June 3rd 2023
Bank of Dave
John Farnham: Finding the Voice
More from CHIFF
The Alpinist (streaming on Netflix)
Winter is officially here, so what better place to hide away from the cold than in the cinema? Take your little ones to CHIFF, or just languish on the couch with your favorite streaming service. Here are a few for your consideration.
Dir: Chris Foggin
Length: 107 mins
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© The Reset Collective - strange but true - a
working class man sets up his own bank. |
In an era where people are sick to death of feeling screwed over by the big banks, it's refreshing to see a film about how a working class man beat them at their own game. In this true story, Dave Fishwick (Rory Kinnear) becomes very wealthy running his van business and starts lending money to locals in the town of Burnley in northern England. He decides to take it a step further and set up a small community bank. Dave hires London lawyer Hugh (Joel Fry) who is initially sceptical but with the support of councillor and local doctor Alexandra (Phoebe Dynevor) they take on the upper class corporate bankers. This is a fun watch, despite fitting squarely into the British feel-good mould. There is nothing ground-breaking film-wise, but the main characters are all very likeable, and let's face it, who doesn't like to see the small person with integrity triumph over the big bad greedy banks?3.5 - well recommended
John Farnham: Finding the Voice
Dir: Poppy Stockell
Length: 94 mins
 |
© Sony - a wonderful doco about a major talent
who took a bit longer to hit his stride |
As the title implies, this fabulous doco is all about our own Aussie boy Farnham, and whether you are a fan or not, this is an inspiring and beautifully made film. It traces "Johnny" from his early days in suburban Melbourne, with his sudden rise to prominence at age 17 with an oddly vaudevillean song about a cleaning lady. That song seemed to define him for years to come, while he struggled with only average success, until at age 38 he put out an album called Whispering Jack, which became the highest selling Australian album of all time. John's friendship with his manager Glen Wheatley is a large part of the story, as is his quest to find his "true voice", something he did with the song You're the Voice. There are many interviews with friends, family and other musos such as Olivia Newton John and Jimmy Barnes, while overseas stars like Robbie Williams and Celine Dion all sing Farnham's praises. Archival clips from the 60s onwards are terrific, and the soundtrack of big songs drums home just what a talent the man is. Surprisingly, I find the film very emotional and stirring, as it follows the ups and downs of Farnham's life and his devotion to friends, family and his fans.4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended
Children's International Film Festival
Until 12th June
Classic Elsternwick , Cameo Belgrave, Lido Hawthorn, Sydney Ritz
This delightful festival continues for another 9 days so there's still a chance to go and explore your inner child with your small friends! Dress-up events will take place at screenings of Billy the Cowboy Hamster and The Dragon Princess (reviewed last week). Put on your party clothes and win prizes! Here's another three films for you to consider:
Estonian (English dub), 105 mins, ages 9+
Erik feels neglected by his parents, but says he doesn't care, as he thinks he has a stone heart. Their new home has other folks still living in it, and when Erik befriends Maria the two go on an adventure to find the girl's missing mother. They end up in the In-Between-World. At times farcical and at times realistic, this is an intriguing film, with a mish-mash of different interwoven threads about young friendships, pirates, curses, magic mirrors and, ultimately, coming to terms with death. So, perhaps disturbing for some youngsters.
97 minutes, English, ages 8+
It's the 25th anniversary of this film, and for anyone who has never seen it, here's you chance to pig out on the best porcine adventure ever on screen. With a whole array of talking animals and a big adventure in the big smoke, what's not to love here?
6 x 11 minute episodes, French, English dub, ages 6+
A mega-cute animation about a young lad who loves growing up in the Wild West. He heads out daily on adventures with his friends Jean-Claude the worm and Suzie the marten. Charming and easy to relate to, the animation promotes good solid values.
Dir: Peter Mortmer and Nick Rosen
Length: 92 mins
Streaming on Netflix - 2021
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© Madman/Netflix - the view from above -
if you're brave enough to climb up! |
Why do we get such perverse pleasure from watching films that frighten the living daylights out of us? Prepare to chew your fingernails down to the bone with this one, as solo climber Marc-Andre Leclerc scales sheer cliff faces without a rope and then becomes the first climber to summit all sorts of supposedly unclimbable peaks! As a study of someone fearless and obsessional this is fascinating viewing, while technically I'm in awe at how the cinematographers even got the footage. The camera angles are dizzyingly dramatic, giving the viewer a sense of just how death-defying this young man was. Shots of feet and fingers gripping the ungrippable are simply awe-inspiring - and terrifying. The young man's lack of ego, his bizarrely relaxed manner as he climbs, and his relationship with fellow climber Britte Harrington all add an edge of difference to this amazing addition to the genre of extreme sporting films. 4 - highly recommended (if you have nerves of steel!)
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