Hello Magazine – Thursday 18th August, 2005

The city of Edinburgh gave a hearty Scottish welcome to an Irish heart-throb and a quintessentially English gentleman when Gabriel Byrne and his friend Richard E Grant jetted into town this week. Both men were clearly delighted by the reception they received as they arrived, along with a heavily pregnant Emily Watson, to open the city’s annual film festival.

Loud cheers from a throng of movie fans greeted the trio as they took to the red carpet for the premiere of their new film Wah-Wah. And Richard, who is making his directorial debut with the movie, could barely contain his emotion upon seeing the excited crowd. “I’m just so glad everybody is here and that the film happened and that when people see it they laugh and they are moved,” he said.

The Withnail And I star also wrote the flick, which is a semi-autobiographical tale about a boy who sees his family disintegrate just as British rule in Swaziland comes to an end. Wednesday night was an especially significant moment for the actor, who grew up in the African country, as he has spent the last six years working on bringing the story to the big screen.

And he wasn’t the only one feeling enthusiastic. The production’s handsome leading man on equally effusive form. “It was the best experience I’ve ever had, either in the theatre or in the movies,” declared the Usual Suspects star. “For some reason, because of some strange chemistry that nobody could predict, this group of people bonded in a way that I have never experienced before and the film was truly the most enjoyable and satisfying experience I’ve ever had.”

The Herald – Thursday 18th August, 2005

By Phil Miller and Brian Donnelly

The 59th Edinburgh International Film Festival opened last night with a series of stars attending the opening film – the directorial debut of Richard E Grant, the actor.

The star of Withnail and I and Gosford Park said he was “slightly constipated, terrified, exuberant, and exhilarated” that his film, Wah-Wah, was opening the annual festival.

The semi-autobiographical film received its world premiere at the event, although it has yet to receive a distribution deal for UK cinemas.

Although the festival is sometimes criticised for not attracting “A-list” stars to the capital, Grant was joined yesterday by Gabriel Byrne, the heavily pregnant Emily Watson, and Julian Wadham at the launch of the film.

Wah-Wah tells the story of a man whose family’s disintegration mirrors the end of British rule in Swaziland. Grant grew up in the African country and the film was the first to be shot there.

At the red-carpet launch last night, Grant said his elderly mother, still in Africa, would be too ill to attend screenings in the UK. He said instead he would send her a DVD of a film that is partly about her family.

He also revealed he has a long-lost brother. Grant said he had no idea where his sibling now is, but did not elaborate on whether he had tried to reach him, and offered no further details.

His story focuses on 11-year-old Ralph Compston, who witnesses his mother’s adultery with his father’s best friend, leaving Ralph to contend with the disapproval of the local expatriate community.

Grant said: “I’m just so glad that everybody is here and that the film happened and that when people see it they laugh and they are moved.”

He said he “levitated and jumped up and down on the sofa” when he heard his film would open the festival. The symbolism of having the Swaziland-set film, where he was born, debuting in Scotland, where his wife, Joan, was born in Aberdeen, made him particularly pleased.

“People are so encouraging and come to find something that’s new,” he said. “We couldn’t ask for a better launch.”

Byrne, the Irish actor known for films such as The Usual Suspects, said making the film was one of the most memorable events in his career.

“I think that it was the best experience I’ve ever had, either in the theatre or in the movies, working with a group of people, and Africa I won’t be able to forget,” he said.

“For some reason, because of some strange chemistry that nobody could predict, this group of people bonded in a way that I have never experienced before, and the film was truly the most enjoyable and satisfying experience I have ever had.”

Shane Danielsen, director of the EIFF, said that Grant’s film was “better than I could have ever hoped for as an opening night film”. The festival will also finish with a British film, the gangster movie The Business.

Famous faces attending the premiere last night included Anthony Minghella, the director, Brian Cox, the actor, Jack McConnell, and Patricia Ferguson, culture minister.

The creation of the film has been a lengthy process for Grant, who spent nearly six years getting his story filmed. He wrote the story over a two-and-a-half month period towards the end of 1999 and spent the next five years raising funds for the project and getting a cast.

Grant said: “I’m sure you will be aware that securing a cast of this calibre and getting money for a film that doesn’t have explosions or group sex is a bit like juggling with jelly and water at the same time, so it’s a miracle that we’re here. I wanted to do this before I turned 50 and I just squeezed that in in the last seconds of time.”

Grant paid tribute to his fellow cast members, saying: “When I watch it again I’m in awe and admiration of what all the people have done in it.”

Other home-grown films to be featured during the festival are the UK premiere of Asylum, starring Sir Ian McKellen and Natasha Richardson, and Green Street, about football hooligans, starring Elijah Wood, who played Frodo in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Wood is expected to appear in Edinburgh, as is Jason Biggs, star of the American Pie series, whose latest film is Guy X.

The festival runs until August 28.

Highlights
Today: Anthony Minghella, a public interview.
August 20-22: On a Clear Day, starring Peter Mullan.
August 23, 24: Green Street, starring Elijah Wood.
August 24,26: Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist, the first chance to see it in UK.
August 26: Peeping Tom, a Michael Powell film.
August 22,24: Serenity, a new film from Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
August 24, 26: Gypo, first radical “dogme” no-frills film made in Britain.

The Glasgow Daily Record – Thursday 18th August, 2005

Star Richard E Grant was bursting with pride as his Scottish in-laws came to see the world premiere of his new film in Edinburgh.

Wah Wah sees Grant step behind the camera as a director for the first time.

The story is based on his life growing up in Swaziland and stars Gabriel Byrne, Emily Watson and Nicholas Hoult.

Last night, the stars were out in force for the gala premiere which opened the city’s International Film Festival.

And Grant revealed his Scottish wife, Joan, had relatives coming to see the screening at the Cineworld complex.

Speaking beforehand, Grant said: “My wife is Scottish and I have spent a fair amount of time here”The fact the film was made in Swaziland and is being premiered here seems quite right for me.

“She is from Aberdeen and people are coming down for it.

“When I heard Edinburgh were taking it, I jumped up and down on the sofa. I am really, really pleased and grateful it is showing here.”

Gabriel Byrne claims the film was his best ever acting job.

He said: “Africa, I have never been able to forget. This film was the most enjoyable and satisfying experience I have ever had.”

Emily Watson, who is seven months pregnant, said: “It was the most exhilarating time.”

Nicholas Hoult, who plays the young Richard E Grant, admitted he was terrified at first.

He said: “I got really nervous and I didn’t want to let him down.

“But I lost that once I got on set and Richard gave me some praise.”

The film festival runs until August 28.

Inside Out Films Online – Thursday 18th August, 2005

Richard E Grant’s Wah-Wah opens the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

By Kotleta
http://www.iofilm.co.uk/

It’s August and I’m wearing painful strappy sandals, hangover sunglasses and want to vomit. It must be festival time.

With the sun in the sky and a whole host of celebrities to stalk, I went to the Wah-Wah press conference at the Sheraton to find out if Richard E Grant really does shop at Argos. Judging from his permatan glow of wealth and health, and the rather smart suit that looked expensively Italian, I would say not.

As you should know from reading The Wolf’s review, Wah-Wah is the semi-autobiographical story of Grant’s youth out in Swaziland. It’s an ensemble piece with a cast who said that it was ‘Terrifying, exciting, a huge experience…’, ‘the most enjoyable and satisfying experience I’ve ever had’, and generally had a fabulous time all round. So no surprises there. How cool would it be if they all sat round glaring bitterly at each other and made barbed comments about wigs, personal hygiene and ill-fated ‘relationships’ with soap stars? Alas, it was not to be, and they looked more like friends than just people forced by circumstance to share air.

The stars were out in force, with an almost full cast turn out. Nicholas Hoult, fresh from the second film in which he had to sing with his eyes shut, looked alarmingly grown-up.

Emily Watson had the radiance of a woman who is seven and a half months pregnant and looking well on it and Gabriel Byrne seemed a bit bemused. When asked if he felt like a festival veteran, having attended last year as well, he rambled on a good bit about appearing in plays at the fringe yonks ago, and then remembered the question and asked, “I wasn’t here last year, was I?” I can sympathise. So many parties, so little sleep. It’s no wonder brain cells die.

Celia Imrie and Julie Walters sadly didn’t make it, apparently due to work commitments – perhaps they couldn’t get anyone to cover down at Acorn Antiques.

As is always the case when you are lazy and ill-prepared for these things, I couldn’t think of any questions until ten minutes after it ended, when I really, really wanted to ask if any of Richard’s family are still talking to him. Never mind. His Reel Life interview with Shane (who admits to having watched Spiceworld three times) is tomorrow afternoon, so if you find out – let me know.

The evening premiere was an arduous task for the cast, as they had a packed schedule of intros and bows to take. As we left the cinema and hopped on a bus to the party, they were still hard at it with another few shows to go.

The whisky flows

Famous Grouse are one of this year’s festival sponsors, so we were greeted on arrival with a free ginger grouse cocktail. Well, we weren’t because we walked right past them in blind pursuit of something to eat, but by the time I’d gone back and sampled three (or possibly five), I was starting to lose my aversion to whisky.

The party had a sixties cocktail theme which was only embraced by the brave and foolhardy few, but there was enough drinking and dancing to compensate for the sad lack of safari suits and hippies. Further to the slebcount, I spotted Brian Cox, Ray from River City, Keith who made ‘The Devil’s Miner’, and a man who looked like Will Young but was actually just someone in a stupid hat. Esther from the Cornerhouse cinema in Manchester (celebrating their 20th anniversary this year) also spotted lookalikes of Paris Hilton and Farah Fawcett Majors, but I wasn’t convinced. It was a bit dark though, so half of Hollywood might have been standing beside us and we just didn’t notice.

Lots of films to see and press conferences to be late for, so ciao for now.

Wah-Wah film review by The Wolf
Wah-Wah film review by Scottie

Another article courtesy of Sue W. This one is from The Sunday Times:

Emily Watson was wary of taking a part in Wah Wah, Richard E Grant’s directorial debut, but the script won her over.

Emily Watson has just returned to her London home after nipping out to buy a loaf of bread. “It’s the most exciting thing I’ve done all day,” she says, laughing apologetically. But her domesticity doesn’t end there; she has also been clearing the spare room and putting up shelves.

Seven months pregnant with her first child, she is busy getting the baby’s room ready in the Bermondsey home she shares with her former actor husband Jack Waters.

“I feel like a 10 ton truck,” says Watson, laughing, something she does a lot. “I’ve been very lucky, I haven’t suffered from morning sickness. I’m enjoying having time to be at home and get organised.”

It sounds terribly unshowbizzy but then Watson, 38, is resolutely down-to-earth. Best known for her remarkable, raw performance in Lars von Trier’s searing 1996 film Breaking the Waves, which won her the first of two Oscar nominations, she has been continuously employed on both sides of the Atlantic for the last decade. But despite meaty roles in Angela’s Ashes, Gosford Park, the Hannibal Lecter prequel Red Dragon and The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, Watson could still walk down most high streets without drawing a second glance.

Read the whole article here.