Feature Film & TV

Seat in Shadow

Tagline

The debut feature film of renowned artist filmmaker Henry Coombes

Details

Watch the Trailer Here

Seat in Shadow had it's world premiere at Edinburgh International Film Festival where it was in competition for the Micael Powell Award for Best British Feature, and Best Actor in a British Feature

Synopsis

La Belle Allee Productions is delighted to present Seat In Shadow, a feature length film by Henry Coombes, in which the quiet domesticity of reclusive artist Albert is pitted against the raucous self absorption of gay youth cultures' excesses, in a hilarious exploration of analytical extremes. When he's challenged by his good friend Marcelle to apply his years of psychotheraputic experience to curing her lazy homosexual grandson Ben of his inertia and fear of happiness in a cold dark Scotland, a fantastic journey of wit and imagination unfolds, as Albert attempts to get to the root of what's making Ben so afraid - with the help of You Tube advice guru Petunia and a cheese plant.

A bravura performance by actor David Sillars makes Coombes debut feature a witty and delightful joy, while still retaining all the hallmarks of a truly original and authentic artist film-maker...Seat in Shadow is a tour de force of bravaura film-making. Exploring the connections between consciousness and creativity, filmmaker Henry Coombes challenges the view to assume the posture of a voyeur, encouraging them to see the role of psychosynethesis therapy as a means to get to heart of the problems besetting the beleaguered boy bugged by unhappiness...

Reviews:

Kiltr
Henry Coombes is one of the most eccentric and original artists currently working in Scotland, with an eclectic body of work ranging through both painting and film....

Seat in Shadow is probably the most unhinged film ever made in the city, but in a good way; it's also one of the funniest. It completely bucks the trend in cinematic representations of the city, by being as far removed from the cliches of the hard man or working class images associated with the city as possible. Indeed it's the queerest film ever made in Scotland, with a key plot point revolving around the hairiness of one character's arsehole, Coombes appearing in drag as an internet help guru, and the largest (indeed, possibly the first) phallus in Scottish cinema...

But Coombes works wonders on a tiny budget, using his artistic talent resourcefully, coming up with a totally original view of the city. Seat in Shadow is the most original and promising feature debut I've seen by a Scottish-based director in some time, and confirms my suspicion that art schools are turning out better filmmakers than film schools are.

Flick Feast
Exploring sexuality, communication, self-doubt, and much more, Seat In Shadow is a film that uses every scene to connect inner space and outer space in a way that is enjoyably cerebral without ever feeling too smug. The script is bubbling with fun lines and exchanges, and the camerawork moves between impressive imagery, such as a houseplant turned into a jungle terrain, or a jar of dirty water, being used to clean paintbrushes, depicted as something akin to a micro-universe in turmoil...

Albert is always the main reason to keep watching. He's a fantastic creation.

Image Tag

Feature Film