March 5th 2026
The Bride!
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Plainclothes
Alliance Francaise French Film Festival
Once again it's a splendid week for going to the movies! The latest film in the Frankenstein collection is an absolute winner. Trauma in the Gaza war, and personal drama for an undercover cop make for two more strong features, while the ever popular French Film Festival is here.
The Bride!
Dir: Maggie Gyllenhaal
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| © Universal - everyone needs a mate! |
Just as Guillermo del Toro made a stunning new version of Frankenstein, so Maggie G has just come up with a winner, reimagining the classic1935 film Bride of Frankenstein. It is set in 1930s Chicago, a world of mobsters, and fancy women working as police informants. Loud, outspoken Ida (Jessie Buckley) is murdered by the mob. At the same time Frank (Christian Bale), a sorry creature created decades earlier out of dead bodies by Dr Frankenstein, wanders into the laboratory of Doctor Euphronius (Annette Bening), lamenting his loneliness and begging her to create a companion for him. Together they exhume Ida's body and "reinvigorate" her. Unexpectedly, she falls wildly in love with Frank, and the two embark upon a Bonnie and Clyde like spree, which involves a fair bit of killling (all in self-defence!) Police officers Jake (Peter Sarsgaard) and his offsider Myrna (a wonderful Penelope Cruz) are on the trail of the now infamous pair, while concurrently a feminist movement grows, sparked by The Bride's refusal to be oppressed by any man. I love the wild energy of this film. Everything from the period settings, to the steampunk aesthetic and the larger-than-life characters, leaps off the screen. Despite the traditional horror themes, it is also surprisingly moving and compassionate; a story of loneliness and the need for connection. Maggie G's emphasis upon feminism and women rising up brings much unexpected delight, while having the character of Mary Shelley (also played by Buckley) inside Ida's head is an original touch, given Shelley had to write under a man's name. Jake Gyllenhaal makes a small but welcome appearance as movie star/dancer Ronnie Reed, who Frank adores, secretly fantasising he could aslo be a dancer (a lovely nod to Mel Brooks' film Young Frankenstein). All in all, this is a beautifully made film, with spectacular performances by Buckley and Bale, and leaving the viewer thoroughly entertained.4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Dir: Kaouther Ben Hania
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© Madman - the rescuers as well as the
victims suffer in a war |
Gaza has been at the forefront of tumultuous news for a couple of years now. The Red Crescent (equivalent to the Red Cross in Muslim-majority countries) has been working overtime, and this docu-drama, based upon an actual event, takes us into the heart of their mission. In January 2024 a little girl was trapped in a car that had been under fire. She somehow rings the Red Crescent and is pleading for them to get her out. The film uses the actual voice recordings of the child, along with actors playing the staff in the control room. Omar (Motaz Malhees), Nisreen (Clara Khoury), Mahdi (Amer Hlehel) and Rana (Saja Kilani) have their own stresses and internal power struggles, but the child's rescue remains their focus. There is probably no more powerful way to get the message across that it is often innnocent civilians who are the victims in such a war. To listen to the pleas of the tiny child, surrounded by the dead bodies of her relatives who've been killed by Israeli tank fire, is heart-breaking. The stress of the workers is also powerfully portrayed, as they grapple bureaucratic hurdles preventing the despatch of an ambulance rescue team. It's a harrowing watch, but an important one, making the film a worthy nominee for this year's Oscars. It also won the Silver Lion at Venice.4 - highly recommended
Plainclothes
Dir: Carmen Emmi
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© Icon - a policeman faces a personal crisis
in entrappping gay men |
Lucas (Tom Blyth) is a plainsclothes police officer, working in 1990s New York. His unit is tasked with entrapping gay men in public toilets, then arresting them for lewd behaviour. When Lucas spots Andrew (Russell Tovey) for a potential sting, he is attracted to him and becomes involved. The conflict between his duty as a policeman, his attraction to Andrew, and his own repressed sexuality causes Lucas great grief. This is a small film that definitely punches above its weight, both script-wise and with its strong performances. The narrative has an interwoven structure, that moves between a New Year's party Lucas is attending at his mother's, following the death of his father. A lost letter is crucial to the suspense of the plot, and gives rise to some big reveals towards the end. This is another fine addition to the queer genre, throwing light on dark times of persecution, intolerance, and personal turmoil.4 - highly recommended
Alliance Francaise French Film Festival
Melbourne Now on until April 8
Palace Cinemas
For all dates in regional cities and other states, along with synopses, ticketing etc visit:
It's the biggest festival of French cinema outside of France, right here Downunder. With 38 fantastic films, including Cannes award winners, as well as a real treat with the screening of the iconic Oscar-winning 1966 film from Claude Lelouch, A Man and a Woman. With so many wonderful films from every genre, there is something for everyone. Here are three I've previewed and recommend for this week, with more to come next week.
The Trousselard family are rich and entitled. Their daughter's boyfriend Mehdi comes to stay at their fancy villa for a few days. Soon a dispute breaks out between the family and long-term caretakers Tony and Nadine, who threaten a lawsuit after a series of humiliations and underpayments. Top comedienne Laura Calamy is terrific as Nadine, while the satire and pointed commentary on class division runs relentlessly throughout the story. A fun watch.
Adapted from a sci-fi novel, this fast-paced, dystopian thriller takes us into a Paris of the future, where society is divided into three distinct zones, based upon class. Everything in life is now overseen by an AI system called Alma. When the inventor of Alma is murdered, policeman Zem (Gilles Lellouche) is called in to investigate. Teaming up with Salia (Adele Exarcholpouolos), he makes startling discoveries about the true nature of the system that underpins the new society. The action is unrelenting, and settings are disturbingly atmospheric. But you'll need to concentrate to grasp all the intricacies of this frightening plot. With current discussions on the benefits and dangers of AI, this is a very timely film.
It won Oscars in 1967 for Best Screenplay and also Best Foreign Language Film, along with the Palme d'Or at Cannes. Starring Jean Louis Trintignant as racing driver Louis and Anouk Aimee as Anne, this beautiful film by Claude Lelouch is about as romantic as you could hope to get. Both are single parents who meet through their children who are at the same boarding school. The film unreservedly stands the test of time, with its memorable soundtrack, its elegant story telling, and its lovely cinematography, moving between sepia and colour. There is such gentleness and depth of emotion conveyed through two memorable performances. (The kids are pretty wonderful too!) I saw this movie when I was a teen, and, revisiting it now, say here's a classic, not to be missed.
