Wednesday, 15 July 2026

 July 16th 2026

The Odyssey
Tycho! Beyond the Baton - one only screening - Sat 18th 
In the Hand of Dante (streaming on Netflix)
Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo (streaming on MUBI) 
Dead Again (streaming on Netflix)

A huge release this week: Christopher Nolan's three-hour version of Homer's Odyssey. And it's a winner! Actors playing dual roles feature in two of the Netflix streamers. Those who remember the variety shows in the early days of TV should catch the doco on Tommy Tycho, while lovers of alternative arthouse films may enjoy the latest MUBI offering. 


The Odyssey
Dir: Christopher Nolan

© Universal - Odysseus hears words of 
wisdom from the goddess Athena
Military commander and king, Odysseus (Matt Damon) leaves his island home in Ithaca to wage war and lay siege to rival city Troy. Returning home is no easy feat, as he encounters monstrous challenges along the way. His loyal wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) waits 20 years for his homecoming, all the while fending off suitors aiming to seize the throne. The challenge of turning such an epic story, full of gods, monsters, battle, blood and grief, into a coherent film has been superbly achieved by director Nolan. He has seamlessly blended  Greek legend and mythology with heart-stopping action as well as deep psychological introspection and a hero's journey. The audience thrills and cowers as Odysseus and his men battle the Cyclops, cannibal giants, the six-headed sea monster Scylla, souls of the dead, and the enchantress Circe who turns them into swine. These are only some of the daunting adventures which are part of an interwoven tapestry that moves around in time and place. Odysseus, holed up for seven years on his return journey with the goddess Calypso (Charlize Theron), gradually regains his memory and we see these memories played out in epic scenes, interspersed with the dastardly plotting back in the palace. The suitors to Penelope endlessly feast and threaten the life of Odysseus' son Telemachus (Tom Holland). Chief among them, is viperous, duplicitous Antinous (Robert Pattinson). Behind all this fast-paced, mythological action is another deeper thread, one we can relate to in today's world; that of one man's quest, followed by longing for home, and then soul-searching as to the ethics of what he has set in train through his war-mongering: not only vast destruction but the loss of his men and years of his life. Casting is impressive (although lacking Greeks!), with Damon striking the perfect balance of heroism and self-doubt. Editing of the unforgettable action scenes is genius, while Ludwig Goransson's pounding score builds the tension to a near unbearable climax in one of the film's later scenes. To create a three-hour movie that not only thrills, but gives us universal truths, is a feat Nolan has admirably achieved.
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

Tycho! Beyond the Baton
Dir: Stephan Wellink
Length: 95 mins
(part of Melbourne Documentary FF, July 18, one screening only @ Cinema Nova) 
© Inkwell Films - Tommy in action.
Maestro extraordinaire.
Fresh from the Jewish International Film Festival, 2025, here's a surprisingly impressive documentary about a well-known man you may vaguely know, but not know! Tommy Tycho became Channel 7's first musical director in the 1950s, then for six decades led orchestras, composed, backed world-famous artists and, notably, arranged the version on our national anthem that we sing today. Through archival footage and interviews with notable performers and musicians, we learn of Tommy's traumatic background, beginning in Hungary, where as a five-year-old he begged to learn piano. Then he amazingly survived the Holocaust, and headed to an adventurous and intriguing life in exotic lands, finally emigrating to Australia. The film really gets to the heart of this talented and kind man who was possibly never given the appreciation he really deserved for his contribution to our musical culture. Not to mention his ability to straddle all musical genres from light to classical. A must-see for music lovers. 
4 - wholeheartedly recommended

In the Hand of Dante
Dir: Julian Schnabel
Length: 110 mins
Streaming on Netflix - 2018
© Netflix - Martin Scorsese lurks behind
a huge beard in this odd tale of modern crime
and literary history
New York author Nick Tosches (Oscar Isaac) is recruited by a group of mobsters who have got their hands on an old manuscript, purportedly a handwritten version of The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. Nick is tasked with verifying the authenticity of the work. That's the plot thread in the present day. In the past, Dante himself (Oscar Isaac) is wandering around medieval Italy, agonising over his own spirituality and spouting lines from the book he is attempting to laboriously write. There is much to enjoy in this film, and plenty to dislike. What's to enjoy is the stellar cast starting with Isaac in his dual role, with another dual timezone role from Gal Gadot as Gemma, Dante's wife, as well as Giulietta, secretary and love interest to Nick. Then we have Al Pacino, uncle to the young Nick, a questionable man who teaches the small boy his first lessons in amorality. John Malkovitch is a mobster who is at once evil yet sophisticatedly knowledgable in the art world. Gerard Butler is Louie, a NY hitman, and he also plays Pope Boniface. (Butler and Malkovitch are terrific.) Then we have the iconic Martin Scorsese as Isaiah, a wise man, mentor to Dante, and sporting an impossibly huge beard. Add Mr Muscles, Jason Momoa for good measure and the cast is awesome. But . . . the whole film somehow overreaches, attempting to be ultra-violent, and at the same time philosophical and quasi-spiritual. The constant quoting of lines from Dante's writings become tedious, and something about the attempt to draw a parallel between the present characters and the past ones falls short. Nevertheless, I found myself enjoying the acting, along with the stylised switching from black and white to color, depending upon the era, and overall, I was mildly entertained. Ultimately, it's possibly a pretentious crock, but you decide for yourself.  
2.5 - maybe

Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo
Dir: Diego Cespedes
Length: 109 mins
Streaming on MUBI - 2025
© MUBI - lovely sympathetic performances
in an allegory of the AIDS era
The Cannes Film Festival award Un Certain Regard highlights innovative and unusual film-making. Last year this Chilean film won, and certainly it is unusual, yet hauntingly lovely. Set in a remote desert mining town in 1982 it is the story of orphaned 11-year-old Lidia (Tamara Cortes) who lives with a family of tranvestis or transvestites, who are used, but reviled, by the local miners. Lidia's adoptive "mother" Flamingo (Matias Catalan) is suffering from AIDS, which the locals refer to as the plague. With its magic realism and allegorical approach to its subject matter, this is a powerful exploration of resilience, love and adoptive family as a basis for overcoming fear, homophobia and general prejudice. Young Cortes' performance as Lidia is superb, while the director's compassionate approach to the characters draws us in emotionally.
4 - highly recommended

Dead Again
Dir: Kenneth Branagh
Length: 107 mins
Streaming on Netflix - 1991
© Paramount/ Netflix - two icons of Brit cinema
in early career peformances
Fancy a bit of light, old-fashioned mystery and fun? Well, here's an oldie but a goodie from the vault, and (as in Dante) featuring the same actors in dual roles. In 1990s LA, private detective Mike Church (Kenneth Branagh) is called to an orphanage where a mute woman (Emma Thompson) with amnesia and suffering nightmares has mysteriously turned up. In attempting to discover her identity, Mike names her Grace and takes her to a hypnotist, Franklyn Madsen (Derek Jacobi). Gradually recovering her voice, Grace talks animatedly of a glamorous couple back in the mid 1940s, wealthy musician Roman Strauss and his wife Margaret (both played by Branagh and Thompson). Strauss had been convicted of murdering Margaret. No more said! The plot becomes progressively convoluted as the film progresses, but the whole thing is entertainment plus. And seeing a young Branagh in his second directorial role and acting opposite his then wife is a delight, with Jacobi being a delicous screen presence. Funny that I watched two similarly themes films in the one week, but compared to Dante, this one is way more fun.
3.5 - well recommended
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Thursday, 9 July 2026

 July 10th 2026

Silent Friend
The Invite 
First Light 
Romeria
The Photographer of Mauthausen (streaming on Netflix)

It's a very strong week of recommended films. Nothing under four stars from me. From Germany, to the US, the Philippines, Spain and Austria, so many diverse settings and genres of film-making should entice you into the cinema.


Silent Friend 
Dir: Ildiko Enyedi

© HiGloss - mysterious, original, contemplative
and so much more
So original and so beautiful, Silent Friend has as its main star a tree - a huge 100-year-old gingko, one of the Earth's truly ancient and special trees. It stands in the grounds of Marburg University in Germany. Over the course of 100 years the tree is witness to the lives of three people, who are each as individual and lonely as it is. In 1908 Grete (Luna Wedler) becomes the first female to be accepted into the university to study botany. She must run the gauntlet of sexist professors, and disapproving landladies. She takes a job with a photographer where she learns how to capture the soul and sensuality of plants through her work. In the 1970s Hannes (Enzo Brumm) is besotted with fellow student Gundula (Marlene Burow) who is conducting a weird experiment on a geranium, wiring it up to sensors that record its reactions and "mood". Then in 2020,  neurologist Tony Wong (a magnificent Tony Leung) travels to the university to further his studies on the brain reaction of infants to certain stimuli. When his work is interrupted by the COVID lockdown, and he is stranded almost alone on campus, he decides to research what reactions the gingko tree has, and connects it to all manner of sensors. He shares his work online with fellow researcher Alice (Lea Seydoux).  You need to surrender youself to this remarkable movie - allow yourself to ponder the mysteries of life, the isolation as well as the connection between all living things. Three totally different shooting styles for the three eras are extremely effective, each contributing to the overall sublime beauty and the capturing of nature in all its glory. The storytelling, though slow and gentle, has hidden depths, that will lead you to ponder this film long after its over. A truly magnificent cinematic experience and something that nature lovers and philosphers of life will relish.
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

The Invite
Dir: Olivia Wilde
© VVS - sexy, funny, touching, and wildly
entertaining
Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Olivia Wilde) are at loggerheads in their marriage, constantly bickering and sniping. They haven't had sex for a year, and things come to a head when she invites the upstairs neighbors Pina (Penelope Cruz) and Hawk (Edward Norton) to come over for dinner. Pina is a sex therapist and psychologist, Hawk a retired fireman, and they have caused Joe great distress by their noisy love-making at night. I won't reveal what happens when the four meet up; that's all part of this intelligent, witty script, which is based upon the 2020 Spanish film, The People Upstairs. Suffice to say there are laughs aplenty, but some viewers may cringe as they see aspects of their own relationships portrayed on the big screen. Rogen shows his versatility as a serious actor, not just a funny man. Cruz positively sizzles off the screen, with Norton fabulous as the calm, collected and rational foil to her. Sometimes Wilde (who directs strongly) seems to overplay her role, but as a look at the foibles of marriage, relationships, and attitudes to sex, this film is a real winner. It could also be a great date night movie, especially if you want to kickstart challenging coversation (or some even livelier hijinks!)  
4 - highly recommended

First Light
Dir: James J Robinson
© Bonsai Films - tranquil, provoking 
contemplation on religion, grace and corruption
Philippino/Australian director Robinson garnered strong buzz at the last Melbourne FF, winning Best Australian Director. In a remote convent in the Philippine mountains, Sister Yolanda (Ruby Ruiz) lives a quietly dedicated life, always helping, tending the sick and mentoring a nun-to-be, Sister Arlene (Kare Adea). When a young construction worker has an accident and is hospitalised, Yolanda is asked to give the last rites. She feels the boy could have been saved, and that he has been deliberately left to die. Heading up the construction business is the Dela Cruz family who have a dying mother to whom Yolanda tends. The more Yolanda discovers about the young man's accident, and how political power and corruption have played a role in the outcome, the more her faith is tested. This is understated and beautiful film-making. The character of Yolanda is never judgmental, carries herself with quiet grace yet speaks her mind. Wide-angled cinematography gives the film a sweeping feel, yet it is in fact very intimate. The setting of the crumbling old convent is in stark contrast to the lovely outdoor scenery, with light and shade powerfully used. The narrative makes for a great starting point to examine attitudes to the church and its rituals, as opposed to embodying its teachings through simple humanity. 
4 - highly recommended

Romeria
Dir: Carla Simon
© Palace - a quest for understanding one's
past and present
This impressive Spanish film was nominated for many Goyas and Gaudis (awarded in Spain) last year, and was a Palm d'or nominee at Cannes. Director Simon has crafted a semi-autobiographical movie about 18-year old Marina (Llucia Garcia - winner of a Best Actor award), who, in 2004, goes on the trail of her family history. An orphan, Marina has been raised by her aunt, and has never met the countless relatives that she now lands up with in the seaside town of Vigo, on the Galician coast. She is especially drawn to cousin Nuno (Mitch Martin).  Each relative has a different, and often conflicting, tale to tell about her parents' past, and their deaths in the mid 1980s. Time toggles back and forth and as the film progresses we see the hedonistic, drug-fuelled lives her parents lived. There is even a touch of magical realism when Marina "meets" them. (The same actors who play Marina and Nuno play her parents.) The film is slow moving, but so realistic in its portrayal of family relationships, and quite alarming in its ultimate revelations of her parents' deaths and how the family handled it. Garcia brings a naivete yet quiet strength to her character, and the luminosity of the Spanish coastal town is somehow reflected in her inquiring, innocent face. Despite the deep subject matter, there is no ultra-heavy drama, and for lovers of relationship, family/self-discovery stories, this is a winner.
4 - highly recommended

The Photographer of Mauthausen
Dir: Mar Targarona
Length: 110 mins
Streaming on Netflix - 2018
© Netflix - Nazi atrocities from a 
Spanish viewpoint
Another powerful Spanish film, this one also garnered many nominations for Goya and Gaudi awards when it released. It is a powerful depiction of the horrors of World War Two, and the atrocities committed by the Nazis. This lesser known true story is that of Francesc Boix (Mario Casas), a Spaniard imprisoned in Mauthausen concentration camp for his anti-Fascist activities. There he gets a job in the camp's photography department, where the Nazis documented every last detail of their vile activities. Boix is determined to smuggle negatives out from the camp, so that one day the world will know what was done and hold those responsible accountable. Yes the subject matter is bleak, but Taragona injects the story with much tension and suspense, perfectly augmented by the violin soundtrack. As a story of endurance, brutality and bravery, this is another worthy addition to the pantheon of Holocaust films. 
4 - highly recommended


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Wednesday, 24 June 2026

 June 25th 2026

The Death of Robin Hood
Glenrothan
The Ice Tower
Remarkably Bright Creatures (streaming on Netflix)
A Gorilla Story (streaming on Netflix)

I've pondered greatly this week on the dubious nature of my scoring system for the films I review. Sometimes I'm aware that a movie is a seriously good piece of film-making, great use of the cinematic medium, creative, ground-breaking etc. But . . . I haven't really found it particularly enjoyable. So how can I tell you it's a must-see? Other times I'm well aware that a B-grade film, perhaps trite, predictable, formulaic and sentimental, has given me much enjoyment, laughter, tears and entertainment - it may even has me reflecting on life. That has to be a recommendation from me. All so subjective and related to what the individual brings to the viewing experience! After that rave, let's go to the movies!!

The Death of Robin Hood
Dir: Michael Sarnowski

© Madman/A24 - get through the initial violence
for a surprisingly strong and unexpected story
It's generally agreed by historians that there was no one person Robin Hood, as so many of us believed when watching the TV series back in the 1960s. Rather, he was a composite of the many outlaws of the time, back in the medieval days, when life was harsh and the lowly common folk resented the rich. But in Sarnowski's reimagining of the myth, built around the noble outlaw who "robbed from the rich and gave to the poor", this Robin (Hugh Jackman) has lived a violent and cruel life, full of senselesss killing. Now, after a near mortal wounding, he is taken by Little John (Bill Skarsgard) to spend his final days on an island, where a gentle prioress, Brigid (Jodie Comer) tends to his wounds, and shows him a different way of life. For the first 30 minutes of the film I thought I wouldn't be able to sit through another brutal scene, but then things change; the story becomes one of the possibility of redemption. The dark, blood-soaked madness gives way to the peace of the island priory, and Robin's growing relationship with a little girl, Mary (Faith Delaney), to whom he teaches the art of the bow and arrow. Despite the bleakness and early ultra-violence, there is something quite hauntingly beautiful about this film, with its sweeping cinematography, thoughtful script, and intriguing subversion of a much-loved legend. The brilliant use of medieval-style folksongs works perfectly, but it is ultimately the highly movng performances from Jackman, Comer and Delaney, along with the timeless theme of redemption, that give the film a real heart.
4 - highly recommended

Glenrothan
Dir: Brian Cox

© Rialto - warring brothers, whisky, and
a shot a mending old wounds
Two estranged brothers and deep unresolved issues from the past are all set against the breathtaking beauty of the Scottish Highlands. Sandy (Brian Cox) has been running the family whisky distillery ever since his brother Donal (Alan Cumming) departed dramatically on the day of their mother's funeral 40 years before. Jess (Shirley Henderson) is his very able right-hand gal. After Donal's nightclub in Chicago burns down, and he hears that Sandy is ill, he reluctantly agrees to pay a visit, accompanied by his daughter Amy (Alexander Schipp) and her feisty 12-year-old daughter Sasha (Alexandra Wilkie). Cox (immortalised for his role as Logan Roy in Succession) plays a far more sympathetic character here. Despite having a level of predictability to the plot, the film features very engaging characters who are grappling with the concept of family legacy, exploring truths and lies of the past, and working through old resentments, all of which are so relatable. In many ways this is an old-fashioned style of film, but that helps its appeal, along with tenderness, some gentle humour and the resonant theme of the human desire for forgiveness and reconciliation. The musical thread that runs throughout, be it blues or traditional folk, adds to the charm.
3 - recommended

The Ice Tower
Dir: Lucile Hadzihalilovic
Length: 117 mins
© Plainwater Films - icy beauty - stone-cold heart
A nominee for the Berlin Film Festival's Golden Bear last year, this mesmerising but challenging French film is loosely inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, The Snow Queen. 15-year-old orphan Jeanne (Clara Pacini) runs away from her stifling existence in a foster home, where her only real human connection is with a little girl to whom she reads her favorite fairytale most nights. Jeanne takes refuge in a building which, when she wakes, turns out to be a film set, where none other than The Snow Queen is being shot. Lead actress Cristina (Marion Cotillard) notices Jeanne, and soon the teen has a role as an extra, and is somehow singled out for special treatment by the haughty and temperamental Cristina. This is not a film for impatient viewers; it is at times glacially slow, and is dense with metaphor, imagery and evocative, almost kaleidoscopic scenes. Lofty ideas abound: seeing oneself reflected through others, the blurred line between fantasy and reality, the self-delusional worship of stardom, along with more down-to-earth, but still challenging themes of grief, loss, and exploitation by the powerful of the innocent. Cotillard is sensational in her role, as is Pacini, waiflike and wonderingly wide-eyed, as her attempts to reconcile her fantasies with reality bring cruel shocks. Not a film for everyone, but a work that makes great use of the art of film.
3.5 well recommended

A Gorilla Story
Dir: James Reed and Callum Webster
Length: 90 mins
Streaming on Netflix

© Netflix - an unforgettable scene from the vault
Gorilla fans rejoice! Just released is this enchanting documentary narrated by the iconic David Attenborough. In 1978, while shooting an episode for the BBC's Life on Earth, Attenborough made history, as a young gorilla named Pablo unexpectedly climbed all over him, resulting in a glorious and spontaneous human/gorilla interaction that is now legendary. In this latest doco, Attenborough interweaves archival footage with current-day footage of the troops of gorillas who are Pablo's descendants. There is so much here to learn about gorilla societies, their family bonds and leadership struggles, while the enchanting close-up camera work takes us into their world. Attenborough also explains how conservation efforts over the last couple of decades have been successful. The playful infants are beyond adorable, and the near-human nature of these magnificent beasts is awe-inspiring. This is definitely a must-see for nature lovers.
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

Remarkably Bright Creatures
Dir: Olivia Newman
Length: 111 mins
Streaming on Netflix

© Netflix - two lost humans, eight
tentacles - recipe for a great tale
Tova (Sally Field) works as a cleaning lady in an aquarium in Washington State. She is dogged by grief ever since the disappearance, presumedly through drowning, of her son 30 years ago. To pass time and vent her feelings, she chats constantly to a giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus (voiced by Alfred Molina). When Tova injures her ankle a new cleaner is employed - a young itinerant musician, Cameron (Lewis Pullman), who is down on his luck, and searching for the father he had never known. After a prickly start to their relationship, Tova and Cameron draw closer, and Marcellus is instrumental in solving the mysteries that haunt both Cameron and Tova. Though some may find the film too fantastical and even schmaltzy, for me it is an utter delight. The story is seen for some of the time through the cynical but amusing voice-over of Marcellus, who has contempt for human stupidity, and longs to escape captivity to return to his home in the depths of the ocean. There is so much heart to this story - real tear-jerking stuff - and the CGI work in creating the octopus is extraordinary. Overall the film is a visual treat. Field and Pullman work so well together, and a lovely smaller role by Colm Meaney as the owner of the local store (and secret admirer of Tova) adds another layer to what is an uplifting and gorgeous story.
4 - highly recommended 
(Watch this terrific clip to get an insight into the digital wizardry that created Marcellus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax-ziaf9DQ4&t=15s)

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Wednesday, 10 June 2026

June 11th 2026

Disclosure Day
H is for Hawk
The Sound of Falling
Primavera
Tuner
CHIFF - Children's International Film Festival
HSBC Spanish & Latin American Film Festival

This week sees a host of wonderful films, plus two new festivals. All worth catching.   

Disclosure Day
Dir: Steven Spielberg
© Universal - Spielberg shows us why he's one
of the world's top directors. 
Loved it, loved it, loved it! Now that I've got that off my chest, I tackle the challenge of saying enough to get you to see it, without revealing too much. The teaser gives the bare bones: If you found out we weren't alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? Spielberg returns to some of his favorite themes, but with a very modern spin. The world is on the brink of major war. A quasi-governmental agency, WRDEX,  headed up by Noah Scanlon (Colin Firth), is on the hunt for an ex-employee, Daniel Kellner (Josh O'Connor) who has escaped with a trove of archival footage (along with a powerful technological device) that he intends to disclose to the world; something that will blow the minds of every being on the planet. In parallel time, weather presenter Margaret Fairchild (Emily Blunt), has a meltdown on TV, suddenly speaking in a strange click-like language. Margaret and Daniel are eventually drawn together, giving rise to an action-packed, heart-stopping chase that drives the film along at breakneck speed, as Scanlon's agency desperately tries to prevent the disclosure of the information in Daniel's possession. Other ex-employees of WRDEX, sympathetic to Daniel's cause and led by Hugo (Colman Domingo), race against time to get Daniel to safety. Meantime we are treated to extraordinary happenings, as Scanlon repeatedly employs the secret futuristic technology to get into the heads, the very beings, of others he wants to influence. For those who claim they don't like sci-fi or action films, there is so much more to this stunning film. Underlying themes include the possiblity of a huge conspiratorial cover-up at the highest levels, the function of religion, humans' place in the universe, and above all the concept of compassion as a vital means to rescue humans from self-destruction. With gloriously revisited motifs from ET, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Minority Report, Spielberg proves his directorial dominance, combining thrills, entertainment, cerebral stimulation, and a plot that feels believable, no matter what you do or don't believe! Thrillingly-crafted action sequences include new and creative twists to well-loved scenarios, the clever recreating of purported archival footage feels authentic, and John Williams' score is, as always, just right. The entire cast is impressive, with Blunt giving a career-defining performance. Her Margaret literally has the last word in the movie, and this word will leave audiences either mystified, or coming to a realisation of how Spielberg's lifelong obsession with extra-terrestrial life could point the way to humanity's salvation. Disclosure Day has just about every positive element you could want from an intelligently scripted, top-notch film, as well as being Entertainment with a capital E!
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

H is for Hawk
Dir: Phillippa Lowthorpe

© Kismet - tackling grief in a very
unusual way
Helen McDonald (Claire Foy) was an academic, lecturing at Cambridge. Her father Alisdair (Brendan Gleeson) was a well-respected photographer who worked for years on the Daily Mirror. When Alisdair died suddenly in 2007, Helen was grief stricken, and wrote a memoir about how she coped, by immersing herself totally in the training of a young goshawk that she named Mabel. This film is the cinematic adaptation of that memoir. It's a slow, contemplative film, that is ultimately a study of grief and depression. Foy gives a remarkable performance, as she portrays Helen progressively withdrawing from the human world and increasingly relating to the wild bird she is training. There is a lot of silence in the film, but this is made up for with beautifully-shot scenes of the bird, in glorious flight, or displaying close-up its magnificent plumage. The training of the animal also makes for intriguing viewing, and apparently Foy had to overcome her initial fear and learn to relate to five birds who plated Mabel! Flash-backs of Helen's relationship with her Dad also gives us insight into her very special bond with the man she felt was the only person in the world who understood her. Excellent support is given by Denise Gough as Helen's Aussie colleague and friend Christina, and Lindsay Duncan as her mother. Low key but lovely viewing.
3.5 - well recommended

The Sound of Falling
Dir: Mascha Schilinski
Length: 155 min mins
© Transmission - beautifully-made, at times
mystifying film
Set in one farmhouse in Germany over the course of a century, with four distinctly different time periods, this is the story (if you can call it that) of several families, young women and girls who have lived there. The film is more like an impressionist piece, that jumps about in time and intertwines characters' lives, such that, at times, I had no idea who was who! Young Alma lives among severe relatives back in the 1910s, and observes death, leading to an array of questions. In the 1940s, Erika is obsessed with Uncle Fritz, whose parents deliberately caused his leg to be amputated to prevent him from serving in the war. In the 1980s, teen Angelika behaves with gay abandon, pushing the boundaries that restrict her, while in the present era pre-adolescent Lenka is besotted with her new friend Kaya. The film has 22 prestigious wins to its name, perhaps because the director really makes great use of the filmic medium. Repetitive leitmotifs, to do with death, warmth, flies, family portraits, and intimate moments help blend and blur time. There is a dreamlike quality to the look and story, and for patient viewers it will reward, despite certain difficulties. Perhaps a second viewing will reveal more?
3.5 - well recommended

Primavera
Dir: Damiano Michialetto

© Rialto Distribution - elegant, heartbreaking 
story of Vivaldi and an orphan violinist
Abandoned baby girls spending their early lives in an orphanage in Venice in the early 1700s, and a music teacher/composer who achieved acclaim then faded into obscurity for the next 200 years. What do they have in common? Antonio Vivaldi taught for 40 years of his life in the Ospedale della Pieta, a real life convent and orphanage. There, the most talented girls learned music, and performed for the Venetian upper class, but always behind a grille or with masked  faces. Based upon an acclaimed historical novel, this elegant and moving film blends the two historical threads, while introducing a fictional element. For his lead violinist, Vivaldi (Michele Riondino) chooses talented and headstrong Cecilia (Tecla Insolia), a girl permanently heartbroken at being abandoned by her mother. And although Cecilia is devoted to music, society of the day  and the money-grabbing orphanage, have other plans for her: marriage to a wealthy man, and becoming forever relegated to the role of wife. Primavera means spring, and is one of the movements in Vivaldi's immortal composition The Four Seasons. Both main characters have a sort of spring revival in their lives, and this beautiful relationship between teacher and pupil is subtly portrayed in deeply emotional performances. Recreation of the era is outstanding, and the Vivaldi pieces, along with divine violin playing and an impressive original soundtrack, all enhance a historical story, that has much modern resonance for the role of women in society. Music lovers won't want to miss this one. 
4 - wholeheartedly recommended

Tuner
Dir: Daniel Roher

© VVS - a heist movie with a difference. Piano
tuning and safe cracking - how do they link?
Niki (Leo Woodall) is a young man with perfect musical pitch, but who suffers from a hearing malady known as hyperacusis. This causes him extreme sensistivity to sound, sometimes occasioning pain, but also making him very suited to his profession, piano tuning. He works with lifelong tuner Harry Horowitz (Dustin Hoffman), who is also his mentor and friend. On a late-night tuning job, he runs into some men from a security company headed up by Uri (the excellent Lior Raz of Fauda fame), and is co-opted into using his exceptional hearing to open a safe. When Harry gets ill, and his medical bills become unaffordable, Niki decides he can earn a bit extra employing his talent for nefarious purposes, but is soon drawn into a vicious, criminal underworld. This quickly threatens the budding relationship he has developed with up and coming pianist Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu). This is an original and fun spin on the heist movie. Woodall is an actor to watch, bringing a tense and charismatic feel to his character, while Hoffman is, as ever, a delight, as the quirky, empathetic Harry. The intricacies of piano-tuning (and safe-cracking) are fascinating to observe, and the film moves along at a terrific pace, with tension, emotion and an underlying theme about artists' relationships with their talents and passions.
4 - highly recommended

CHIFF - Children's International Film Festival
June 6 - July 10
Classic Elsternwick, Lido Hawrhorn, Cameo Belgrave and Ritz Sydney
For everything you need to know visit: www.chiff.com.au

Curated totally with children in mind, CHIFF features 30 films from around the world. Noteworthy are the screenings of Academy Award-nominated Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, also  the acclaimed underwater adventure The Last Whale Rider, and a Family Fun 
Day screening of Disney & Pixar’s Toy Story 5. Two classics also feature:  Flight of the Navigator, celebrating its 40th anniversary, and Fly Away Home, celebrating its 30th anniversary. As I say every year, these films are not only for kids; there is so much adults and viewers of all ages can glean from these powerful stories. The two I've previewed so far are testament to that.

My Grandfather is a Nihonjin: In the early 1900s, many Japanese went to Brazil to work on the coffee plantations. In this lovely animation, set in Sao Paulo, 10-year-old Nobo (born and raised in Brazil) is given a school assignment to learn about his family's origins. He interviews his grumpy Japanese grandfather, and begins to discover his cultural heritage. Depictions of Nobo's interactions with his schoolfriends from varied backgrounds feel very real, as does his anguish at trying to come to terms with exactly where he belongs in life. Lovely painterly scenes, and very relateable characters make this a powerful story for all age groups.
 
My Life at Versailles: The Movie:  Here's another sweet animation about family and fitting in. Violet's parents are killed in an accident and she is sent to live with her large, gruff uncle Regis, who works as a handyman and gardener at the Palace of Versailles. Pragmatic but caring Regis makes for a lovely contrast to the small, grieving girl. Adapted from a graphic novel, the film employs a simple colorful style, and gives insight into one of France's iconic treasures. The film is a good way to tackle deep and possibly challenging themes with youngsters, being a gentle exploration of grief, and coming to terms with death, life, its challenges, and making new relationships. 
CHIFF is, as always, highly recommended

HSBC Spanish Film Festival
Until July 6
Palace Cinemas
For everything you need to know visit: https://spanishfilmfestival.com/
The festival features more than 30 films from Spain, Columbia, Argentina, Mexico, Peru and more. Thrillers, romances, documentaries, culinary adventures and the exciting rhythm of Latin dance - it's all here!  

The Captive (Il Cautivo): Acclaimed director Alejandro Amenabar has come up with a ripper tale, in this story of Miguel Cervantes, author of Don Quixote. Part is based upon truth, and another (large) part, has apparently been fictionalised. In 1575,Cervantes (a very handsome Julio Pena), a Spanish soldier has been captured, along with a host of other high ranking Spaniards, by Ottomans. All are being held prisoner in Algiers until their ransoms are paid. Cervantes discovers that, by telling stories to his fellow prisoners, life within the prison is made more tolerable. He soon attracts the attention of the ruler, or bey, of Algiers, Hasan (Alessando Borghi), who delights in Cervante's tales. Despite prisoner and master growing closer, Cervantes is constantly hatching a plot to escape. Production values and cinematography are impressive, but it is the two leads who really mesmerise, as their homoerotic relationship deepens. The Ottoman way of life is depicted as lush, decadent and sensual, while their cruelty, brutality and the harsh conditions in the prison are in stark contrast. With plenty of Goya nominations and awards, this is a majorly entertaining film, even if it takes very modern liberties with the truth. 

The Tigers (Los Tigres): Two siblings, Antonio and Estrella, work in a dangerous profession as industrial divers performing repairs on petroleum ships and tankers. When financial hardship strikes and Antonio discovers one of the ships to be smuggling drugs, the temptation to make some quick money looms. But when you enter the murky world of drug criminals, your life is at risk. This taut thriller reveals much about the profession of industrial diving, and Antonio is already at risk with a deteriorating heart condition. As well as the many fraught, tension-inducing plot moments, the film is also a good exploration of sibling bonds and loyalty. 






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