September 19th 2025
Kangaroo
Bolero
More from Italian Film Festival
The Thursday Murder Club (streaming)
With school holidays upon us, don't miss taking the whole family to Kangaroo. There's also something for music lovers, Italian cinephiles, and fans of old-style British murder mystery. Dare I say, something for everyone!
 |
| © StudioCanal - cute and heartwarming |
Sydney TV weatherman Chris Masterman (Ryan Corr) gets sacked from his job and heads to WA to take up a new position. En route he becomes stranded in the town of Silver Gum, after his car hits a kangaroo. The joey he rescues from the dead kanga's pouch will change his life. Twelve-year-old local girl Charlie (Lily Whitely), new to the Red Centre with her recently widowed mother Rosie (Deborah Mailman) also has a passion for kangaroos, and she and Chris form a friendship, with Lily coaching him on how to rear and care for a young joey. This fictionalised tale is loosely inspired by the real life of Chris "Brolga" Barns, who set up a kangaroo sanctuary in Alice Springs years ago, and still rescues joeys to this day. But this fictionalised narrative ultimately has many more layers than the real-life story. We follow Chris's journey from up-himself TV personality, to humbled human who has to do a lot of self-examination. Alongside him is a young lonely girl grieving her father and finding her connection to Country and Mob, along with new friends. Of course the story hinges on the beautful connection between animals and humans, and those humans finding their place in the world. Corr brings a great blend of humour and likeability to his character, while young Whitely in her debut role is a total star in the making. Supporting cast are all notable, and highlight the way Indigenous culture is an intrinsic part of Alice Springs where this film is shot. The visual settings are gorgeous, and the starring Joeys adorable. With a strong story line, great insight into Aboriginal culture, and an embracing warmth and positivity, this is a wonderful new Aussie film for people of all ages to revel in.4 - highly recommended
Bolero
 |
© Palace - the story behind the world's
sexiest piece of music |
In 1928, Russian dancer Ida Rubenstein (Jeanne Balibar) commissioned a young French composer to write a short piece of music for her, stipulating that it be highly erotic. And so Maurice Ravel (Raphael Personnaz) composed a 17-minute piece of music that, apparently, is still played around the world today once every 15 minutes. That piece is Bolero and this is the story of the man who created it. Personnaz embodies the melancholy composer, full of self doubt but constantly mentally scouring his surroundings for the sounds that will both haunt him and inspire his iconic piece. Emmanuelle Devos is Ravel's loyal pianist and supportive friend Marguerite, while Doria Tillier adds a poignancy as the beautiful Misia, an unattainable romantic interest for Ravel. Director Anne Fontaine is skilled at capturing a defined historical period, lending the movie a visual loveliness. It is also a rather poignant examination of a sad man, who composed many fine works, but seems ultimately defined by the one iconic piece. This is a treat for music lovers.
3.5 - well recommended
More from St Ali Italian Film Festival 2025
Melbourne until 16 Oct
Palace Cinemas all over Melbourne
The festival is now in full swing, so let's look at a couple more that I've previewed.
Outside (Fuori): Multi award-winning actress in both Italian and English speaking films, Valeria Golino, plays feminist writer Goliarda Sapienza who, after a brief stint in a Rome jail, rediscovers her joy in life through friendships formed with other women she met in prison. Matilda de Anglis is noteworthy as Roberta, a drug-addicted ex-con who forms an especially close bond with Goliarda. While being an interesting study of female friendships crossing class barriers, the film is a bit too slow moving for my taste, and doesn't ever reveal just why Sapienza was considered such an excellent writer.
The Thursday Murder Club
Dir: Chris Columbus
Length: 118 mins
Streaming on Netflix
 |
© Netflix - British acting royalty in a
fun whodunnit |
Four amazing stars from the pantheon of British actors: Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Sir Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie. A good start! Add to the mix a super supporting cast and you could have something amazing. Well, amazing it isn't, nor is it ground-breaking, but it sure is old-fashioned, entertaining British fun. Sometimes one just wants a movie with minimal challenge, to entertain and divert, and this could fit the bill. Four friends in a retirement village amuse themselves trying to solve cold cases, until real-life murder shows up on their doorstep. Daniel Mays adds many laughs as the hapless detective, Naomie Ackie plays policewoman Donna who gets in cahoots with the oldies, David Tennant is the nasty land-developing owner of the village, and along with the likes of Jonathan Pryce and Richard E Grant you have enough acting clout to carry a plot that, while fairly basic, is engaging, funny, and not without a few surprises. And fortunately, the retirees are portrayed respectfully, as more than diddering oldies, such that we don't get cheap laughs at their expense! 3.5 - well recommended
No comments:
Post a Comment