October 29th

Korean Film Festival - FREE online

Indian Film Festival - more reviews - plus closing night

BREAKING NEWS; First Stage cinema re-openings at outdoor venues

It's all about online festivals again this week. A last chance to catch some fine docos from the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, plus the closing night film from 6pm tomorrow. And to add to our enjoyment, we now have the Korean Film Festival, also free online, but with strict scheduling/viewing times, so check it out, and don't miss out. 

Korean Film Festival of Melbourne

29th- October - 5th November

Streaming FREE online

https://www.koffia.com.au

Not only have we had the joy of watching the Indian Film Festival FREE online, now the 11th Korean Film Festival arrives. With all the success of films such as Parasite, Burning and Shoplifters, you probably are already familiar with the high quality of Korean filmmaking, so organise yourself for the forthcoming week. One thing to note is that there is a schedule, with films only playing once. So read up  and prepare what you want to catch, make yourself a calendar, and start watching WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF FILM'S START.

As always I've been lucky to catch a few and highly recommend all that I've seen. 

Forbidden Dream: This historical drama set in the 1400s, is the true story of a friendship between a Korean prince, and a humble servant. Both share a love of astronomy, and spend time inventing and building clever instruments to measure star patterns, time, and even to create a new alphabet. Because Korea was under the rule of the Chinese empire, most of these things were forbidden, but the broad-thinking prince wanted a better life for his people and so pursued his vision at great cost. The film is beautifully shot, and there is an unexpected depth of emotion to this fascinating story.

Bring Me Home: This is the story of a mother's search for her missing son. After years, when she thinks all hope is lost, she hears of a boy matching the description working at a fishing village. The harrowing film has disturbing themes of child abuse, parental grief, and corrupt police, but it is wonderfully made, with top-shelf performances, especially from the actors playing the mother and the young boy. 

An Old Lady: In the era of hyper awareness of abuse of elders and women, here's a double whammy, dealing with the rape of 69-year-old Hyo-Jeong by a much younger nursing aide. The cops refuse to believe such a thing could happen, and the nurse claims the sex was consensual. Only her friend Dong-In stands steadfastly by her side, demanding justice. Rejecting any sensationalism, the film quietly looks at issues of age-ism, and how to get a life back on track after experiencing such a horrific crime. Again wonderful performances in an important story. 

 

Indian Film Festival of Melbourne - more

On for another two nights

Streaming FREE online

https://www.iffm.com.au/films.php

Yes, I know I brought this festival to you last week, but you still have time to catch some of these fine documentaries that I've been bingeing on this week. PLUS, from 6pm to midnight, tomorrow 30th October you can stream the closing night film MOOTHON, India's entry for the 87th Academy Awards. (I'll be watching for sure - it sounds terrific!) It gives a complex, multi layered portrait of Mumbai through the eyes of a young boy who comes to the city to search for his missing elder brother.

Now a few more to catch if you can:

The Accused: Damned or Devoted: A look at the extremist religious right in Pakistan, and how their hatred leads them to persecute people under the Blasphemy Law. If ever there was a testament to the horrors of religious fanaticism, this is it.

Kingdom of Archers: Do you know anything of the mountain kingdom of Bhutan? I knew little, but after this fine doco, focusing upon the Bhutanese love of archery, I'm a bit more enlightened. Fascinating look at a way of life that is struggling to preserve itself.

Siang Voices: This intriguing doco also looks at preserving traditional lives, this time the indigenous Adi people of the far-eastern region of Assam. Under threat from nearby China wanting to build monstrous dams, plus the usual pressures of encroaching modernity, the people speak about their commitment to their traditions and language.

Dwelling in Travelling: Calcutta used to have a moderately sized community of Jews but now only 17 remain. The film carefully traces the past and people who lived there in their youth share nostalgic memories of what it was like to be a Jew in India. We also get to see the remaining synagogues and the Jewish school - now a Muslim girls school, where kids sing multi-faith songs, including traditional Hebrew ones. Who said there has to be constant enmity?

And now for an exciting announcement: 

This comes from a breaking email I've just received from the Cinema Pioneers:

The FIRST STAGE of reopening the Cinema Industry in Victoria - closed due to Covid-19 - happens tonight with the opening of OUTDOOR VENUES including Drive-Ins and Rooftop Cinemas.
For the hardtops throughout Victoria, the wait continues for several more weeks as Covid-19 numbers stabilise and the Government deems it safe for those venues to open.
Here in Victoria, there are only 3 Drive-In's left in operation with those being the Village 3 Drive-In in Coburg, The Lunar 4 Drive-In in Dandenong, and the Dromana 3 Drive-In in Dromana.
As well as these locations, there are also Rooftop Cinemas that are also allowed to open from tonight, including The Lido in Hawthorn, The Cameo in Belgrave and The Classic in Elsternwick.
It must be stated that each venue opening up from tonight has their own strict Covid Safe procedures in place for the health and safety of all customers as well as staff, and that these procedures must be followed at all times.