This film is part of Rentals

Set Fire to the Stars
A young, ambitious professor tries to tame fire when Dylan Thomas accepts his invitation to tour America.
Director: Andy Goddard
Overview
A young, ambitious professor tries to tame fire when Dylan Thomas accepts his invitation to tour America. Elijah Wood is the academic and Celyn⨠Jones the poet in the monochrome New York of 1950. Their battle rests on the response to poetry: Lit Crit certainty vs unchained emotion. It compels, but what the film is made memorable by a supporting cast who include Shirley Henderson, Kevin Eldon and Kelly Reilly.
Such smart casting bodes well for Andy Goddard, who creates a visually rich, emotionally solid work for his first feature. A score by Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals is a further sign of a director aware that great filmmaking derives from inspired collaboration.
Related

Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other
Documentary 100 mins Director: Manon Ouimet and Jacob Perlmutter
A creative artist couple navigate love and ageing in this brave, fascinating documentary.

Twiggy Twiggy
Documentary 2024 94 mins Director: Sadie Frost
International supermodel, actor, singer and one of the most iconic British figures β this is the real story of Twiggy.

William Tell William Tell
Action and Adventure 2024 133 mins Director: Nick Hamm
A peaceful huntsman is thrust into the heart of the resistance following an Austrian Empire invasion, in this gripping retelling of a timeless legend.

A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things
Biopic 2024 88 mins Director: Mark Cousins
A striking portrait of an artist deserving of greater recognition, directed by Mark Cousins (A Story of Film).

Jackie Jackie
Biopic 2017 100 mins Director: Pablo LarraΓn
Natalie Portman is exceptional as the iconic First Lady who has to quickly adjust to the world-shaking trauma of her husbandβs assassination.

I, Tonya I, Tonya
Biopic 2017 120 mins Director: Craig Gillespie
Athlete. Champion. Villain. Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie) played them allβ¦

Bypass Bypass
Drama 2015 105 mins Director: Duane Hopkins
Duane Hopkinsβ follow up to Better Things is a striking, poetic drama about a young man on the edge.

Dark Horse Dark Horse
Documentary 2015 86 mins Director: Louise Osmond
The inspirational, larger-than-life true story of how a group of friends in a poor mining village took on the elite 'sport of kings' and breed themselves a racehorse.

Just Jim Just Jim
Comedy 2015 84 mins Director: Craig Roberts
Craig Roberts (Submarine) directs and stars in a quirky comedy about a loner whose lowly life is transformed when an American rebel moves in next door.

Submarine Submarine
Comedy 2011 97 mins Director: Richard Ayoade
Richard Ayoadeβs sweet and quirky directorial debut about a Swansea teenβs travails with his distant girlfriend and warring parents.

Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other Two Strangers Trying Not to Kill Each Other
Documentary 100 mins Director: Manon Ouimet and Jacob Perlmutter
A creative artist couple navigate love and ageing in this brave, fascinating documentary.

The Last Showgirl The Last Showgirl
Drama 2024 89 mins Director: Gia Coppola
Golden Globe-nominated Pamela Anderson is enchanting as the Las Vegas showgirl whose stage show is set to close.

Dust & Metal Dust & Metal
Documentary 2022 82 mins Director: Esther Johnson
Discover unfamiliar histories of Vietnam through Esther Johnsonβs poetic documentary on the countryβs love affair with the motorbike.

Mogwai: If the Stars Had a Sound Mogwai: If the Stars Had a Sound
Documentary 2024 91 mins Director: Antony Crook
Celestial sonic odyssey charting the cult Scottish bandβs expansive career from the mid-90s to their tenth studio album written during lockdown.

Flow Flow
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2024 85 mins Director: Gints Zilbalodis
Oscar-winning animated adventure about an unlikely group of animals who must work together to survive a natural disaster.

Invasion Invasion
Science Fiction 1966 79 mins Director: Alan Bridges
An alien fugitive, injured in a road accident, pitches up at a rural hospital. But when two intergallactic pursuers arrive, things start to heat up...