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BANFF BANTZ
You're right, it ain't the swan pond at Cannon Hill Park. It's real life Iceland in all its rugged and forbidding glory, and it's a still from Why? a movie by the sounds-like-a-detective-but-definitely isn't, Hugo Clouseau. And you can totally see this stonking great movie at the Town Hall as part of the Banff Mountain Film Festival's World Tour. The seven-minuter follows a crew of French kayakers travelling to the remote seascape, asking the question all adventure sports sorts have at some point: “Why do we do this?”. Take in Why? as part of the nine-filmed blue programme (at 2.30pm), or opt for the red programme (at 7.30pm), which includes the awesome-looking Ice Call, to get a new perspective on the mythical Mer de Glace — a valley glacier at the heart of Mont Blanc. Moments of high adrenaline, intense serenity, and a whole lot of pretty guaranteed. For one day only: on Saturday, March 3 at the Town Hall, tickets are £13.
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THIS ONE'S FOR YOU, MA
Remember that period last year when calling your Mum between 7pm and 7.15pm was sacrilege, and a dark-sounding chap called Rob Titchener kept appearing in your eventual chat, despite nobody in your family being called Rob? The Winslow Boy is coming to The Rep, and the most hated man in the history of The Archers (Titchener was played by Timothy Watson, pictured) takes the role of a barrister defending naval cadet Ronnie Winslow. Based on real events, the 1946 production looks at class and political hypocrisy, following the story of Winslow, who is expelled from naval college for stealing a postal order. Directed by Olivier award-nominated Rachel Kavanaugh, The Winslow Boy's in town from Feb 21 to March 3. Tickets
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FILM PICK: THE SHAPE OF WATER
Yes, this is the one about a woman falling in love with a fish. Yes, you can make jokes. And yes, it’s entirely superb. Director Guillermo Del Toro is in full Pan’s Labyrinth mode, delivering another fairytale where the darkness of the world is processed through the fantastical, without ever defanging it. We’re in Cold War Baltimore, and the brilliant Sally Hawkins is Elisa, the isolated, mute janitor of a government lab that takes delivery of a mysterious amphibian man who lives in a tank. Her growing bond with him and increasing friction with her bosses is the meat of the film, but there’s also a non-cloyingly-delivered plea for tolerance and generosity that, in the present moment, builds into something incredibly moving. Times & trailer
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EVERYBODY LOVES RAMEN
In the market for some good and warm-making news? Following stints at Adam's and Purnell's Bistro, the former head chef of the latter is launching Lucky Duck, on the same JQ street as Otto no less. The 20-cover noodle and bao bar takes its name from its signature, steaming duck and pak choi noodle soup (£9), and we'll definitely be getting on close terms with the sticky pork belly and apple buns (£4) to start. Opening by the end of Feb Tuesdays to Saturdays, you can do the whole stalky stalky thing right here.
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Venue: Colbeh Persian Kitchen & Bar, 207 Hagley Road, B16 9RE; Facebook
Choice: Shah Platter (£34.95; for two) Chooser: Owner/manager
"Second comes right after first!" said Buzz Aldrin, spiritedly, on The Simpsons. It sure does Buzz! And on Tripadvisor's best restaurants in Brum (at the time of writing), Adam's was the Neil Armstrong of proceedings with Buzz represented by Colbeh. Colbeh? The second best restaurant in the city? Leaping into action (via Purnell's Bistro and Primitivo and Loki and Pub Du Vin) we arrived to find every table in the wonderfully weird Hagley Road Persian booked up. Devoid of self-respect we begged and it paid off. Tabled and beered our elation was curtailed when we discovered the recommended starter, Kashke Bademjan (aubergine, saffron and qurt sauce, £4.95) was not to our liking. Qurt. We've researched it extensively (Googled it once) and have no idea what it is. The main though, the Shah Platter, immediately redeemed matters. A dish so substantial Alec Guinness would feel the need to warn you that it's "no moon", it comes with lamb fillet, saffron chicken, minced meat skewers, lamb chops and chicken wings. Enough for two, minimum, all this comes with buttered saffron rice and sits atop a whopping great naan bread that catches all the juice. Everything on the plate, and we mean everything, was excellent but the saffron chicken triggered an out of body experience we didn't think was possible without a heater and some serious smelling salts. Saffron chicken, big in 2018. Qurt, not so much. Menu
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