May 26th
Maigret
Pissarro: Father of Impressionism
Ablaze
Palace German Film Festival
This week brings three excellent new films, plus another festival, this time the German Film Festival. From a detective, to an artist, to Indigenous history and more, you should definitely find something worth heading out for.
Maigret
Dir: Patrice Leconte
Length: 89 mins
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© Palace - Depardiieu makes a
sombre and reflective Maigret |
From 1960-1963 a popular BBC series ran on Aussie TV. It was based upon French novels by Georges Simenon, and featured the detective Jules Maigret, who in each episode, solved a different crime. Now we have a film devoted to the great detective, played by Gerard Depardieu, solving the mystery of a young woman dressed in a ballgown, found dead with five stab wounds. I'm not revealing a jot more of the plot, but I will say this is a mighty impressive, noirish version of a basic police procedural, that seems to take on more layers as it goes, making the whole more than the sum of its parts. Gerard gives a surprisingly nuanced performance, revealing depths to this man with a sad past, with his physicality adding gravitas to the role. The relatively unknown actresses playing the victim and others involved all give strong performances, while the era and settings are beautifully filmed. And underneath the crime drama is a story of wealthy people behaving badly, thinking they are above the law, and a detective who is determined not only to solve a crime but to give recognition and dignity to the victim and other women who find themselves in similar situations. With a relatively short runtime, a quiet tension simmers constantly, making for absorbing, impressive viewing. 4 - highly recommended
Pissarro: Father of Impressionism
Dir: David Bickerstaff
Length: 95 mins
 |
© Exhibition on Screen - the artist who laid
the foundations for a iconic movement |
Any lover of the Impressionist school of art will know Camille Pissarro's brilliant work. But they may not know the history of the man, and just what a pivotal role he played in creating that particular art movement. No need to regale you with facts here; what you do need to know is that this splendid doco succeeds on several levels. The audience can learn about Pissarro's life and works, spanning 50 years. We get an exclusive peek behind the scenes of two major exhibitions of the artist's work, one at the Oxford University's Ashmolean museum, the other at the Switzerland's Kunstmuseum in Basil, where highly knowledgeable art historians and curators offer their invaluable insights. As the director traces the locations in Pissaro's life, we are treated to wonderful glimpses of beautiful places in France. At other times the camera swoops from the overview of the painter's subject matter, to heart-stopping close-ups of his exquisite works and a style that was constantly changing and evolving. This is a film no lover of Impressionist art should miss. 4 - highly recommended
Ablaze
Dir: Alec Morgan, Tiriki Onus
Length: 81 mins
 |
© Maslow/Umbrella - intriguing puzzle of a
long-lost film, and story of Indigenous rights |
Billed as a film about the first Aboriginal filmmaker, this is all that - and more. When I was a kid I watched a show called Alcheringa, in which Yorta Yorta man Bill Onus presented the public with Indigenous themes. Bill was the grandfather of director Tiriki Onus, who has found an old silent film in the National Film and Sound Archive, and sets out to discover whether his grandfather made this film. Tiriki uncovers the history of the birth of the Aboriginal Civil Rights movement back in the mid 1940s, along with his grandfather's connection to that movement. We learn about the multifaceted Bill: theatre impresario, businessman, boomerang thrower extraordinaire, and leader of the 'yes' vote on Aborigines in 1967. Among the intriguing history of one influential man, is also the history of the disgraceful treatment of our Indigenous people. The doco is packed with archival footage and photos, and the story of a seemingly unknown piece of film, ripples out to be about so much more. Sobering and fascinating viewing.4 - highly recommended
Palace presents German Film Festival
Melbourne: Wed 25th May - 19th June
Palace cinemas
Far fewer German films seem to be released to the mainstream than, say, French or Italian. So the festival is a wonderful opportunity to catch up on some fine films, and there's plenty worth seeing this year. As well as the latest films from Germany, there are two from Switzerland, two from Austria, plus a selection of five stunning films from the last five decades, including The Tin Drum and Run Lola Run.
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Magnificent cinematography is just the start
of this wonderful film |
The German Lesson: (my top pick of what I've previewed!) Siggie Jepsen is in juvenile detention. He is asked to write an essay on "the joys of duty". After initial writer's block, memories of his childhood during the war come flooding out, and he writes ceaselessly. The film flashes back to a small village on the northern German coast, where his father, the local policeman, was tasked with enforcing Nazi rules. One rule stated that local painter Max, a family friend, was not allowed to paint, as his work was considered "sick" and he opposed the regime. Siggi's decision to defy his father and help Max led to devastating consequences. This is top-shelf film-making, with stunning cinematography, capturing the bleakness of the landscape, the tension of Siggi's life, and so many images which become almost a symbol of all the death and oppression. Performances are compelling, with a searing turn from Tobias Moretti as the cruel, duty-bound father.The Forger: Based upon a true (and almost unbelievable) story, this film is about Cioma, a young Jewish man, who has special exemption to work in a factory in Berlin, but also has a talent for forging documents. He uses this to help people escape the Nazis, and while hiding out "in plain sight", he manages to live a life that still has some fun and love in it. Louis Hofmann in the lead role emobidies a character who manages, even in the darkest hours, to retain optimism and a zest for life.
The House: Johann, a journalist, has been banned from working by the extreme right-wing government that is in power sometime in the future. He and his wife, Lucia, escape to their luxury weekend house, a high-tech building where everything is ultra-automated. But the house seems to take on a life of its own, malfunctioning and causing friction between the couple, all of which is exacerbated when a pair of resistance fighters, friends of Lucia, turn up. This is suspenseful, atmospheric and intriguing viewing with a good pairing of futuristic and political themes.
The Path: Another film set during the war, and based on a true story, this is about young Rolf, whose father must flee Marseilles and Nazi persecution. They arrange for a guide to take them over the Pyrenees through to Spain. Their guide turns out to be a teenage girl barely older than Rolf. After his father is arrested en route, the kids must tough it out together, hoping to survive. If you like a strong tale about friendship, bravery, (and a dog), this one should please.
