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RELEASES UK

Idi Amin vs Chinese illegal immigrants

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The Last King of Scotland [+see also:
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and Ghosts, two politically-charged dramas by renowned UK documentary filmmakers Kevin Macdonald and Nick Broomfield, are offering UK audiences food for thought today against Hollywood film The Pursuit of Happyness, in which Italian filmmaker Gabriele Muccino directs Will Smith, and action/adventure film Smokin’ Aces, produced by Working Title.

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The feature debut by Oscar winner MacDonald, released nationwide by 20th Century Fox, had a prestigious launch last October as the opening film of the 50th London Film Festival with Forest Whitaker attracting a lot of media attention. Partly scripted by Peter Morgan (The Queen [+see also:
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interview: Andy Harries
interview: Stephen Frears
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), the film is based on the fictional novel by Giles Foden about a young doctor who becomes befriended by Ugandan dictator Idi Amin and gradually comes to realise that his presence in the dictator's entourage is doing more harm than good.

Launched at the San Sebastian Film festival last September, Ghosts is based on real events that took place in February 2004, when 23 illegal Chinese immigrants died on the northern coast of England while cockle picking. With Ai Qin (one of the few survivors of the tragedy) in one of the leading roles, the film focuses on the everyday life of illegal Chinese immigrants in the UK.

Fully financed by Channel 4, the film is being released in the UK by Tartan Films on seven prints. Next week, Broomfield will be at the Sundance Film Festival to support the film’s selection in the World Dramatic competition section.

Smokin’ Aces, by US filmmaker Joe Carnahan, centres on a sleazy magician who turns state's evidence against a mob boss. Produced by Working Title for Universal Pictures, the film stars Jeremy Piven, Ben Affleck and Andy Garcia.

Other new European films still doing well on UK screens include the German/French/Spanish co-production Perfume: The Story of a Murderer [+see also:
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, released by Pathé for Christmas, which has grossed over £1m from 129 screens so far, while Miss Potter, released by Momentum Pictures on 338 screens, took the second place at the UK box office last weekend with over £1.4m.

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