and Bone’

Written by Sophie James on . Posted in Film.

Marion Cotillard is arguably the most successful and versatile actress of the past five years.  Having won an Oscar for her searing, visceral portrayal of Edith Piaf in the French film La Vie En Rose in 2007, she has since then ripped her way through mainstream Hollywood with almost contemptuous ease, from Inception and Contagion to playing Batman’s near nemesis in The Dark Knight Rises. A pleasant surprise then to hear she’s back on home turf with her next film Rust and Bone. After all, French cinema is academy award-winning territory for her.

Rust and Bone explores the bond between single parent/boxer Ali (Matthias Schoenaerts) and Stephanie (Cotillard), a killer whale trainer who suffers from a horrific accident. I know, this looks about as implausible a plot as you’re ever likely to see, but trust me – Cotillard is very definitely in the “she’s never made a bad film” category, and Rust and Bone will be no exception.  Having wowed audiences and critics alike at Cannes Film Festival back in May, this month saw Rust and Bone arrive in London, where it was met with the same positive response at the BFI London film festival.

Don’t be put off either by the “love story with a difference” tag.  This one has genuine pedigree.  With Cotillard and Schoenaerts acting their socks off, the film is also written and directed by French director Jacque Audiard, who already has two Bafta-winning films under his belt: A Prophet (2009) and The Beat that My Heart Skipped (2005). As well as this, be sure to listen out for another score by BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated French film composer Alexandre Desplat (the maestro behind the music for such films as The King’s Speech and Girl with a Pearl Earring, to name but two). In short, this film brings together French film royalty with predictably regal results.

Like the headline to an article, a trailer can make or break expectations for a movie. The trailer for Rust and Bone will blow you away and the film is going to do the same. Looks like it’s going to be another French invasion at the Oscars this year, and good on them! 

Rust and Bone is set for release here in the UK on November 2nd.

‘Moulin Rouge!’

Written by Samuel Parr on . Posted in Film.

The spectacle that is Moulin Rouge is coming to the Cornerhouse Cinema on the 23rd October to enchant our hearts once again. The final instalment of Lurhman’s ‘Red Curtain Trilogy’ provides a feast for the senses that underpins the magnitude of his instinctive artistic ingenuity. Allow yourself to be swept away on the love infused journey and indulge in the theatrical exuberance of underworld Moulin Rouge.

Taking inspiration from Bollywood culture, Lurhman broke the confines of mainstream, conventional cinema to construct an original genre altogether – intertwining period romance with contemporary musical influences. Set in the year 1899, Christian (McGregor), an English poet driven by notions of love, heads to the centre of the bohemian world (the Montmartre Quartre) falling almost instantaneously for mesmerising courtesan, Satine (Kidman). This tragic romance is carried along by a complete musical assemble of 20th century hits; an innovative spin transforms tracks from the likes of Queen, Elton John, Madonna and The Police onto the big screen. Lurhman’s vision encapsulated through his unorthodox cinematography, persistent flashy editing and bold mise-en-scene allows this epic to be distanced from both mainstream and art-house films – it is one of a kind.

Despite being shot entirely within Australian sound stages, Moulin Rouge received much deserved recognition for its artistic individuality at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival and the 74th Academy Awards. Lurhman swooped to take home both the Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design Oscars – others didn’t stand a chance!

So mark the date in your diary, reserve your ticket, sit back and revel in Moulin Rogue’s chaotic brilliance.

Live: Fun. at Academy 1

Written by Matthew Zimmer on . Posted in Music.

“You only live once. That’s a phrase, not an abbreviation,” announced Nate Reuss, front-man of the indie pop group, Fun (stylised as “fun.”), to the audience at the Academy last Sunday. This phrase seems totally apt for this New York based group, whose struggle for a recognised place in the music world has only recently begun to bear fruit.

The success of their single, ‘We are Young’ was repeated shortly after its release by the success of ‘Some Nights’, but these two tracks are gems lodged in a fairly dull songbook.

In a post-Glee society, Fun’s repetitive and unoriginal tracks certainly have a place in the music world, but it’s a seat near the back. ‘We are Young’ and ‘Some Nights’ have earned them a chair nearer the front. How long they’ll stay there is anyone’s guess, but given the quality of their performance last week, they may be around for a while.

Fun’s fan base was out in force, and the band didn’t disappoint. With a warm up from the Ohio-based quartet, ‘Walk the Moon’, Reuss and co proved they know how to get a crowd going.

Reuss’s energy on stage is brilliant to watch, as is the enthusiasm of his bandmates, and it’s almost impossible not to get sucked into the fun-loving (no pun intended, honestly) uproar of ‘Some Nights’, which the band played as an encore.

‘We are Young’ and ‘It Gets Better’ were also highlights, but the surprise triumph of the night was an impressive cover of ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’, that Rolling Stones classic.

This band can put on a great show, and if they can polish up their songbook, they will be unmissable. At the moment, however, they are simply well worth a watch – and no more than that.

Woody Allen: the most charming egoist in modern cinema

Written by Jessie Cohen on . Posted in Film.

At age 76, Woody Allen has just starred in his most recent comedy-romance To Rome With Love. He plays his signature role as an adorable neurotic – a cinematic doppelgänger of … himself. Fitting with most of Allen’s films, in To Rome With Love the male psyche is powerfully explored, if not radically indulged. To facilitate a launching into the male mind, the female characters resemble fantasy figures played by Hollywood’s finest from Scarlett Johansson to Penelope Cruz. Allen’s women beguile and ooze sex-appeal. There is no attempt to make them ‘real women’ – that would defeat the point.

Allen’s other recent comedy-romance, Midnight in Paris, also exemplifies the “Allenian” formula of a male-centred drama in which women are objectified and, to bolster the concept of cinema-as-realisation-of-male-fantasy, the films’ locations are deeply romanticised. In the film, Owen Wilson plays an angst-ridden writer (like Allen) who is enraptured by his own genius. During a scene of Paris in the sunshine, Rachel McAdam’s character turns to Wilson and tells it straight.

“You’re in love with a fantasy,” to which Wilson unconvincingly replies, “I’m in love with you.” before the film explores his estrangement from McAdams and drifts into a fantasy narrative. In a similar exposé of the male ego, Allen’s character in To Rome With Love is put in his place by his psychotherapist wife who says that he lacks the usual psychological makeup of an ego, a superego and an id – he just has three ids. No one lays bare male egotism and self-deception quite so charmingly.

In Midnight in Paris, the streets of Paris serve as a portal for a love affair that takes place between a man and his imagination. To contrast with Wilson’s character’s creativity and openness, McAdams plays a stiff-upper-lip woman who couldn’t understand romance if it slapped her in the face. Comme d’habitude, Allen uses the female to counter-balance the man’s temperament. She exists in relation to him.

In To Rome With Love Allen interweaves a number of stories which spin off the heteronormative axis. One of the main narrative strands is a surrealist encounter between a man and woman, played by Jesse Eisenberg and Ellen Page, in which Alec Baldwin and Eisenberg critique the finer details of Page’s character right in front of her while she is deaf to their scrutiny. They label her a performative, narcissistic manipulator and, having collectively sussed her, they explore why it is that Eisenberg remains so attracted to this false ‘creature’. Page’s character exists to be scrutinized and mocked.

Having written, directed or acted in over sixty feature films, it would appear that Allen’s quirk and panache are waining. His fixation on gender dynamics from a particular perspective has now been explored from practically every angle in every predictable ‘romantic’ city, from New York to Paris. As he approaches the tail end of his career, I’d like to see Allen think outside the box for once and direct a gender-bending Sci-Fi feminist utopia, or is that too much to ask?

Dolce and Gabbana SS13: It’s just heritage, right?

Written by Faye Howard on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

Dolce and Gabbana have ruffled the feathers of the fashion world during the premier of their ‘controversial’ SS13 collection at Milan fashion week last month.  Beady-eyed observers were quick to jump down the throats of the design house after they sent plastic earrings, resembling ‘Blackamoor statues’ and ‘Old Aunt Jemima dolls’ (post-colonial iconography, if you didn’t know) down the catwalk.  Critics branded the collection ‘offensive’ and in the harshest case, a ‘romanticism of slavery and plantation life’, suggesting the two Caucasian designers had created a ‘clueless colonial look’.

For many years, Sicily (the homeland of Dolce and Gabbana) has been the inspiration behind many a collection, with the designer’s beautiful, intricate and sometimes zany designs living and breathing the infamous duo’s Italian roots.  Claiming the collection to be in no way racist, Domenico Dolce & Stefano Gabbana took inspiration from their Italian heritage combined with a summer holiday theme to create the brightly coloured, hessian constructions, utilising imagery of Moorish statues (the controversial black faces on the earrings) and historic prints of battlefields on dresses. A racist and politically incorrect slip-up? Possibly not.

The question is, was this really a step too far in the ‘la-la-land’ and possibly ignorant world of fashion? Or is this just simply a step too far for the nit-picking critics who are constantly snooping for controversy in today’s ‘strictly PC’ media? Was the fashion press just slow that day?  Either way, I find myself delving into the land of the unknown, to the point where I am questioning my own political correctness, and dare I say views, on racism within fashion.  Is it absurd to think people could just look upon the collection as a beautiful creation, concept and celebration of a country’s heritage and culture, without jumping on the racism bandwagon?  Moreover, is it completely bonkers to conclude that if we are questioning the use of black people in fashion and design as being immediately racist, then we ourselves are actually the racist ones?  I know for certain that if we saw these earrings on the ears of Naomi Campbell, we wouldn’t think twice other than this was an ‘out-there’ fashion statement.

Is that then the problem?  Had there been at least one black model used in the show, would the critics have been pacified? Milan is well renowned for having a distinct lack of non-white models on their catwalks, and one could indeed argue, that it was actually the deliverance of Dolce and Gabbana’s show that did not sit well on first look at this ‘conceptual’ collection. There were 85 looks showcased, yet there were no black models represented on the runway.  Surely this wasn’t a good idea if they were truly interpreting the multi-cultural heritage they set out to? Either way, I feel that anyone who criticised this collection for having connotations of ‘slavery’ and ‘years of oppression’, should take a good, hard look at the bigger picture. There are obviously bigger issues we have to deal with here, and they do not start with a pair of earrings.

Top 5: High school movies

Written by Moya Crockett on . Posted in Film.

5. 10 Things I Hate About You

This reworking of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew has lines to match anything the Bard ever came up with. Case in point: good girl Bianca’s musings on the difference between like and love. “Well, I like my Skechers, but I love my Prada backpack.”

4. Heathers

An 80’s Mean Girls with a big dose of psychotic violence. Tiring of her fellow ‘popular girls’ the Heathers (all the best girl gangs have a name), Winona Ryder’s Veronica decides to eliminate them, casually murdering a few others along the way with the help of Christian Slater. A dark antidote to teenage fluff.

3. Dazed & Confused

Tarantino called this one of the greatest films of all time. On the last day of school, 1976, jocks, nerds, stoners and beautiful girls terrorize younger kids, attempt to buy beer, make out, get high, drive around and contemplate the future. Funny, relaxed, and totally wonderful.

2. Cry-Baby

Everything that made Grease weird (30-year-old actors playing teenagers; a terrible moral message) feels right at home in John Waters’ dazzling high school, musical satire. The characters are brilliantly grotesque, the doo-wop and rockabilly soundtrack flawless, but Johnny Depp steals the show as a juvenile delinquent in 1950s Maryland. A cult classic.

1. Mean Girls

“That’s why her hair’s so big. It’s full of secrets.” With an endlessly quotable script, the iconic Plastics and a classic teen-movie message (being popular isn’t everything!), this is high school gold and a sad reminder of what a great actress LiLo was, pre-raging coke addiction and tragic transformation into Donatella Versace.

 

Old Hollywood’s Leading Lady in Red: Get the Look

Written by Tilly Miller on . Posted in Fashion & Beauty.

With winter and even Christmas rapidly approaching, we Mancunians know that we will inevitably be splashing out on some warmer wear over the next month. As the temperature drops it may be tempting to throw on the old cable-knit jumper your grandma gave you three Christmases ago, but I would urge you to step away and leap into the arms of one of these high street takes on Miss Hepburn’s famous look.

In true Hollywood style, the classic red coat has established itself as a timeless option to suit any look and budget. While we may not be old Hollywood celebrities, you will certainly feel like one wearing one of these colourful coats. Not only is the red coat perfect for Christmas, but it also provides the perfect antidote to our mid-term blues; tending to be brought on by looming deadlines and fast evaporating loans!

Here are three of the best high street alternatives I found on my search. Collarless, double-breasted and certainly eye-catching, there’s one for every style and budget.

To complete Audrey’s elegant ensemble seen in ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ pair with Topshop’s premium faux-fur black Cossack.

Hep-budget: For a very small fee of twenty-two pounds, Debenhams has the perfect cheapo imitation for those of you wanting to save as much as possible.

Heppy medium: Boohoo’s fifty pound red coat certainly demonstrates a modern take on the old classic with its pleated detail and gold buttons flattering all figures.

Hep-blowout: Whilst this Urban Outfitters beauty will certainly cause your debit card some damage, it’s bang on trend for this A/W. This double-breasted coat is bound to get you noticed around campus, if not for the colour, for your dedication to fashion!

 

Amnesty International Soc

Written by Kate Bullivant on . Posted in Societies.

Amnesty International aims to protect people ‘wherever justice, fairness, freedom and truth are denied.’ Unlike many charities, Amnesty International is not primarily committed to the raising and distributing of financial relief, but instead seeks to prevent and abolish instances of severe human rights violations on an international scale.

The Amnesty International society at Manchester serves to contribute to this cause. Through ‘small acts of resistance’ the society aims to peacefully pressurise governments and big corporations found to be responsible for infringing human rights.

Amnesty is famous for the Letters of Solidarity supporting prisoners of conscience and their campaigns against those in positions of authority thought to be violating human rights laws. The Letters of Solidarity have had a huge impact on political prisoners and campaigners; Ana Maria Pizarro, persecuted for defending women’s rights in Nicaragua, for example, said that the Letters of Solidarity from Amnesty gave her the strength to continue the fight.

The Amnesty International Society in Manchester holds letter-writing events every two weeks, on a drop-in basis, to allow students to get the chance to participate in these modest, yet very effective, acts of resistance against human rights violations.

They also organises peaceful protests in an attempt to raise awareness of contemporary campaigns that are occurring globally. This Wednesday a silent flash mob consisting of thirty participants, gathered to raise awareness of the harrowing reality of the effect of the death penalty in the USA. Carrying a large banner urging for the abolition of the death penalty and wearing masks of the face of Reggie Clemons, members of the Amnesty Society and many passers by who were inspired to get involved, campaigned against the flawed penalty system in the USA.

After the flashmob, I met with Amnesty’s publicity officer, Imogen Greener, to gain a better insight into the aims of the Amnesty International Society. According to Imogen, the society is there to inspire students to act, even in very small ways, to improve human rights globally.

It is very easy to get involved in Amnesty’s work, which promotes involvement on a drop-in basis. The Society will be hosting a fundraising event at the Ram and Shackle on the 18th October offering live music, food, drink, henna and, of course, plenty of campaigning opportunities. This offers a great way to have a positive impact on global human rights and provide assistance to those whose basic rights have been violated.  Check out Manchester’s Amnesty International Facebook page in order to get involved or come down to the Ram to unshackle.

 

SOS Children’s Villages Society

Written by Rachel Heward on . Posted in Societies.

The SOS Children’s Villages Society has been set up to raise money and awareness for the SOS Children’s Villages charitable organisation. They are the world’s largest orphan charity and operate in 125 countries, supporting orphans long-term through the means of sponsorship. For nearly sixty years, SOS Children has developed an approach based on building a community. They provide children with a home, a family and a new mother in a purpose-built local Village. They invest in whole communities in order to help many children and provide for them until they are ready for independent life. Because they are reasonably unknown in the UK, they have set up student societies around the country to increase their profile.

I spoke to Annalise Baker  who is the president of the SOS Children supporters group and set up the society at the University of Manchester. She explained about what they do, “in order to reach our aims of raising money and awareness, we organise various events throughout the year. To raise awareness we carry out public talks in local community groups such as churches. These talks are not about raising money. They involve us giving a presentation which we can adapt to the audience depending upon what countries we specifically talk about, and answering any questions they may have. To raise money we host events such as gigs and raffles. These also increase the social aspects of the society.”

Since setting up the society last year they have already held a public talk in a local church and organised a concert called ‘gig for the kids’ that raised £361 for the charity. At the end of the year they also organised a raffle draw that raised a further £100.

Their plans for the year include at least two more talks and they are also hoping to have another gig as well as a comedy night.

SOS Children’s Villages Society meets every Wednesday at 7pm in the Student Union to organise their events. They hold regular monthly socials where they do activities such as bowling to ensure everyone in the society has the chance to get to know each other.

If you would like to get involved you can join through the student union website by searching ‘SOS’ in the societies section. They can also be found on:

Facebook by searching ‘UOM SOS Children’s Villages’

Twitter: @MCRSOSCHILDRENS.

Student 101: home sweet home

Written by Lucy Firth on . Posted in Lifestyle.

Millions of students across the country move to university each year to embark upon a new life, living away from home as a student. From my experience, being a fresher, essentially the ‘newbie’ in the university world, is both exciting and daunting. Let’s face it: waving goodbye to delicious home-made meals, a blazing fire and even more importantly, close family, friends and the dog isn’t easy. On the positive side, settling into the initially unfamiliar surroundings of university halls and later, into a shared flat or house, can be a piece of cake if you take note of the following tips.

Having a nicely decorated room, with little reminders of life at home really makes a difference. So when you’re taking that mad last minute trip round IKEA, filling the trolley with lots of ‘necessities’ that your parents will feel obliged to pay for, focus on buying bright, colourful items such as a rug or an art print to form a focal point of the room. Also, as we tend to associate home life with being warm, cosy and relaxed, soft cushions and bedding are a definite must-have. Photographs of special occasions with close family and friends serve as a nice reminder of happy moments and can help stave off homesickness in those difficult initial weeks. Listening to your favourite music, reading a book or even enjoying a cuppa from your special birthday mug all help to create a homey feel. Don’t forget to bring your favourite teddy- everyone secretly has one!

Whether you’re a fresher or a final year student, actively participating in university life is essential. This can be through joining societies, attending course social events or simply getting out and about to see what the city has to offer. As everyone is in the same boat, it is important to work as a team and but also learn to be independent. Once the fresher’s hype has died down and the essays start to pile up, simple pleasures such as a home-cooked meal can really make your day. So find a tempting recipe and create a home from home feel by cooking a meal and watching a film together with your new friends. Organising a monthly social event for your degree programme is a great way to get to know other like-minded students and that initial ice-breaker might be the start of a budding friendship.

It’s normal to feel homesick from time to time but family members are only a phone call away. As final year students, my friends and I still miss home in term-time but we’ve acclimatised to university life and live it to the full! You’re only a student once so enjoy it!