Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21367 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-06-05
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 420 minutes

DVD Description
A unique collection of the best short films from British filmmakers, all of which are available here to own for the first time. Includes classics from the biggest names in British film as well as award winners from new talent. Cinema16 gives short films a much needed platform and celebrates the form, but also gives filmmakers and lovers access to some great films that would otherwise be impossible to see. Cinema 16 includes commentaries from all the filmmakers involved, including Ridley Scott (Blade Runner, Gladiator) looking back on his first filmmaking experience directing younger brother Tony; Chris Nolan (Insomnia, Memento) on the challenges of blue screen special effects on a budget; and Mike Leigh on making an epic in 18 minutes. With over 3 hours of films and 3 hours of commentaries, Cinema16 is essential viewing for anyone interested in the moving image.

Featuring:

• About a Girl - Brian Percival
  
• Boy & Bicycle - Ridley Scott
  
• Dear Phone - Peter Greenaway
  
• Doodlebug - Christopher Nolan
  
• Eight - Stephen Daldry
  
• Gasman - Lynne Ramsay
  
• Girl Chewing Gum - John Smith
  
• Home - Morag McKinnon
  
• Joyride - Jim Gillespie
  
• Inside Out - Tom & Charles Guard
  
• Je T’aime John Wayne - Toby Macdonald
  
• The Sheep Thief - Asif Kapadia
  
• The Short & Curlies - Mike Leigh
  
• Telling Lies - Simon Ellis
  
• UK Images - Martin Parr
  
• Who’s My Favourite Girl? - Adrian J. McDowall

Special Features
Includes director commentaries

Synopsis
CINEMA16 is a DVD showcase featuring 16 short films by some of Britain's best directing talent including established figures such as Mike Leigh, Stephen Daldry, Ridley Scott and Peter Greenaway to relative but equally creative newcomers Lynne Ramsay and Morag McKinnon. Includes Directors' commentaries.

Customer Reviews

A mixed bag, but generally quite fascinating
This collection of sixteen short films by acclaimed British directors is a little difficult to rate. Two or three of the films are brilliant, showing early promise of genius in directors who went on to massive success. Some of the films are, on the other hand, quite tedious. There seems to be a common theme through many of them (pubescence / single-parent family / gritty Northern realism) which unfortunately lowers their impact. And one or two films are "ars gratia artis"; whether these appeal at all is down to the taste of the viewer.

The collection as a whole is full of surprises - mostly at what can be achieved on a low budget or the depth of storytelling possible in a short space of time. Ridley Scott's 1958 16mm black & white film is pretty good given the resources available, but hasn't really stood the test of time very well. On the other hand, Jim Gillespie manages to create a highly polished short horror that perhaps manages to capture a more genuine sense of menace than did his feature I Know What You Did Last Summer.

There are a couple of really outstanding films on this disc, including Simon Ellis' inventive expose of truth and lies in relationships. Another brilliant work is Christopher Nolan's borderline genius horror which, given the credit given to University College London Film Society, bodes very well indeed for student filmmaking in this country. Let's hope that this DVD acts as a catalyst to the British film industry.

One final warning, however - because this disc is "for educational use only", it has no BBFC certificate. In my opinion, an appropriate classification for this disc would be 15, with some strong language, sexual references and violence.

Short but sweet
This is a great collection of films. The early films from Mike Leigh, Ridley Scott and Chris Nolan are particular highlights – they’re like reminders of why these guys started making films in the first place. For anyone with a real love for cinema this is an essential collection. Not only that, but for anyone who wants to make films this is like a film school on one DVD. Everyone will have a different favourite but what matters here is that all the films, in all their diversity, represent whats great about filmmaking in the UK.

A mixed bag of Shorts
The quality of films on this DVD varies greatly, some are excellent and others are downright rubbish and make you wonder why on earth they would be featured on a DVD of 'Britians best shorts of recent years'. It makes an interesting purchase if you are a young budding filmmaker and wish to see some good examples of excellent shorts and some of the earliest work by some of Britians more successful talents (Ridley Scott, Lynne Ramsay, Stephen Daldry, Christopher Nolan, Mike Leigh) and some of the commentaries are both interesting and insightful. However those expecting an evenings entertainment will be very dissappointed by this. More a purchase for the film buff and not one for those expecting slick quality entertainment.