July 7th
The Third Wife
Mystify: Michael Hutchence
Parasite
An Unexpected Love

Wow!! This is a great week for the recent releases I've caught up with. Every film gets a 4 and above, and there is such a great variety of styles and subject matter, there's no excuse for not finding a film you will love. 

The Third Wife
Director: Ash Mayfair
Length: 96 min

© Potential - seemingly gentle yet disturbing story
of girls married off too young

Set in rural Vietnam in the late 19th century, this is the story of May (Nguyen Phuong Tra My) who is only 14 when she is married off to a much older man, a friend of her father. As the third wife she is way younger than the other two, and lives in hope of delivering a much wanted son to her husband. May develops an attraction for the second wife, but having observed other forbidden relationships around her, she knows how tragic the consequences can be. This is one of those "small arthouse gems" that has been nominated and awarded at many festivals worldwide. The director's great grandparents came from Vietnam, and much of the film's story has been inspired by Mayfair's knowledge of incidents and traditions within that society. This is a visually stunning film - soft, sensual, dreamy and almost ethereal, despite dealing with subject matter that really is quite disturbing. Ultimately it is a story with its focus firmly on women, and the fraught issues that still plague them in many of today's developing countries - how to gain independence in a male-dominated world, and just how tragic life is when there is little education or choice.
4 - highly recommended!

Mystify: Michael Hutchence
Director: Richard Lowenstein
Length: 102 min

© Madman - Hutchence is so charismatic, his 
sad story should sweep you away

This riveting documentary is an examination of the life of INXS front man and charismatic rock god, Michael Hutchence. But it's more than that - the doco takes an in-depth look at a sensitive, highly talented  man who grappled with the meaning of stardom, creative expression, and family. The film employs an amazing amount of archival footage never before seen, some of it Michael's own videos, as well as those made by many of the people who were important parts of his life. It traces his childhood and the history of the band, along with the critical love relationships which led him to constantly question how to balance real life with the demands of the rock n roll world. In the later years of his career an accident severely affected him, and the film follows his downward spiral, involving his tortured relationship with Bob Geldof's former wife Paula Yates, along with the glimmer of hope in his life, adored daughter Tiger Lily. You don't have to even have heard of INXS, let alone be a fan, to adore this doco. It is somehow so personal and compellingly intimate, and you come away feeling you knew Michael and grieving for the loss of that amazing talent.
4- highly recommended!

Parasite
Director: Joon-Ho Bong
Length: 132 min

© Madman - clever, thrilling and 
entertaining. What more do you want?

The Kim family live in relative squalor earning their living folding pizza boxes. Unexpectedly a friend hands the son Ki-Woo (Woo-Sik Choi) the job of tutoring the daughter of a wealthy family, the Parks. After a brief time in the job Ki-Woo manages to fraudulently engineer jobs for the rest of his family as driver, art therapist and housekeeper, but the Parks are oblivious to the fact that their new employees are all related. This wonderful film won the top award, the Palme D'or, at Cannes this year. It is a tragedy, a comedy (at times near farcical), a thriller and a social commentary rolled into one, and it is exceedingly clever and witty in its underlying insights into issues of entitlement, homelessness, social division, prejudice, greed and family bonds. Many aspects of the film, with its carefully constructed sets and shots, can be viewed metaphorically, but the actual plot works a treat too. We never end up hating the Kims but rather end up asking who the real parasites are in this dramatically divided society. Kang-ho Song as the father Ki-taek Kim is outstanding, as is Yeo-Jeong Jo as the neurotic, totally gullible Mrs Park. In fact every aspect of this film, from its universally strong cast to its smart plotting and scripting, makes for great, thought-provoking viewing.
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended!

An Unexpected Love
Director: Juan Vera
Length: 136 min

© Palace - beautiful acting from this pair
in a mid-life crisis love story

Marcos (Ricardo Darin) and his wife of 30 years Ana (Mercedes Moran), farewell their son for his overseas studies. They seem happy together and well suited. But after discussing what their next 30 years might look like they make the sudden decision to separate and lead more unpredictable and (hopefully) passion-filled lives. How these new lives pan out is the subject matter of this heart-warming, intelligent, mid-life crisis, mature-age love story. The scripting of this film really nails so much about the differentiation between being "in love" versus loving someone. It is this concept that drives much of the plot, but it also offers a smart examination of what freedom really means, and whether it is all it's cracked up to be. Darin and Moran are a perfect screen match - their couple is utterly believable, while their reactions to their new circumstances will resonate with many newly separated people. Nothing feels out of place here (except perhaps their snap decision to separate!!) All the friendships both romantic and otherwise are beautifully drawn, as is the passing of time that leads to revelations for both. With humour and real insights, this is a winner. 
4 - highly recommended!