Hursto's five minute films

Saturday, 25 September 2021

Sept 26th

The Dig (streaming on Netflix)

The Mustang (streaming on Netflix)

Worth (streaming on Netflix)

The Physician (streaming on Netflix)

Obama: In Search of the More Perfect Union (streaming on Foxtel)

Farmageddon (streaming on Foxtel)

I'm continuing to binge on streaming offerings, and mighty fine they are. As you emerge from footy fever, I've got a lot of recommendations for you, hopefully easy to access and easing the pain of continuing lockdown. There's even something here to amuse the littlies, if they haven't seen it yet.

The Dig

Dir: Simon Stone

Length: 112 mins

Streaming on Netflix

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZQz0rkNajo

Wealthy widow Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan) decides to investigate some earth mounds on her property in Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, and hires taciturn excavator Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes). What they unearth will have museum curators jumping up and down in excitement. This interesting and quite lovely historical film is inspired by the true discovery of an ancient ship containing fabulous treasure, part of a 6th-7th century Anglo-Saxon burial site considered to be one of the most intact in medieval Europe. The film's style is archetypically British, with restrained characters who hide their feelings, and yet, thanks to Fiennes' and Mulligan's fine performances, we can read a lot more into their characters. Period settings and production values are flawless, the archaeological dig is expertly recreated, and the expected stoush between Basil and museum archaeologist Charles Phillips (Ken Stott), brings a goodly dollop of class conflict/social justice into play. There are also several tear-jerking moments around the relationship between Edith's young son Robert with his mother and with Basil, whom the boy adores. Solid watching in this much-awarded film.

4 - highly recommended

The Mustang

Dir: Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre

Length: 96 mins

Streaming on Netflix

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2a-KSOCIeY

Roman Coleman (Mattthias Schoenarts) has just emerged from solitary isolation in a Nevada prison. He is chosen for a program in which inmates are teamed up with wild mustang horses, with the aim of breaking in the animals then auctioning them off - a win-win for the prisoner (who gets a sense of pride and purpose) and horse (which avoids being part of the annual cull). This much-awarded film is a total surprise - intense, moving, engaging, understated and really well executed in all respects. Schoenarts is compelling as a man one would hardly expect to develop empathy for (but we do), and as his backstory is only slowly revealed, we become progressively engaged with his outcome. Bruce Dern is notable as Myles, the crusty old-timer responsible for the prisoner-horse program; he's perfect for the role. For a film with so little dialogue, it delivers a powerful viewing experience, along with a couple of totally sublime horse moments.

4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

Worth

Dir: Sarah Colangelo

Length: 118 mins

Streaming on Netflix

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOAemeB9CAw

After the tragedy of 9/11, the US government set up a Victim Compensation Fund. Kenneth Feinberg, played by Michael Keaton, was appointed to head up the team whose unenviable job was to decide exactly the amount of compensation for each life that was lost. At first he operates totally within the guidelines, but after meeting Charles Wolf (Stanley Tucci), a man spearheading a victims' group, Ken starts to understand the human scale of the loss, and develops true compassion. The film steers away from playing into heavy emotion, but delivers a really solid exploration of the post 9/11 mood, and the issue of bureaucracy vs human emotion and loss. Keaton is excellent in his role, and Tucci, as always, shines, both getting solid support from Amy Ryan as Feinberg's legal partner, Camille Biros. With the world continually mired in issues where a dollar value must be put on things that can't be quantified, this makes for provocative and thoughtful viewing.

4 - highly recommended

The Physician

Dir: Philipp Stolzl

Length: 155 mins

Streaming on Netflix

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOj-Pn5WJkw

I first caught this film at the Jewish Film Festival some years back, and am delighted to see it get a Netflix berth. At two and a half hours, this engaging and epic historical tale takes us from eleventh century London to Persia, hub of learning. Young Christian orphan Rob Cole (Tom Payne) teams up with a local amateur healer, but then travels, disguised as a Jew, to Persia where he studies medicine under the legendary healer Avicenna (Ben Kingsley). The film is gloriously shot, bringing to vivid life the grime and ignorance of medieval London compared to the exoticness and intellectualism of ancient Persia. It also portrays some of the early discoveries that paved the way for modern medicine. This is thoroughly entertaining, great narrative film-making and a visual feast.

4 - highly recommended

Obama: In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union
Dir: Peter W Kunhardt
Length: 3 episodes - all up 5 hours
Streaming on Foxdocos- Foxtel
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L15IUc0A6fo
© Foxtel - I couldn't get enough of this story
My forte has never been the analysis of political films, but this doco speaks to me in a way many political bios never have (maybe because I'm a card-carrying Obama fan!) The three-part series traces Barack Obama's career from his youth, through his early days as a lawyer, up to his attainment of the highest office in the USA. Countless interesting players in the Obama story come on to give their slant on it, from chief campaign strategist David Axelrod, to various black pastors, writers, journalists and many more. I find the film-making thorough, the old clips of early Obama speeches (even back when he was a student) enlightening and inspiring, and the overall depiction of the arc of his journey quite rivetting. Using the fraught backdrop of race in America, the doco also explores the difficult line the man had to walk, never pleasing blacks or whites, but always maintaining dignity, compassion, and presenting a statesmanlike face to the world (so unlike his antecedent!) A real insight.
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon
Dir: Will Becher, Richard Phelan
Length: 86 mins
Streaming on Foxtel
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RecHCOkgOvI
© Foxtel - as expected: clever, crazy fun
In the town of Mossingham in rural England a spaceship lands, and a strange but incredibly cute alien called Lu-Lu emerges. Curious Shaun, ever up for an adventure, befriends Lu-Lu and the pair devise a plan to get the alien back to her family on a far planet. Unbeknown to them an alien-hunting government agency, headed by a fearsome woman called Red, is also on their tail, while the farmer who owns Shaun and his flock sees a major opportunity to install a money making space theme park on his land. Lovers of films from Aardman studios (Chicken Run, the Wallace & Gromit films), will love this follow up to 2015's Shaun the Sheep. In the inimitable signature style of the studio, the characters are again stop-motion claymation puppets, and, despite their simplicity, every tiny nuance of a gesture tells a whole story. This one takes elements from many of our favourite sci-fi films, from Close Encounters, to ET, along with references from the X-Files and more, and cobbles the whole into a fun-packed crazy caper, that has enough sly references to amuse adults while the kids are wallowing in moments of slapstick and general lunacy.
4 - highly recommended

Saturday, 18 September 2021

Sept 19th

Pig - showing in cinemas in non-lockdown places - put it on your list!

Possum Wars (streaming on DocPlay)

The Children in the Picture - various cinemas and online venues

I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story - (streaming on Foxtel)

The Limehouse Golem (streaming on Netflix)

Don't forget: Indian FF - continues FREE until September 27th

I'm going soft as lockdown drags on - I'm very reluctant to stick the boots into many films (those I don't like, I don't bother reviewing!) So everything here comes recommended; each film serving its own purpose, in a time where we need either light distraction, old-fashioned entertainment, or where the serious films just add to our wealth of introspection, and amazement that the world is such a fraught place!

Pig

Dir: Michael Sarnoski
Length: 92 mins
Currently showing in non-lockdown states
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i-_CRKdh4Y
© Violence, melancholy, a pig and Nic -
what a combo!
Rob (Nicolas Cage) lives alone in a rundown shack in the Oregon wilderness. His only companion is his beloved pig, who helps him hunt for truffles which he sells to Amir (Alex Wolff), a smooth city slicker supplying Portland upper-end restaurants. When the pig is kidnapped, Rob heads into the city to try to get her back. When he revisits the world he had left behind, we are thrust into the underbelly of the restaurant trade with its pretentiousness and ruthlessness. There is way more depth to this story than the surface narrative would imply, and much of it comes from Cage's unexpectedly nuanced but tour-de-force performance. He portrays the essence of loss as his character grieves for his missing porcine friend and a lost wife. So much of the film (except the sudden eruptions of violence) encapsulates a deep melancholy, allowing us to ponder what really matters in life, all underscored with evocative cinematography and of course this Cage performance that is something to behold, understated and so different from his often bombastic roles.
4 - highly recommended

Possum Wars

Dir: Bruce Permezel

Length: 57 mins

Streaming on DocPlay

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJkmFOcr8gI

They are either "soooo cute" or a nightmare. As a gardener, I find them a total nightmare, as they munch their way through roses and camelias, and leave their smelly calling cards all over the ground. This doco examines the arguments from both sides, focusing in particular on the Carlton Gardens, where possum-huggers defy local laws to feed the critters, and the century old elm trees are facing imminent death thanks to constant defoliation. With terrific night photography, lots of excellent in-roof detective work, and impassioned pleas from both sides this is a good watch. Again I urge all doco lovers to take up a subscription to DocPlay. One of the best collection of docs on planet Earth!

4 - highly recommended

The Children in the Pictures

Length: 84 mins

Dir: Akhim Dev, Simon Nasht

Theatrical and virtual screenings throughout Sept and October

To find out where to view it in your state: https://childreninthepictures.org/book-tickets/

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mASatjKPQ8A

National Child Protection Week has just passed, and it heralds the release of a confronting new documentary dealing with Argos, a Qld-based investigative team that goes undercover to infiltrate pedophile sites on the Dark Web, and to rescue children from horrific abuse. Breathe a little easy, as any actual pictures are not shown; rather this examines how the Dark Web has facilitated an explosion in online material, and how the 100% effort of a dedicated group of people has brought down many criminal networks worldwide. While the extent of the abuse is horrific, making the film disturbing, ultimately it is the extraordinary devotion of the team that can only inspire. This could almost have been two films, as it goes on to look at how, with social media proliferating, many young people are getting themselves into vulnerable situations by generating salacious online content themselves, and becoming vulnerable to predatory adults masquerading as youngsters.

4 - highly recommended

I am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story

Length: 86 mins

Dir: Dave la Mattina; Chad N. Walker

Streaming on Foxtel

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFTCUF853H0

From 1969, when children's show Sesame Street hit TV screens worldwide, Caroll Spinney played Big Bird, almost up until his death in 2019. This fabulous doco looks at the career of the yellow-feathered one, interweaving Spinney's story with that of Sesame Street, and how the show, and BB's starring role, evolved over the years. (Spinney also plays Elmo.) You don't need to be a kid to get great pleasure from this much-nominated doco, which, while interesting from a technical puppeteering point-of-view, is ultimately a celebration of a life lived in giving joy to others. Where Spinney stops and Big Bird starts is a moot point, but the puppet goes on to this day enchanting kids everywhere.

4 - highly recommended

Note: For any parents of littlies concerned about how to explain all things Covid, YouTube has a great series using Big Bird and Elmo, plus a couple of CNN resident medicos, to explain the whole thing clearly and cleverly.

The ABC of Covid Parts 1-6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzLdX3HYLvU

The Limehouse Golem

Length: 109 mins

Dir: Juan Carlos Medina

Streaming on Netflix

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCJp8-MebGY

In 1890s London, a series of grisly murders comes to light. The elusive killer is dubbed the Limehouse Golem, after a Jewish folktale character. Detective Kildare (Bill Nighy) is assigned to the case which takes him to the rough-and-tumble music hall world of London, where he meets actress Lizzie Cree (Olivia Cooke), whose deceased husband becomes a prime suspect. This film is a great romp, with an engaging, tense and convoluted plot, chock-full of colorful characters, red herrings, and evocatively filmed music-hall interiors and gloomy narrow streets typical of the era. Nighy is always a delight to watch, and he is handsomely supported by Cooke, as well as a star turn from Eddie Marsan as the theatre manager, and Douglas Booth as Leno, who spends most of his on-stage time masquerading as a girl. With overtones of a Ripper-esque London, but with its own unique plot, this is a diverting watch; time well spent.

4 - highly recommended

Indian Film Festival
Extended FREE online until September 27th
Visit: https://www.iffm.com.au/
I'm still boring you by reiterating that this terrific festival is still going - FREE ONLINE. So yet again I encourage you to check out the program and make the most of it while lockdown drags on.

Wednesday, 1 September 2021

Sept 2

ZZ Top: That Little Ol' Band from Texas (streaming on Netflix)

Keith Richards: Under the Influence (streaming on Netflix)

What Happened Miss Simone (streaming on Netflix)

Streamline

Under the Volcano
The Bowraville Murders

I feel so sorry for the film publicists trying to keep on top of what is releasing where and when. Some of the films reviewed today are showing in states that are not in lockdown, with Vic and NSW to come - but who knows when? So, for my sanity, I'll run the reviews as I preview them in line with releases (somewhere in Australia and the world!), and when they release in the two largest states I'll probably run them again. Meantime I've gone music mad, for those who want to catch some fine music docos on Netflix. And, glad tidings - the Indian FF continues FREE online until September 27th. Everything this week is of highly recommendable status.

ZZ Top: That Little Ol' Band from Texas

Dir: Sam Dunn

Length: 91 mins

Streaming on Netflix

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/350861999

The band ZZ Top formed in 1969 in Houston Texas. For 52 years they have had exactly the same line-up of three musicians, lead guitarist, bass guitarist and a drummer, the longest continuous line-up in rock history. With a blues foundation, they toured Texas in the 70s, then rode the new wave of MTV music video, rocketing to fame with songs such as Legs, with a racy film clip with leggy girls and a distinctive red hot rod. Their musical style constantly changed, incorporating punk, new wave and dance rock, but always in later years those signature beards became their trademark. This is such a fun doco with driving music, fascinating commentary, terrific film clips, and the basic awe-inspiring fact that three guys can manage to still enjoy playing music with each other after all this time.

4 - highly recommended

Keith Richards: Under the Influence

Dir: Morgan Neville

Length: 81 mins

Streaming on Netflix

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvj24PTQa7Q

The film's title is a bit of a hoot, as we tend to associate Keith with a life of drug influences, but actually this engaging doco is more about his lifelong musical influences, especially his obsession with the blues. There is minimal chronological info about his life events - it is more like spending a pleasant 90 mins with this cheerful, enthusiastic and very eccentric character, who always laughs and chain smokes as he expounds upon his love of music. There is terrific archival footage of the Stones, and other musical get-togethers where Keith was over the moon to play with his idols like Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry. All in all, not to be missed by fans of KR.

4 - highly recommended

What Happened Miss Simone

Dir: Liz Garbus

Length: 101 mins

Streaming on Netflix

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7jIOawq8y8

Nina Simone has a readily recognisable and brilliant voice, but her life was one of ups and downs, and great mental anguish. Wanting to be the first ever black classical pianist, she was not accepted to the college of her choice, and ended up singing, initially to steadily growing acclaim. But as she became more involved in Black Rights activism, promoters were reluctant to hire her, lest she only sings songs for "the cause". Her marriage to her manager, a violent ex-policeman, was tragic, and at times after leaving him she almost hit rock bottom. This is a terrific biopic of the troubled woman, a great showcase for her music, and yet another of those sad tales of a major talent beset by personal issues. Her daughter has many interesting insights to add to the excellent archival footage.

4 - highly recommended

Streamline

Dir: Tyson Wade Johnston

Length: 88 mins

Releasing Tas, Qld, WA, NT with lockdown states TBA.

Stan streaming on 16th Sept

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqxGEU5kczg

Fifteen-year-old Benjamin (Levi Miller) has a great talent for swimming and is training for a spot in the Olympic Games. That is, until his father Rob (Jason Isaacs) is released from jail and turns his son's life upside down. Inspired by executive producer Ian Thorpe's life story, this is a powerful film that is not your standard sporting drama, but a disturbing look at family violence and toxic masculinity, both in the current spotlight. Rob has brutalised his three sons and wife Kim (Laura Gordon), and Ben's older brothers now live in the a marginalised world, perpetuating the no-hoper cycle. Ben's coach (Robert Morgan) is typical of the aggressive goal-driven male who rides the teen too hard, while supportiveness and tenderness comes from Ben's girlfriend Patti (Tasia Zalar). All round the film is beautifully shot, finely acted and well scripted.

4 - highly recommended

Under the Volcano

Dir: Gracie Otto
Length: 96 mins
Available on Digital Download on various platforms (Amazon Prime, iTunes, GooglePlay)
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWf7_eXZ-bo
© Universal - recognize Sting, then
with The Police?
"Music is the liquid architecture of our emotions." I love that line from this thoroughly rewarding and inspirational film about legendary record producer George Martin, who set up a recording studio on the remote Caribbean island of Monserrat in 1979. The place was as expertly equipped as its London counterpart, and rock music's royalty flocked there to record and chill out. This is the story of those 10 golden years, and the artists who performed there, recording more than 70 albums. Regular readers know I'm a sucker for a great music doco, and this one has swept me off my feet. There's brilliant archival footage of the likes of The Police, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Duran Duran, Dire Straits, Jimmy Buffett and more. All this is augmented with contemporary interviews with Mark Knopfler, Elton, Buffett, Sting and so many others reminiscing on making some of the best recordings in their careers. The local also feature large, which is a refreshing change from stargazing, as they helped the performers feel at home on the island. And of the course the soundtrack is to be relished - a stunning nostalgia trip.
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

The Bowraville Murders

Dir: Allan Clarke

Length: 90 mins

Releasing SA, WA and Qld with other states TBA

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWvRFKy_ois

Imagine battling to get justice for more than 30 years. This is the plight of three Aboriginal families whose kids disappeared over 1990-91 in Bowraville, a northern NSW town. The remains of 16-year-old Speedy and 4-year-old Evelyn were found, proving they had been murdered, but 16-year-old Colleen has never been found. One suspect (white) was tried for the murders but acquitted. All the evidence points to him and the families are still fighting for a retrial with years of determined help from Detective Gary Jubelin. This is such a timely documentary in the era of #blacklivesmatter. However it is heartbreaking, as so much of the story exposes the entrenched racial prejudice that has marred the years of ongoing investigation and is still alive and well in almost every legal case concerning our Aboriginal people. Excellent archival footage is employed, the research journalism is exemplary, and the dogged determination of the extended families is inspiring.

4 - highly recommended

Indian Film Festival
Extended FREE online until September 27th
Visit: https://www.iffm.com.au/
I've been writing about this wonderful free festival and now the good news is that the organisers have extended it. So yet again I encourage you to check out the program and make the most of it while lockdown drags on and on.

Wednesday, 25 August 2021

August 26th

More from Indian Film Festival - FREE online until this Monday 30th August

Just Mercy - streaming on Netflix

Echo in the Canyon - streaming on Netflix

The Chosen - streaming free on its own channel

It's all so confusing knowing what is showing where, but I persevere bringing you reviews of what I've seen, and if these films are not currently showing in your state just put them on the list to catch up with when (if?!) lockdown ever ends. Meanwhile for those in lockdown states, I recommend you yet again to make the most of the last days of the free online Indian Film Festival. Plus, I've rerun some reviews of films I've seen on the big screen which have now fortuitously turned up on Netflix. But wait . . . there's more . . a final FREE surprise recommendation. (Apologies for some gremlins in the formatting!)

Indian Film Festival

Continuing online until August 30th

Visit: https://www.iffm.com.au/

I've been bingeing on this wonderful free festival and probably won't get through all I'd like to see before it ends. Plus some I watched, hoping to review, have ended the season - sniff! I urge you to check out the program and make the most of the last four days. Others I hope to catch between now and Sunday are: Bridge; Dhumma; Faree; The Great Indian Kitchen; Resurgence and Once upon a Village. Can I do it? Probably not! As I always say - so many films, so little time! And for bored kids note there are also plenty of animations to snap up.

Bread and Belonging: Thanks to my dear lifelong friend Elly who (pre-Covid), spent several months of each year in Goa, for her recommendation to watch this gentle and nostalgic documentary. The Portugese, who settled Goa, left a legacy of bread baking which is carried on to this day, with family bakeries working in the wee hours to then send delivery boys out on bikes to deliver the delicious breads. But like so many traditional crafts, it is under threat. This doco gives us a rare glimpse into daily life and work in one of India's iconic cities.

Home Address (Ghar Ka Pata): More melancholy and nostalgia in this doco made by the daughter of a Hindu family who were forced to flee their home in Kashmir when conflict broke out between Muslims and Hindus in 1990. The director examines how her family's lives have been typical of so many diaspora groups, making excellent use of old photographs, and verbal reminiscences from extended family. She was a tiny tot when it all happened and is hell-bent on revisiting Kashmir to find her old family home. When finally she and her sister head back and meet Muslims who remember her family, things border on tear-inducing. This film presents a view of identity and belonging that can be more broadly related to by many people who have been forced to leave their homelands.

Echo in the Canyon

Dir: Andrew Slater

Length: 82 mins

Streaming on Netflix

© Echo in the Canyon - LLC - Universal -
Jakob Dylan chats with Dave Crosby
This is a real nostalgia trip for boomers who reveled in the music of the mid 60s, specifically that music associated with Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles. Jakob Dylan, (Bob's son) takes us on a journey through present and past, featuring legendary artists such as The Byrds, The Buffalo Springfields, Crosby, Stills Nash & Young, The Beach Boys, The Mamas and Papas and more. There is a blend of wonderful clips of the original artists and their songs, plus the rehearsals for, and the final concert, which pays tribute to that seminal music era and features the likes of Jakob Dylan, Norah Jones, Beck and other current artists discovering the past. Such musicians as Dave Crosby, Jackson Browne, Michelle Phillips and Ringo Starr put in their two bob's worth with vibrant anecdotes and reminiscences, and there is much about how The Beach Boys and The Beatles influenced each other. Some critics are peeved about what has been left out, but the songs that are in here all stand the test of time, and are still inspiring to current songwriters. This music defined an era of freedom and hope where people felt they could do anything. I danced my way through much of the film - riveted, and with a fervent desire to return to the era.
4.5 - wholeheartedly recommended

Just Mercy
Dir: Destin Daniel Creton
Length: 136 mins
Streaming on Netflix

Here's another movie based upon a true story, and a really important one it is. Newly graduated Harvard lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Michael B Jordan) travels south to Alabama in the late '80s to set up a legal advocacy to fight for prisoners wrongly convicted, or tried without access to proper legal representation. His first case is that of "Johnny D" McMillan (Jamie Foxx), accused of murdering an 18-year-old white girl, despite there being no concrete evidence, other than a bogus testimony from convicted criminal Ralph Myers (Tim Blake Nelson). Although no ground-breaking film-making happens, the story is told with such sincerity, solid acting, and an emotional wallop, that it has won me over totally. Jordan can at times be a little one-note, but his character comes across as tenacious and dedicated to justice, while supporting performances from Brie Larsen as Eva Ansley his assistant, and Blake Nelson as the repulsive Meyers are first-class. Foxx is totally convincing as Macmillan, and has already several awards. Scenes featuring Johnny D's cellmates, all on death row, are heart-breaking, and the case for no death penalty is eloquently presented. Images of irrational white bigotry against blacks, especially as dealt out by law enforcers, will induce seething anger. This is a powerful story that should be seen, to remind one of the evil of prejudice, and how fearless are those who put their lives on the line to fight it.

4 - highly recommended!

The Chosen
Director: Dallas Jenkins
2 series - 8 episodes each - varying between 40 mins - 1 hour - FREE

https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen

Those familiar with my non-religious nature may think I've finally gone stark raving mad recommending a series on the life of Jesus Christ. But this incredible show has so captured me, I've zoomed through it in a short time, and cannot recommend it highly enough. The vision of Jewish life back in the days of Jesus' work as a travelling rabbi is masterfully recreated. The series boasts stunning sets, great detail on the political rivalry of the day, between various Jewish sects and with the Roman occupiers, and paints an extraordinary picture of daily Jewish life - pretty ordinary for the commoners, but luxurious for the upper echelon of the synagogue, like the Pharisees (a bunch of power-mongerers extraordinaire!) Every character is meticulously drawn and Jonathan Roumie is perfectly cast as the main man, creating a type of Jesus I haven't often seen on the screen. The style of story-telling captures so much humanity, compassion and "normality" to which we can all relate, and is seriously moving in many parts. The bad news is that Series 2 is all they've got so far, hoping to complete the epic tale with another 5 series, still awaiting funding.

5 - unmissable!

Wednesday, 18 August 2021

August 19th

MORE MIFF - including Shorts for free

Indian Film Festival - FREE online

Miss - in selected non-lockdowned location

Who says you don't get anything FREE? We need some cheering up and free films from the Indian Film Festival plus free short films at MIFF could be just the ticket. Plus for those not in lockdown, a terrific new release is there on the actual big screen.

Melbourne International Film Festival
Until 22 August ONLINE
https://play.miff.com.au/

You still have a chance to catch some of the fabulous films available online at MIFF. Below are four feature films I wholeheartedly recommend.
Short films - Plus the most amazing selection of short films is already available , or coming in the next few days - and they are free. Short film, so often the harbinger of major directorial talent, is something to be savoured, and you don't often get the opportunity to view them, so settle in for some binge viewing. Watch out particularly for The Ninth Tower!

Smooth Talk

A remastering of the fabulous 1985 film

Dir: Joyce Chopra

Length: 92 mins

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I0g2YyLJ3E

Connie is a 15-year-old teen, hanging out with her friends, trying to look older than she actually is and curious about boys and sex. She exudes sexuality, flirts shamelessly, and fights endlessly with her mother. When an older man lures her out for a drive, she grows up in a hurry. Although this film is 36 years old, it totally stands the test of time, and we can see how Laura Dern, then 18, is already a magnificent actress, capturing to a tee the nuances of a teen caught between childhood and womanhood. The film is a knock-out, with the first half encapsulating the silliness and quasi-innocence of a giggling Connie and her friends, and the second half becoming so creepy as to resonate with all today's nightmare stories of older men grooming young girls. This is seriously rewarding viewing.

Little Tornadoes

Dir: Aaron Wilson

Length: 90 mins

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asqut30qZFA

A rural town in Australia in 1971: Leo (Mark Leonard Winter) has been abandoned by his wife and left to juggle his factory work with caring for his two small children. Tony, (Fabio Motta) his co-worker, recently arrived from Italy, suggests his sister Maria (Silvia Colloca) could be employed as a home help with cooking and childcare. Meantime Leo tries desperately to connect with his dad (Robert Menzies), a war veteran suffering PTSD and unable to connect with the world. Shot in Tocumwal, the film perfectly captures the era visually. It also nails the Zeitgeist - a time where men found it hard to speak of their feelings and where anyone not Aussie was given a hard time. There is so much pain and loss in this film, moments of joy too, and all is handled in a beautifully understated manner. Author Christos Tsiolkas (one of my faves) is the co-writer and his experience of coming from a migrant background informs the authenticity of the script. The voice-over is captivating, as Maria speaks both English and Italian to narrate her poetic impressions of her new homeland. A beautiful story, exceptionally well told.

The Macaluso Sisters

Dir: Emma Dante

Length: 89 mins

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I0g2YyLJ3E

Five orphaned sisters bringing themselves up and running their parents' business of renting out doves for festive occasions may seem a recipe for idyllic carefree lives. That is, until a tragedy strikes on a hot summer's day at a beach in Palermo, Sicily. The film moves from the girls' youthful years to points later in their lives, when it becomes clear that what happened has irreparably and tragically destroyed their ability to live happy adult lives. This is interpersonal drama at its best, with evocative and painfully sad images and music, and top notch performances from all the actresses playing the girls and women at the various life stages.

Riders of Justice

Dir: Anders Thomas Jensen

Length: 116 mins

Trailer: hhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9Okx5teGBQ

Soldier Markus (Mads Mikkelsen) returns home to be with his daughter Mathilde after his wife is killed in a train crash. Two oddball company statisticians Otto and Lennart believe that the crash was no accident and approach Markus, claiming an outlaw bike gang engineered it to silence a witness. Together with corpulent colleague Emmenthaler, the quirky quartet decide to go on the revenge trail. Throw in Mathilde's delicate boyfriend Sirius, and a rescued trafficked Russian sex slave, and you have a recipe for mayhem and madness, a little Coen-Brothers-esque in nature - crazy, clever, funny, violent black comedy with never a dull moment. Mads continues to show what a fine actor he is, and his deadly serious Markus is a great foil for the eccentricities of the others. The only voice of sanity in the whole debacle is (of course) a woman - Mathilde. If you can hack the violence, it's wonderfully screwball entertainment, not without its moving moments.

Indian Film Festival - FREE online
Online Until August 30th - in-cinemas times to be confirmed
Visit: https://www.iffm.com.au/
Like so many festivals under the current circumstances, the in-cinema presence of this one is on hold, but it's now online with, as always, a terrific offering of films. Visit the website to find out what and when.
The festival is paying tribute to India's greatest film maker Satyajit Ray with no fewer than 11 of his films to be enjoyed. There are films from all regions of India, and an emphasis upon women film-makers. Animation, kids' films, feature films, docos, short film - it's all here and free, with more to come when the festival heads to cinemas at a date to be confirmed.
Biriyaani: Flavours of Flesh: This daring and in-your-face film is not what you expect from Indian movies. Set in Kerala in the Muslim south, it is the story of Kadeeja, a married woman who is kicked out by her husband and roams around with her mentally troubled mother. Life goes from bad to worse - most of the men she meets are brutes with the exception of a kindly muezzin at the mosque where she is sleeping rough. Just as things are vaguely looking up, she commits an act of revenge that will stay in the viewers' minds a long time. This is (again) a salutary look at the mistreatment of women in India. Warning: there is plenty to shock here, but it's an excellent, thought-provoking film.

Miss

Dir: Rubin Alves

Length: 107 mins

Showing where lockdown isn't!! - Adelaide, Hobart, Castlemaine - put it on your to see list

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsCxhRi2Ka0

Androgynous French model Alexandre Wetter plays Alex, a little boy who want to be Miss France when he grows up. This moving, humorous and delightful film traces Alex's adult journey, as he attempts to transcend society's view of gender definitions. All the characters in Alex's adult life are warmly and empathetically portrayed, especially Lola the trans/drag queen. Underneath the richly human tale and the many moments of humor, are very serious issues about acceptance, identity, following dreams, and the importance of questioning long-held limiting norms. Anyone wanting to understand more about non-binary gender concepts will get a great insight. Wetter is brilliant in their (his/her) debut acting role and a talent to be watched. I loved it!

4 - highly recommended