February 13th 2025
Grand Tour
The Six Triple Eight (streaming on Netflix)
Europa Europa Film Festival
A quiet(ish) week for me, with the highlight being Italian film Anna from the Europa Europa Film Festival.
Grand Tour
Dir: Miguel Gomes
Length: 129 mins
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© Potential - a very different combo of
love story and travelogue |
Billed as a "travelogue drama", Grand Tour is at once quirky, intriguing, and eye-opening, blending an Edwardian "romance gone wrong" tale with real documentary footage of contemporary life in the countries featured in the narrative. In Burma in 1918 Edward (Goncalo Waddington) flees his fiancee Molly (Crista Alfaiate) on their wedding day. He heads off on a travel circuit comprising Burma, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan and China. Determined to be married, Molly pursues him, sending letters but always one step behind. This is the sort of movie you need to surrender yourself to, and not hunt for any conventional narrative. As Edward's and Molly's stories are shown, the film is shot in black and white; the modern-day footage of people going about their lives in the various countries is in colour. Edward's adventures border on the surreal at times, but Molly's are more grounded in reality, as she meets an American rancher and his maid living in Vietnam. Eschewing his marriage proposal she persists in pursuing Edward. The contrast between the colonial view of the eastern world, and the realities of life there today make for much philosophical pondering, and the narrative remains (mostly) engaging. Grand Tour won Best Director at Cannes 2024.3.5 - well recommended
Europa Europa Film Festival
Feb 12-March 12
Melbourne: Classic and Lido Cinemas; Sydney: Ritz
Want to see the best of European arthouse film in one festival? 46 films from 26 countries are headed your way, many of them nominated and awarded at Europe's most prestigious festivals. I've had a small advance sneak preview, and both films are the sort of gems that you seldom find upon general release.
Anna: With several Best Film wins to its name and a win for lead actress Rosa Aste, this is a thoroughly engrossing film with a decided David vs Goliath theme. Anna has lived on her father's land in Sardinia all her life, tending her goats and making cheeses which she sells at local markets. Then along comes a huge hotel chain, claiming they have bought the land from the local authorities and they intend to build. The locals are delighted that the hotel build brings them employment, but Anna and her handful of supporters are aghast that her rights should be so overridden. So begins the legal battle. Director Marco Amenta wields a slow and steady hand over his story, which totally draws you in to barrack for "the little person". Aste is absolutely deserving of her awards, with Marco Zucca a strong support as her lawyer. Shot in the rugged land of southern Sardinia, the stark and beautiful landscapes are a reflection of Anna's strength and pride in her land. (For goat lovers, the irrestible goats are stars in their own right!)
Mother Mara: Serbian star Mirjana Karanovic plays Mara, a mother grieving for her son who has died suddenly at age 20. She manages to vaguely keep up her competent businesswoman persona, but underneath she is falling apart. That is, until she starts an affair with a friend of her son, Milan (Vucic Perovic). This delicate, sad film features a star turn from its lead actress. It is a sympathetic look at the issues of loss, grief, ageing and rediscovering passion. Europa Europa is a highly recommended festival.
The Six Triple Eight
Dir: Tyler Perry
Length: 127 mins
Streaming on Netflix
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© Netflix - the true story of a battallion of
women who defeated the odds |
The Women's Army Corps (WAC) was established in the USA during World War 2, giving women an opportunity to serve in non-combat roles. This is the true story of the only WAC unit comprising women of color. The story opens with Lena Derricott King (Ebony Obsidian) in love with a Jewish boy. When he is killed in battle, she opts to join the 6888 Battallion, led by Captain Charity Adams (Kerry Washington). The women train hard, but somehow are always overlooked for serious missions because of their colour. Finally the army sends them to Europe, where they are tasked with sorting 17 million pieces of mail, which have neither reached home sent from soldiers, nor arrived from home at the battle field. They are given a small window to achieve the job, and the men in power think the women are not up to it. General Halt (Dean Norris), is especially vocal in his misogynistic and racist remarks. This is definitely in the "feel-good" category of movie making - a little sanitised and sweet, but with a good heart and telling a truly inspiring tale. There is nothing like seeing the underdog rise up and kick butt! The two lead women are excellent in their roles, the period is well recreated, and a song from the movie is nominated for an Oscar.3.5 - well recommended
