May 10
American Essentials Film Festival
Chappaquidick
On Body and Soul
Midnight Oil: 1984

I lead off this week with a festival that I simply love every year. It's a great opportunity to catch the best of US indie film making, and this year music figures strongly. Keeping to the theme, I also review an Aussie doco on "the Oils" so it's a treat for music lovers. Also a couple of strong feature films. 

American Essentials Film Festival
Melbourne May 10-20
Palace Kino, Astor
www.americanessentials.com.au

This festival is among my favourites. It always reaffirms my faith in the American film industry, as being something far greater than the usual highly promoted, stereotyped mainstream offerings, featuring comic heroes, ditzy girls, and all manner of sloppily written scripts (which is not to say there aren't some great mainstream films.) But here are films with a sensibility more akin to European arthouse - smart, often understated, low budget, and just the best of independent US film-making. As well as two films from years ago, focussing upon the LA Afro-American community, there are also three old classics: Chinatown, Heat and Shampoo. 

How They Got Over

Oh the joy!! so many wonderful films about music, 

black culture and so much more in this splendid

festival. 

I love music documentaries. Here the director traces the origins of African-American gospel groups, especially the quartets. There are interviews with now aging or dead members of the groups, along with some very rare archival footage. The sound that became so popular on the so-called "chittlin circuit" of the 1930s and 40s was a precursor to the early rock n roll, soul and RnB sound. Those individuals, like Sam Cooke, who escaped the gospel groups and went over to the the "dark side" - namely pop music - were the ones who "got over". The harmonies and finger-clicking rhythms are mesmerising. making this a music lovers' must-see movie.  

Outside In
Indie director Lynn Shelton has co-written this story with her lead actor, Jay Duplass. It is the story of Chris (Duplass) who has just got out of jail serving 20 years for a crime he didn't commit. He re-connects with his old high school teacher Carol (Edie Falco) who was instrumental in fighting for his release. Lost and unsure of his place in the world. Chris develops an intense bond with Carol. This is subtle and moving story-telling with strong lead performances and a theme that is as challenging as it is compassionate. 

Humour Me

Nate, impressively played byFlight of the Conchord's Jemaine Clement, is a writer in crisis - his latest work is getting nowhere, and his wife has decided to leave him taking their young child. With nowhere to go except his father's home in a retirement village, Nate feels his life has lost all purpose. But when he is co-opted by the residents to produce a version of The Mikado, things look up. Elliot Gould as the incessant joke-telling father, Bob, is a terrific foil for Clement, and all the other "oldies" play their parts with alacrity. Although the story is reasonably predictable it's told with affection, humour, and a goodly dose of pathos.

Killer of Sheep
Made in 1978, this film won a major festival prize three years later. Made in gritty black and white, it is a searing insight into Afro-American life in Watts, a poor suburb of LA in the 70s. It's possibly as authentic a vision of black life in that era as you've ever seen on screen. Stan works in a slaughterhouse, and becomes increasingly jaded with his work and his family. Intellectual critics (unlike moi)  liken it to Italian neorealistic cinema. Not a lot happens - it's more a series of vignettes of the monotony of daily life and the emotions and relationships of the characters. (If you're squeamish about abbatoirs, beware!)

WattsStax
The Los Angeles suburb of Watts was the scene of violent rioting in the mid 1960s. Seven years later, Stax Records put on a concert, and this is the footage of that concert, along with a vision of the era in which the "black is beautiful" movement had its upsurge. Again, it is a rare view into black culture and black music of the era, and fans of 70s rock, soul and blues can hear some mighty fine music. 

Stuck
The stage musical of the same name has been turned into a film, about six strangers trapped in a temporarily stalled train in the New York subway. There's the homeless man, an America-Korean ballet dancer, a young artist who seems to be stalking the dancer, a young black woman, an illegal Mexican labourer and an older white woman. Gradually their life stories are revealed, through dialogue and songs. It's a salutary lesson on not judging books by their covers. The songs are seriously good both musically and lyrically and the number of weighty themes that are covered in a 90 minute film are surprising. This is a treat for lovers of a thought-provoking musical, and features a stand-out performance by Giancarlo Esposito as the homeless man. 

Pet Names
This is a bitter-sweet drama/comedy about Leigh, a young woman who has dropped out of college to care for her dying mother. Needing a break, and having no-one to accompany her on a short camping trip, she invites Cam, her ex boyfriend along. This could sound hackneyed, but it is anything but. The acting is compelling, the characters feel absolutely real, and as an audience we feel deeply for them all. The film features stunning cinematography which pays homage to the beauty of American national parks.  

American Folk
Two real-life folk singers Joe Purdy and Amber Rubarth portray Elliott and Joni who are on a plane which is turned back to LA after the 9/11 attacks. In a desperate effort to get back to New York for their various commitments, they get into an old van and head off cross-country. En route they meet a variety of eccentric folk, get to know each other and sing up a storm. Nothing highly dramatic happens, but fortunately also nothing very predictable - just some splendid big country scenery, a gentle plot, and a lot of songs that pay tribute to the fine old tradition of folk.
4.5 - American Essentials Film Festival  is wholeheartedly recommended!

Chappaquidick
Director: John Curran
Length: 101 min

© Transmission - terrific look at yet another 
tragedy for the ill-fated Kennedy family

Senator Ted Kennedy (Jason Clarke) made headlines in 1969 when he drove his car off a bridge, killing a young campaign strategist Mary Joe Kopechne (Kate Mara). Kennedy failed to report the crime for nine hours, leading to cover-ups, lies and a media feeding frenzy. Even though the facts of the film are part of history, this is a gripping recreation of the events, and a timely look at the corruption and ambition that invariably goes with politics. Clarke's portrayal of Kennedy is of a man who felt he lived in the shadow of his brothers, and was treated as a disappointment by his father (an excellent Bruce Dern). It's a smart performance from Clarke, as the senator lurches from evoking the audience's sympathy, through to their contempt. This is yet another intriguing look into past political scandals, with resonance, as always, for current times. 
4 - highly recommended!

On Body and Soul
Director: Ildiko Enyedi
Length: 116 min

© Paricheh  - about as unusual a romance as 

I've seen in a long time

This beautiful and strikingly unusual Hungarian film won three major prizes at the Berlin Film Festival last year. Introverted Enre is the administrative head at an abattoir in Budapest. When socially awkward Marika comes to work as a quality controller, the two discover, unbelievably, that each night they share the same dream. One is a stag, the other a doe, sharing life in a snow-bound forest. The revelation leads them to attempt to connect, but life is not always as easy as dreams. The dramatic, disturbing juxtaposition of the brutal slaughter scenes, with the delicate naivete of the shy couple is confronting. Somehow it works as a strange metaphor for the polarities and contradictions of life. One can't help but compare human disconnect from the animals so  heartlessly butchered, with the disconnect in relationships. While not totally comprehensible, this is an intriguing romance with exquisite attention to detail in the cinematography. (A word of warning: here's another film depicting animals going to the slaughter, so not for everyone!) 
4 - highly recommended!

Midnight Oil: 1984
Director: Ray Argall
Length: 90 min

© Madman - love 'em or hate 'em, it's a great doco
about an iconic band and an invigorating time
in Australian politics

In 1984 rock band Midnight Oil embarked upon a national tour to launch their new album. The band already had strong support since the late 70s, their music giving a voice to issues of concern to young fans: indigenous problems along with environmental and nuclear threats. At the same time an emerging political group, The Nuclear Disarmament Party, approached the Oils' lead singer Peter Garrett to head up their election campaign. Footage never seen before from the '84 concert tour is mixed with insightful commentary from band members in the present day. They reminisce on the band's history, their commitment to issues within their music, and how Garrett's role as a potential politician nearly brought them to a premature end. There are megawatts of high voltage energy in the film, great music, and a fascinating reflection upon an era which changed much of Australia's political landscape, as young people energised themselves to get involved with the world around them.
3.5 - well recommended!

May 3
Breath
Gurrumul
One more for Spanish FF - Mist and the Maiden

I've seen two stunning new Aussie releases, both coming up with a big wholehearted recommendation from me. And don't forget, you can still catch a few more days of top Spanish film at the Festival.  

Breath
Director: Simon Baker
Length: 128 min

© Roadshow - Tim Winton's book has been

adapted to a hauntingly beautiful film

Pikelet (Samson Coulter) and Loonie (Ben Spence) are two teenage boys growing up in a remote corner of the West Australian coast in the mid 1970s. When, by chance, they meet mysterious former professional surfer Sando (Simon Baker), he takes them under his wing and introduces them to surfing. They hang out at Sando's home where his mysterious wife Eva (Elizabeth Debicki) captures the attention of Pikelet. This haunting adaptation of Tim Winton's book is thematically rich, visually magnificent, and a tour de force of film-making. The two lead boys, chosen first for their surfing ability, and then taught to act, are impressive in their roles as boys on the cusp of early manhoood. Loonie comes from an unstable background, reflected in his incessant flirting with danger. Pikelet's household, headed up by Richard Roxburgh and Rachael Blake as Mum and Dad Pike, reflects an earlier, more innocent age of solid family values that their gentle son is just starting to pull away from. Sando and his exotic wife are totally unfamiliar and enticing to the boys. Baker and Debicki maintain the sense of mystery and allure that surround them. A combination of surfing spectacle, homage to the ocean, coming-of-age story, reflections upon what it means to be a man, the film is made all the more powerful by a magnificent musical score and thrilling ocean and underwater cinematography. 

4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended!

Gurrumul
Director: Paul Williams
Length: 96 min

© Madman - a documentary all Australians
should see. 

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu died in July 2017. He was Australia's first internationally acclaimed solo Indigenous singer, and was blind from birth. This extraordinarily insightful and beautiful doco traces Gurrumul's life and tribal origins, his rise to fame along with the incredible dedication of his musical collaborator Michael Hohnen in supporting the artist in both his musical career and personal life. Because the singer straddled two worlds, the filmmaker thought it critical that he also give audiences a deep insight into the world from which Gurrumul came - the Yolgnu people living up on Elcho Island north of Darwin. So the film moves, seamlessly, between scenes of the life, the traditions, the music and chants that the singer grew up with, and a chronology of his musical rise to world fame. We get a true sense of the complexity and intense talent of Gurrumul, as well as an understanding of the depth of culture and the ancient history of  his people, their music and language, which of course informed the artists work. The depth of emotion the film generates is surprising, and even those who are unfamiliar with Gurrumul's work should be enchanted and maybe even transformed by his inspiring story. 
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended!

Spanish Film Festival
Sunday May 6 sees the close of the Spanish Film Festival in Melbourne. I've manged to shoehorn one more film into my crazy viewing schedule and for fans of thrillers, this could be a worthwhile watch. (Screening Westgarth and Como on Sunday May 6). 
Mist and the Maiden: This taut thriller is set on the Canary Islands (something different!) and features a complex plot involving a body, a politician who is exonerated for the murder, an underage sexual relationship caught on video, and a bunch of earnest cops. The film features great scenery, moves along at a cracking pace, and fortunately avoids the sort of cliches common in so many mainstream films. For me the convolutions became a bit intense at the end (remembering I'm a thriller plot-klutz!), nevertheless I found myself suitably impressed and entertained. 

For more details of the last few nights of the Festival:
Melbourne: April 19th to May 6th 
Palace Como, Westgarth, Brighton Bay, Kino and Astor
See website for other states
For more information, and times visit www.spanishfilmfestival.com

April 25
Loveless
Unsane
Last Flag Flying
Indonesian Film Festival

Films release early this week thanks to Anzac Day. And yes, another Festival starts tomorrow. All three films this week get my big score of 4 and above, so get on down to your local cinema and start watching! (I know Gurrumul starts this week, but I'll be catching it in a day or so and bringing my review to you next week.) 

Loveless
Director: Andrey Zvyagintsev
Length: 128 min

© Palace - harrowing but stunningly
executed. My heart breaks for the boy.

Zhenya and Boris are in a loveless marriage. With divorce proceedings underway, and each with another lover waiting in the wings, they are eager to get on with a new life. Life at home is ugly - vicious fights and abusive yelling. Worst of all, neither seems to want custody of their 11-year-old son Alyosha, who overhears all that's going on. Then Alyosha goes missing. This is visceral, incisive story-telling. The carelessness with which the parents treat each other, their son, and even the new people in their lives is shocking. Their selfishness and disregard for others is monumental.  Mobile phones seem to replace real interaction. Russian society as a whole isn't much better, the film implies. Volunteers who search for the boy use that purposeful good deed as a means to counter the alienation all around them. Everything about the director's attention to detail is near flawless while the award-winning cinematography evokes an austere, bleak and demoralising world. The lead actors are all superb, while early scenes of the young Alyosha sobbing his heart out are so realistic as to be almost unbearable. Winner of the Cannes 2017 Jury Prize and numerous other awards, this is an emotionally draining but brilliant movie that should be a wake-up call to people drowning in the self-absorption of modern life, at the expense of their close relationships.
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended!

Unsane
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Length: 98 min

© Fox - another disturbing film!  You may find your

jaw sore from clenching through the anger and tension.

Sawyer Valentini (Claire Foy) moves from her home city of Boston to Pennsylvania to escape a stalker. Still traumatised, she seeks counselling, then signs some "routine paperwork" in which she unwittingly commits herself to a 24-hour stay in a psychiatric hospital for clinical observation. Unable to get herself released, things deteriorate as she catches a glimpse of medical orderly David (Joshua Leonard), who she believes is her stalker. From here on, the less said, the better! Foy is remarkable in her role, walking the fine line between calm and violence, making us question what is real, while being a timely reminder of the ever-present threat of stalking for women. Leonard is mega-creepy as David, while the characters of fellow inmates Violet and Nate add to the depth and convolutions of the excellent plot. No doubt some critics will reference this film against others in the genre of "madhouse thrillers". You know I don't work this way, wishing to assess films as they stand on their own two feet. And how tall this one stands - a thrilling, unnerving, terrifying, claustrophobic ride that feels so authentic you may never contemplate going  near mental health advice again!
4 - highly recommended! (with a warning for those with phobias about mental institutions)

Last Flag Flying

Director: Richard Linklater
Length: 122 min

© Transmission - warm, funny, moving - 
three top actors in a great film of the legacy of war

I've always loved director Linklater (think Boyhood, Before Midnight). He has a knack for writing dialogue that is so real, you think you're talking with the characters. Teaming with the writer of the book on which the movie is based, he creates a moving, funny, ultimately uplifting film. Marine Sal (Bryan Cranston), army medic Doc (Steve Carrell) and Reverend Mueller (Laurence Fishburne) all served together in the Vietnam war 30 years prior. Now they meet up again in 2003 when Doc tracks them down and asks them to accompany him on a journey to Arlington to bury his son, who has  been killed in the Iraq War. What evolves is a road trip of reconnection, recollection, joy and tears. The naysayers are implying this is a bland mainstream road movie. I see it as a glorious showcase for three titans of Hollywood acting to inhabit their characters in a way that leaps off the screen. Carrell proves again the power of his dramatic acting. Fishburne is superb as he loses his  pompous aging stuffshirt minister persona to revisit his younger self. Cranston's performance is flawless - he plays a seemingly tough guy who drinks too much, jokes around, but is also compassionate and a stickler for the truth. For me he's one of the best actors around today. Though there are the expected moments of American sentiment, there are also criticisms of  US military policy, making it ultimately quite an anti-war film.
4 - highly recommended! 

13th Indonesian Film Festival
26th April - 2 May
ACMI
For folks who think of Indonesia merely as a Balinese holiday destination, here's a chance to get a deeper insight into the country's history, culture and film.
Over the week, six diverse films will screen, each with a Q&A session featuring film-makers and hosted by film critic Peter Krausz. 
Films include a couple of innovative horrors, a doco exploring the spice trade, a feminist drama on vengeance and redemption, a much-awarded coming-of-age drama, and a closing night screening of a restored 1954 Indonesian classic. 
For more information on the films and times, visit:  
Indonesian Film Festival: http://iffaustralia.com
ACMI: www.acmi.net.au/events/13thindonesian-film-festival/

April 19
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
The Song Keepers
A Quiet Place
21st Spanish Film Festival

Plenty of variety this week! A much anticipated drama/romance from a popular novel, an impressive new Aussie doco, and the always warmly anticipated Spanish Film Festival. I also catch up with one of last week's releases, so suspenseful my heart still hasn't stopped thumping. 

The Guernsey Literary and 
Potato Peel Pie  Society
Director: Mike Newell
Length: 124 min

© StudioCanal - engaging wartime 
adventure/romance based on a best-selling novel 

Here is another quintessentially Pommie film based upon a highly popular best-selling novel. In post-war 1946 London author Juliet Ashton (Lily James) is about to embark on a tour publicising her latest book when she receives a letter from farmer DawseyAdams (Michiel Huisman) on the isle of Guernsey. After a period of correspondence with Dawsey, and a sudden engagement to dashing GI Mark (Glen Powell), Juliet heads over to Guernsey to research a new book about the lives of the residents there under the German occupation. The tragic history she unearths will be both an anguish and a healing for all. Beautiful production values recreating the era underpin this charming film, which has plenty to recommend it: war history, intrigue, romance, secrets, and plenty of British stiff upper lip spirits. James is translucently beautiful in the role, Huisman an earthy hunk, and with top support from the likes of Matthew Goode as Sydney the publisher, and other British stalwarts, it's a worthy watch, which even brings a tear to the eye in parts.
3.5 - well recommended!

The Song Keepers
Director: Naina Sen
Length: 84 min

© Potential - a warm and inspiring doco of one 
man's dedication, and the power of music

The Central Australian Aboriginal Women's Choir is the subject matter of this fascinating documentary. (Stats: 32 members, aged 20s to 80s; includes 2 men). Choirmaster Morris Stuart (himself of African background) amalgamated a number of choirs from remote communities and trained them to sing old hymns, many learned by the women as kids, when they were in the German Lutheran missions of Herrmannsberg. The doco tracks the choir's trip to Bavaria where they were warmly welcomed by the Germans who were overwhelmed hearing their songs returned to them - but this time sung in native Australian languages. Some of the women speak of the legacy of colonialism, and there is a subtle undercurrent of the dark legacy of the past. But the uplifting and optimistic tone of the film prevails. I came away with a sense of hope and deep affection for the choir, their leader, and the hope that music could help heal the parlous state of white/black relations in Australia.
3.5 - well recommended!

A Quiet Place
Director: John Krasinski
Length: 90 min

"If they hear you they hunt you" - silence is critical. 
A great creature feature with top family values.

It's hard to pigeon-hole this film into one genre, as it succeeds on so many levels -horror/thriller/family story. In a post-apocalyptic Earth, creatures from outer space have ravaged much of the world's population. They are blind but hunt using their highly developed auditory sense. Lee, (John Krasinski), his wife Evelyn (Emily Blunt), and their 3 kids, one of whom is profoundly deaf, are surviving, living on a remote farm, and communicating only by sign language. When the creatures finally are alerted to the family's whereabouts, an edge-of-seat, nail-biting mission to evade death ensues. The idea of protecting family at all costs is central to this film. The director cleverly and quickly gets the audience to care about the fate of the family, leaving us emotionally invested from go to whoa. The sound production values are top-shelf, with minimal music and plenty of absolute silence. Performances are universally top-notch, and while there are occasional unanswered plot questions, most of what happens feels quite credible. Possibly the less you know the more you'll get out of your viewing, but PLEASE, don't take noisy crunchy food into this one - the quieter the better! (For that matter, avoid noisy food in all films!)
4 - highly recommended!

Spanish Film Festival
Melbourne: April 19th to May 6th 
Palace Como, Westgarth, Brighton Bay, Kino and Astor
See website for other states
For more information, and times visit www.spanishfilmfestival.com

The vibrancy of the Spanish Film Festival is with us once again. As well as many new award-winning films, there are two very special reruns: Pan's Labyrinth will screen on closing night, while Jamon Jamon features as part of a special event. (This film launched the careers of Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem in 1992.) 
For history buffs there is Gold with a fabulous ensemble cast, and set in Central America in 1540.  Dying is a delicate relationship drama in which a woman must cope with her partner's diagnosis of a brain tumour. There is also a feature retrospective paying tribute to director Bigas Luna.  
As always I've caught a few, (though not yet as many as I would have liked).

Sin Rodeo: Meaning "no filter", this whacky comedy tells of a woman who spends her life feeling unheard and unappreciated. When she visits a charlatan Indian guru and takes his medicine, she becomes so outspoken that she must learn to find a new balance between looking after her own needs, and not letting others run all over her. I found a lot to empathise with in this one!
Coco: The glorious Oscar award-winning animation is the story of little Miguel whose family forbid him to play music. He cannot fathom why. On Mexico's Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), he finds himself in a position to finally get some answers. This joyous film is visually splendid, the music is a treat, the plot moves along at a great pace, it is warm, uplifting, tear-jerking and simply unmissable. I can't recommend it highly enough (for all ages!) 
Abracadabra: This has won countless awards (mainly in Spain), but perhaps my sense of humour is not in tune with the Spaniards. Again the plot features a wife with a neglectful husband. When the party trick of an amateur hypnotist  goes wrong, the man seemingly gets possessed by a ghost. This one's a bit scatty for my liking, but if you like magic and mayhem, it may be worth checking out.  

April 12
Isle of Dogs
The Party
Young at Heart Film Festival 

Films from this year's and 2017 Berlin Film Festival are arriving, with a couple of great offerings released this week. And a reminder that the Young at Heart Seniors Film Festival opens next Tuesday, April 17th in Melbourne. 

Isle of Dogs
Director: Wes Anderson
Length: 101 min

© 20th Century Fox  - don't miss this top-notch 
stop motion film with heart and depth.

Stop motion animation is a labour of love. The dedication and creativity that's gone into this amazing film is blatantly apparent, as idiosyncratic Anderson brings his genius to the screen once more! Set in a slightly futuristic Japan, Isle of Dogs is the story of the corrupt mayor of Megasaki (Akiro Ito) who banishes all dogs from the city after an outbreak of "Snout Flu". Mayor Kobayashi's adopted ward Atari (Koyu Rankin) sets out in search of his beloved pet Spots, and lands on Trash Island where the dogs dwell. The film works on numerous levels - it is a delightful, at times whimsical off-centre piece of entertainment, visually splendid, clever dialogue, with canine characters to delight (and that's from a non-doggie lover). This is no cutesie-wootsie puppy play - underneath there is some scathing political satire (complete with conspiracy theories) and biting social commentary. Thematically there is resonance for refugees, concentration camps, lunatic leaders and more. Only the dogs speak English while the humans speak Japanese with no subtitles. Believe me, it works a treat, and the Japanese sensibility of the film, along with Anderson's trademark tableau camera style, only adds to its relentless charm. Actors voicing the English-speaking characters are all notable, including Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Scarlett Johansson, Greta Gerwig, Harvey Keitel, Jeff Goldblum, Bob Balaban, Frances McDormand, Yoko Ono and Bill Murray. Wow!! This winner of the Silver Bear for Best Director at Berlin, 2018 is for me almost unmissable.
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended !

The Party
Director: Sally Potter
Length: 71 min

© Madman - an elegant celebratory gathering goes from 
good, to bad to disaster. 

This short and sweet black comedy is a somewhat strange offering from Potter, of Orlando fame. It feels like a cross between a domestic melodrama, and a social satire upon a certain class of Brits. Janet (Kristin Scott Thomas) is holding a party to celebrate her appointment as Health Minister. Invited friends are a lesbian couple Jinny (Emily Mortimer) and Martha (Cherry Jones), who  are expecting IVF triplets. Then there's April (the always wonderful Patricia Clarkson) and soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend Gottfried (Bruno Ganz), and cocaine-snorting Tom (Cillian Murphy). Tom's wife Marianne hasn't arrived and he thinks she's having an affair. As all manner of verbal jousting and personal revelations unfold, the tone of the party degenerates. Meantime Janet's gloomy husband Bill (Timothy Spall) drinks too much and drops a couple of bombshells of his own. Films of people's self-perceptions unravelling at social events always provide a degree of malicious fun, as does this. Shot in crisp black and white, and with an excellent cast, it makes for an entertaining watch. The Party was nominated for a Berlin Golden Bear in 2017. 
3.5 - well recommended!

Apia Young at Heart Seniors Film Festival
Melbourne: 17-25 April 
Palace Como, Balwyn, Brighton Bay
On March 29th I gave a heads up and four reviews for this festival which only starts in Melbourne early next week, but is already underway in other states. Below are the reviews again, in case you missed them. Plenty of other excellent films are showing in this festival including: Gurrumul, Last Flag Flying, The Bookshop, Aurore, and Return to Montauk. And don't forget the retrospective featuring All About Eve, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and A Star is Born.
Return to Montauk, which I'm itching to see, is another nominee for Best Film at the Berlin International Film Festival.  
Visit www.youngatheart.net.au for all details.

Chappaquidick: Senator Ted Kennedy (Jason Clarke) made headlines in 1969 when he drove his car off a bridge, killing a young campaign strategist Mary Joe Kopechne (Kate Mara). Even though the facts of the film are part of history, this is a gripping recreation of the events, and a timely look at the corruption and ambition that invariably goes with politics. Clarke's excellent portrayal of Kennedy swings the audience from sympathy, through to contempt. 
Desert Bride: This award-winning Argentinian film stars Paulina Garcia as Theresa, a woman who has worked as a maid for one family for 30 years of her life. While travelling to another post, she mislays her baggage. Kindly market vendor Gringo offers to drive her to hunt for it. This gentle film delicately looks at issues of love, change and aging, and somehow its short runtime still allows it to explore its themes in a way that resonates with you long after the film is over.
LBJ: Woody Harrelson delivers a strong performance as vice president Lyndon Johnson, who was dramatically swept into office when Kennedy was shot. The film examines Johnson's inner insecurities and the tasks he grappled with in healing the nation and moving forward with JFK's vision. 
Sea Dreaming Girls:  sweet and heart-warming Italian doco about a group of elderly ladies who live in a remote Italian mountain village and have never seen the sea. In honour of their social club's 20th anniversary, they decide to raise money for a seaside jaunt. This is a delightful story, showing it's never to late for new things in life.

4 - the festival is highly recommended!

April 5
Walking Out
Scaffolding
Pop Aye

Three very worthy films this week - from the USA, Israel, and Thailand. Two have father/son themes, despite being very different. The third is an elephant lover's delight.

Walking Out
Director: Andrew J Smith & Alex Smith
Length: 95 min

© Icon - strong relationship drama
combined with wilderness thrills. 

Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance 2017, this powerful drama set in the Montana wilderness surprised me, as I'd not heard a peep about it beforehand. David (Josh Wiggins) visits his estranged father Cal (Matt Bomer) for a bit of father/son bonding over a hunting expedition. Aiming to bag a moose, the fellas head off into stunningly beautiful but inhospitable terrain. When both are injured in a terrible accident, they must confront their deeper feelings and tap into inner strengths. Aside from the magnificence of the cinematography, this is a surprisingly moving and tense drama, exploring male relationships (including flashbacks of Cal's relationship with his Dad (Bill Pullman), who taught him hunting skills. There are resonant themes about family and tradition under the surface, and Cal's almost conservationist attitudes to hunting are a pleasant revelation! This is top-level indie American film-making.
4 - highly recommended!

Pop Aye
Director: Kirsten Tan
Length: 102 min
Exclusive to Cinema Nova

© Madman - peripatetic pachyderm treks
across Thailand with his new master

Middle-aged architect Thana (Thaneth Warakulnakroh) is jaded with his life, both maritally and work-wise. When he comes across Popeye, an elephant he knew from his childhood, he buys the animal, leaves Bangkok and heads off across Thailand to the village where both he and Popeye enjoyed their carefree younger years. This tale reminds me a little of a favourite road trip film, The Straight Story. Both feature rambling, meandering journeys, meeting folk and having low-key whimsical encounters. In Thana's case, he comes across a hippie living rough, a transgender woman, and a couple of truck drivers who kindly put the elephant in their truck to spare its sore feet. Bong, who plays Popeye, is the star - appealing and pretty charismatic as far as elephants go. While not a lot happens, there is a melancholy sense of the destruction of much of Thailand's tradition in favour of progress. Maybe reconnecting with an animal could solve the modern malaise of alienation and depression? Pop Aye is a delighful diversion, and jumbo lovers should adore this film. 
3.5 - well recommended!

Scaffolding
Director: Matan Yair
Length: 90 min
Exclusive to ACMI and Classic Elsternwick

© JIFF Distribution - powerful teacher/student 
father/son story, set in the working class in Israel

Scaffolding is another film with a strong father/son thematic. Winning numerous Israeli Film Academy Awards, this intense drama is the story of  17-year-old Asher (Asher Lax), a trouble maker at school, and part-time worker for his Dad's scaffolding company. Asher's teacher Rami (Ami Smolartchik) is a kind, gentle man, handling the rowdy non-achieving class of boys with patience and understanding and offering a different model of what it is to be a male. Rami, unbeknown to his pupils, deals with his own demons. Asher is torn between his father's expectations of his entering the family business, and his inspiration from Rami that life may offer other possibilities. This is refreshingly different from many other Israeli films I've seen that deal in politics or religion. It is gritty, and authentic (Yair comes from a teaching background), and is a powerful contribution to the "inspiring teacher" genre of film. Performances from Lax and Smolartchik feel absolutely real, and there is a deep compassion to the story.
4 - highly recommended!