Red Eye opens on Friday

Definitely not racist, FOUND loving music at Cabaret Voltaire

Red Eye is the great name for a new film club opening in Leith on Friday 5 September (great whether you are suffering from four long weeks of festival or not). Don’t miss the first night’s screening of Who Shot the Sheriff with fantastic footage of the Clash, Misty in Roots, Estelle, Ms Dynamite and Hard-Fi among others. This history of Rock against Racism (now Love Music Hate Racism) kicks off at 7pm in Pilmeny Youth Club, 44 Buchanan Street. It’s just off Leith Walk and it’s free!

At the end of a list of great films you see events are organised by Leith Walk Central branch of the Labour Party. Dig a little deeper and you will find the man behind the Red Eye film club is Mike Cowley, a lecturer in politics at Telford College and active supporter of Leith Open Space, who promises the best in socialist and radical film-making. But, Mike adds, you don’t have to be a lefty film-buff to join the club: “We aim to show unusual, rare and unique presentations, as well as more well-kent fare, and all are welcome.”

Each monthly event will begin with a short scene-setting introduction and end with time for lively discussion. Here’s Mike’s summary of just a few of the films in the Red Eye library which he says is “broad and wide, and ranges from the sublime to the ridiculous!”

Who Shot the Sheriff? – (Alan Miles; 2005). The history of Rock against Racism (now Love Music Hate Racism), from the moment a still unrepentant Eric Clapton unleashed his racist bile to the RAR’s earliest gigs. A master class in grass-roots rebellion!

The Conformist – (Bertolucci; 1970). Based on Albert Moravia’s 1951 novel this remains a sinister, beautifully shot meditation on the Fascist mentality. Jean Paul Trintignant plays Marcello Clerici as the pallid bureaucrat and potential assassin.

The Intruder – (Roger Corman; 1962). ‘He Fed Their Fears and Turned Neighbour Against Neighbour!’ So went the tagline for this 60s oddity. William Shatner plays the racist, anti-Semitic agent-provocateur in this Southern Gothic melodrama. Not one for unreconstructed Trekkies!

Hearts and Minds – (Peter Davis; 1974). A rare chance to see this Oscar-winning documentary on the Vietnam War. Combining archive footage and interviews from both sides of the political and military trenches, ‘Hearts and Minds’ has been an inspiration for a generation of film-makers such as Michael Moore, though not Frank Sinatra, who denounced it while comparing the Oscars of that year.

Thanks to FOUND for the picture taken by Jen Owens capturing singer Ziggy Campbell belting out the lyrics:

“Can we drop down the guards and think about the good times, I hope that when we’re sober we remember what it’s all about”