October 11th
Birds of Passage
Working Woman
Green Light
Greek Film Festival

I'm back!! After 4 weeks of film-free time on the sun-soaked Greek islands of Samos and Ikaria (yes, lucky me), I'm getting back into the films, and juggling the preview schedules, including investigating the many forthcoming film festivals. (And the Greek FF is among them.) Some reviews will be catch-up, and others, as always,  are of films just released. 

Birds of Passage
Director: Cristina Gallego, Ciro Guerra
Length: 125 min

© Palace - the genesis of the Colombian drug

trade as seen through Indigenous eyes

Ursula (Carmina Martinez) is the matriarch of an indigenous Colombian clan, the Wayuu. Her daughter Zaida (Natalia Reyes) is married off to Rapayet (Jose Acosta), who is soon torn between his desire to uphold the tribal traditions, and the temptation to become rich and powerful by dealing in marijuana. Set in Colombia, beginning in the 1970s and spanning a couple of decades, this is a very different gangster/drug trade story, with the emphasis being on the destruction of traditional ways, at the hands of greed and violence. Certainly there are familiar elements, but the sweepingly barren settings along with the many metaphorical and mysterious visual images give the film a stunningly different edge to the usual gangster fare. Much is made of the Wayuu culture, their language, their beliefs and their values of honor, family and loyalty, so as an audience we experience a unique culture and feel all the more bereft for its destruction. The film uses a mix of professional and non-professional actors, with Martinez a stand-out as the matriarch. The characters of Anibal and Peregrino, rival family elders, are compellingly portrayed, while Zaida's brother Leonidas is the classic representation of what goes wrong with the ugly mix of drugs, alcohol, power and greed. A rare mix of violence, tragedy, corruption and beauty rolled into one.
4 - highly recommended!

Working Woman
Director: Michal Aviad
Length: 93  min
Showing at: Palace Balwyn and Kino, Cinema Nova, Lido, Classic Elsternwick

© Potential - a most relevant subject matter
of workplace sexual harrassment

Orna (Liron Ben Shlush) is a hard-working  mother of three. She takes on a well-paying job with property developer Benny (Menashe Noy), to prop up the family while husband Ofer (Oshri Cohen) is in the initial stages of setting up a restaurant. Her initial excitement at the job is soon clouded by Benny's increasingly inappropriate advances towards her. This is a most timely film, in recent times where women will no longer tolerate men behaving badly. What really makes this one interesting is the way it gets us inside the situation, such that we can see from all angles what is going on. Initially we can almost be deluded Benny is just being friendly and keen for his new employee to succeed, but soon we see his subtle sleazy modus operandi. Orna doesn't have the emotional skills or the courage (desperate as she is to keep the job) to respond appropriately, and even her husband eventually goes into the "blame the victim" mode. Ben Shlush has just won Israel's highest acting award for her performance. Although the film is low key, and doesn't have a great deal of  visual "cinematic" feel, it is a worthy and powerful look at the pervasiveness and insidiousness of workplace sexual harassment, and the sort of powerful men who feel they are entitled.
3.5 - well recommended!

Green Light
Director: Ned Donohoe
Length: 71 min
Showing exclusively at Cinema Nova

© Exile - an important and timely doco - surprisingly 
moving and compassionate 

This Australian doco on the use of medicinal cannabis may be short in length, but it punches above its weight, and is a truly eye-opening insight into something that just isn't being talked about enough. Two men are currently at the forefront of supplying cannabis oil to thousands of desperate Australians - people whose children are dying, folks with horrific facial tumors, and patients with terrible pain from chronic or terminal illnesses. Andrew Katelaris is a doctor (deregistered for treating sick kids with cannabis oil). He and his side-kick Luke grow natural cannabis and supply the oil, with or without the psychotropic side effects, as required, and the results, as seen in the film and reported by patients are simply mind-boggling. The men take a huge risk going on film like this. Both men have a chequered past, and understand the nature of addiction, so they don't play fast and loose with the drug. The amount of compassion, empathy and deep connection they show to their patients, is uplifting and inspirational. Hopefully the movie will be a leg-up to the much-needed discussion on legalising medical marijuana.
4 - highly recommended!

Delphi Bank 26th Greek Film Festival
On now until 20th October
Astor, Palace Como 
For times, sessions, other states and  and ticketing visit www.greekfilmfestival.com.au

How could you not have a Greek Film Festival in Melbourne, the city with one of the largest population of Greeks outside of that country. (And yes, it's on in many of the other states too!)  This year's festival opened with the premiere of well-respected director Alkinos Tsilimidos' latest film, about a taverna in Melbourne. (Let's hope it gets a mainstream release). As well there is a smorgasbord of comedy, drama, short film, and even a double feature from Cyprus. Two strong films that have already been released make a welcome return in the festival and I re-run my reviews here. As well I've been lucky to catch early a couple which will get a second showing, Holy Boom and Meltem. Both are among the best Greek films I've seen. 

Meltem: 
Dir: Basile Doganis
Catch it Mon 14th Oct

© Greek FF

Elena (Daphne Patakia), daughter of a Greek mother Sophia, has made her life in France and hasn't seen her mother much since Sophia left and teamed up with step-dad Manos. After Sophia's sudden death Elena returns to the familial house on the island of Lesvos, bringing in tow two fellow students, Nassim (a French-born Algerian) and French-Senegalese Sedou. Lesvos is in the middle of a refugee crisis . The friends are hell-bent on a fun-filled summer holiday but when they meet Elyas, a Syrian refugee looking for his mother, tensions simmer, friendships form, and life becomes serious. Patakia's performance is stunningly strong, and the delicate balance of comedy, gradually turning to drama is beautifully handled. With so many relevant themes, especially those of identity, refugees, belonging, friendship and family, this is a film to truly relish (and of course you can't go wrong with it being set on a gorgeous Greek island). 
Wholeheartedly recommended. 

Holy Boom
Dir: Maria Lafi
Catch it Thur 17th October

© Greek FF 

Another wonderful film with a refugee/migrant theme, this one is set in an immigrant district of Athens. Philipino larrikin Ige blows up a letter box for a prank, but the ramifications are far reaching. Albanian Adia, suddenly widowed and mother of a small baby, cannot get her identity papers while Lena and African boyfriend Manou can't get the drugs they have paid for and are pursued by ruthless thugs. Meantime Thalia, an elderly busybody, observes it all, and reveals her own heartbreaking story, as all these lives intertwine. An insightful look at contemporary Athenian life, with its over-arching prejudices against the waves of immigrants, Holy Boom is absorbing and thought-provoking cinema with top-shelf performances by the ensemble cast. Again it explores identity, belonging, and the issues facing young people who often act without thinking of consequences.
Highly recommended! 

Maria by Callas

Director: Tom Volf
Catch it Sat 12th October

© Sony - Maria Callas was
arguably the world's best
operatic voice

If you missed this earlier in the year, now's your chance. It is a must-see for opera lovers, and even non-opera lovers (like me) will get so much from this excellent documentary. Using only archival footage and interviews featuring the great opera singer Maria Callas, it reveals an intense and talented woman who gave her all to her public and every performance she ever did. The doco traces briefly her early life, then focuses on her extraordinary career, dogged by paparazzi who followed her every move and press who slammed her for anything they saw as less than perfection. Her heartbreak at the hands of Aristotle Onassis is covered, but it's her own exquisite voice, speaking and singing, that reveals utterly the talent and depth of passion in this iconic woman.

Well recommended!

The Favourite

Director: Yiorgos Lanthimos
Catch it Mon 14th October

© 20th Century Fox -
two cousins slug it out to be
Queen Anne's favourite

Here's another chance to see a winning film - 155 awards including an Oscar for the lead actress. In 1708 Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) sits on the British throne. She's an insecure monarch and allows her adviser (and secret lover) Sarah Churchill, duchess of Marlborough, (Rachel Weisz) to make most of the decisions, especially in regard to the ongoing war with France. Then along comes impoverished Abigail (Emma Stone), Sarah's cousin, who sees an opportunity and ingratiates herself into the Queen's favour. So begins a rivalry and love triangle, rich with female hostility, jealousy, scandal and humour. I'm no history buff, but this film is a major entertainment, with the trademark, off-kilter touch of a creative director (think The Lobster, Dogtooth, neither of which I particularly liked, but I love this one.) The three women are simply splendid in their roles (all three were  nominated for leading actress awards.) Production values are superb, and the sweeping cinematographic angles make for a handsome film, which is, nevertheless, also surprisingly intimate.

Highly recommended!