Basque News

AUPA ETXEBESTE!

(Hurray Etxebeste!)

directed directed by Telmo Esnal and Asier Altuna 
who will be here to take part in a question and answer session after the screening.

Thursday, 7th May, 2.30 pm

The comedy Aupa Etxebeste! tells the story of Patricio Etxebeste the owner of a beret-making factory and an important local figure, who is standing for mayor in the upcoming elections. What nobody knows is that he is completely ruined and can't even pay for his yearly holiday. Trying to keep up appearances Patricio and his family decide to hide home while pretending to be away for holiday. Hidden, the family will have to come into terms with their relationships while learning from each other.

An easy going and entertaining comedy, Aupa Etxebeste! portrays something very easy to recognize: the peculiarity of each and every family, their misunderstandings, their love and a society in which appearances play an important roll. This, together with the Basque scenery and great actors, makes Aupa Etxebeste! an easy going, fun and entertaining comedy.

Being the first full-length film entirely in Basque in twelve years Aupa Etxebeste! received very good reviews as well as different awards nominations (best film in San Sebastian film festival) and awards ( San Sebastian film festival Youth Award).

“A healthy exercise of modest cinema, a breath of fresh air among all the overproduced films that cost millions od dollars”

“A satire against vanity”

“With an excellent script, Basque cinema has one of the best Spanish films of the last years”


For more info on the film and to watch the trailer visit:

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Urte Berri On, Amona! (Happy New Year, Grandma!)

A film by Telmo Esnal. 

Thursday, 8th May 2014, 6 pm 

            Happy New Year, Grandma! is a black comedy that follows the conflicts Mari's family goes through while trying to look after this peculiar grandmother. Grandma Mari is draining the life out of her daughter Maritxu so her husband Joxemari decides to put her in a nursing home. Joxemari must take her in without his wife getting wind of the situation and to do so enlists the help of his son-in-law Kintxo. This may seem a simple task but Mari is not just an innocent granny. She will cunningly use her supposed senility as a disguise for a number of striking misdeeds that will bring an unexpected end to the story.



The director portrays the conflict in a humorous tone but also sheds light on dilemmas such as fear of solitude, loss of moral values, selfishness and family disintegration.

“An outstanding film, with a magnificent setting and even a better acting”
Mikel Insausti, Gara

“One hour and a half of guaranteed enjoyment and plenty of emotions”
“A little jewel not to be missed”
“An effective combination of comedy, thriller, and horror movie” 
Reviews from spectators in filmaffinity.com

The director Telmo Esnal will be with us to take part in a question and answer session after the screening.

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ARRIYA ETA ALBERTO GORRITIBEREA MAC ZINEMAN!



Maiatzarekin batera, zinema katalan, euskaldun eta galegoaren bigarren zikloa heldu da Ingalaterrako Birmingham hirira. Iazko arrakastaren ondoren, Birminghamgo Unibertsitateak, hainbat erakundez lagunduta, berriz antolatu du Iberiar penintsulako zinema eta kulturaren aniztasunaren isla izan nahi duen zinemalditxoa. Aurtengo film gonbidatuak Arriya film euskalduna, Pa negre pelikula katalana eta Pedro e o Capitan lan galegoa dira. Lehenbiziko proiekzioa euskal ordezkariari egokitu zitzaion, Alberto Gorritiberea zuzendari zumaiarraren Arriya filmari. Filmak harrera beroa izan zuen birminghamdarren aldetik, eta halaxe erakutsi zuten filmaren ondorengo galdera-erantzun saioan. Euskal nortasuna, denboraren kudeaketa, Gorritiberean istorioaren samurtasuna eta jokoak, asko izan ziren bertaratuen jakin-mina piztu zuten ezaugarriak.



Lehenbiziko galderak denboraren kudeaketa bitxiaren ingurukoa izan zen, izan ere, filman zuzendaria etengabe jolasten baita denborarekin. Gorritibereak azaldu zuen hala dela: film honen bitartez denboran aurrera egiten ez duenak atzera egiten duela adierazi nahi izan du, eta horretarako irudi ezin egokiagoa den harria baliatu zuen. Zuzendariaren esanetan, filman aurrera egiteko bide bakarra ura da, etengabe mugitzen dena, etengabe aurrera egiten duena: horrengatik muga eta ihesbidea errekaren gainean daude. Beste ikusle batek jakin nahi izan zuen ea zein zen mugen esanahia filman. Gorritibereak erantzun zuen "geure baitan bertan, geure gauzarik onenak geure mugen bila hasten garenean aurkitzen ditugu, noraino iris gaitezkeen deskubritzen hasten garen arte ez baikara jabetzen egin dezakegunaz; filman ere, gauza "onak, Maria eta Peruren arteko harremana kasu, mugan gertatzen dira". 


Galderarik ez zen falta izan euskal nortasunaren eraginaren inguruan. Alberto Gorritibereak Madrilen zegoela idatzi zuen Arriya filmaren gidoia, eta handik sorterrira begiratzeko erabili zuen. "Begirada kritiko bat da, ikuslea hain txukun eta polit apaintzen dugun tradizioaren azpian dagoenaz gogoeta eginaraztera eraman behar lukeena", adierazi zuen zuzendariak. Bestalde, Birminghamgo Nazioarteko Film Elkarteko kideek euskal zinemaren egoeraz galdetu zioten zumaiarrari, baita euskal filmek Espainiako kate nagusietan agertzen dituzten aukerez ere. Gorritibereak azaldu zuen duela hiruzpalau urte ez zuela ematen hain zaila euskaraz, galegoz edo katalanez egindako filmen bat ematea Espainiako kateetan, baina orain gauzak zailxeago daudela adierazi zuen. 

Datorren astean Pa negre filmaren txanda izango da eta Isona Pasola ekoizlea Birminghamen izango da. Azkenik, Pedro e o Capitan filma eta bere zuzendaria Pablo Iglesias arduratuko dira zine zikloa ixteaz.  

 

ASHLEY ERAIKINEKO KASU MISTERIOTSUA





Gozatu euskaraz

This is a spot shown in the Basque Country to promote the usage of Euskera among youngsters. "No one says that the first time is easy, but all who have tried have then repeated!".



80 egunean


Original title: 80 egunean (In 80 days)

Length: 105 min
Year: 2009
Genre: Drama
Directors: Jon Garaño, Jose Mari Goenaga 
Actors: Itziar Aizpuru, Mariasun Pagoaga, José Ramón Argoitia, Ane Gabarain

Axun, a 70 year old woman, is called from the hospital to take care of her daughter's ex-husband, who was seriously injured in a car accident. To her surprise, the woman who takes care of the other patient in the same hospital room turns out to be Maite, her best friend when teenagers. They have not seen each other for more than 50 years. The hospital visits will show that the close relationship they had when teenagers is still alive. Their relationship was very special fifty years ago but nowadays the same feelings flourish. They have fun and enjoy each other's company until Axun finds out that Maite is openly lesbian. Axun questions her own feelings about Maite. Was their relationship when teenagers more than friendship? Where is the thin line that separates friendship from desire? Now that she is 70, does she dare crossing this thin line?

The film has been presented in 11 International Film Festival (for instance, The London Film Festival, Montreal World Film Festival, Mumbai International Film Festival...). The film is suitable for all audiences.



As part of the 17th edition of the VIVA! Festival, director Jon Garaño attended the screening of 80 egunean at the Cornerhouse cinema in Manchester. Here you have a video about the discussion he had with the audience right after the projection.



Do you want to watch the whole film in Basque? Click here (no English subtitles).

Be Basque for a while!

The Etxepare Basque Institute started last December a campaign to promote the Basque language all over the world: Euskara mundiala!

`Euskara Mundiala´ aims to invite as many people as possible to say something in Basque. In its website, you will have the chance to record some words in Basque. You can say anything you want! Let's see an example: 

Nik ere euskara erabiltzen dut [ligatzeko] = I also speak Basque [when I go out on the pull]

The Basque language has something wonderful: it makes everybody who speaks it Basque. Would you like to join us? Click here!


"Basque Studies" on the news!



At the beginning of the autumn term in 2010, the University of Birmingham and the Etxepare Basque Institute signed an agreement to promote the Basque Studies in Birmingham. Several newspapers and websites echoed the agreement. You can find a list below: