Thursday, 19 February 2026

February 20th 2026

Jimpa
Crime 101
Pillion
Fackham Hall
Europa! Europa FF

Again we are spoiled for choice with new cinema releases, plus a fantastic film festival showcasing the best of European arthouse movies. 

Jimpa
Dir: Sophie Hyde
© Kismet - family dynamics and finding
one's place in the world
Hannah (Olivia Colman) is an Adelaide filmmaker making a movie loosely based around her own family. She travels to Amsterdam, where her father Jim (John Lithgow) now lives, having left his family years ago to live an openly queer life. With her are husband (Daniel Henshall) and daughter Frances (Aud Mason-Hyde), a 16-year-old who identifies as a non-binary "they". The stories Hannah has always told herself about her father prove to be not as accurate as she thought, while Frances' hopes to live with her "Jimpa" as she calls him will be questioned. Much of this is inspired by director Hyde's own life, and Aud Mason-Hyde is in fact her own non-binary child. So there's plenty of truthful insights in this tale, and a totally authentic performance from Aud, as a young woman having her first romantic experiences and finding her place in the world. The film shines a light on the queer community in Amsterdam, (many people playing themselves) and into what traumas gay men experienced through the AIDS crisis. Lithgow is surprisingly good as Jim, but while I'm a Colman fan her inability to nail an Aussie accent bothered me. However the dynamics of the parent child relationships, and the love and acceptance, makes for a moving, truthful and interesting film.
3.5 - well recommended

Crime 101
Dir: Bart Layton 
© Sony - wonderful cast in a
thrilling heist story
Crime thrillers are not usually my favorite genre, but this one blitzes. With an intelligent script, stunning cast, tight editing, and an especially nail-biting, hair-raising chase scene, this has it all. Perhaps no surprise, as master crime/thriller writer Don Winslow has co-scripted it. Mike (Chris Hemsworth) has conducted a string of heists up and down Highway 101, but he's totally baffled the cops; no violence and no evidence. World-weary policeman Lou (Mark Ruffalo) has a theory, which is not listened to. Meantime, insurance agent Sharon (Halle Berry) is selling multi-million dollar policies to uber-rich folk who fear theft, while young thug Ormon (Barry Keoghan) starts working for the man (Nick Nolte) who has been employing Mike. And so a series of tightly interwoven plot threads burst onto our screens, with stylish, evocative cinematography and taut editing that gets us in from the opening scene of an upside down Los Angeles. This is one of Hemsworth's finest performances; he feels totally authentic as a closed and secretive guy who desperately wants money but also craves a relationship with the very open Maya (Monica Barbaro). This film has multiple underlying themes: police corruption, rapacious behaviour of insurance companies, decadence of the rich in the face of LA homelessness; along with layers of moral ambiguity. The surprises at the end come thick and fast, and we can't help but feel for so many of the characters, despite their dubious deeds! I found myself 100% absorbed in this film, and almost disappointed when it came to an end.     
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

Pillion
Dir: Harry Lighton
© Rialto - two excellent leads shine a light
on a very alternative relationship
Imagine combining elements of BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism, masochism, for those not in the know), with romance and a small element of comedy. Add a hulking, handsome queer biker, his LGBTQI+ biker mates, and a weedy insecure fellow looking for his place in life, and you have a recipe for one of the most out-there, unusual films of late. (Up front warning for those who find man-on-man sex confronting.) Colin (Harry Melling) lives an unassuming life working as a parking inspector and singing in a barber-shop quartet. When he meets hunky biker Ray (Alexander Skarsgaard), he becomes willingly lured into a dominant/submissive relationship, in which his eagerness to please sees him sexually enslaved, his head shaved, and a chain and padlock round his neck. The film may sound kinky, but underneath the overtly sexual plot are some surprising elements: a sort of warped sweetness in the relationship, and a revealing journey of self discovery for Colin, culminating in a surprisingly fun conclusion to the tale. The deep love and acceptance Colin's parents feel for their son is also very touching. No judgment is ever made of either man; their vulnerabilities and needs are front and centre, and the brilliant, quite moving, performances from Skarsgaard and Melling, helping us understand exactly how this kinky relationship works, are central to making this story work. 
4 - highly recommended

Fackham Hall
Dir: Jim O'Hanlon
© VVS - British silliness at its best
Here comes the eternal problem of recommending comedy films to viewers. Everyone's sense of humour is so vastly different. Fans of Downton Abbey may be offended by this one while lovers of old-fashioned, silly, satirical British humour will love it. I'm in the latter category. Lord and Lady Davenport (Damien Lewis and Katharine Waterston) preside over their estate, Fackham Hall, which is facing financial ruin if their daughter Rose (Tomasin McKenzie) doesn't marry cousin Archibald (Tom Felton). Enter the new butler, street-smart pickpocket and one-time orphan  Eric Noone (Ben Radcliffe), who instantly forms a mutually romantic but forbidden attachment to Katharine. Much of the film's humour relies on wordplay (just think of the title!), along with huge helpings of silliness, farce and slapstick, which all the cast execute with expert timing and obvious enjoyment. Yes it's silly, making maximum fun of the British class structure, but in this fraught era of geopolitical turmoil, sometimes a good belly laugh (which I sure had) is just the antidote needed to lighten things up.
3.5 - well recommended

Europa! Europa Film Festival
Melbourne 19th Feb - 19th March
Classic Elsternwick; Lido Hawthorn; Cameo Belgrave
The festival is also expanding to interstate
For all details, times, film programs visit https://www.europafilmfestival.com.au/

43 films from 22 countries in Europe; these are wonderful films that you may only have this one opportunity to see, as they are not your average multiplex popcorn-brigade movies! So why not plan your schedule now? As well as featuring the best of modern European cinema, there will be a retrospective of films from Michelangelo Antonioni and Eric Rohmer. I'm lucky to have previewed a selection. 

The Birthday Party
Based upon a Greek novel of the same name, the film tells the story of ruthless tycoon Marcos Timoleon (Willem Dafoe), who holds a lavish and hedonistic 25th birthday party for his daughter and heir Sofia (Vic Carmen Sonne). Guests arrive at his private island, including journalist (Joe Cole) who is writing a biography of Marcos. This is one of those films that looks fabulous, with an intense, broody seething atmosphere, and a plot involving secrets and betrayals. I don't find myself caring much about the characters, but Dafoe, as always, is simply wonderful to watch as he inhabits the steely cold personality of  a man for whom money is king. 

Afternoons of Solitude
This award-winning documentary from a Spanish director, features Peruvian-born toreador Andrea Roca Rey. It is set in one of today's most controversial sporting arenas - the bullfighting ring. There is no judgment or debate about this ancient traditional sport; rather we witness Andrea's preparations, his pre-fight rituals, the camaraderie of his team, and his encounters in the ring with massive animals, bred for this mesmerisingly awful blood sport, pitting man against beast. Granted this is a film not everyone will be able to endure, with its cruelty to the bulls, but it honors one of Spain's most sacred traditions, and showcases the extraordinary bravery of the matadors. Shot in sun-drenched colors and with hypnotic repetitive close-ups of the action, this is a confronting documentary unlike any I've seen before.

With plenty of nominations for awards at various international festivals, this gentle film tells the story of young Dalia (Ydalie Turk) who comes from London to  northern Italy to care for her 90-year-old aging grandfather Igor (Umberto Usini). He has been a passionate truffle hunter all his life, but his way of life is being threatened, as large grape-growing corporations are destroying the forests where truffles grow. Igor sends Dalia out with his beloved truffle dog Birba, hoping they can find a big  truffle to show at the local fair. There are plenty of surprises in the plot, including some weirdly surreal quasi-fairytale moments. Most striking are the breathtaking visuals of the Piedmont landscape - glowing autumn forests, mists over the vineyards, winding village streets. This gorgeous insight into tradition, love of land, and a dying way of life make for a memorable movie experience.

The Portugese House
This multi-award-winning film from Spain tells the story of teacher Fernando (Manolo Solo), who comes home one day to fnd his wife mysteriously gone. He abruptly leaves his job and heads to Portugal, where, through a twist of fate, he ends up impersonating a gardener he has met along the way and who had been going to work at a large villa owned by the mysterious Amalia. After a relatively low-key first half, the film then introduces a new plot thread featuring another woman with an assumed identity, and a link to Fernando. The lovely settings make one's travelling feet itchy, while performances are subtle, and there is no condemnation of those masquerading as others (good reasons all round!). There is a kindness and warmth displayed in this delicate, lovely film that fills the viewer with warmth and a much-needed, renewed faith in humanity.  
Europa Europa FF is of course wholeheartdly recommended
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Thursday, 12 February 2026

February 13th 2026

"Wuthering Heights"
Is This Thing On?
Little Wonder Bear
Die My Love (streaming on MUBI)

A huge week, with two of our internationally-acclaimed, home-grown actors starring in the latest version of a classic tale. Plus several other worthy offerings. 

"Wuthering Heights"
Dir: Emerald Fennell
© Universal - Elordi and Robbie conjure up
a tale of sexual longing
I love it . . . when the critics go into a frenzied box-on of lauding and reviling the same film. I woke, still thinking about this memorable film which I saw last night; a good sign. Trying to cobble my own conflicting thoughts about the movie is the challenge. First, let Bronte purists note the quotation marks around the film's title, indicating this is very much an adaptation of a classic tale. And this version goes all-in to make the tragic love story decidedly more erotic and sexualised than the original, with a hefty side-serve of gothic melodrama. The film's early scenes feature young Cathy (Charlotte Mellington) bonding with a wild orphan (Owen Cooper) her father has brought home to raise. Cathy names him Heathcliffe, and over the years their strong affinity for each other turns into something more.  As the kids grow to adulthood, the young man is made a servant in the household and their obvious attraction for each other is suppressed and denied by Cathy (Margot Robbie), who takes up the offer to marry wealthy neighbor Edgar Linton (Shazad Latif).  The scene is set for heartbreak and tragedy all round, as Heathcliffe (Jacob Elordi) flees after misinterpreting an overheard conversation. Without any more plot elaboration, (this is after all my fiveminutefilm review), I find the first part of the film to be really powerful, evoking repressed sexual desires, and compellingly depicting just what true soulmates the two are. Everything about the early part of the film feels earthy, sensual and authentic. Later, once Cathy is in wealthy Edgar's home, the director goes all in for elaborate excess, reflected in sumptuous sets and costumes. The illicit affair between Cathy and a returned, now wealthy, Heathcliffe are played for breathless bodice-ripping eroticness, yet they feel somewhat overdone. When Heathcliffe takes ultimate revenge by marrying the twitty Isabella (Alison Oliver), his cruelty takes on elements of bondage and discipline that become somewhat laughable. And yet the wildness of the moors, the squalor of Cathy's childhood home, and the lavishness of  Edgar's home make for stunning cinematography and excellent atmosphere. And, under all the melodramatic tropes, Elordi's and Robbie's performances are to be admired. The big omission from the original story is leaving out the intergenerational trauma, and any elements of a supernatural overtone to the eternal lovers. While I admire Fennell's expansive vision for reinterpreting the classic tale, it is telling for me that I didn't cry, meaning something I can't pinpoint is missing. Nevertheless I was very entertained, and this is definitely a film to which each viewer must bring their own judgment to. So, I fence sit . . .
3 - recommended

Is This Thing On?
Dir: Bradley Cooper
© Searchlight - a moving depiction of a
marrriage in crisis
Alex Novak (Will Arnett) and his wife Tess (Laura Dern) have been married for about 20 years, and have two delightfully sensible young sons. When they amicably agree to call it a day on their marriage, Tess, once an Olympic level volleyball player, decides to revisit the sport, as a coach. Will accidentally stumbles into a comedy club downtown, and, unable to pay the $15 entrance fees, signs himself up to do a small improv. His enjoyment of stand-up gradually grows. As they share the kids and go about their new lives, unexpected ways of relating to each other emerge. I love this film; for me Cooper has written a script that feels so real, capturing some of the mysteries that go into two people sharing lives - why they get together in the first place, and for what, sometimes inexplicable, reasons they part. Where do individual identities go when merged in marriage, and what does happiness in the mundanities of day to day life look like? These questions are asked, and setting it against the comedy improv scene, which Alex uses almost as personal therapy, works a treat. Supporting cast are all excellent: Bradley Coooper as Alex's best friend and aspiring actor Balls, Andra Day as his overbearing wife Christine, Christine Ebersole as Alex's mother Marilyn and a wonderful Ciaran Hinds as Jan, Alex's father. This beautifully scripted film blends humour, poignancy, scepticism and romance in a story in which so many of us will see reflections of our own lives.
4 - highly recommended

Little Wonder Bear
Dir: Eduardo Schuldt
© Potential - good message, lovely characters
If you want children to understand the environmental damage being done to the planet's wild forests, this could be just the film to help you explain. It is a very cute animation, centred around a family of spectacled bears, deep in the Peruvian Amazon. Siblings Yana Yana and Achachilla (also known as Milagros, meaning 'miracle') are orphaned after their mother is killed. They are separated, captured and taken into the world of humans. Little Milagros goes in search of her brother who she promised to protect, and in between makes a firm friendship with a fox who is captive of a cruel man who runs a circus. For me the use of very Americanised overdubbed voices takes away from the Peruvian feel of the story, but I guess little kids can't read well, so it's needed. The cuteness and humour in the characters certainly have a lot of appeal to youngsters. The important thing is the values the film brings - with emphasis on family, friendship and courage. 
3 - recommended

Die My Love
Dir: Lynn Ramsay
Length: 119 mins
Streaming on MUBI 
© MUBI - love and post-partum madness
Grace (Jennifer Lawrence) is a wild child at heart. But after the birth of her baby, she seems to tip over the edge into mental illness. Her partner Jackson (Robert Pattinson) is at a loss to cope, and yet the strength of their love manages to bind them together through all Grace's mood swings and manic outbursts. This is a challenging film to watch in some ways, as so much of it relies upon going with the flow of Grace's bizarre, confronting behaviour. The film's major strength relies upon Lawrence's career-best performance which has garnered many nominations for its rawness and capturing of post-partum madness. Pattinson, as always, inhabits his role as the baffled husband, struggling to cope with his off-kilter wife. The two leads are ably supported by Sissy Spacek as the mother-in-law struggling to understand, as are so many of the women surrounding Grace, and who see motherhood as only positive. Quite a different and disturbing look at average lives, and with an ambiguous and unexpected ending.
3.5 - well recommended 

About MUBI: 
MUBI features some fine retrospectives, with spotlights on themes and directors. In February it features six of French auteur Francois Ozon's films, plus a Jafar Panahi retrospective, among the many other fine films available to stream. 


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Monday, 2 February 2026

February 3rd 2026

It Was Just an Accident
Blue Moon
Addition
Steps of Freedom (SMS On Demand)
Disneyland Handcrafted (streaming on Disney+)

Two of today's films are up there in Oscar contention. And for those staying home, there are two fine documentaries to enjoy on streaming platforms. 

It Was Just an Accident
Dir: Jafar Panahi
© Madman - comedy masks some serious
social commentary
From the renowned Iranian director, this Palme d'Or winner at last year's Cannes FF, is now nominated for two Oscars, (along with countless other nominations and wins). Eghbal (Ebrahim Azizi) is driving at night with his family when his car hits a dog and is damaged. He calls into a workshop, where mechanic Vahid (Vahid Mobasseri) instantly recognises the voice as belonging to someone who was his tormentor when he was in an Iranian jail. Fuelled by revenge, he kidnaps Eghbal and tries to bury him alive, but Eghbal vehemently denies his presumed identity, and so Vahid contacts a few other ex-detainees to try to help identify their former captor and torturer. This is a clever blending of political comment, thriller and comedy, with an incisive examination of moral issues at its heart. The plot has much to say about oppression, revenge and forgiveness. Should victims stoop to the same levels as their persecutors, or can forgiveness be possible? With the current state of affairs in Iran, this is timely viewing.
4 - highly recommended

Blue Moon
Dir: Richard linklater
© Sony - Ethan Hawke gives one of
his finest performances yet
Just nominated for an Oscar for Best Lead Actor and Best Screenplay, Blue Moon is the story of one night in the life of Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke), famed partner of the musical-comedy writing duo Hammerstein and Hart. Hammerstein (Simon Delaney) has just enjoyed a rave response to  his new musical show Oklahoma, but it has been written in collaboration with Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott). Hart has been sidelined, thanks to his alcohol addiction. The story is mostly set in the confines of a bar, where Eddie the barman (an excellent Bobby Cannevale) presides. The film is almost entirely dialogue driven, with Hart expounding at length upon the dramas in his life, his love for much younger protege Elizabeth Wieland (Margaret Qualley), and trying to come to terms with his ex-partner's raging success without him, as well as grappling with his own sexual identity. Hawke is a revelation, both in the acting department and his makeup driven transformation. His brashnes and garrulousness contrasted with an underlying self-loathing are beatifully portrayed. Though nothing very dramatic happens plot-wise, Hart's intense self-examination and the excruciatingly painful night he must endure make for quite rivetting watching. The glory days of 1940s Broadway are reflected in the sumptuous setting, which adds to the atmosphere.
3.5 - well recommended 

Addition
Dir: Marcelle Lunam
© Roadshow - rom-com meets mental health issues
Based on an award-nominated, popular novel by Toni Jordan, Addition is a rom-com with a difference - it is also an insight into mental illness, specifically an OCD type of obsession with counting. Grace (Teresa Palmer) is a mathematician and tutor who constantly counts everything she comes across, as if her life depends on it (her mental health certainly does!). When she meets Seamus (Joe Dempsie) in a supermarket and a romance develops, she is forced to confront herself and her order-obsessed world. While Palmer's performance is excellent, the film lacks the narrative drive to really pull viewers in. Attempting to depict mental health conditions with random on-screen numbers, and imaginary conversations with inventor Nikola Tesla (Eamon Farren) doesn't totally work. While a pleasant diversion, the film hasn't stayed in my head as long as the algebra I learned decades ago in school! 
2.5 - maybe

Steps of Freedom
Dir: Ruan Magan
Length: 73 mins
Streaming on SBS On Demand (2021)
© unexpectedly wonderful and joyous
Now here's a film to make a song and dance about! This award-winning doco traces the history of Irish dance, from its ancient peasant origins, to the global phenomenon it has become, featuring the likes of Michael Flatley and his arena performances. Even if you don't imagine yourself a fan of the genre, there is so much to love here, from the infectious energy of the dancers and musicians, through to the fascinating history of Ireland that is intertwined with the dance history. Seeing the dancers lose themselves in the rhythm and hearing the driving beats and steps is a mesmerising experience. The film posits that African culture also had an influence on Irish dancing, and a couple of "dance-offs" between African and Irish dancers are simply mind-blowing. This is uplifting, entertaining, and a totally unexpected treat which is a must for music lovers and fans of all things Irish. 
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

Disneyland Handcrafted
Dir: Lesley Iwerks
Length: 78 mins
Streaming on Disney+
© Disney+ - 
If you think you have absolutely no interest in Disneyland, this captivating doco should make you rethink. It's the story of how Walt Disney, determined and focussed, brought his vision to life with the help of hundreds of skilled artisans and workers. Using rare, unseen archival footage, the doco shows how a seemingly impossible dream came to fruition back in the mid 1950s. The level of craftsmanship and attention to detail, along with months-long dedicated labour, saw Walt's iconic theme park born. From an arid patch of land, to a world of fantasy and fun, it was almost unbelievable that everything could be done within the time frame envisaged. This is entertaining, inspiring and educational viewing. And for those old enough to remember watching Disneyland on a Sunday night, it's a glorious trip down memory lane.
4 - highly recommended

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Thursday, 22 January 2026

January 23rd 2026

Marty Supreme
Somebody to Love
No Other Choice
The Secret Agent
28 Years Later
Surviving Malka Leifer (streaming on Stan)

The pinnacle of awards season, the Oscars, is on its way. And "awards" seems to be a prominent word in many of the films reviewed  this week. It's a spectacular week for movie going, with so many fine films in a variety of genres. 

Marty Supreme
Dir: Josh Safdie
© A24 - never was table tennis so exciting
in this tale of a driven young man
Nominated just yesterday for nine Oscars, Marty Supreme is film-making at its best, story telling at its most compelling, acting that feels like reality, and entertainment to the max. The setting is 1950s' New York. Marty Mauser (Timothee Chalamet) reluctantly works at his uncle's shoestore, only to get enough money to pursue his passion - table tennis. His ambition is to be the best in the world, and put a sport on the map that until then was generally unrecognised in the USA. Marty's story (inspired by actual player Marty Reisman), is that of a young man who is at once charming, a rogue, a hustler, arrogant, likeable, infuriating, driven and supremely confident. I could rave on ad infinitum about Chalamet's extraordinary performance, yet every aspect of this film combines to make it a powerhouse, energy driven tale. The filming of every match is amazing, and more so because Chalamet actually trained for about seven years and really can play! Never was table tennis so exciting. Settings recreate a bygone, lower-class side of New York, with its memorable characters and ping-pong halls, while the choice of music, mixing eras to create emotion, is inspired. Superclose up shots make everything feels gritty and real, while the pace of the action (both at the tables, and in every other mad-cap adventure Marty finds himself caught up in), makes for an adrenalin-fuelled ride. Gwyneth Paltrow makes an impressive return as ageing glamorous movie star Kay Stone, but every single character from major to minor leaps off the screen. The arc of Marty's journey is rivetting, and ultimately very moving. A wonderful film.
5 - unmissable

Somebody to Love (FolleMente)
Dir: Paolo Genovese
© Palace - cute, funny, and hits the mark
for those on the dating scene
The Italian title of this film, meaning "crazy mind", says a lot more about it, in some ways, than the English. Lara (Pilar Fogliati) is preparing dinner at her home for her blind date Piero (Eduardo Leo). He is en route, stopping to buy a bunch of flowers. We are soon confronted with the inner workings of each character's mind, with their emotions and inner voices represented by actual characters, who debate incessantly the right way to handle this date. So Lara and Piero each have four inner "selves", ranging from romantic, to logical, sexually impulsive and cautious, controlling their hearts and minds throughout what feels a very authentic, at times awkward,  first date between people anxious to find love. The film is warm-hearted, funny, at times poignant, and overall rather clever conceptually. Despite a confined setting, muted lighting, and endless dialogue, the film shows Genovese's talent for writing a script that actually feels very real for those who've been through this dating scene. (The film is also the winner of several awards within its own country.)
4 - highly recommended

No Other Choice
Dir: Park Chan-wook
© Madman - darkly funny with underlying
comment upon society, employment,
and moral ambivalence 
Man-su (Lee Byung-hun) has just been made redundant at his job with a paper company, where he has taken pride in his work for 25 years. Wife Miri (Son Yi-jin) instructs the family to cut back on everything, while Man-su hatches a plot to get himself a new job. He selects several other high ranking candidates for the same position, and decides he has no choice but to eliminate them in order to save his family and his lifestyle. Park, known for black humour, violence and blending genres, goes for moments of near slapstick, as our bumbling protagonist lurches from one funny catastrophe to another. But there's a deeper side to the film, as corporate culture and ambition, plus the desperation of becoming jobless, underscores much of the plot. This is a real entertainment, with fast pacing, thrills and laughs, and a very unexpected surprise at the end. Though no Oscar nominations, this film has plenty of other awards and nominations from major festivals and critics groups. 
4 - highly recommended

The Secret Agent
Dir: Kleber Mendonca Filho
© Rialto - dense with plot points, this is a
real indictment of corrupt authortaian regimes
Yet another film with countless wins and nominations to its name including five huge awards at Cannes, along with Best Drama and Best Male Actor at the recent Golden Globes, and four Oscar nominations. Brazil in 1977 is run by a military dictatorship. Dismissed professor Armando (Wagner Moura), under the alias of Marcelo, flees to his home town of Recife during Carneval time. He has run foul of authorities and is being hunted by hitmen, thanks to a businessman with government connections wanting a patent Armando refuses to give up. In the present day, two young researchers are trying to find out as much as they can about Armando and his young son, as well as what went on in Brazil in that repressive era. This film is more dense and layered, with more plots, subplots, and merely hinted-at plots than my feeble brain can absorb. I recognise the cleverness, the originality and the skilled film-making, but there is simply too much for me to absorb in a single viewing. This is definitely a reflection upon me, rather than the film itself, as it has obviously blown the critical world away, as a commentary on corruption, memory, identity and much, much more! With so many plot threads and characters, I found it simply too hard to emotionally engage, and feel a second viewing could well be in order for me to fully appreciate this one.
3.5 - well recommended

28 Years Later
Dir: Danny Boyle
© Sony - a post-apocalyptic world in which
survival necessitates killing
Alex Garland, the writer/director of Civil War and Warfare has plenty to say about the nature of war. This film picks up 23 years after 28 Days Later, when a mysterious rage virus decimates Britain, killing many, leaving hordes of rabid infected to roam the wilderness, while a few lucky survivors hunker down in small uninfected communities, guarding the perimeter. Jamie (Aaron Taylor Johnson), his 12-year-old son Spike (Alfie Willliams), and unwell mother Isla (Jodie Comer) live on an island off the British mainland. Jamie takes Spike on his first hunting expedition, to kill infected people, and there Spike learns that an uninfected man, Dr Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) survives on the mainland. He becomes determined to get his mother over there for treatment. There is so much material here - thought-provoking, repugnant, exciting, and surprisingly moving at times. The thrill is in the many near escapes from the infected, while the human male as an aggressive hunter is celebrated as part of the coming of age rituals of the post-apocalyptic society. The infected are downright terrifying and gross - both the fat slug-like ones, and the rapidly evolving fast, huge alphas. But it is Spike's tender relationship with Isla that stands out, along with Dr Kelson's philosophical approach to life and death, building his temple of human bones to honor the dead and remind us all that we will die. A little too much graphic blood and gore for many people's tastes, but an intriguing sequel, non-the-less.
3.5 - well recommended

Surviving Malka Leifer
Dir: Adam Kamien
Length: 95 mins
Streaming on Stan
© Stan - a real life horror story of abuse, and the bravery
of three sisters seeking justice
Anyone who hasn't heard of Malka Leifer must have been hiding under a rock. Principal of an ultra-orthodox Jewish school, she fled to Israel after being acccused of sexual abuse of several of her female students. Three sisters, Elly, Nicole and Dassi all accused Leifer of abuse, and spent 13 years working on getting her extradited from Israel to stand trial. This is a story of trauma, persistence and ultimately a level of justice. Told from the very personal viewpont of the three sisters, the doco follows the case, and the emotional toll it took on the women. But it is also about resilience and extreme courage, as the women, must constantly revisit and relive their childhoods, abused not only by Leifer but also victims of neglectful and abusive parents. Though not an easy watch, this is important viewing.
3.5 - well recommended


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