Film No. 25 (2024) April 20th. 11:00 AM LUNA CINEMA, Cinema 1, Leederville.
"I don't spend much time thinking; I'm too busy with my social life" (Donya answering a question about what thoughts make her anxious about her previous life in Afghanistan, in her first session with psychiatrist, Dr Anthony).
NOMINEE: Next Innovator Award (Babak Jalali) Sundance Film Festival. WINNER: Grand Jury Prize; Narrative Feature (Babak Jalali) Independent Film Festival of Boston.
Did you love both PATERSON and NAPOLEON DYNAMITE equally, for the simplicity of unpretentious characters, truly comfortable in their own skins? If the answer is, yes, you did, then you are going to love FREMONT.
There is not a word wasted here as we fall in love with Anaita Wali Zada's, Donya, an ex Afghan translator for the U.S. army. An immigrant finding her feet in Fremont, California, working at a fortune cookie factory. See, it's an interesting premise already, don't you think? Once the dialogue takes hold and each eccentric character uses the script, shaping their enigmatic selves around the lovely Donya, you'll be smitten with FREMONT. I bloody love this film !!
The talented Carolina Cavalli (AMANDA) teams with director Babak Jalali (LAND) to create a brilliant script. They may well have transformed the humble Fortune Cookie advice to where, many of us believe, social media should settle as a means of communication in these, sometimes unsettling contemporary times. 12GUMS.
Film No. 24 (2024) April 14th. 4:00 PM LUNA CINEMA, Cinema 1, Leederville.
"Stop, I will shoot!" (The moment that catapults Mona and Julia into a friendship which will fill them both with regret, but also, most importantly, hope).
NOMINEE: Sudan entry, Best Foreign Film (Mohamed Kordotan) The Oscars.
Does GOODBYE JULIA (G.J.) help the western world to understand the Sudanese political upheavals over recent years? No, but Sudan forms the backdrop for a human drama which could unfold in any place where the repression of women is a prevailing subculture.
While the plight of women in Sudanese culture forms a foundation for this story, with its themes of; living with lies, seeking redemption, friendship, compassion and finally, the inevitability of life in a violent subculture, G.J. explores much. First time feature director Mohamed Kordofani gives us naturalism at its rawest, through the eyes of his leads Eiman (Mona) and Siran Riak (Julia), both in their debut performances. Characters are thrown together because Mona lives with a lie; but can she truly make it up to Julia?
Art will always prick our consciousness through films like G.J. I feel forever privileged to be invited into a world so foreign, to that I live in, with its first world problems. IO CAPITANO and GOODBYE JULIA help to point me towards comprehending why a more tolerant world than the one we currently live in would make sense. 9GUMS.
Film No. 23 (2024) April 12th. 10:20 AM EVENT CINEMAS, Cine 10, Innaloo.
"Hold the bloody line!" (The call from Sgt Beaufort which sent many a chill up the spine of the young Australian soldiers on the front).
NOMINEE: Most Authentic War Documentary (Jordan Prince-Wright) AWM, Canberra.
Has there been a better, grittier, more sustained depiction of young Australian men fighting for their survival in the trenches of France/Belgium during WWI, than here in, BEFORE DAWN? If there has, I've not seen it. I might be going out on a limb, but Jordan Prince-Wright has created a visual masterclass, where his interpretation of true mateship helps us to understand why the ANZAC culture is immortalised.
The script and character development is leaving audiences cold here, but I've not experienced a more immersive WW1 trench warfare experience in my cinema going life. I've always marvelled at the exuberance of excited young Australian men who bounded into battle, landing in the trenches of France in 1916/17/18. If they didn't die, a vast proportion were wounded. The scars they lived with turned their lives from innocence into a hell once war ended.
The 400 odd days we spend with 18 year old Jim Collins is a savage reminder of why young men lost their innocence. Levi Miller is the face of that innocence. Mud and mateship could have been substituted with a stronger storyline. I understand the criticism but I was engrossed and compelled to be reminded of why 18,000 Australians died and have no gravestone. 8GUMS.
Film No. 22 (2024) April 10th. 6:30 PM EVENT CINEMAS, Cine 16 Vmax, Innaloo.
"I want people to hear my voice and forget their troubles for just five minutes"" (One of Amy's many thoughtful, philosophical quotes inviting people to love her music).
NOMINEE: Most Anticipated film (Sam Taylor-Johnson) BBFF.
How successful has Sam Taylor-Johnson been in capturing an Amy Winehouse story, through the eyes of Amy, in BACK TO BLACK? Very successful, it is the strength of the film, no doubt. Marisa Abela is the reason Taylor-Johnson (NOWHERE BOY) has achieved her objective.
Amy Winehouse was a home loving, uncomplicated daughter, granddaughter and lover who simply thrived in her humble, London (Camden) life. She sang from her heart, with a voice of velvet. The world loved her. An addictive personality and a destructive love life, paralleled with new found fame, weighed on Amy. She was a mere twenty seven when she left our world without meaning to.
There are no actual Amy vocals on this unique soundtrack. This may be a turnoff to those expecting a "cover film" especially in the knowledge the film is full of the music of (not by) Winehouse. Marisa Abela brings us Amy with a real legitimacy. Taylor-Johnson is compassionate and true to Amy's legacy. Amy would be chuffed! 9GUMS.
Film No. 21 (2024) March 30th. 11:15 AM LUNA LEEDERVILLE, Cine 5, Leederville.
"It's such a perfect day. I'm glad I spent it with you." (The tones of Lou Reed echo through the meditative mind of Hirayama as he goes about his day).
WINNER: Best Actor in a lead role. (Koji Yakusho) Cannes FF 2023. WINNER: Prize of the Ecumenical Jury (Wim Wenders) Cannes FF 2023.
Can a film of such simplicity, hang all of its artistic integrity on the lead performance? Definitely not all, but in the case of PERFECT DAYS, the performance of Yoki Yakusho leaves us with a lasting love of a gentle man.
Try telling a friend you've just seen a wonderful film about the gentle, fulfilling life of a Tokyo toilet cleaner and see how much traction you get. Then mention it will take 124 minutes to deeply appreciate our hero. On face value it's not an easy sell, but don't give up. Films like PERFECT DAYS reminds us why film is so important and why watching can lead us to enjoy new dimensions in understanding the world we live in. Hirayama (Yakusho) is a good man who explores hi-tech Tokyo through, sound, touch, smell and simple observations. His 20 year old flip phone and out dated flash camera say it all.
The fact that Wim Wenders (PARIS TEXAS) is German and shoots this small masterpiece in Tokyo has no bearing on cultural interpretation. Any hi-tech city could form the back drop to this story. Wenders' real masterstroke was casting Yakusho as his lead. 11GUMS.
Film No. 20 (2024) March 24th. 1:15 PM LUNA WINDSOR, Cine 1, Nedlands.
"We worked with each other for over 20 years. I read the recipe, and she worked magic on the stove" (Bodin describes how he built a bond with Eugenie which went beyond food).
NOMINEE: Critics Choice Award; (Anh Hung Tran) The Best Foreign Language Film.
Is the opening scene of THE TASTE OF THINGS (T T O T) the most thorough and mouth watering single shot sequence, depicting food preparation, ever filmed? Possibly. It is worth the price of entry to experience this sequence!
T T O T is a beautiful French costume drama (1885) about the love two gastronomes have for food, and the love that has marinated between them for 20 years as they combine to create amazing food in a kitchen more akin to an artists studio. Juliette Binoche plays Eugenie, the live in cook for Dodin (BenoitMagimel). The recipe for their tender love story unfolds as unforgettably as the flavours that linger with each dish they prepare. But Dodin must move quickly to consummate their union.
Vietnamese/French director Tran Anh Hung (NORWEGIAN WOOD) has created images of food preparation most deliciously. The oh so marination of this love story, sumptuously complements every dish made. The images are astounding. Eat before you watch!! 10GUMS.
Film No. 19 (2024) March 19th. 6:30 PM LUNA LEEDERVILLE, Cine 1, Leederville.
"Think about becoming a big star. White people will be wanting your autograph." (Seydo wants friend Moussa to focus on the big picture as to why they need to head to Europe).
NOMINEE: Best International Feature (Matteo Garrone) The Oscars 2024.
Is this the sort of film that should be shown to teenage boys who are about to embark on their own coming of age adventures? Why not! It wouldn't do any harm. It might get a conversion or two started.
The Senegalese boys Seydou (Seydo Starr) and Moussa (Moustapha Fall) live full, happy, third world lives in Dakar. They are friends with a love of creating their own music and they harbour dreams of making it big in The West. They have hard earned money saved, and a burning will to flee to Europe. So they do. IO CAPITANO is their epic tale of ambition, love, resilience, pain, fear, dishonesty, loyalty, friendship, achievement and finally becoming men. This is one epic journey with a smattering of delusional wonderment. I liked IO CAPITANO, a lot.
Director Matteo Garrone's is not trying to make a compassionate plea on behalf of refugees fleeing repression. This is a coming of age tale, with the only Hollywood trope being how much of a superhero Seydou will become in our eyes by the final close-up! 10GUMS.
