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New FilmsYves Saint LaurentFri 21 March – Thu 27 MarchThere are two bio-pics of the famous fashion designerYves Saint Laurent due out this year, but Jalil Lespert’sversion is the first out of the gate (it will be opening thePanorma section at the Berlin Film Festival) and the onlyone to have been authorised by the St Laurent estate.Based on his biography and made with the blessing ofSt Laurent’s partner Pierre Bergé (still alive age 83), it is atouching and comprehensive look at the life and career ofa fashion icon.A Long Way DownFri 21 March – Thu 27 MarchBased on the irreverent hit novel by Nick Hornby, A LongWay Down is the first English-language film by Frenchdirector Pascal Chaumeil (Heartbreakers). Adaptationsof Hornby’s work for the big screen have been a bit hit(About A Boy) or miss (Fever Pitch) in the past, but with ascreenplay by rising star Jack Thorne (This is England 88,How I Live Now) this new BBC production has all thehallmarks of solid British drama with dark comedicovertones.The setting is New Year's Eve at the top of a Londonskyscraper, and Martin (Pierce Brosnan) is literally on theedge. A once-beloved TV personality, he's now desperateto jump, but he's not alone. Single mother Maureen (ToniCollette), sassy teen Jess (Imogen Poots), and musicianturned pizza-delivery boy JJ (Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul),have all turned up on the same roof with the same plan.Instead of jumping, these complete strangers make apact to stay alive and stay together, until Valentine's Dayat least. Both funny and poignant, A Long Way Downfollows an unlikely group of friends as they try to pullback from the brink.Although a little less showy than Marion Cottilard’stransformation as Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose, PierreNiney does a remarkable job in capturing the man’sunique mannerisms, his physical presence and alsohis exacting standards and killer design instinct. AtSt Laurent’s first solo runway show, he meets Bergé, awealthy businessman from a working-class background(played by Guillaume Gallienne, star of Me, Myself andMum, which screened at DCA recently in the FrenchFilm Festival). Their relationship both professional andpersonal would last a lifetime.For fashion historians or simply lovers of fashion, there isa lot of ground covered here with plenty of “look it’s KarlLargerfeld!” type cameos appearing throughout. Gallienneand Niney (both permanent members of the ComedieFrancaise) are both terrific, but the real stars here are theclothes. With much of the films wardrobe being drawnout of the St Laurent archives, there is no denying therevolutionary impact that this great man had on the waywe dress today.Dir: Jalil LespertFrance 2014 / 1h44m / DigitalFrench with English subtitles / cert tbcSenior Citizen Kane Club screening Thu 27 March, 10:30Despite its comedy credentials, A Long Way Downreveals some important truths about modern life – ourfear of failure, our desire for perfect love, and ultimately,what it is we really need to survive and be happy.Dir: Pascal ChaumeilUK 2014 / 1hr36m / Digital / 15Bring a Baby screening Thu 27 March, 10:3010 www.dca.org.uk