Thursday, 21 August 2025

August 22nd  2025

Kangaroo Island
Irena's Vow
The Last Showgirl (streaming on Stan)
More from Indian Film Festival Melbourne

The new Aussie film Kangaroo Island is a standout this week. But, as always, there are several other worthy offerings! 

Kangaroo Island
Dir: Marc Evans
© Maslow Entertainment - delicate, beautifully
acted, witn an excellent narrative
Already garnering praise at festivals, this latest Aussie offering from a first-time director is a tender, sad and at times funny look at ambition, regret, and ultimately the family ties that bind. Lou Wells (Rebecca Breeds) is pursuing a largely unsuccessful career in Hollywood, when she gets a letter from her father Rory (Erik Thomson) asking her to return home. An amusing series of events sees her on the plane with only the clothes she wears. She arrives back at her island childhood home with sister Freya (Adelaide Clemens), husband Ben (Joel Jackson), their kids, and a simmering pot of  family secrets and recriminations. A film of this nature could run the risk of becoming a soapie, but thanks to excellent dialogue and scripting, absolutely believable characters and some of the most stunning cinematography, it soars above the mundane. The cause of the family friction is gradually revealed in flashbacks, while the reasons for being called home only gradually emerge, and will be something many can relate to. Just seeing the island and its iconic wildlife should get tourists flocking, but it is the authenticity of the characters and their story, so beautifully acted by all, that is a major drawcard.
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

Irena's Vow
Dir: Louise Archambault
Length: 121 mins
© - a Holocaust story of courage
Holocaust stories are often a case of truth being stranger than fiction. Here's yet another astonishing true story of how a 19-year-old Polish nurse, Irena Gut (Sophie Nelisse), managed to save Jewish lives through her acts of courage. Studying to be a nurse, when war breaks out, Irena is sent to work first in a factory where several Jews are also forced to work. She is then sent as a housekeeper to a manor commandeered by Nazi officer Rugemer (Dougray Scott). When she hears the Jews are to be rounded up she decides to hide them all in plain sight in the basement of her Nazi employer's villa. Unbelievable! 
Featuring a memorable performance from Nelisse, the film is testament to a gentile woman's compassion and bravery, as she witnesses horrendous brutality to those who protected Jews, yet retains the stength to do what she believes is right. Although the film doesn't break new ground in its style, and is in English (perhaps not the best choice), it is indeed an inspiring story.
3.5 - well recommended 

The Last Showgirl
Dir: Gia Coppola
Length: 88 mins
Streaming on Stan
© Madman  - homage to a dying lifestyle
on the Vegas strip. 
For those who only think of Pamela Anderson as bum, boobs and Baywatch, think again. She shows her acting chops in this film, such that she was nominated for a Golden Globe! This poignant story focuses upon a long-running show in the Las Vegas strip, and its now 50-something year old stalwart Shelly (Pamela Anderson). The show, run by Eddie (a surprisingly tender Dave Bautista) is closing down, and the dancers are faced with what to do with the rest of their lives.  Anderson definitely surprises with the interesting character she portrays - not always likeable, often (impressively) without makeup, but suffused with a poignancy, as her whole identity has been tied up with this show, and many of the younger girls have seen her as a mother figure. Add to this her own daughter Hannah (Billie Lourd) being resentful of her mother's neglect and ashamed of her job, and you have a recipe for all-round sadness. Jamie-lee Curtis gives a star turn as aging alcoholic Annette who now does a sad dance routine in the foyer of a Vegas joint. The costumes are of course dazzling and the film captures the freneticness of getting a show together, although much is about the more mundane side of a supposedly glittering life.
3.5 - well recommended

More from Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM)
On until August 24
Various Cinemas - Hoyts Docklands, Hoyts Chadstone, Village Crown, Geelong, Bendigo, Shepparton and more
To explore the festival, discovering films by language and theme, visit: https://www.iffm.com.au

The festival winds up this weekend, so there's still a chance to catch some excellent films in Melbourne. And if you're in Bendigo, you may like to check out this one:
Shook: This is a gentle story of Ashish, (Sameer Usmani) an aspiring writer living with his mother out in the 'burbs of Ontario Canada. He meets Claire (Amy Forsyth) who is about to relocate to the big smoke of Toronto and they fall into a relationship. Meantime Ash learns that his estranged father Vijay (Bernard White) has Parkinsons, so on every level life is turned upside down. Director Amar Wala strikes a lovely balance between humor, rom-com and personal family drama, delicately intertwined with the issue of how a very Anglo girl and a boy from Indian culture manage their time together. Ash's friends, all from non-Anglo backgrounds, all add a warmth and humor to the story, while Ash's relationship with his mother and father adds yet another very relatable dimension. Commendably, nothing is tied up in a neat bow at the end. It would be nice to see this lovely film get a mainstream release.

Wednesday, 13 August 2025

August 14th  2025

Life of Chuck
Mr Burton
40 Acres
Indian Film Festival

From the sublime, to the theatrical to the apocalyptic - it's all here this week, plus the packed program of the Indian Film Festival. I'm wondering whether the upsurge in horror and apolcalyptic films of late is a sign of our troubled times. 

The Life of Chuck
Dir: Mike Flanagan
© Studio Canal - you won't see a film as
original as this one. So much to unpack! 
Charles "Chuck" Krantz (Tom Hiddleston), an accountant, is your average guy. This is his story, but the film is anything but average. In fact it's quite extraordinary, and is ultimately everyone's story. Told backwards in three chapters, the first opens with what is basically the end of the world. America is physically falling apart and the universe is imploding, yet people try to keep up a sembance of normality despite their fear. Then the reverse narrative (based surprisingly on a Stephen King novella) explores some of the most profound questions we'll ever ask in life. 
What makes our lives meaningful from the largest things to the tiniest moments? What does it all mean? If we knew it was the end, who would we want to be with? For teacher Marty (Chiwetel Ejiofor) it's his ex-wife, nurse Felicia (Karen Gillan.) As Hiddleston says in his interview (referenced below), "moments of spontaneity, joy and connection" are what we remember and what must be constantly sought out.  Marty, in the opening sequence discusses with his students a Walt Whitman poem Song of Myself, in which the poet speaks of us all containing multitudes - we are the sum of all we see and experience, and we must wonder what happens to all that when an individual life ends or the world ends. Chuck is the sum of his life, and moving to the middle chapter (based around a drumming busker) we see him going for broke in a moment of unbridled spontaneity, as reflected in an unforgettable dance sequence that had me rejoicing and crying at the same time. Then we experience Chuck's youth, with three brilliant young actors embodying the character at different points in his early life: Cody Flanagan, Jacob Tremblay and Benjamin Pajak. (Thankfully each young man looks as if he could grow up to look like Hiddleston!) We see how Chuck's grandma (Mia Sara) taught him to dance, with other mesmerising sequences featuring Chuck and his schoolfriend Iris (Violet McGraw) immersing in the joy of dance. But Chuck's grandpa (Mark Hamill) wants him to pursue a practical career. Being Stephen King, it's no surprise there are a couple of near supernatural moments, involving seeing into the future, but the true focus of the film is something both mysterious and pragmatic, profound and basic - life and how we can all celebrate ourselves, our internal universe and the wonders of the cosmos around us.
5 - unmissable 
For an inspiring interview with the director and three of the lead actors, go to:


Mr Burton
Dir: Marc Evans
© Kismet - the teacher who inspired
iconic actor Richard Burton
Richard
 Jenkins (Harry Lawtey) is the son of a drunken Welsh coalminer. Since his mother's death when he was two, Rich has lived with his sister Cis and her husband Elfred. His cheeky but gifted nature draws attention from his schoolteacher Phillip Burton (Toby Jones), who sees something promising in the lad. When Rich declares he'd like to become an actor, Mr Burton takes the boy under his wing, bringing his passion and dedication for theatre to the  relationship. The young Richard Jenkins is destined to become one of the greatest actors of the 20th century, Richard Burton. The depiction of life in Wales in the wartime 1940s is excellent, except where certain smoke-filled mining backgrounds appear digitally inserted. Also at times the musical score becomes overwhelmingly histrionic and the time leap from Richard's first successful performance through to eight years later feels too abrupt. However, despite these criticisms, I find much to love about this film. This is probably one of the best, most moving performances I've seen from Toby Jones, who embodies a complex character whose motivations we can never be 100% sure of. Lawtey inhabits the young Burton, and he so gets the voice, the sneer, and his eyes could almost be those of the great thespian.  Lesley Manville is a winner as Ma, the very proper landlady with whom Mr Burton and, for a time, Richard live. The film gives an insight into a very talented man destined to self-destructive behaviour and excess, while celebrating the inspiring role a single teacher can play in determining a life's journey.
4 - highly recommended

40 Acres
Dir: R.T. Thorne
Length: 113 mins
Exclusive to Cinema Nova
© Rialto - a fierce mother will do anything to
protect her family
In a post-apocalyptic world, a fungal plague has wiped out animal life and most crops. Famine reigns. Small groups of isolated farmers defend their properties against roving bands of survivors who see other humans as a food source. Hayley Freeman (Danielle Deadwyler) lives on a property with her partner Galen (Michael Greyeyes), their three daughters and her teenage son Manny (Kataem O'Connor). Being ex-army, Hayley runs their lives like a general. Everyone must learn to defend the perimeter and to kill when necessary. Strangers are inherently mistrusted. When beautiful young woman Dawn (Milcania Diaz Rojas) turns up injured, Manny decides to help her, imperilling all their lives. This film is an interesting mix of somewhat predictable plotlines and none-too-credible outcomes, but it also has some excellent and unexpected ideas for a narrative grounded in this gory genre. Hayley's former slave ancestors and Galen's indigenous Cree ancestry make for an interesting take on their fierce defence of their land. The action and tension are constant, and though the gore quotient gets pretty bloody, the story had me constantly engaged and invested in the little family's survival. Deadwyler is a standout as the tough matriarch; she is the film's driving heart, though all the cast are an excellent support. Unfortunately at times I found the dialogue a little muffled and hard to follow, but the content of the film is so viscerally frightening, it really works as both a vision of a potentially horrific future, and a celebration of family bonds, family both of blood and of choice.
4 - highly recommended

Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM)
August 14-24
Various Cinemas - Hoyts Docklands, Hoyts Chadstone, Village Crown, Geelong, Bendigo, Shepparton and more
To explore the festival, discovering films by language and theme, visit: https://www.iffm.com.au

The best of Indian cinema hits Melbourne and regional cities, with 75 films screening. I remind you each year, Indian films are much more than Bollywood. Here are movies reflecting the diversity of cultures and languages throughout the vast country, even heading overseas to reflect stories of the Indian diaspora. Many of the films in the festival are only on for one or two sessions. Of course there are many special events - dance competitions, retrospectives, and special guests. With so many excellent films, it's hard to choose, but a couple I've been lucky to preview come highly recommended.
 
Letters from Wolf Street
Aug 16th only 

This excellent documentary already has plenty of awards to its name, including Best Documentary, Best Cinematography and Audience Award at various festivals. Director Arjun Talway has left Delhi and been living in Warsaw for about 10 years. He documents life on the street where he lives, recording the rounds of postman Piotr, and interviewing locals as to how they see their country and how they feel about immigrants. Arjun speaks excellent Polish, but still feels like an outsider searching for a sense of belonging. The nearest he gets to feeling connected is meeting a Polish gypsy family, as they talk of a common heritage. 
In trying to capture the migrant experience, he also interviews Feras, a Syrian refugee who has married a Polish woman, and Chinese immigrant Mo who helps him with the sound recording. His disarming way of questioning folks on the street gets them to open up, and old prejudices emerge. All is underscored by a cheeky soundtrack of jaunty music that belies the seriousness of  change in modern Europe, especally with the rise of right-wing groups. A terrifically insightful, film which is also funny, poignant and entertaining. 

We are Faheem & Karun
Aug 15th and 22nd

It's not often I've seen Indian films exploring gay sexuality, but this, set on the Kashmiri border between India and Pakistan, does so delicately and movingly. Karun (Akash Menon) is an Indian border security guard and a Hindu. Faheem (Mir Tawseef) rides through the border checkpoint on his motorcycle heading home to his Muslim family. The two men's eyes meet and a spark is ignited. But this is conservative Kashmir where mothers are trying to arrange marriages for their sons, and border conflict is ever-present. It's a bit of a Romeo and Juliet story, but with a serious message about prejudice - both towards gay people and those of other faiths and nationalities. Set in the stunning Gurez valley, the film features awesomely beautiful cinematography, and the opening scene, with its haunting music, is memorable. The two lead performances exude a lovely chemistry, making this a very watchable and moving story which is also politically resonant.

I the Song
Aug 15th only

From the tiny country of Bhutan comes their top film, which has also won directorial awards in Europe. It's the story of  young teacher Nima who is assumed to be the star of an explicit sex video. Deeply upset, she goes in search of her lookalike or doppelganger, Meto. What she encounters highlights the clashes between traditional Bhutan and the influence of the modern world, also epitomised by the theft of a sacred song which has been commercially exploited. Tandin Bhida plays both woman, effectively differentiating their opposing personalities, but somehow the use of flashback renders the plot at times confusing. Regardless, the depiction of this traditional world is fascinating, but it is also a world falling into conflict with modernity and digital exploitation. 

Wednesday, 6 August 2025

August 7th 2025

Weapons
Future Council
Missing: Lucie Blackman (streaming on Netflix)
Make it Look Real (streaming on Netflix)


The variety this week couldn't be stronger. A gory comedic horror to make you tremble with fear while laughing, a feel-good Aussie doco of kids fighting for environmental change, and two excellent documentary streamers - how sex scenes are handled in movies, and a missing persons case. 


Weapons
Dir: Zach Cregger
© Universal - an angry parent wants answers 
in this funny, terrifying and very clever story. 
2.17 am and 17 children from the one class climb out of bed and walk off into the night. When teacher Justine Gandy fronts to class next morning, only one child, Alex (Cary Christopher) is at school. Distraught parents direct their anger at the teacher, claiming she, or even Alex, must know something. The local police are equally baffled. And so begins an intriguing and very clever deconstruction of the plot: in different segments, each with someone's name heading it up, we gradually discover what happened, sometimes winding back time and repeating a scene from a new perspective. This makes for great viewing; the fun of putting the pieces together like a jigsaw. Ultimately this is a comic horror, populated by a varied assortment of characters: the hated (and vodka swilling) Justine, 
a local cop and Justine's ex, Paul (Alden Ehrenreich), a concerned parent Archer (Josh Brolin), smarmy school principal, Andrew (Benedict Wong), a neighborhood junkie Anthony (Austin Abrams) and Alex's family, including the rather peculiar Aunt Gladys (Amy Madigan). Creggers talent is how he combines big creepy horror scares with intermittent moments of laugh-out loud comedy. Familiar tropes of reaching for door handles, thumps in the ceiling, and terrifying dreams work extremely effectively, with thoughtful camera angles and suitable soundtrack. Even scenes of ultra-gore retain a bizarre element of humour. The ultimate reveal of what really happened is not quite as intriguing as I might have hoped, but I was never less than entertained. In-depth analysis may unearth possible underlying themes - mass societal panic, the safety and manipulation of children, parental guilt, the use of humans as destructive weapons and more - but overall the film for me succeeds best as a vehicle to shock and entertain. A second viewing may reveal more - if I have the stomach for it!
4 - highly recomended

Future Council
Dir: Damon Gameau
© Rialto - kids confronting adults and suggesting
answers to the world's environmental problems
After putting out a worldwide call from applicants, eco-warrior and director Gameau selects eight 11-year-olds, puts them in a big yellow bus and drives them around Europe. They visit various large corporations, among them Nestle, and the children waste no time in telling the CEOs how they could do their jobs better in terms of environmental damage. These kids are really articulate and passionate about protecting the planet for their own futures. This and their upbeat personalities make for good viewing. Although nothing in the message is new, it is encouraging and uplifting to see such enthusiasm  and commitment from young people. Gameau, another environmental warrior, with his easy-going and likeable nature, adds to the watchability, and this is something you can definitely take the kids to, as seeing other kids involved is a great way to get the messages through.
3.5- well recommended

Make it Look Real
Dir: Kate Blackmore
Length: 78 mins
Streaming on Netflix
© Bonsai - hard at work rehearsing
a simulated sex scene
Ever wondered about those steamy sex scenes in a movie? Are they really doing it? If not, how do they make it look so real? More importantly, how do the actors feel about the whole thing? Must be pretty awkward! Well, nowadays most films have an intimacy coordinator to smooth the process - find the actors' levels of comfortability, explain to them about protective patches and pouches to avoid skin to skin contact, and work with the director on how to angle scenes so they look like the real thing when in fact it is all simulated. This deeply fascinating documentary explores the world of intimacy coordinator Claire Warden, who, with her empathetic and no-nonsense manner puts everyone at ease. Actors Albert Mwangi, Sarah Roberts and Tom Davis work with director Kieran Darcy-Smith on a fictional film, as the group show just how three pivotal sex scenes in the film are created. It's a real eye-opener, and especially important for women in the #metoo era, as many female actors can now feel so much more comfortable knowing that they will not be exploited or forced out of their comfort zones. The doco eschews prurience, and goes for information and insight, especially  into Claire's caring nature and the perceptions of the actors involved. 
4 - highly recommended

Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case 
Dir: Hiyoe Yamamoto
Length: 83 mins
Streaming on Netflix
© Netflix - a father seeks answers to
his daughter's disappearance
A young girls's dream to go on a working holiday in Japan. Every parent's nightmare when they hear their daughter has gone missing. This true-crime documentary looks at the case of missing British tourist Lucie Blackman and her father Tim's quest for answers and justice. Archival footage, reconstruction, interviews and more, reveal a clash of cultures in investigative approaches between Japan and Western countries, . It also exposes a dark underbelly to Japanese society, and the clubs where many foreign women work as hostesses, rendering themselves vulnerable to predators. While the ultimate details of what happened are shocking, the doco doesn't sensationalise, and is both cautionary and worthy watching.
3.5- well recommended