Netflix Japan to air ‘Grave of the Fireflies' from July 15
Grave of the Fireflies – released in 1988 and directed by the late Isao Takahata – is an animated film based on the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Akiyuki Nosaka. The emotionally gripping film tells the story of 14-year-old Seita and his little sister Setsuko as they struggle to survive the brutalities of the Second World War. The timing of the streaming is especially poignant, since this year marks the 80th anniversary of the air raid on Kobe, as depicted in the picture.
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Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
‘Breathtaking' desert island movie with rare Rotten Tomatoes score is streaming for free
One of the best animated movies in years with top scores from critics has just been added to BBC iPlayer BBC iPlayer has just added a critically acclaimed animated film that is guaranteed to knock your socks off. Based on one of the most popular children's books ever written, this beloved tale of adventure and friendship has been brought to life in stunning hand-drawn animation that harkens back to classic Disney films. Following its broadcast on BBC One this afternoon (Sunday, 3rd August), this heart-racing journey of discovery will be available to stream completely free of charge for a limited time. Viewers can be assured of the film's quality as it scored an impressive 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Even better, the film's runtime clocks in at a breezy hour and 16 minutes, making it the ideal watch for a lazy afternoon. Kensuke's Kingdom, based on the acclaimed 1999 novel by Michael Morpurgo, follows the thrilling voyage of a young boy (voiced by Aaron MacGregor) at sea who eventually finds himself stranded on a desert island. Thankfully, he soon discovers he's not alone. The boy, along with his dog Stella Artois, strikes up an unlikely friendship with a Japanese man named Kensuke (Ken Watanabe) and the orangutans who have made the island their home, who help him survive. Although not able to speak much English, Kensuke slowly reveals his own tragic life story of fleeing Japan during the terrors of the Second World War. This poignant tale is perfect for families with slightly older children keen to get sucked into an epic journey of adventure, history and survival. An audience review on Rotten Tomatoes described Kensuke's Kingdom as 'a breathtakingly beautiful film that's gentle on the senses as its delicately delivered themes.' A five-star Google review agreed, writing: 'Magical and emotionally powerful film that deserves to become a family classic. 'Avoiding spoilers here is hard, but there is one drop of ink in the film that took my breath away and had my throat in knots. It's beautiful, powerful, emotional, yet comfortingly familiar. 'A film to cosy up on the sofa under a blanket with your favourite young family and rewatch every year to remember the important themes of anti-war and respect for nature that run through it. Beautiful film.' A third concurred, adding: 'Awesome movie with beautiful visuals and meaningful storytelling.' Praise continued over on Letterboxd, where one fan raved: 'Beautiful and full of heart! 'Simple, familiar concept but so well executed. It's Cast Away mixed with Avatar and shades of Planet of the Apes. 'Very good dosage between feel good and tragedy, had a smile on my face most of the time but I also had tears in my eyes twice.' Viewers were also impressed by the film's voice cast, which also includes Oppenheimer Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy and Paddington star Sally Hawkins. 'Went to the theatre to hear Cillian's voice and to have a fun time. Left sobbing uncontrollably,' one fan admitted. 'This film's message is so beautiful and moving, knowing that Cillian wanted to be part of this project makes me love him even more and I didn't even know that could be possible.' Kensuke's Kingdom is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Scotsman
Why Edinburgh International Festival is unique, fantastic
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... In November 1945, not long after the end of the Second World War, The Scotsman revealed plans were being drawn up for a music and drama festival in Edinburgh. 'Not only will the projected event probably be the first great post-war international art assembly in Europe but it will certainly be the first of its scope and importance to be held in Britain,' we reported. Two years later, the first Edinburgh International Festival was held, with a founding vision to 'reunite people through great art'. As the world's biggest and best arts festival gets underway, we should remember how it all started. Its ethos is just as important now as it was then. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Artists of the Circa and Opera Australia ensembles take part in a dress rehearsal of Orpheus and Eurydice | Keith Saunders However, this is not a time to be maudlin, it is a time to celebrate humanity at its finest. This year will see more than 2,000 artists from 42 nations put on 133 performances, including opera Orpheus and Eurydice, Scottish Ballet's Mary, Queen of Scots, in which the Renaissance meets punk meets haute couture, and Holst's The Planets, performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Stage school star Sylvia Young's savage reprimand to young Rita Ora over rule-break
Dubbed the 'backstage matriarch', Sylvia Young, who died this week aged 86, nurtured some of Britain's most famous names at her London school, which opened in 1981. She mostly passed unnoticed in the street but in many ways Sylvia Young was everywhere – in soaps, sitcoms and TV dramas, in Hollywood films and on West End stages, and in worldwide hits and stadium shows. Without her, we might never have known pop stars like Amy Winehouse, Dua Lipa, Rita Ora or Leona Lewis. And from Grange Hill to Doctor Who and EastEnders, some famous names may never have been discovered. Although she never wanted the spotlight, the screens, stages and soundtrack of Britain today would be very different without the 'backstage matriarch', who died yesterday morning, aged 86. Tributes poured in from some of Britain's biggest stars, each crediting Sylvia with their success. All Saints singer Nicole Appleton said: 'She was a massive part of my life and paved the way for so many of us.' Actress Sadie Frost added: 'She was always so lovely to me and I will cherish the memories for ever.' Dua Lipa told of the encouragement she got from staff at the Sylvia Young Theatre School, saying: 'Sometimes, all it takes is one thing for them to say and that carries you on for the rest of your life.' Radio icon Tony Blackburn said Sylvia was 'a very lovely lady who I've had the privilege of knowing for many years'. Sylvia was born in Hackney, North East London, in 1939, just as the Second World War broke out. One of nine children, she remembered as a teenager seeking refuge from her busy house at the local library, where she would go every day to read, falling in love with plays. She joined a local theatre company but recalled: 'I used to get stage fright. I used to lose my voice before every production. When I think about it, they were sort of panic attacks.' She left school at 16 and in her early 20s married Norman Ruffell, a telephone engineer, and became a stay-at-home mother. Sylvia, who had daughters, Frances and Alison, started drama classes for children at schools, charging 10p a lesson, and then ran a Saturday school at a Drury Lane sports club. The school later went full-time, staring with 29 pupils in 1981. By 2010 it had grown tenfold due to good GCSE results and pupils' TV roles. The theatre school moved to Marylebone, where it remains. Although the fee-paying school was in high demand, she always ensured low-income students could attend on scholarships. Her daughter Frances Ruffelle, a West End star and mum of pop star Eliza Doolittle, said her mum was 'a true visionary' who 'gave people from all walks of life the chance to pursue their performing arts skills to the highest standard'. The late Amy Winehouse studied at the school after Sylvia gave her a part-scholarship. Sylvia said: 'At Amy's audition she sang On The Sunny Side Of The Street so superbly that I thought, 'My God, this is the new Judy Garland!' She was tremendously musical, she had her own style, image, everything. 'She wouldn't wear the school uniform correctly, her tie would often be askew and in classes she'd chew gum. But I couldn't be angry with her because she was her own person. She was a free spit and had been given a special gift." EastEnders' Dean Gaffney was at the school in the early 90s, in the same years as actors Daniella Westbrook and John Pickard, and Spice Girl Emma Bunton. Dean, who was also on a half-scholarship, remembered: 'On the Monday to Wednesday, you did normal academic subjects, then on a Thursday and Friday, it turned into a complete Fame school, with people singing down the hallways. 'If I hadn't gone to that school, who knows where I'd be. Maybe EastEnders wouldn't have picked up the phone to see who they'd got on their books.' Other famous attendees included Billie Piper, Letitia Dean, Lily Cole and Gemma Collins. Doctor Who actor Matt Smith, Little Mix singers Jesy Nelson and Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Busted bassist Matt Willis also went there. Pop star and talent show judge Rita Ora, who studied music at the school, recalled also having trouble following the rules. She said: 'I was cheeky. I hated wearing a hairnet. Sylvia would come into ballet class and catch me without one. 'Rita, there are some rules. This is a serious matter', she'd say. 'Sylvia had a soft spot for me, though. I was never rude, I just wasn't great at listening.' McFly rocker Tom Fletcher met his wife, presenter Giovanna, at the school, which they attended from the age of 13. Sylvia was at their wedding. Giovanna said: 'My life would not be what it is without Sylvia Young. She knew what every child was up to and how to get the best out of everyone.' While some pupils knew what they wanted to do with their talent, others, like Denise van Outen, were not so sure. Denise, who studied with actresses Billie Piper and Keeley Hawes, remembered: 'When we got towards the end of our time there, Sylvia sat each of us down for a careers chat and asked which way we wanted to go. 'They wanted you to choose one route or another, but I said, 'I like doing it all'. I was a bit confused, I suppose, because unlike Billie and Keeley, I didn't have an obviously outstanding talent. I enjoyed everything and could do it all okay. 'So Sylvia said, 'Well, try and do it all and see what happens. You don't have to be brilliant at everything'." It worked, and Denise went on to present the Big Breakfast, starred in musical Chicago and was runner-up in Strictly. Dua Lipa attended the school at weekends as a child, then re-enrolled following her A-levels. During the pop star's ITV Christmas special at the Royal Albert Hall last year she had an emotional reunion with her old music teacher, Ray. She recalled of him: 'He heard my really deep voice and was like, 'You've got something special, use it'. He completely changed my life.' Well into her latter years, Sylvia still lived in the school, describing herself as the 'caretaker' as she and Norman stayed in the upstairs flat. And right up to her death, she continued to nurture the stars of the future. The legacy of the 'backstage matriarch' will continue to shape the screens, stages and stadiums of Britain.
