June 27th 2024
The Convert
Wild Rose (streaming on Netflix)
Hitman (streaming on Netflix)
Born in Syria (streaming on Docplay)
Three more from the Spanish Film Festival
I've returned refreshed and relaxed from a little break, and back into the film frenzy! Here's a terrific new film from New Zealand, plus three fine streaming offerings. And the Spanish Film Festival has a week to run, so get into it!
The Convert
Dir: Lee Tamahori
Length: 119 mins
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© Kismet - powerful story of colonialism
and Maoris warfare in New Zealand |
Most famous for directing Once Were Warriors back in 1994, Tamahori returns from his 20-year stint in Hollywood to his native New Zealand to write and direct an impressive drama set in the 1830s. NZ at that time was Maori-dominated, with wars raging between the tribes, and a few fledgling British settlements establishing themselves. Thomas Munro (an excellent Guy Pearce), a man with a violent past and now a lay preacher, is sent to the settlement of Epworth. En route he witnesses Maori inter-tribal savagery, and saves the life of a young woman, Rangimai (Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne), who he takes into his care. Munro soon discovers the racism and entrenched anti-Maori sentiment among the British colonists, as he becomes further estranged from those he was sent to minister to and more involved in trying to broker peace among the Maoris. The film has been called one of the most authentic filmic depictions of pre-colonial Maori culture, with fabulous production design along with costumes and sets that bring that world to life. The politics and skulduggery of the British (running guns, double dealing and furthering their own interests) is woven into the plot, as is a love interest between Munroe and Mrs Haggerty, (Jacqueline McKenzie), a white woman once married to a Maori. Performances from the two warring chiefs Akatarewa (Lawrence Makoare) and Maianui (Antonio Te Maioha), along with the many signficant tribal warriors feel authentic, and the many scenes of battle and other conflict are chillingly brutal. While the film's conclusion is perhaps too easy and sudden, overall this is a most worthy examination of important issues of colonialism, violence and faith.4 - highly recommended
Wild Rose
2018
Dir: Tom Harper
Length: 101 mins
Streaming on Netflix
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© - if she ever leaves acting, Buckley could
definitely be a country singer |
Glasgow born Rose-Lynn (Jessie Buckely) is an aspiring country singer who has just come out of a year's jail for a drug-related crime. Her mother Marion (Julie Walters) has been minding her two small children, who are very conflicted about being with their mum again. Desperate to save money to try her luck in Nashville, Rose-Lynn takes a cleaning job with wealthy Susannah (Sophie Okonedo), who is totally supportive of her cleaning-girl's aspirations. But Rose-Lynn is not honest with Susannah about her circumstances, so somewhere along the line a reckoning must be faced. Rose-Lynn has a tattoo on her arm saying "three chords and the truth". It is her own truth that she is on a journey to find, in this feel-good, moving and uplifting film. Yes, there may be something familiar about the plot, but it is elevated beyond the usual by a brilliant BAFTA-nominated performance from Buckley, who even does her own singing. Walters, as always, is rock-solid as a grandmother and mother who is there (sometimes reluctantly) to pick up the pieces.The songs are all terrific, and the grittiness of the rough and ready Glasgow characters make for a really enjoyable watch.4 - highly recommended
Hit Man
Dir: Richard Linklater
Length: 115 mins
Streaming on Netflix
 |
© Netflix - at times silly, but
very funny! |
Gary Johnson (Glen Powell) is a nerdy-looking philosophy lecturer at university, but on the side he moonlights with the police department, pretending to be a hit man, and trapping folks who want to hire him, so that they get arrested before any murders actually occur. When he meets Madison Masters (Adria Arjona), a young woman scared of her jealous ex-husband, he advises her to keep her money and get a divorce. Soon Gary, (or rather, his hit man alter-ego Ron), and Madison end up in a hot relationship, which causes all sorts of confusion and mix-ups for everyone. What starts out feeling like an ordinary, typically American wanna-be comedy, just gets better as it goes along. Powell is quite remarkable and funny, channelling the many and varied personae he dons as the hit man, depending upon who he is trying to entrap. The chemistry between him and Arjona is super-hot and the convolutions of the plot just get funnier and sillier as things progress, with several unexpected twists along the way. Underlying it all is an interesting premise regarding identity - the sort of "fake it till you make it" philosophy, suggesting people can choose the person they want to present to the world. Smaller supporting performances are also strong, especially Austin Amelio as Jasper, whose job Gary has taken. This is a fun way to spend two hours.4 - highly recommended
Born in Syria
Dir: Hernan Zin
Length: 86 mins
Streaming on Docplay - 2016
 |
© Docplay - tragic. The trauma Syurian refugees
have faced goes on and on |
Though several years old now, this award-winning doco has lost little of its relevance in these fraught times. It traces the refugee journey through the eyes of several children, who must flee their homeland for far-flung countries. Opening with a boat-load of refugees landing in Greece, the film traces various stories. Nine million Syrians have fled their homeland since war broke out in 2011. Some are welcomed, but many find hostile receptions in their new lands, and hearing the children speak of their woes is heartbreaking. Some kids end up making successful new lives, others like the poor injured boy in the photo, will continue to suffer. Films like this are so important in reminding us of the ongoing tragedies throughout the world, and how lucky we are in our lives here in Oz.4 - highly recommended
PS: Need I remind you for the umpteenth time that a subscription to DocPlay costs less per month than two cups of coffee, and will reward doco lovers with a stunning range of films. Visit: https://www.docplay.com/home
HSBC Spanish Film Festival
Until 3rd July
Palace Cinemas
The festival continues for another week, so still a chance to catch more of these fine films. I've done a binge watch of three more that I recommend.
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© Palace - fine Mexican drama of
relationships, revenge and redemption |
Upon Open Sky: A nominee for Best Film at Venice FF last year, this Mexican road trip drama is a searing tale of revenge and redemption, with tricky moral issues at its heart. It is the story of brothers, Fernando and Salvador, whose father was killed in a road accident two years before. They determine to track down the truck driver responsible and exact revenge. With them is Paula, the daughter of the man their widowed mother has just married. The first strength of this film lies in its intelligent and compelling screenplay by Guillermo Arriaga (who wrote Babel and 21 Grams). Less is more here - silence speaks as much as words. Then we have the powerful performances by the three young leads, along with a great soundtrack and beautiful sweeping cinematography of the wild Mexican landscape. The soul-searching, gut-wrenching journey each of the kids will go through is superbly portrayed, as issues of raging emotions versus love and forgiveness do battle in each of them. For those who love a morally challenging, emotionally charged film, this is a winner.
Un Amor: Director Isabelle Coixet has three earlier films in the spotlight this festival. This, her latest, is the story of Natalia who is escaping the pressures of city life by settling in a remote country village in the south of Spain. Locals are mistrustful and her landlord is a vaguely theatening misogynistic creep who won't lift a finger to repair the dilapidated house. To get work done, Natalia strikes a deal with her neighbor Andreas, which sparks off a most bizarre and obsessive relationship. At its heart, this film explores the mysteries of desire and a woman's self-image. Performances are intense, sex scenes quite raw, and although I remain perplexed as to what drives these characters, the film carries one along with tension and intrigue as to the depths of the human heart.
Artificial Justice: With AI the word on many people's lips, this is a most timely movie, that takes the premise that the judicial system, in the near future, is replacing human judges with Artifical Intelligence software. Award-winning actor Veronica Echegui plays a high-powered, respected judge invited to assess the new system, but she soon finds herself entangled in a web of political and corporate dramas and conspiracies, that become life-threatening. Part thriller, part social commentary, this is a thought-provoking film to further debate on new technologies: friend or foe?
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