November 24th:  
The Fencer
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Japanese Film Festival (24 Nov - 4 Dec)

One fabulous European film, one underwhelming mainstream magical tale, and yet another festival are my offerings to you this week. Can't wait to get out to see The Founder, but you'll have to wait for that one! 

The Fencer
Director: Klaus Härő
Length: 99 min

© Palace - the rewards of teaching

In the early 1950s, Endel Nelis flees Leningrad to a far-flung town in Estonia, and takes up a school post as a sports teacher. With little equipment, he improvises and set up classes in fencing  - his skill and passion. The children, many of them fatherless, flourish and see Endel as a quasi father-figure. When the pro-Stalinist headmaster starts to investigate Nelis' past, he unearths a story that could blow the teacher's new-found happiness out of the water. 
Who knows why a Finnish director chose this true story, set in the Soviet era, but he sure does a great job with it. The true tale is moving, exciting, and an inspiring story about the influence adults can have for the good on children's lives. Beautifully shot and acted, this is a strong film in every regard. 

4 - wholeheartedly recommended!
For a full review from Chris Thompson:
http://www.cinephilia.net.au/show_review.php?movieid=6138


Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Director: David Yates
Length: 133 min

© Roadshow - wizards on the loose in New York

What can I say? Generally critics seem favourable towards this spin-off from the Harry Potter franchise, but it left me underwhelmed. A British wizard Newt (Eddie Redmayne) arrives in New York with a suitcase of odd magical animals, many of which escape. In pursuit of them he meets members of NY wizardry, and does battle with an ultimate bad force of suppressed energy, the Obscurus,  which has unleashed mayhem on the city. Not to mention the hunt for dark magician Grindelwald. Oh and did I mention the non-magician, Kowalski, who gets caught up in the shenanigans. But wait - there's more - so much more that too many characters and creatures have been crammed into this mildly entertaining, overly long manifestation of imagination let loose - wonderful special effects don't make up for a jumbled plot and overacting from Redmayne, with underacting from Colin Farrell and Jon Voight! Maybe I was just in a non-receptive bad mood when I saw it, but I'll take Potter any day over this one. 

2.5 - maybe!

Japanese Film Festival
Melbourne: 24 November - see website for other states
Hoyts Melbourne Central & ACMI

The Long Excuse - poignant and  heart-warming 

© 2016 "The Long Excuse" Film’s Partners

The 2016 Japanese Film Festival brings a great selection of films that we don't usually get to see. While some readers may be mostly familiar with the Japanese horror genre, I'm a big fan of the heart-warming human interest stories that Japanese directors do so well - films like An, Departures and I Wish. (Each of these is among my favourites, and you can read my reviews at the Cinephilia links). 
If you can't see many at the festival, but you want a strong story that depicts real life in modern Japan, try one of these excellent films:
The Long Excuse: After his wife is killed in a bus crash, Sachio helps out looking after the children of another man who also lost his wife in the same crash. Deeply affecting, beautifully acted and scripted. 
After the Storm: A father, who has lost his family through his gambling habit, tries to reunite with them after the divorce. A typhoon may provide the opportunity. Some Japanese acting royalty in this one. 

For more information, times, places and synopses:
www.japanesefilmfestival.net


Palestinian Film Festival
Melbourne: 25-27 November - see website for other states

With several features, documentaries and shorts, this Festival aims to bring viewers a cinematic journey through a land as old as time. The film 3000 Nights highlights the humanity and resilience of ordinary people living through extraordinary events, while the harrowing doco Ambulance takes viewers along with the paramedics trying to rescue people after a missile attack. These and many more films provide a window into a part of the world that we can do well to understand better. 
For more information on times, films and places:
www.palestinianfilmfestival.com.au