SFF 2010 Wrap Up

The Sydney Film Festival always seems to come around at exactly the right time of year doesn’t it? Summer’s over, the cold and the rain are starting to set in and just as I’m starting to feel a bit down and lost wondering what the hell us Sydneysiders ever did to fill in our weekends during last winter – the Sydney Film Festival arrives! And for almost 2 weeks in early June each year, life seems perfectly fulfilling again. The Sydney Film Festival can’t really be drawing to a close already can it? I am in denial. So what am I going to miss most?

Firstly, flipping through the SFF program and reading through each of the film summaries in eager anticipation as I wonder how on earth I’m ever going to fit in all of the films I want to see.

Secondly, the free Festival Talks in the Statement lounge that I found educational and often inspirational and a great way to fill in time before movies.

Thirdly, when time is tight between films, and the tummy is rumbling – the potato and leek soup from the State Theatre coffee cart totally hits the spot.

Fourthly, sharing thoughts and perspectives with random strangers in the bathroom queue about the film we just watched.

And finally, of course, the chance to hang out with friends and family whilst enjoying so many interesting, thought-provoking, and unique local and international films – an experience that is often hard to find in Sydney outside of festival time. The documentaries left the most lasting impression on me this year. In particular, I was enthralled by the stories and the people profiled in –

• The Oath
• Bill Cunningham – New York
• The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg & the Pentagon Papers
• And in terms of feature films, I also loved, loved, loved –
• Life During Wartime
• If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle, and
• The Refuge

So as you’ve probably gathered, I’m REALLY going to miss the festival, but just to ease the pain a little, there are definitely a few things I won’t miss: the particularly uncomfy chairs in the dress circle at the State Theatre; queuing up for the ladies at the end of a film; and spending so many hours locked up with so many flu-ridden Sydneysiders as they cough and sneeze their way through the screenings. Regardless of those little niggles, I’m already full of anticipation for next year’s festival.

And given the success of this year’s festival (66 sold out films and 20% up on takings!) there are certainly expectations for an equally successful festival next year but no doubt the SFF team will deliver again! But for now, there’s no more denying it. Sydney Film Festival 2010 is over for another year. So I’ll have to find something else to do with my time. Maybe I’ll take up smoking?

As they say on set – And that’s a wrap.

The Unsophisticates Update #7

SFF Film - If I want to Whistle, I Whistle (Drama)

I wanted to whistle loudly myself after this film. Some kind of loud obnoxious wolf whistle – but I decided that probably wasn’t the best way to show my appreciation in such a refine and cultured setting! This debut feature film, from Romanian director Florin Serban, is nothing short of incredible.

‘If I want to Whistle, I Whistle’ is a raw and emotionally charged story about 18 year old Silviu who has spent the last four years in a harsh and rundown juvenile detention centre and is going to be released in a matter of days. He’s had a stellar behaviour record so far so it shouldn’t be that hard to keep it together for a few more days right? But after a visit from his little brother Marius, Silviu learns that their mother has recently returned after an eight year absence and is planning to take Marius back to Italy with her. His anger and resentment and complete lack of control over the situation leads him to take a series of risks that threaten to derail his pending release.

The film is about choices – when to make them and for what reasons. From the moment Silviu learns of his mother’s plans, I found the suspense almost unbearable as I silently pleaded with him from my theatre seat to make the “right” choices at each junction he was faced with. But as we all do, Silviu must decide for himself what is ultimately the “right” choice given the circumstances he finds himself in. The film also cleverly illustrates that it is often not just our own choices, but the choices of others that ultimately determine our destiny. In Silviu’s case, choices made by his mother (past and present), choices made by the prison warden, choices made by other inmates, will all go towards determining whether he will attain the freedom he is so close to. But if someone else is pulling all the strings, sometimes the only option left to us is take back control anyway we can get it. Just as the title says – If I want to whistle, I whistle.

The performances in this film are stunning. Indeed there is Daniel Mitulescu, the 18 year old drama student (who is now 19 as he assertively pointed out during the post film talk!) who has an extraordinary on screen presence given his limited experience (oh and his off screen presence is pretty good too!). There are also incredibly convincing performances from his fellow inmates, many of whom are apparently real inmates from a juvenile penitentiary and who were auditioned during acting workshops facilitated by the director at the prison where the story was filmed. Apparently Romanian film is experiencing somewhat of a new wave of international success, and if this film is representative, then it’s easy to understand why.

‘If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle’ is a must-see film. Deservedly so, it has already won two major awards at the recent Berlin International Film Festival. Of all the Official Competition films I’ve seen so far, this one’s got my vote – or should I say this one’s got my wolf whistle.

The Unsophisticates Update #6

SFF - Lola (Drama)

‘Lola’ is the word for Grandma in Filipino. This moving film from Filipino director Brillante Mendoza, follows the journey of two grandmas, Lola Sepa and Lola Puring, as they try to come to some peace with the fact that one of their grandsons has been stabbed to death by the other’s grandson during a robbery. ‘Lola’ is a beautifully filmed story with family and loyalty at it’s heart, and with the Manila rainy season as the backdrop which adds to the beauty and the struggle inherent in the film.

The director of Lola, Brillante Mendoza definitely lives up to his namesake – he is quite simply brilliant and the rate at which he churns out top quality films must make him one of the most prolific film makers today! During the Q&A session following the film, Mendoza described his films as “truths, not box office hits” and the no frills way he shoots certainly helps reinforce that he is simply telling a real life story about real people. Right from the first scene you get a sense that Mendoza’s storytelling style is unique as the bumpy camera follows Lola Sepa and her youngest grandson on a long meander through the bustling Manila streets to find the place where her other grandson was murdered so that they can leave a burning candle in his honour. With minimal dialogue he manages to convey so much about the grief they are experiencing, the strong connection between grandmother and grandson, and the many struggles that are their life.

Aside from being a beautiful story about these two grandmas, their families, and the tragedy that they are forced to deal with, ‘Lola’ is also a commentary on the poverty that exists in a place like the Philippines and the day to day survival decisions one must make when faced with such poverty. The film also explores the justice system in such an environment, and the fact that sometimes, the notion of justice in such poverty stricken societies becomes something that is quite malleable and quite personal.

After watching ‘Lola’, it’s not at all surprising that this film has already won several awards, including the Dubai and Miami film festivals, and that it drew significant crowds at the recent Tribeca Film Festival. Firstly, the acting is brilliant and so understated that at several times during the film I thought I was watching a documentary. Secondly, the film is shot in a way that really matches the realness and the simplicity of the story and makes you feel like you are a silent observer. Thirdly, there are so many simple, beautiful and moving scenes to enjoy. For example, the scene where the two grandmas have to first confront each other at the police station. Or the scene, during which Lola Sepa comes face to face with her grandson’s murderer. Or a scene in the family house when you start to feel that the Sepa family luck might be turning as fish start appearing spontaneously in their well!

Lola is definitely worth a look. It’s an amazing insight into a culture, a way of living, and a poverty that most of us will only ever truly experience through film. But Lola is more than just educational – its heart wrenching, it’s astonishing, and it’s uplifting. And after spending a couple of hours with Lola Sepa and Lola Puring, you’ll feel like you spent the night with your own Grandma!

The Unsophisticates Update #5

SFF Film - The Oath (Documentary)

Wow! Straight up I have apologise to the person who was sitting next to me seeing as I think I sat there with my mouth agape for most of the screening. This film was gripping. The title of the film - ‘the oath’ - is the name given to a brief pledge sworn by new members upon their induction into Al Qaeda. This compelling documentary tells the story of two men and a fateful encounter in 1996 that led them both to Osama Bin Laden and then onto an extraordinary course of events. The first man is Abu Jandal who was once Osama Bin Laden’s bodyguard and is now a taxi driver in Yemen. The other man is Abu’s brother in law (and Bin Laden’s former driver), Salim Hamdan, who since became a prisoner at Gauntanamo Bay and was then the first man to be taken to trial under the military tribunals that the Bush Administration devised post 9/11.

This film is directed by American director Loira Poitras. Her first Oscar nominated documentary - “My Country, My Country”- was made in occupied Iraq and explored the lead up to the 2005 Iraqi elections. For ‘The Oath’, Poitras apparently shot all of her footage alone in Yemen which she filmed over a two year period, and a dozen trips to Yemen. A brave woman you might say! Brave because of the obvious danger she puts herself in when filming as a female foreigner in war torn territories, but also brave because her documentaries put forward a perspective that is often counter to the one US promotes. Just one of the many reasons that make her latest film such a compelling watch.

She describes her approach as ‘macro-micro’ which essentially entails “following an individual story to look at the bigger questions”. The individual story that is used in ‘The Oath’ is that of Abu Jandal. The film mostly looks at the war on terror from his point of view and he’s a particularly engaging storyteller but presents with some contradictions that as a viewer, I found myself constantly trying to reconcile (e.g. he has renounced terrorism but still supports Al Qaeda). He’s articulate and full of charisma and oozes charm, which at times made me wonder if I wasn’t being seduced by him myself! The continual close ups of Abu Jandals face, as he is being interviewed or while he is driving his taxi, had the effect of making me feel a very close and personal connection with him. Whilst we do not get the same opportunity to connect with Salim Hamdan given we don’t actually get to meet him during the film, we do meet his family, and we do get to hear some of his letters from prison which all adds to the emotion in the lead up to the trial.

‘The Oath’ is really a commentary on the consequences of American foreign policy. Both during and after the screening you can’t help but wonder about the implications of deciding someone is guilty by association, about whether the human consequences of political decisions are sufficiently considered, and about the fairness of legal systems that change the rules part way through the game. In fact it seems the only thing you aren’t left wondering about, is that in these situations there is always so much more grey than black and white. Interestingly, Poitras is aiming for a post 9/11 trilogy, with the third documentary potentially exploring the controversial topic of US surveillance.

This movie definitely moved me. Regardless of your opinion on Al Qaeda and the war on terror, this is a rare opportunity to gain some insight into a perspective that isn’t often publicized and will no doubt help us all to understand the region, and the associated issues a little more and what harm could possibly come from that? I swear I was blown away by ‘The Oath’, its Oscar nomination is well deserved and I for one will be hanging out for the third installment in Poitras’ trilogy.

The Unsophisticates Update #4

SFF Film - Life During Wartime (Drama/Comedy)

I can’t remember the last time I laughed at so much sadness! To be honest it felt kind of awkward at first, particularly during the opening scene of ‘Life During Wartime’ when I realized I was laughing out loud as I watched both Joy and her husband cry miserably throughout their anniversary dinner. But once I realized the rest of the State Theatre was laughing along with me, I started to feel quite relaxed about seeing the amusing side of other people’s misfortunes. And I’m quite sure the writer, Todd Solondz, wouldn’t have minded at all. In fact I think he would’ve been quite chuffed had he been sitting in the Theatre on Saturday morning with us. After all, he does use the delightful phrase – “sad comedies” - to describe his films. And whilst I totally loved all 96 minutes of this film, I did wonder at times if it could’ve been more aptly described as a “funny tragedy”.

‘Life During Wartime’ is directed and written by Todd Solondz and is the sequel to his 1998 film Happiness. In his latest film, Solondz picks up on the same characters a decade later, albeit with a completely different set of actors. And for those of you that were going to give this film a miss on account of not having seen the prequel, I would strongly suggest you revisit that decision. It’s perfectly coherent and fulfilling as a standalone film. I for one have not seen ‘Happiness’ (although I added it to my Netflix cue as soon as I got home) and I still found this film thoroughly engaging and enjoyable and at no stage during the storyline did I feel like I was missing out on some assumed prior knowledge.

‘Life During Wartime’ is about the three Jordan sisters and their complicated relationships with men, each other, and their own parents. The performances of the three sisters are all amazing. Shirley Henderson, who plays the youngest sister Joy, is so convincingly crazy I’m still having trouble reconciling the real Shirley’s character when she was introduced by Festival Director, Claire Stewart at the start of the film. Allison Janney, as the single mum Trish, is so entertaining in her honesty and frankness that I just loved every minute she was on screen. And Ally Sheedy as Helen (the arty sister who has been hooking up with Keanu) is hilarious and made me realize that it’s been way too long since the Breakfast Club! And finally the noteworthy performance of Trish’s son, Timmy (played by Dylan Riley Schnyder) – a character who is central to so much of the story as he tries to come to terms with difficult feelings towards his dad as well as his mum’s new relationship - made me think he must have been through a lot in his short life to be able to portray such a messed up little kid.

This film explores the topic of forgiveness, and the amazing capacity we have as humans to forgive people for incredible hurt caused – particularly by family members. There’s also interesting discussions about what’s ‘unforgiveable’ and it’s enlightening to watch each of the different characters wrestle with their own limits regarding what can and can’t be forgiven. The film is also a commentary on suburban American life and the fact that clean, issue-free lives and relationships might be more abnormal than normal. Yet normal still seems to be what we’re all striving for…

Whilst the subject matter is heavy and at times a little depressing, I actually found the film oddly uplifting. I think this is partly due to the hope and persistence all of the characters share about relationships, in spite of all the terrible things that seem to come from being in one. As Trish exclaims during a date early on the film, she’s just stoked to meet someone who isn’t “sicko–pervy”! The other thing about this film which helps to overshadow the tragedy, is the beauty and exactness that is evident in every shot, filled with contrasting colours and deliberately positioned backgrounds. It would’ve made for a beautiful series of still colour photographs.

Many of Solondz films have been controversial (in fact ‘Happiness’ was dropped by the initial distributor) and this latest film is likely to be no different, raising its own controversy on account of pedophilia themes, open discussions regarding rape and homosexuality, and questionable parenting styles. But better to be controversial than predictable don’t you think? ‘Life During Wartime’ certainly doesn’t bear any resemblance to conventional Hollywood storylines and as Solondz once said “I don’t think I’ll ever write a film that is meant to appeal to everyone” – but sad-comedy or funny-tragedy - it certainly appealed a whole lot to me.

The Unsophisticates Update #3

The Sydney Film Festival is no longer coming soon - it's finally here!

There are many great film line-ups if you haven't yet checked out the website - including the SFF 'Sounds on Screen' program.

Whilst music may not always be at the forefront of consciousness during a film experience, a great musical score can enrich your emotional experience or help add significant context to the story. In fact, music and film are integral to each other. Afterall, would ‘Jaws’ have been as full of suspense or have felt quite so relentless without John Williams musical score? Or would the shower scene in ‘Psycho’ have felt as terrifying or as shocking without Bernard Hermann’s musical score? Or would you have recognised quite so quickly what era ‘Forrest Gump’ was experiencing without the mood swinging soundtrack? Even back in the days of silent film, Charlie Chaplin just wouldn’t have been the same without his happy, bumbling music to accompany him.

There are movies about musicians (The Doors, Walk The Line, Nowhere Boy), there are movies about music (Almost Famous, High Fidelity, The Commitments), there are musical docos (Dixie Chicks: Shut up Sing; The Rolling Stones: Gimme Shelter; Don’t Look Back: Bob Dylan), and then there are movies that aren’t about music at all but have soundtracks that end up leaving an equal, if not more lasting impression than the movie itself (Reality Bites, The Big Chill, Once). I for one can’t listen to ‘Mrs Robinson’ by Simon & Garfunkel without visualising Dustin Hoffman in ‘The Graduate’ or ‘Up Where We Belong’ by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes without feeling emotional about Debra Winger and Richard Gere in ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’!

This year SFF celebrates the tradition of “Sounds on Screen” at the Playhouse with several films that totally rock. If you love music, you might want to check out all seven films in the program, but if you’re short on time, I’m most enticed by -

• Lemmy – A doco about the legendary frontman of Motorhead which promises to cover the highs and lows of a real rock & roll life. Includes an amazing interview line up with self professed fans such as Metallica, Alice Cooper, and Dave Grohl.
• Rock Steady: The Roots of Reggae - Just cause I love a bit of reggae and any chance to hear Bob Marley’s back up singers reminisce about the 60’s is enough to draw me in! Also followed with a live performance by Sydney band King Tide.
• Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll – A film starring Andy Serkis about Ian Drury, a UK chart topper in the 60’s who’s most famous hits include ‘Hit me with your Rhythm Stick’ and ‘Sex Drugs & Rock & Roll’. Sounds like a fascinating story about a fascinating guy who suffered polio during childhood, was both a successful musician and actor, a heavy drinker, and a difficult personality. All the right ingredients for a gripping soap opera! Serkis even performs with Dury’s original band, The Blockheads.

So get involved in the 'Sounds on Screen' program at the Sydney Film Festival and tune your conciousness to focus on both the music and the film during this year's festival - it'll be sure to add to your SFF experience.

And I hope you've all got your tickets to the rest of the festival - it's opening night tonight!! Finally...0 sleeps to go!