July 23rd 2026
Colors of Time
Tenor: My Name is Pati
National Theatre Live: Dangerous Liaisons
Apex (streaming on Netflix)
This week has three wonderful new releases. There's family connection combined with Parisian history, unlikely opera stars, and the sizzling theatrical version of a film we all remember. Oh, plus a popcorn thriller to stream.
Colors of Time (La Venue d'avenir)
Dir: Cedric Klapisch
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© StudioCanal - past and present converge
in a loving portrayal of history, love and family |
This delightful French film is set between the modern era and France of the 1890s, the Belle Epoque. The film's French title literally means "the coming of the future", and future and past entwine inextricably when four cousins inherit an old house in the countryside of Normandy. There they discover old photos and paintings, which set them on a quest to discover their ancestry. They learn of a young woman, Adele, (Suzanne Lindon) who went to Paris in search of the mother who abandoned her as a baby. There Adele became involved with the romanticism and Bohemian, artistic life that defined Paris in the day. One of the young modern-day heirs Seb (Abraham Wapler) seems almost to walk between the two eras, and his connection with artist Claude Monet, as well as Adele's connection with the ground-breaking artist forms one of the delicious and mysterious threads in the plot. Ultimately it's a story of love, belonging and connection, of one's heritage, and of people who create the future (like the Impressionist painters did). The iconic Parisian era is recreated with stunning costumes and sets, and the scenes filmed in the real-life setting of Monet's garden had me gasping with delight as I saw shots which are in my own photo album from my travels there! Unusually, all the characters in this film are extremely likeable, and though there is a touch of saccharine-sweetness in parts, it is a true joy to watch.
4 - highly recommended
Tenor: My Name is Pati
Dir: Rebecca Tansley
Length: 104 mins
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© Rialto - two Samoan brothers make
their names in an unexpected field |
Pene Pati was once told by a singing coach he wouldn't be able to sing opera, because he is Samoan and it's not in his blood. Now he is one of the most celebrated young operatic stars in the world, sometimes compared to Pavarotti. I'm not a great opera fan, but I just loved this documentary, so full of warmth, heart, and some very beautiful music, both operatic and Pacific island. It traces Pene's journey from his birth in Samoa, to his family's move to New Zealand, where Pene and his equally talented brother Amitai sang with their family group for 15 years, entertaining residents of old age homes. The doco employs fabulous old family footage of the brothers from their young years and early musical exploits, especially their hugely popular opera/pop crossover group Sole Mio, who took New Zealand by storm in 2017. Many scenes highlight their current highly successful operatic careers, with reflection and commentary from them and other notable musicians on their remarkable rise in that elite opera world. Through it all, the vital importance of family and Samoan culture remains embedded in their approach to everything they do. When Pene sings
Nessun Dorma chills run down the spine, yet it is the lasting sense of the man's humility and devotion to his traditional core values that remains. This is a definite watch for music lovers.
4 - highly recommended
National Theatre Live: Dangerous Liaisons
Dir: Marianne Elliott
Length: 180 mins
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© Rialto - wow! oozing schemes,
sex and decadence |
Those familiar with the 1988 Oscar-winning film of this tale, may be intrigued to see a bold new theatrical production starring Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner, as scheming ex-lovers who set out to destroy lives for the sheer fun of it. Manville's Marquise de Merteuil and Turner's Vicomte de Valmont are about as amoral as it gets, and both actors bring their characters to life with unforgettable performances and chemistry. I won't go into convoluted plot details, but suffice to say Hannah Van der Westhuysen as virginal Cecile, and Valmont's prey, is a stand-out as is Monica Barbaro as Madame de Tourvel, another hapless female in Valmont's sights. An unforgettable feature of this production is the remarkable use of choreography, music and sets. The many highly-charged dance numbers reek of sensuality and lascviousness, while the constantly shunted-about minimalistic sets maintain a sense of restless and ceaseless action and scheming. Costumes for the women are lavish and decadent, musical backing highly evocative. There is a waft of modern sensibility related to the #metoo era, along with a vague sense of female sexual emancipation. The politics of all the characters' war of the sexes is serious food for thought, and overall this is a delicous, and at times, malicious pleasure.
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended
Apex
Dir: Balthasar Kormakur
Length: 95 mins
Streaming on Netflix
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© Netflix - Charlize heads for
action downunder |
The 2024 film Touch by this director was one of my faves of that year, gentle, introspective and moving. His latest spans such different genres: survival, action, thriller with a bit of psychological horror thrown in. Sasha (the ever-gorgeous Charlize Theron) is an adventurer. We meet her in the opening scenes climbing a sheer rock face somewhere in Norway with her Aussie boyfriend Tommy (Eric Bana), who is soon out of the picture after a horrific accident. Sasha heads to Australia for some serious soul-searching and more adventure. She meets Ben (Taron Egerton), a friendly local, who gives her advice on good spots to go kayaking. But Ben isn't what he seems and soon Sasha is fighting for her life as Ben pursues her with a particularly nasty agenda. There are a lot of familiar tropes in this film, and sequences that really defy credibility. Major drawcards are the stunning cinematography set in the Blue Mountains, and of course Theron, tough, sexy and a true heroine. There's nothing really new here, but for those wanting some nail-biting moments,and a bit of old-style adventure (with a dash of new-style nastiness), it's a reasonably diverting watch.3 - recommended
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