Shaun Dingwall Movies

Two English G.I.s find themselves blamed for the widespread corruption of the War in Iraq in this timely drama. Mark (Gerard Kearns) and his friend Shane (Matthew McNulty) are a pair of British soldiers who are sent to Iraq, where they've been assigned duty as guards in a holding facility for Prisoners of War. While the official command is that the prisoners are to be treated with care and respect, Mark and Shane soon learn this isn't always the practice, and that it's considered a good thing to occasionally rough up prisoners so that their compatriots will understand not to get cross with the British. While incidents of violence and humiliation are the exception rather than the rule, that changes after the base commander is killed in a terrorist attack, and Corporal Gant (Shaun Dooley) decides the prisoners should pay for the acts of the Iraqi insurgents. Before long, random torture and abuse of the prisoners is commonplace, and when Shane returns home, he shows photos of his misdeeds to his girlfriend Shelly (Naomi Bentley). When Shelly learns that Shane has been unfaithful to her, she hands Shane's photographs of the abuse of prisoners to a reporter, and soon Shane, Mark and their comrades are at the center of an international scandal. The British military is willing to back Gant and his superiors who condoned the abuse, but they're not about to defend soldiers like Mark and Shane, and soon they've been made scapegoats for crimes they committed but did not instigate. The Mark of Cain won the "Movies that Matter" Award (a prize sponsored by the international human rights group Amnesty International) at the 2007 Rotterdam Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Commercial filmmaker Col Spector makes the leap to narrative features with this romantic comedy headlined by laid-back Green Wing star Stephen Mangan. Portrait photographer David (Mangan) and his longtime girlfriend Lisa (Susan Lynch) are all set to celebrate their third year together with a whirlwind trip to Venice. Though exuberant Lisa can't wait for the date to arrive, doubtful David seems to have become somewhat hesitant about the impending vacation. When David chats-up a loopy local named Nina (Lara Belmont) one day while taking a stroll in the park, the sparks between the pair are quickly doused when David begins to feel guilty about distancing himself from Lisa. Determined to make things right with his longtime girlfriend and get their relationship back on track, David confesses to his brief fling and gets kicked to the curb for his noble effort. Later, Nina admits that she's already moved on and isn't really interested in David anymore. When a local dating agency sends Lisa's headshot to David's slacker friend Matt (Christopher Coghill), the lovelorn lothario assumes that she isn't as happy being single as she claims and sets out to win his embittered ex back by any means necessary. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

A middle-aged man gives himself the challenge of a lifetime in this comedy drama from the U.K. Frank (Peter Mullan) has spent most of his 55 years working the same job in the shipyards of Glasgow until he's fired after business tapers off and technology makes his position unnecessary. While Frank tries to put on a brave face, he has no idea of what to do next or what sort of work he should find. Frank's embarrassment gets much worse when he applies for unemployment benefits, only to discover his sister-in-law Angela (Jodhi May) is working behind the corner. As Frank's anxiety grows worse, he begins having panic attacks, leading to sympathy from his wife, Joan (Brenda Blethyn), and son, Rob (Jamie Sives), which only makes him feel more humiliated. One of Frank's few respites from his troubles are his regular visits to a nearby community swimming pool, where he does laps with his pals Eddie (Sean McGinley), Norman (Ron Cook), and Danny (Billy Boyd). One day, one of them jokes about the possibility of swimming the English Channel, which is only 21 miles across at its narrowest point near Dover. However, Frank doesn't think the idea is so silly, and begins training to make the journey; while at first his family and friends think he's gone mad, his plans give him a drive and a sense of purpose he hasn't had since losing his job. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Frank Van Passel's adaptation of William Elsschot's novella Villa des Roses stars Julie Delpy. Delpy is a French maid who works at a home for the poor and unfortunate. She becomes pregnant, and is forced to risk a dangerous abortion. The director employed digital effects to help create the elaborate visual design of the film. Villa des Roses was screened at the Hollywood Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

The feature-length debut of Francesca Joseph, Tomorrow La Scala!, is about an unusual production of a musical. Victoria (Jessical Stevenson) is the head of a small opera company that goes to maximun-security Seaworth Prison to mount a staging of Sweeney Todd. Gurad Kevin (Shaun Dingwell) warns the troupe of the restrictive behavior expected from them. Janey (Samantha Spiro) is in charge of costumes and she resists the tamping down of her natural flamboyance. The inmates and the theater group learn from each other during the rehearsals. Tomorrow La Scala! was screened in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide