March 20th

It Snows in Benidorm

The Last Mountain - available on digital download

CODA - streaming on Apple +

At last a small reprieve from endless viewings! Good new films in the streaming department, with CODA being an Oscar nomination. Remember also that JIFF is still running for a couple more weeks. 

It Snows in Benidorm

Dir: Isabel Coixet

Length: 117 mins

Cameo, Lido, Classic and Palace Balwyn

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=137bvyXCEsE

© Rialto - Tim Spall at his grumpy best

Peter Riordan (Timothy Spall), an introverted, glum, but good-hearted man, is given early redundancy from his bank job. He decides to visit his brother, Daniel, whom he hasn't seen for years and who lives in Benidorm in southern Spain. When he arrives, Peter discovers Daniel is nowhere to be found. But he soon meets the beautiful Alex (Sarita Choudhory), an erotic dancer at the Benidorm club, which, Peter discovers, is owned by Daniel. This intriguing film is a refreshing change from the usual late in life romance tales. It brims with intrigue, unsolved mysteries, dodgy characters, and an atmosphere to be at once delighted in and repulsed by. Benidorm is one of those Spanish tourist meccas infested by loud drunken Brits. The beautiful camera work and lighting of many of the scenes takes on an almost surreal quality that captures both Peter's confusion and the tacky carnival atmosphere of the town. Spall is an actor who always brings something extra to a film, and paired with the sultry Choudhory, with Benidorm almost a character in its own right, he helps make this film most worthwhile viewing.

4 - highly recommended

The Last Mountain

Dir: Christopher Terrill

Length: 107 mins

Available on digital download

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39EHWdQcV6U

© Universal - family, obsession,
bravery and tragedy

Who doesn't love the thrill of a mountain climbing film? This is a good film, but a very sad one, as both a mother and her son die several years apart, chasing their passion for scaling dangerous peaks. In 1995 Alison Hargreaves died scaling K2 in the Himalayas. At that time her children Tom and Kate Ballard were four and six. 24 years later, Tom dies in an attempt to climb Nanga Parbat in Pakistan. The film traces all the years from the children's magical childhood, going along with their parents on walks, hikes, modest climbs, up until Kate's return trek to go as close as possible to where her beloved brother died. The film focuses heavily upon the personal aspects of both Alison's and Tom's passions (obsessions?), along with the family's grief, and how Jim Ballard and Kate coped. A particularly moving episode involves Kate reuniting with porter Big Ibrahim, who had carried her on his shoulders 24 years earlier. Definitely a good addition to the mountain climbing library of movies.   

3.5 - well recommended

CODA

Dir: Sian Heder

Length: 111 mins

Streaming on Apple+

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pmfrE1YL4I

© Apple+  - the deaf community front
and centre

Nominated for three Oscars this year, CODA (Children of Deaf Adults) is an American film based upon the French film The Family Belier. Ruby Rossi (Emilia Jones) is the child of deaf parents Frank (Troy Kotsur) and Jackie (Marlee Matlin). Her brother Leo (Daniel Durant) is also deaf. Ruby is relied upon constantly to be the speaking person for her family who communicate through sign language and run a fishing business. When her talent for singing is discovered by her flamboyant teacher Mr Villalobos (Eugenio Derbez), her own ambitions start to clash with her family's needs. I prefer this anglicised version to its French counterpart, because it is less "cutesy" and try-hard. Kotsur has just won the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor, and is nominated for an Oscar. Justifiably so, while Matlin, herself deaf, came to fame way back in 1986 in Children of a Lesser God, and also gives a strong performance.  Although the narrative arc is somewhat predictable, this is a heartfelt and highly entertaining film, which comes with a serious message about people with hearing disability. 

4 - highly recommended