February 3rd

Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street

Europa! Europa - a brand new film festival - opening tomorrow, Fri 4 Feb

India: Sweets and Spices

The big excitement this week is that a new film festival hits town, featuring the cream of arthouse Euro cinema. Also there's an almost unmissable doco on the history of Sesame Street, along with a fun Indian tale of family secrets and ghastly snobbishness.  

Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street

Dir: Marilyn Agrelo

Length: 107 mins

Street Gang is in selected cinemas and out on digital now

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQEFS6aKXCU

© Universal - charming, funny,
entertaining, meaningful  - the whole lot!

Sesame Street has been around since the 1960s, and is probably one of the most enduring and endearing TV shows, delighting children worldwide, and having that elusive ingredient that also appeals to many adults. This broad-ranging doco traces how Children's Television Workshop (CTW) came up with the idea of "selling the alphabet to kids" - a radical concept back then - and how they went about creating a show that was fun, educational and racially inclusive. With serious insights into the changing culture of America, this is not only a piece of social history but also television history. The doco provides behind the scenes (often hilarious) looks at the puppeteers and how the  script-writing team works, and also provides us with fascinating commentary and reminiscences from those who worked the show and are still alive today. What really strikes me most is the heart and total commitment that has gone into Sesame Street and the joy its creators have had in being a part of something so ground-breaking. There are many amusing scenes of ad-libbing, along with eye-opening episodes where iconically famous people come onto the show to perform with Muppets and young wide-eyed kids. Think James Taylor, Dizzy Gillespie, Paul Simon, BB King and Johnny Cash. Surely this is testament to the universal appeal and importance of the program. Some episodes are so intensely poignant and meaningful (such as explaining to Big Bird what death means), that I felt deeply moved.   

4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

Europa! Europa

February 4-27

Melbourne: Classic and Lido

Sydney: Ritz

For all you need to know visit: europafilmfestival.com.au 

A brand new film festival has arrived. In the words of its artistic director Thomas Caldwell: “From the countries who have defined arthouse and world cinema, to regions where the film industry is still small and emerging, European cinema is so incredibly rich and diverse.  Europa! Europa will present a selection of dynamic films that represent the entire continent in all its complexity and wonder to Australian audiences.” 

Be prepared for film that is not part of the multiplex, popcorn brigade mainstream milieu, but movies that are deep, rich, complex, and subtle. Films from 27 different countries are represented, and it's a fabulous opportunity to catch movies you might never otherwise come across: think Latvia, Bulgaria,  Luxembourg, Montenegro, Slovenia, as well as festival favorites such as Germany, France, the UK and more. Many of the films have already won prestigious awards or are their country's submission for the Academy Awards. As always I'm lucky to have previewed several and they all come wholeheartedly recommended. I'll update you over the next week or so if I catch any more. 

Europa: This gripping, gruelling film from Iraqi-Italian filmmaker Haider Rashid is based upon the true stories of refugees desperate to get to safety, crossing from Turkey along the Balkan Route. Although only 72 minutes long, the film will have you on the edge of your seat as young Iraqi man Kamal attempts to enter Europe on foot, but is nearly caught by authorities. He goes on the run, evading ruthless "migrant hunters",  but gets hopelessly lost in a Bulgarian forest, terrified and alone. Employing close-up camera work, homing in on the face of the young man, and taking time with each scene, the director captures all the terror and panic of his situation, as he is wounded yet does everything within his strength to attempt to get to safety. The couple of locals he meets are testament to the prejudice Europeans feel towards the refugees. Stunningly filmed and acted, but fittingly disturbing. 

Fear: There are copious well-deserved awards and nominations for this stunning Bulgarian film, again set near the Turkish border, where refugees are constantly attempting to enter the country. Seemingly tough and independent widow Svetla lives alone, a teacher who has lost her job, surrounded by boorish and prejudiced locals. When she befriends African refugee Bamba, she creates a storm in the local town. Shot in black and white, the film's cinematography is evocative and visually striking, lending a heightened edge to the story, which delicately balances moments of dry humour with an incisive and relevant story. Svetlana Yanchova and Michal Flemming conjure up perfect synergy in their lead roles.At times there is an almost stylised fairy tale feel to the film, at odds with the harsh reality of the reprehensible townsfolk.

    

The Pit: Ten-year-old Markuss lives with his grandma in a rural town some distance from Riga, Latvia's capital. He incurs the wrath of the neighborhood when he abandons his young friend Emily, who falls into a pit while they are in the forest. This film is based upon three separate short stories, and it is replete with various plot lines: domestic violence in the form of Robert, Markuss's vile wife-beating uncle; gender identity in the form of Sailor, a fellow who makes stained glass windows and is also a part of Grandma's past; forgiveness and redemption in the form of Emily's mother who wants revenge upon Markuss; the theme of childhood isolation, as Markuss struggles with his tragic parental past and feelings of rejection, and a plot thread about creativity, as Markuss discovers his own talents. Despite the density of the plot, the whole comes together in a sad but engaging coming-of-age story, that is both dark and ultimately redemptive. 

The White Fortress:  Set in Sarajevo, Bosnia, The White Fortress tells the story of Faruk,  (another orphan living with Grandma), who dabbles in petty crime and spends his time fairly aimlessly. Then he meets Mona who comes from a rich but corrupt family. There is obvious attraction between the two and as the friendship moves towards romance, like Romeo and Juliet, the whole thing is doomed. Fortresses of many kinds exist here - the fortress of privilege, of social divide, the actual fortress that overlooks the city, and the big opulent house in which Mona lives, so at odds with the bleak state-run housing where Faruk lives. This is a sad film, highlighting the inequality that has deeply divided Bosnia, but some redemption lies in the innocence of the teens' relationship, and Faruk's kind character, belying the nasty world he is being constantly drawn into. 

Shelter (Foscadh):  Irish films are more than likely to be about "the troubles", but this is an intensely personal story of a young man, John, somewhat child-like and possibly autistic, who is bequeathed his family home after his overly protective mother dies. He must learn a rapid lesson in navigating the world, including bullies, friendship and romance. After he is savagely beaten by local thugs, he meets hospital nurse Siobhan and sexist roommate Dave. The incredible lead performance anchors this film, which is bleak and at times quite troubling. It's hard to like John, but we cannot help but sympathise with his awkward attempts to live a "normal" life. Unusually, the entire film is in the Irish language. The cinematography is impressive - reflecting both the austerity of the land itself and John's emotional landscape. 

India: Sweets and Spices

Dir: Geeta Malik

Length: 101 mins

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqtVoCj1sQk

© Rialto - snobs under the microscope
in this fun romance/social comedy

Alia Kapur (Sophie Ali) returns to her Newark home for the college holidays. She is thrust once more into the bosom of her Indian-American family and their wealthy community, all obsessed with partying, gossip and arranging the next possible marriage. She meets, and is attracted to, Varun (Rish Shah), a young man working at the local Indian shop, but when she invites Varun and his family to one of her parents' parties, the true depth of snobbery in the local community emerges. However, Alia soon discovers there are copious secrets in her own family - both from her parents' pasts and in the present. While we have seen plenty of films of this nature, this one makes for a delightful entertainment, partly because of the character of the two romantic leads - both self-assured and intelligent. The film also reflects well upon the age-old issue of not being too quick to pass judgment on others. Everything about the movie is vibrant and colorful, with gorgeous costumes and settings. Despite elements of predictability, there are enough strong moments of deep emotional resonance.

3.5 - well recommended