Thursday, 27 August 2026

August 27th 2026

Palestine '36
Unravel Me: Tina Arena
The Party's Over

Three dramatically different films this week, yet in all of them characters are battling some sort of oppression. I review a  narrative based upon middle Estern historical events, a bio-pic of our own Tina Arena, and a French satirical comedy. 

Palestine '36 
Dir: Annemarie Jacir
© Cultural Media - upper class Palestinians 
before the Arabs arced up against the Brits
In 1936 Palestine was under the administrative control of Britain (the British Mandate). In that year the Arabs, especially the poorer people, sick to death of taxes and oppression, staged a general strike. This soon led to a three-year major revolt against the British, fuelled by the increasing number of Jewish emigrants fleeing Europe and seeking to make a home in Palestine, often displacing local villagers. Historical facts are the basis of this powerful narrative feature from the Palestinian-born director. Yusuf (Karin Daoud Anaya) is a young Arab man from a rural village. He works in Jerusalem as a driver for a wealthy Arab newspaper owner, Amir. When the revolt breaks out, the Brits become progressively more brutal towards the local Arab population, and Yusuf is drawn into the rebellion. What impressed me so much about this highly-awarded film is its emphasis on British culpability in setting the scene for the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict, rather than painting it exclusively as an Arab/Jew enmity. It also takes a deeply personal viewpoint, highlighting three individual families' struggle against British persecution, especially from a sadistic young captain (Robert Aramayo). Jeremy Irons plays the pompous, ineffectual High Commissioner Wauchope (an actual historical figure), while screen favourite Hiam Abbas is impressive as the matriarch of one of the Arab families. The film helps create a fresh perspective on today's never-ending conflict. We see the desperation and determination of peoples who all feel they have a claim to the land, and the ensuing catastrophe caused by a colonial power who tried to juggle conflicting promises to both Arabs and Jews, then subsequently shipped out in 1948 leaving their mess behind. Maybe not everyone will agree with the film's perspective, but it makes for empathetic and disturbing viewing.
4 - highly recommended

Unravel Me: Tina Arena
Dir: Adrian Russell Wills

©  Maslow - a true diva
A small girl from an Italian family begins her trajectory to stardom at age seven, on a TV show that nurtures young talent. Years later, aged 16, she decides to break out on her own, but, despite a soaring talent, must battle misogyny, and a constant perception that she is not good enough. Studios claim, "She's only the kid from Johnny Young's Young Talent Time, and we don't want to record her." Now, after fifty years in the public eye, Tina Arena's life is the subject of this eye-opening documentary, hot off the screens at MIFF. The film shows us two Tinas - the public star and the private woman. Scenes alternate between the now 59-year-old Tina sitting in her chair and recounting her life, her insecurities, her successes, and the extraordinary events that saw her end up a major star in Europe, especially France where she now lives. The world of men and powerful record companies looms large, but she continually demonstrates the grit she's needed to overcome obstacles and prejudices. The timeline goes back and forth, engaging us deeply with her journey, alongside interviews with people in her life: her two sisters, and notables such as Johnny Young, Ronan Keating, Celine Dion, Jessica Mauboy, the Veronicas and the studio men along the way who furthered her singing and song-writing career.  The many clips of her incredible performances show us a true diva, who also exudes humility and a down-to-earth quality often missing from true stars. A wonderful film about an inspiring woman.
4 - highly recommended

The Party's Over 
Dir: Anthony Cordier

©  Potential - the hired help aren't going
to take it any more
Life seems cruisy for Phillippe Trousellard (Laurent Lafitte) and wife Laurence (Eloise Bouchez), a rich, entitled French family, with a holiday home in the south of France. For the duration of their annual vacation, the Trousellards employ Tony Azizi (Ramzy Bedia) and his wife Nadine (Laura Calamy) along with daughter Marylou as caretakers, employed for a lowly wage, and paid off the books. Phillippe and Laurence seem friendly towards the Azizis but really expect them to be at their beck and call. When daughter Garance Trousellard has her lawyer boyfriend Mehdi (Sami Outalbali) come to stay, all hell breaks loose after one-too-many perceived humiliations towards the Azizi family. Mehdi tries to mediate but nothing goes well and law suits loom. Top comedienne Calamy is terrific as Nadine, while the satire and pointed commentary on class division runs relentlessly throughout the story. A typically French, fun watch, in a glorious setting.
3.5 - well recommended

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