Month: August 2015

So yesterday was the end of the Wellington setting of the NZIFF.

In the last 2 weeks we have squeezed a few more films. Last night was a viewing of 45 Years that seems to have been a hit with all the critics:

“It’s a film of small moments and tiny gestures that leaves a very, very big impression”

plus Shaz, but not me. It left me cold; too slow and with no particular expression the important issues. I obviously missed the point.

‘When Marnie was there‘ is the film that Isaac requested. I enjoyed this animated film as did he. It was a little unusual in that as a Japanese film it had a lot of European influence in the characterisation.

During the week we saw ’71 a drama set in Ulster while Shaz and Isaac saw ‘Saint Laurent‘ which was huge disappointment. Reading the reviews after the event was a  bit late which were in keeping with their experience.

Screening dates: 24 Jul — 12 Aug 2015

Source: Wellington • New Zealand International Film Festival

A belated post on the NZIFF which is currently in full flow. Last weekend was a fil marathon for us; one on Friday, two on Saturday, one on Sunday and even a film on Monday evening.

We started with Far from Men set in Algeria in 1954 at the beginnings of the independence fight. It is based on an Albert Camus book (that I have read in part!). It as a beautiful story of relationships and being an outsider in society with the actions of the colonialists and Arabs as the backdrop. The filming is beautiful. A good start.

In brief Wrinkles is a cartoon depiction of the vagaries of aging with the loss of health and self-control with increasing dementia. Good, thoughtful but inevitably black.

Amy is a well-known story and a documentary that has made some waves. Essentially a sad story, with the ending well known, of a talented but vulnerable woman, who makes mistakes but is offered no protection by those on whom she depends. Not a good advert for fathers or humanity in general maybe.

The Enemy Within as famously said by the ‘Iron Lady” (was she one?) is the miners viewpoint of the 1984 strike. It is important to be told or reminded of the circumstances of the strike, the power of the state and its allies and to see the way events unfolded and as I saw it, the errors of strategy on the part of the miners.

Pheonix tickled the satisfaction less than the others. Seems to be highly rated and enjoyed but lacks credibility in the storyline. Survivor from an extermination camp in WW2 has plastic surgery  and is unrecognisable by her husband when she comes back to their home city. A beautiful films as it recounts the new world and their new relationship but in my mind the implausibility always nags.

And today offers Banksy. A little bit different.