May 8th 2025
Monsieur Aznavour
More from the German Film Festival
More from the South African Film Festival
Entertainers feature large this week, one being Charles Aznavour, the iconic French singer, and the other John Cranko, a world famous ballet choreographer. Plus, I review two more fine films from the South African Film Festival.
Monsieur Aznavour
Dir: Mehdi Idir & Grand Corps Malade
 |
© Palace - prolific songwriter,
superb entertainer |
Charles Aznavour (Tahar Rahim) came from an Armenian family who, with him as a child, fled from a genocide perpetrated by the Turks. The family was very musical, and ended up in France. The young Charles started out as an entertainer in partnership with songwriter Pierre Roche (Bastien Bouillon), then went on to become his own person, writing more than 1000 songs and achieving international fame, helped along the way by iconic French chanteuse Edith Piaf (Marie Julie Baup). I find it very hard to review this film, as I adore Aznavour and am familiar with so many of his songs. Let's look at the positives: the recreation of the era is perfect with set design and "the feel" of the day spot on. The music is a delight. Baup as Piaf is simply excellent. The negatives: Rahim, though he gives his all, does not look near enough like Aznavour to convince me, although as the film progressed I began to feel more that it could be him. The lyrics of Aznavour's songs are heart-breaking and intensely meaningful, and the director's choice to subtitle less than half of them is a major oversight, methinks! The arc of the narrative is very traditional - the A-Z typical biopic, with little originality. And yet . . . I enjoyed this film tremendously, immersing in the sublime songs, and learning much about the man himself - a crazy mixture of ambition, drivenness, sadness, and with a gift for expressing the deepest emotions that we all share in life. So . . . 3.5 - well recommended
More from the HSBC German Film Festival
Melbourne: Now until 21 May
I've had the good fortune to catch up with the film John Cranko, a must-see for all ballet lovers. And even if you don't know much about ballet, this is a story and performance that is absolutely worth seeing! If it ever gets a mainstream release, it's a 4-star from me.
John Cranko: Brief bio: John Cranko was born in South Africa in 1927 then went to London where he was a choreographer with the Sadlers Wells Ballet School. After being arrested for homosexual activity and given the sack, he headed in 1961 to Stuttgart where he was contracted to be choreographer for a little-known German ballet company. It is from this point that the movie takes off. British actor Sam Riley was wonderful as Ian Curtis from the band Joy Division in the film Control. Here he again absolutely inhabits the role of an incredibly talented and complex man who is at once flamboyant, at times cruel, but also caring, vulnerable, and extraordinarily lonely. (And Riley speaks fluent German!) Cranko defies convention on every level. In getting into the creative mind of a choreographer, director Joachim Lang cleverly employs imaginary dance sequences. Rehearsal scenes give a powerful insight into what goes into crafting a ballet, and then we have the actual performances which are all simply beautiful, with settings, costumes and dancing quite awe-inspiring. Lang chose to use real dancers from the company in the roles, and they all prove how well they can act and dance. Many are playing themselves, while Elise Badenes, a current principal dancer with the company, plays the role of Marcie Haydee who was discovered and propelled to fame by Cranko. It can be said that Cranko changed the fortunes of the Stuttgart Ballet Company and left a legacy of original balletic reimaginings of classic stories that are still performed today.
South African Film Festival
Limited films in cinema now until 31 May at Classic Cinema Elsternwick
Coming online in a few days, the SAFF has plenty of rewarding and interesting films.
Diary of an Elephant Orphan: I defy anyone not to fall in love with this documentary, that follows the work of a group of elephant carers. In Sth Africa many elephants are orphaned thanks to poaching, and this group of veterinarians and carers virtually give their lives over to tending the orphans and the adult herd, mostly made up of now-grown orphans. The doco follows baby Khanyisa, caught in a snare, and near to death. How she is cared for and reintegrated into the herd is a story to melt the hardest hearts. What more can I say? If you love elephants, don't miss this one!
Snake: Little Stella (Lamiyah Barnard) lives in an impoverished rural family, much loved by her mother Nancy, and her drunkard of a father Frank. One day itinerant Jerry turns up, playing a tin whistle and seeking work. He charms the entire family, especially Stella, but we soon realise he is not what he seems. This is a fabulous film, the story seen through the eyes of a child. The focus is constantly upon Stella who desperately wants to protect her family from a smooth-talking, utimately bad man. The nine-year-old lead actress is a force to be reckoned with. Director Meg Rickards nails the feeling of the poverty and lack of opportunities, while capturing the heart of what it means to be a family and overcome divisive external forces.
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