November 14th 2024

Gladiator II

Memory

Melbourne Queer Film Festival - 5 reviews

More JIFF  - Irena's Vow

Another great week for film. For lovers of swords and sandals epics, we have the sequel to Gladiator, with action aplenty. Early onset Alzheimer's features in a tender love story, while the Queer Film Festival bursts onto Melbourne screens. And JIFF continues with more new additions to the program. 

Gladiator II

Dir:  Ridley Scott

Length: 148 mins

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVgDrI6keck

© Paramount - swords, sandals, strapping men, 
and much blood, gore and excitement

Lucius (Paul Mescal) has been living far from Rome in northern Africa. His homeland is overrun by Roman forces and his wife killed by General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal), who captures Lucius, taking him back to Rome to fight in the gladiatorial ring at the Colosseum.  Rome is now run by two obnoxious, cruel brothers, Emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger), who keep close company with cunning and power-hungry business man, Macrinus (Denzel Washington). Acacius's wife Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) will ultimately be torn, as her husband and son are pitted against each other in the ring. There's plenty of convoluted politics and plots, but for me they don't matter greatly, as this entire film is a spectacle of entertainment, decadence, gore, and machismo. It's a true blockbuster, with some impressive set pieces, such as a digitally created rhinocerous charging into the ring to fight several men, and two battleships sailing on a shark-infested lake created in the arena. (Some of the digital work is awe-inspiring; while some is too obviously digital!)  Apparently Scott even built a life-sized Colosseum and populated it with real people. The stand-out performance is probably Denzel, who simply oozes deviousness, while Pascal and Mescal are perfectly cast in their warrior-like roles. For me what is lacking however is a depth of emotion between the characters, something I felt more of in the first Gladiator. But, by my many uncomfortable jumps in my seat and intakes of breath, the film obviously does its job as a jolly good popcorn entertainment. 

3.5 - well recommended

Memory 

Dir: Michel Franco

103 mins

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeLbykMmLho&t=1s

© Potential - sensitive and compassionate 
story of love and memory loss

Sylvia (Jessica Chastain) is a social worker and recovering alcoholic. She leads an ordered life with teenage daughter Anna (Brook Timber). One day after a school reunion, she is followed home by Saul (Peter Sarsgaard), and is totally unnerved to find him still sitting outside her apartment the next morning. He is a man with early onset dementia who is under the care of his brother Isaac (Josh Charles). As Sylvia and Saul connect, what ensues will change both of their lives forever. The film is a delicate and tender examination of an unexpected and unlikely connection between two damaged people, and also explores the sort of prejudices others have towards such relationships. Chastain and Sarsgaard are simply terrific together. Other significant themes around family exploitation add to the depth of the plotting. Memory was a nominee for the Golden Lion (2023), and has won a well-deserved Best Actor for Sarsgaard's heart-rending performance, as his character wavers constantly between total forgetting, confusion, and being alert and alive in the moment.  This is no standard romance, rather a beautifully humane look at how life can be rewarding even in the face of extreme challenges.

4 - highly recommended 

Melbourne Queer Film Festival

14-22 November

ACMI, Nova, Capitol, Palace Como

For all info on sessions, ticketing, special events, visit: mqff.com.au

It's back - Melbourne's favorite queer festival featuring 19 docos, 42 feature films, and 90 shorts from all over the world.  This year's theme entitled "Formative Sound and Vision" celebrates queer music culture. 

Lesvos: The beautiful Greek island of Lesvos has long been a magnet for lesbian women from all over the world. The island is the birthplace of the poet, Sappho, the first person to write about lesbian love. This informative documentary chronicles 40 years in the sleepy village of Eresos, when gay women from all over the world flocked to make the town their own, causing some hostility with locals, but at the same time giving a sense of belonging to those local women who were themselves gay.  There's great archival footage, some enlightening interviews, and of course the eye candy that is the physical beauty of Greece. 

Where in the Hell: Non-binary actor  Cam Killion stars in this delightful buddy/road movie about Kasey and Alan (Joohun Lee) who meet up by chance at a motel in the middle of nowhere, USA. Kasey has just discovered their girlfriend has disappeared, and Alan says he's on the road to Canada for an acting audition. Together they pool money and a car and head off north towards Montana, Cam hoping to find the missing gal, and Alan hoping to make it over the border to his audition. The film has much humanity and gentle humour - two rather lost people trying to figure out their priorities in life are initially so mismatched, but gradually form an oddball friendship that is really engaging. 

The Beautiful Summer: Ginia is a young woman who has moved from a rural area to Turin, in the pre-war years. She works as a dressmaker, showing a lot of talent, but is searching for a more adventurous life. When she meets artist's model Amelia, she steps into a Bohemian world unlike anything she's experienced before. Although some familiar themes are revisited - finding one's identity, first affairs, same sex attraction - there is something very appealing about this sensuous and delicately-tackled film. Notably Amelia is played by the stunning Deva Cassell, daughter of Vincent Cassell and Monica Bellucci. The chemistry between the two women is perfect, and the sense of the era is powerfully portrayed in the production values. 

I Am What I Am: Kasumi Sobata is 30 and single. Her mother's matchmaking efforts come to naught, as Kasumi is asexual, having no feelings of love or sexual attraction for anyone. People of both sexes are friends, and nothing more. Here's an LGBTQI+ film with a difference; asexuality is not so often talked about, and is often misunderstood. Toko Miura (so fine as the introverted driver in Drive My Car)  has the lead role here, as the isolated young woman who people constantly misinterpret. The story is sweet and moving and a worthy challenge to the commonly held concept that everyone is expected to fall in love one day. 

Little Richard: I Am Everything: Entertaining and uplifting, this is something for rock'n'roll fans and anyone who loves a great music doco. Too much credit is often given to the white origins of rock'n'roll. Richard Penniman, black and queer, could well be called the father of the music craze that swept the world in the 50s. This exciting biopic features more archival footage than you can shake a stick at, along with insightful input from such iconic musicians as Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Tom Jones and more, all of whom credit Richard with being a major inspiration. The personal backstory of Richard's multi-faceted personality is equally captivating, and we learn much about his various incarnations: from popular pompadoured raucous singer, to being openly gay in a time when it was neither fashionable nor legal. Amazingly he later married a woman, divorced, turned to religion, returned to his rock roots, and continued for his lifetime to present different versions of himself to the world. This film is just so much fun, with a brilliant soundtrack (of course!) and an eye-opening insight into a man who changed the course of modern music.

Jewish International Film Festival

Melbourne: Until December 4th

Venues: Classic Elsternwick, Lido Hawthorn, Cameo Belgrave

For film details, ticketing and dates for other states: www.jiff.com.au

The festival  still has two more wonderful weeks to go, with new additions, We Will Dance Again and The Bibi Files added to the film program. Meantime I caught another to add to my list.  

Irena's Vow:  Holocaust stories are often a case of truth being stranger than fiction. And here's another astonishing true story of how a 19-year-old Polish nurse, Irena Gut, managed to save the lives of a dozen Jews by hiding them in the basement of her Nazi employer's villa. Featuring a memorable performance from Sophie Nelisse as Irena, the film is testament to a gentile woman's compassion and bravery, as she witnesses horrendous brutality to those who protected Jews, yet still retains the stength to do what she believes is right. Films about that level of moral courage are always an inspiration. 

November 7th 2024

The Pool

British Film Festival - four reviews

The new Aussie doco is a winner, while the four I've previewed so far for the British Film Festival are absolutely worth the watch. 

The Pool

Dir:  Ian Darling

Length: 95 mins

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-FGkvC4ds8&t=2s

© Shark Island - a love letter to a lifestyle, 
and a swimmming pool. 

"Everyone is equal in their swimsuits." So goes the tagline for this richly rewarding Aussie documentary about the world-renowned Bondi Icebergs swimming pool in Sydney. You might ask yourself how a film about a swimming pool could be so engaging, but I assure you it is! Various elements combine to make the film more than the sum of its parts. First we have the fascinating folks who go to swim there - from young beauties, through to the old and wise, those swimming for pleasure, fitness or to help them through inner crisis. Newcomers and those who have swum there for decades. The many characters have small stories to tell, and no one person dominates - it's the pool itself that is the central character. Then there is the sheer filmic beauty of the setting: stunning sunsets, awe-inspiring crashing waves, the light at different times of the day, human bodies like dolphins stroking through the water. The cinematography is mesmerising. Add a magnificent and nostalgic 60s-inspired surf music soundtrack, and you have a film that celebrates the human state and the joy of belonging and pursuing something together. The doco is an utterly refreshing change from the often dark fare I watch, and is like a meditation on people, beauty and the simple joy of being alive.

4 - highly recommended

Russell Hobbs British Film Festival

Melbourne: Until 8 December

Venues: Palace cinemas

For all you need to know about the other states, the films, times, synopses and events visit www.britishfilmfestival.com.au

This is always a much-loved festival, featuring many actors we know and love. Centrepiece film Hard Truths comes from iconic director Mike Leigh. The festival guest, Aylin Tezel, director of Falling into Place, will feature in a Q&A, while much-loved acting royalty Ralph Fiennes features in two highly-anticipated films, The Return and Conclave. Brit music gets a run too, with films on Blur and The Rolling Stones. As well as the latest British movies, this year's sidebar, entitled "History Restored" rescreens several iconic films with a historical slant. A Lion in Winter, Heat and Dust, A Man For All Seasons and more. My previewed films so far:

Falling into Place: When Kira (Aylin Tezel) and Ian (Chris Fulton) meet by chance on the remote Scottish island of Skye, they joke that they are each on the run. And they are - from themselves. Kira has had a traumatic romantic breakup and Ian has ongoing family dramas around his suicidal sister. It is obvious they are soulmates, but after a brief fun 24 hours together they return to their lives, and we are left wondering if their paths will ever collide again. This is exquisite filmmaking - visually evocative, with sweeping scenes of the rocky island in counterpoint to the bustle of London life. The non-linear narrative keeps you constantly engaged, while the hauntingingly lovely soundtrack stays in the mind. Best of all the two leads conjure up a magical chemistry that is so authentic, sweet and poignant. Don't imagine this is just another romance; it's also a deeply touching  exploration of the soul-searching journey of what one wants of life and the courage required to grasp it.   

Hard Truths: Mike Leigh reunites with his lead actress from Secrets and Lies, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, who gives a searing performance as Pansy, a wife and mother who constantly complains, criticises, picks fights with strangers, and generally alienates everyone around her. Her hardworking husband Curtley and slacker son Moses are always in her firing line, and the only person who seems to have a shred of compassion for Pansy is her sister Chantal. When the sisters visit their mothers' grave, there seems to be a slight shift in Pansy, encouraging us to question the whys of her endless malcontedness. We may laugh at her incessant griping, but what starts out as vaguely humourous settles into a darker and deeper look at what makes people tick, and tolerate each other. A typical Leigh "slice-of-life" drama that may well lead us to examine our own attitudes to life in the "glass half full or half empty" department. 

Poison: Lucas (Tim Roth) and Edith (Trine Dyrholm) meet in a graveyard after having not seen each other for ten years. While waiting to meet someone there, they talk, and gradually all is revealed to the viewer, as they unearth past memories, grievances, hurts and loves. Both have experienced a profound loss, but deal with it completely differently. Based upon a play, the film remains fairly cinematically contained, but its strength lies in the immense power of the performances.  Roth and Dyrholm display the sort of chemistry that only people who have been through so much together can have. A sad, lovely and reflective film, that sensitively handles the deepest of human emotions. 

The Stones and Brian Jones: Renowned documentarian Nick Broomfield, (who made memorable films about Leonard Cohen, Whitney Houston and Aileen Wuornos) now tackles the story of Brian Jones, the man who founded The Rolling Stones. Broomfield has gathered a lot of footage never before seen, from Jones' early schooldays, through to rare interviews and videos of the Stones in their very early incarnation as a strictly blues band. Interviews with Jones' many ex-girlfriends (and mothers to his five kids!), reveal the tumultuousness of his lovelife, while commentary from Bill Wyman gives wonderful  insight into Jones versatile musicianship which added such distinctiveness to so many of the Stones' songs. All this is set against the background of the 60s, a time of sweeping societal change.  This highly entertaining story of a tragically curtailed life is a wonderful addition to the pantheon of music docos.  

The British Film Festival is, of course, highly recommended! 

November 2nd 2024

A Different Man

Mozart's Sister

Four more films from JIFF

A selection of dramatically differing films are reviewed this week, two on mainstream release and another four from the Jewish Film Festival. 

A Different Man

Dir:  Aaron Schimberg

Length: 112 mins

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBRbEnDSQFw

© Kismet - can a change of face change
the man underneath? 

There have been several films about facial deformities, including  Mask, Wonder, Elephant Man, and now this drama/comedy about aspiring actor, Edward, (Sebastian Stan) who suffers from neurofibromatosis, a disease creating grotesque tumours on his face. When doctors try out an experimental treatment on him, he is miraculously cured, and he appears "normal". Not wishing for people to know who he was, he now calls himself Guy, starts to have longed-for success with women, including his neighbor, playwright Ingrid (Renate Reinsve). But can Edward/Guy ever escape the person he really is inside? This whip-smart film has much going for it. It is a cutting and funny examination of self-image, societal perceptions of beauty, and the dangers of trying to escape and change who we innately are. Ironies abound. Guy meets Oswald (Adam Pearson), who suffers the same disease but is self-confident and popular. Things Guy hopes for seem to easily fall into Oswald's lap, while Guy's transformation steadily becomes more of a nightmare than a blessing. A nominee for a Golden Bear, the film also won a best actor award for Stan. The fabulous final line of dialogue says it all! 

4 - highly recommended

Mozart's Sister

Dir:  Madeleine Hetherton-Miau

Length: 98 mins

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xBLcgJwPjc

© Sharmill - two equally gifted children, but
gender will be critical to success

Maria Anna Mozart, older sister of the child prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, also composed and played music. When the siblings were young, their father Leo toured them throughout Europe, but when Maria Anna reached her teen years, being a woman, she was made to remove herself from the public gaze. The documentary combines investigative techniques, interviews, and dramatic reenactments, to explore the life and times of the Mozarts  - an era in which women were not allowed to participate in the public arena. Various interviewees from around the world, ranging from composers, researchers, orchestra conductors and actors, pore over musical manuscripts, create theatrical pieces, and speculate on who wrote what, while expressing their love for the music of both Mozarts. As the film progresses, it also becomes a condemnation of the patriarchy, which even up until today, marginalises women in the field of classical music. Lovers of this genre of music will find much to enjoy.

3.5 - well recommended

Jewish International Film Festival

Melbourne: Until December 4th

Venues: Classic Elsternwick, Lido Hawthorn, Cameo Belgrave

For film details, ticketing and dates for other states: www.jiff.com.au

The festival is in full swing, and I've caught several more excellent films for your consideration. 

Seven Blessings: The overwhelming winner at the Israeli Oscars, the story sheds light on the traditions of  an extended Moroccan Jewish family living in Israel. Marie, who now lives in Paris, comes to Jerusalem for her wedding to Dan, where the couple are expected to partake of a week of family feasts. But old wounds are opened up, and some deeply buried family secrets exposed. The film starts off in a comedic vein but soon takes a serious turn, exploring the hurt and resentment buried deep within Marie. The vexed relationship between her mother and aunt is superbly portrayed, as are the particularly Moroccan customs, not to mention, the food. 

A Photographic Memory: Rachel Seed was only 18 months old when her mother died. Now 30 years later she unearths audio recordings of her mother interviewing some of the most famous photographers of the 20th century. Through her mother's voice on the tapes, and the photos, Rachel begins to connect with a woman she never knew. This is a moving film, causing us to reflect upon mortality, and the important legacy left by photography. 

A Real Pain: Already garnering plenty of awards, Jesse Eisenberg's film of two mismatched cousins exploring their past, is a lovely mix of humour and pathos. David (played by Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) head off on a guided Holocaust tour of Poland and to visit their grandmother's home. The cousins are third generation Holocaust survivors living in America, and they are as different to each other as chalk and cheese. David is a stressed out, nervous retiring type, while Benji is loud, irreverent and seemingly self-confident, his brashness masking an extreme vulnerability. Culkin (unforgettable as Roman in Succession) is a powerhouse in his role. Ably supporting the two leads are a motley crew of characters: an African ex-child soldier who has converted to Judaism, a recently widowed woman, and an old couple, along with their non-Jewish tour guide. Visits to Jewish graveyards, and the site of a ghetto and a concentration camp, bring home the seriousness of the tour, in a careful counterbalance to the moments of levity and craziness. The intimacy of the cousins' relationship, in opposition to the vastness of the Holocaust history make a good yin and yang in the film's overall feel.  

The Plot Against Harry: This old 1969 black and white film was once called "a neglected masterpiece ... a classic of Jewish humour". It's the story of Harry Plotnick who gets out of jail after nine months, and initially tries to regain his turf in the racketeering business before deciding he ought to go straight. The cast of characters in this film are oddly memorable in their own bizarre way - Chinese and Latino mobsters, Harry's endlessly smiling brother-in-law, and his lovely ex-wife Kay, who introduces Harry to two daughters he didn't really ever know. There are oddly familiar scenes of barmitzvahs, fashion shows, and various parties, throughout which Harry barely smiles, and always seems to come off second best. There is something refreshing about the film's realistic style, and the fact there are no known stars in it - oddball but entertaining.

 October 25th 2024

JIFF - Jewish International Film Festival - 8 films reviewed

Left Write Hook

Lee

One of my favorite festivals opens this Sunday night. JIFF is always full of surprises, entertainment, and simply wonderful films which all come highly recommended. As well, two worthwhile mainstream releases hit the screens. 

Jewish International Film Festival

Melbourne: October 27th - December 4th

Venues: Classic Elsternwick, Lido Hawthorn, Cameo Belgrave

For film details, ticketing and dates for other states: www.jiff.com.au

As always JIFF presents the best Jewish films from around the world. I'm not detailing them here; everything you need to know is on the website. Suffice to say, this is always a stunning festival, but this year it feels even more important as something to unite people rather than divide. Here's an insight into those films I have been fortunate enough to preview, and I'll bring you several more next week. 

Shoshana: From acclaimed director Michael Winterbottom comes this true story set in British Mandatory Palestine just before the Second World War. Shoshana Borochov, a Zionist writer, had a long term love affair with a British policeman, but things got fraught when the British were implicated in the death of Zionist hero Avraham Stern. Aside from everything looking a little too clean and shiny, the film is an excellent recreation of an era, shining a light on the shocking legacy the British left behind, sometimes cited as the origins of today's horrific conflicts.

Welcome to Yiddishland: Most of us are familiar with the word "schmuck", but probably don't know how many other Yiddish words have crept their way into daily use. Nor do we know the rich culture of the language, which is currently undergoing a revival in theatre, music, and literature. This fabulous doco celebrates this revival, throwing the spotlight on such wonderful things as a production of Yentl in Yiddish, Barrie Kosky's all-Yiddish cabaret being staged in Berlin, and Melbourne musicians like Gideon Preiss and Husky Gawenda performing fresh Yiddish music. The doco is at once joyous and celebratory, but also a very important reflection upon what it means to revive a language that was so nearly wiped out during the Holocaust, a language which unites Jews around the world, regardless of what country they come from. The film is such an entertainment, everyone should get a lot of nachas (joy) from it. 

Sabbath Queen: Amichai Lau-Lavie comes from a long line of Orthodox rabbis in Israel. Knowing he's gay and will never be accepted, he heads to New York, where he joins the drag queen scene, invents an alter ego, then later sets up Lab/Shul, an alternative congregation that welcomes everyone, is "God-optional", and is more about spirituality than dogma. This remarkable documentary, shot over 21 years, traces Amichai's journey as he reinvents religion, examines the role of ritual, embraces same sex and interfaith marriage, and tries to convince the patriarchal powers of Orthodoxy that there is another path for Judaism - less divisive and all inclusive. Everything he does, including championing peace in Israel, is inspiring and reflective of the best in humanity. If there were more people like him in the world, it wouldn't be in the dire state it finds itself. I am moved, excited and blown away by this film. 

Janis Ian: Breaking the Silence: Most of us of a certain vintage know the song "At Seventeen". But what do we know of the amazing singer/songwriter behind the hit? This fabulous doco about Janis Ian traces her rise to stardom, which began in the 1960s, when at the age of merely 13 she wrote a highly controversial song dealing with interracial relationships. Six decades later she is going strong, having battled homophobia, misogyny and illness. The film has insightful interviews, archival footage, and of course those magnificent songs that cut deep to the core of real-life emotions and experiences. A must-see for music lovers. 

6.30: This is such an important film, throwing a light on the horrific events of October 7th, when Hamas slaughtered 1200 Israelis and abducted 250 more. Survivors and rescuers talk about their experiences, and a team of creative artists have made miniature models, which highlight the events but exclude disturbing images.  Hearing survivors speak of hiding for hours on end, of being shot, abducted and returned is seriously harrowing, but a much-needed insight and reminder of a dark day in Israel's history. 

Fuhrer and Seducer: Joseph Goebbels was Hitler's Propaganda Minister. He lived his life devoted to "spinning" the truth, keeping up the image of Germany as the victors, even as the country began to lose the war. Goebbels was in charge of creating images, speeches and films that glorified Hitler and the Third Reich, and justified the Jewish extermination. He had an ego to rival that of his Fuhrer. This dramatic feature captures the story from 1938 until the downfall of the Reich, interspersing the narrative with footage from the streets, the concentration camps, and movie news reports. In today's era of "fake news", Goebbels comes across as a true spin doctor, creating propagandist documentaries and newsreels that belied the ghastly truth of what was really happening to his country and the Jews.   

Legend of Destruction: The artists who animated the docudrama Waltz With Bashir have spent nine years making this latest stunningly animated story of Jerusalem in the time of Roman rule. It depicts the divisive forces amongst the Jewish people, as Zealots faced off against corrupt temple priests, all ultimately leading to siege and famine, and facilitating Rome's victory and the destruction of the Temple. The film employs 1500 painted still images, many of them brutal and bloody, all beautifully executed so you believe these are real characters. Voiceovers of the English version include Oscar Isaac, Elliot Gould and Evangeline Lilly. Lovers of history and animation should really enjoy this. 

Diane Warren: Relentless: Let me thow some song titles at you: If I Could Turn Back Time, I Don't Want To Miss a Thing; Rhythm of the Night; Unbreak My Heart - you know the songs but probably not the writer. Diane Warren has written more than 700 songs in her career, yet we don't know of her! In the music industry Diane has been known as hitmaker, in high demand to write for the world's biggest artists. But as we see in this eye-opening doco, she is also a complex person, often seen as an outsider, a pain, and relentlessly ambitious. A terrific insight into the woman and the art of songwriting. Another must for music lovers.

Left Write Hook

Dir:  Shannon Owen

Length: 98 mins

Limited venues: Classic, Cameo, Nova

Trailer: https://leftwritehook.film/

© Bonsai - a brave woman helps others through
a trauma she knows only too well

Donna Lyon is a survivor of incest and ritaul sexual abuse. She is also a boxer and film producer. In this disturbing, but ultimately uplifting, documentary, we learn how Donna helps other survivors of sexual abuse to work through their trauma through both writing and boxing. Seven very different women, all survivors of sexual abuse, feature as they take part in this experimental approach to trauma recovery. They all speak openly about their experiences, helping to destigmatise the shame and silence around the issue. The unique combination of anger release through boxing, expression of emotion and thought through writing, plus Donna's caring and empathetic appproach, all serve to support these women and help them move forward with their lives. Films like this are so important in opening up difficult conversations. Prepare to be emotionally moved! 

3.5 - well recommended

Lee

Dir:  Ellen Kuras

Length: 117 mins

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmFYkiUAAA8

© StudioCanal - model turns fearless war
photographer - great perf from Winslet

Lee Miller (Kate Winslet) started her career as a fashion model and ended up a war photographer and correspondent, producing memorable material covering the London Blitz and the liberation of the concentration camps. This version of her life is framed via an interview in which she tells an initially unknown young man (Josh O'Connor) about her photographic career, along with her marriage to Roland Penrose (Alexander Skarsgard). Lee faced the usual anti-women prejudice in pursuing her career, but she is depicted as feisty and fiercely feminist, and especially after teaming up with Life photojournalist Davy Sherman (Andy Samberg), she gets access to the most important stories. Vogue editor Audrey Withers (Andrea Riseborough) initially opposes the publication of the concentration camp photos, but eventually they are published to shock the world. All in all, an extraordinary story, which is told in a rather conventional narrative manner. I would have liked to have seen her early photographic career with Man Ray; there seems to be rather large slabs of her life omitted. Neverthless Winslet shines in the role, and despite the selectiveness of the story, it's worth seeing for her alone.

3.5 - well recommended

 October 20th 2024

Memoir of a Snail

He Ain't Heavy

From Hilde, With Love

Greek Film Festival - until October 27

Japanese Film Festival - opening Melbourne October 21 

Irish Film Festival  - online now - in Melbourne cinemas from October 24

This week it's festival-central! The three featured festivals give us a glimpse into Greek, Irish and Japanese lives. The seasons do not have very long cinema runs, so I suggest moving fast to secure tickets for your preferred films. PLUS . . . yet again three really excellent films are on mainstream release, every one a most worthy watch.  

Memoir of a Snail

Dir:  Adam Elliot

Length: 94 mins

Trailer: https://www.madman.com.au/memoir-of-a-snail/

© Madman - sad, funny, beautiful, even uplifting: 
 - a story of the challenges in life

Grace Pudel has suffered a traumatic childhood. Her mother died giving birth to her and twin Gilbert, her father became a drunk and paraplegic, and when he dies she is separated from her beloved brother and put into foster care. Grace becomes a hoarder, collecting every manner of thing to do with snails. Her loneliness and anxiety threaten to destroy her until she meets an old lady, Pinky, whose optimism keeps Grace afloat. Fifteen years ago I saw a sublime  claymation film, Mary and Max, which won the top award at the world's biggest festival for animation (Annecy). Now Elliot has won this award again. Technically it's a labor of love - absolutely no digital effects, everything made of paper, paint, clay and water by 20 artisans working for almost a year. Using stop motion, every single movement (310,000 of them!) is shot, and the film boasts almost 7000 individual items. The story itself is a heart wrencher, sourced from so many inspirations in the director's life. He incorporates pathos, tragedy, humour, love, issues around hoarding, along with day-to-day uniquely Aussie things, to make us feel deeply for the sad little character with the hare lip, who narrates her life story to a snail called Sylvia. Elliot acquired a memorable cast for voicing the characters, chief among them Sarah Snook as Grace, Kodi Smit-McPhee as Gilbert, Jackie Weaver as Pinky, along with Eric Bana, Magda Szubanski and Tony Armstrong in other roles. The film has so much truth, warmth and boundless creativity; it really is a total delight. 

4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended (PS it's NOT a kid's film!)

From Hilde, With Love

Dir:  Andreas Dresen

Length: 94 mins

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8pfpQibyx4&t=3s

© Palace - a true story of courage and dignity

Berlin 1942: Hilde Coppi (Liv Lisa Fries) is heavily pregnant when she is arrested by the Gestapo. She has been assisting her husband Hans (Johannes Hegemann) who is a member of the Red Orchestra, an anti-Nazi resistance group who post flyers protesting the war and who also attempt to send messages to German soldiers imprisoned in Russia. This true story follows Hilde, as she gives birth in prison to Hansy Jnr, her beloved baby who is 80 years old today and who has the final words in the film! At the same time we follow, in reverse chronology, how she and Hans met, fell in love, and ultimately came unstuck at the hands of the Gestapo. Beautifully scripted, acted and shot, this true story is heart-wrenchingly told, but without melodrama or heavy reference to the Nazi side of history; its focus is more on love, friendship and youthful idealism. Fries' performance is unforgettable, as a decent, almost unassuming woman who displays dignified courage in the face of horror and who is transformed by love for her baby son. Hilde even manages to soften dour prison guard Frau Kuhn (Lisa Wagner), and is somehow a calming influence on all those round her. Some scenes pack such an emotional wallop, and are extraordinarily harrowing. Others scenes focus on  basic kindness (the prison pastor and the prison midwife) while moments of youthful frolicking and sensual lovemaking manage to balance the ghastliness of what is really happening. This is a stunning film that reminds us of both the good and the evil in the world, and was a nominee for the Berlin Golden Bear.

4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended 

He Ain't Heavy

Dir:  David Vincent Smith

Length: 102 mins

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t2yFvicA-4&t=5s

© Bonsai - gruelling but authentic picture
of addiction and family love

Jade (Leila George) is 30, and feels her life is ruined, as so much of it has been dedicated to rescuing her younger brother Max (Sam Corlett) who is a heavy-duty meth addict. Mother Bev (Greta Scacchi) is beyond coping, and locks herself away from her son. Jade decides upon a desperate course of action and kidnaps Max to lock him up for a week in their deceased grandpa's empty house, in the hope of getting him clean. The director has based this story upon events in his own life, and wow! - does it feel authentic. Essentially a three-hander in the acting department, all three leads give their all to their roles, in this tragic story of what happens to families when drugs take over, and when there are insufficient medical and governmental supports to assist people. But it's also more than a drug addiction story - it is a tribute to sibling devotion (or is it sibling enablement?), and the lengths to which a woman will go to try to save her beloved brother. The film is beautifully made in every regard (performance, scripting), though people who have experienced this scenario may find it somewhat traumatic.

4 - highly recommended

Greek Film Festival 

Melbourne: Until October 27th

Venues: Palace Pentridge, Como, Balwyn, Astor

For film details, ticketing and dates for other states: www.greekfilmfestival.com.au

Last week I reviewed Brando with the Glass Eye, which still has two more screenings. This week I bring you a fine film that has won six awards at the Thessaloniki Film Festival, and further awards from the Greek Film Academy. There are still several screenings to available this week for you to catch it. 

Murderess: This gripping film, directed by Eva Nathena, is set on a barren Greek island around 1900. Hadoula (Karyofyllia Karabeti) is a midwife and general healer, who witnesses the endless disappointment of mothers when they give birth to female children. In this patriarchal society, where men beat their wives and kids mercilessly, boys are valued, as girls are not considered fit to work the land and can only be married off if they come with an attractive dowry. The movie jumps around in time from Hadoula's memories of her youth with a mother who rejected her, to the present, where the tormented woman sees a way, in her world view, to relieve female children of the burden of future mistreatment in their lives. The film is relentlessly grim, with a grey color pallette and severe landscape that reflects the brutality of life. The fine cast all inhabit their roles, the women stoicially suffering, and the men oppressing. The director is unflinching in her depiction of the harshness of daily life, and the trauma of childbirth. In today's world where, in many lands, the patriarchy still devastates women's lives, the film retains a relevance and resonance, and though at times had to watch, it is an example of some of the best of Greek film-making.

      

Japanese Film Festival

Melbourne: October 21st - November 3rd

Venues: Kino, ACMI

For film details, ticketing and dates for other states: www.japanesefilmfestival.net

For lovers of all things Japanese, this is always a festival to please. Whether it's a zany comedy, a human relationship drama, a thriller or a classic from the past (several are featuring this festival), you should find something of interest here. I've caught a couple:

Mom Is That You? The Festival's opening night film is a real winner. The Japanese have a gentle touch with films about interpersonal relationships, and this is no exception. Salaryman Akio is malcontented, with his job, his daughter Mai and his divorce. But he's unable to talk about any of it, and to annoy him further, his normally conservative widowed mother Fukue is lively, looking great, doing charitable work and apparently in love. There is so much warmth and gentle humour in this delightful story of intergenerational family ties. And of course our protagonist Akio may discover some truths about what is really important in life.   

Matched: If you've ever worried about dating apps, this film will give you even more cause for concern! Rinka is a wedding planner, and when she joins a dating app and meets Tom, her life rapidly becomes a nightmare. Several couples who've met through the app are being mysteriously murdered, and Tom sends countless odd messages which makes Rinka think he may be involved. The twists and turns of this plot are numerous - a new development constantly emerging, making for an entertaining thriller. 

Irish Film Festival

Online Australia-wide until November 3rd

At Cinema Nova Melbourne October 24th-27th

For other states and details of films go to www.irishfilmfestival.com.au

The Irish Film Festival in Australia celebrates its 10th anniversary. The films all look highly appealing, with interesting docos, narrative features, and, what caught my eye, several films featuring Irish music. The in-cinema Melbourne season is short, so get yourselves organised! 

Farewell to Hughes's: Much-loved actor Brendan Gleeson visits a pub that has been a Dublin institution for decades, and a haven for traditional Irish music. The pub is now closing down and Brendan interviews musicians, dancers and patrons who have made the venue such a warm and inviting space. There's great archival footage of grand times in the pub over the years, along with some wonderful performances. Also we learn a bit about the local history, with vintage film clips of the Dublin surrounds, especially the produce markets. The film is like a warm embrace, and Gleeson is so natural and unassuming. A bonus is we get to see his skills on the banjo and fiddle. Lovers of traditional Irish music should definitely get along to this one. 

Lie of the Land: Matthew and Kath Ward are struggling Irish farmers, deep in debt. They meet smooth-talking Gabriel who offers a solution that will help them walk away from their troubles with a new identity, but for a fee. When the Wards decide to pull out of the deal, their very lives are at risk from Gabriel, who it turns out is a conman of the worst sort. Normally accepting of their fate and submissive, the Wards must lift their game, as a horrific and very frightening game of kill or be killed develops on their property. The film is nail-bitingly tense, with terrific suspense created by the gloomy night-time setting, and smart editing in which each scene builds upon the previous to a climactic resolution.