-
The Angel’s Share
The latest film from legendary British director Ken Loach and his long-time collaborator screenwriter Paul Laverty (their previous films include the Palme d’Or winning The Wind that Shakes the Barley) pays homage to the famous Ealing comedy Whisky Galore. Loach and Laverty deliver a warm and humane comic delight, drawing wonderful performances from first-time actors…
-
Monsieur Lazhar
In Montreal, an elementary school teacher hangs herself. Bachir Lazhar, a recent Algerian immigrant, then offers his services to replace her, claiming to have taught in his home country. Desperate to fill the position, the principal, Mme Vaillancourt, takes him at his word and gives him the job. He gets to know his students despite…
-
Whiplash
Whiplash focuses on Andrew (a standout performance by up and coming young actor Miles Teller), an ambitious and single–minded young jazz drummer inspired by his terrifying teacher Terence Fletcher (a deservedly multi-awarded performance from character actor JK Simmons). Writer-director Damien Chazelle’s second feature film draws on his own experiences as a young drummer in love…
-
The Good Lie
Based on a true story, three orphans flee war-torn Sudan and make the appalling journey to a Kenyan refugee centre. Jump ahead 13 years and Mamere, Jeremiah and Paul gain entry to the US. Enter Reese Witherspoon to play the brisk charity worker who helps them find employment and understand Western society. Happily this is…
-
Salt of the Earth
Award-winning documentary of the 40 years of photographer Salgado’s immensely influential work. With footage of the photographer himself and interviews with family and colleagues, the film presents his images which captured the changing face and impact of humanity as well as the planet’s beauty. ‘The Salt of the Earth is a visually stunning and oftentimes…
-
Mandariinid
An Estonian-Georgian co-production, Mandariniid (Estonia for tangerines) is set amidst the 1992–1993 War in Abkhazia as the conflict closes in on a tangerine farm in a now nearly depopulated ethnic Estonian village. The farmer simply wants to harvest his crop when two wounded soldiers – nominal enemies – appear on his doorstep. The film’s themes…
-
In the Heat of the Night
It’s the 1960s, an African-American detective (Poitier) from Philadelphia becomes reluctantly involved in a murder investigation in a small Mississippi town where the racial tension is almost palpable. With his life under threat and his Southern police partner (Steiger) holding dubious views on race, this is going to be the toughest of assignments. Adapted by…
-
Free Solo
Outstanding Oscar-winning documentary of climber Alex Honnold’s solo, ropeless ascent of sheer 3000 feet El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. We watch the meticulous preparations and planning, the false starts and setbacks in a study of courage, skill and the single-mindedness of striving to achieve what no one else has. This crowd-pleasing doc with stunning…
-
Jellyfish
Life is tough for 15 year-old Sarah, (Liv Hill in a terrific performance), mum is a bipolar, younger twin sisters are a handful and no one else is trying to hold things together. Sarah needs to earn money so there’s not much time for friendships at school. What if she could start earning money in…
-
Honeyland
This surprise Sundance triple winner accompanies Hatidze Muratova, the last in a long line of wild beekeepers in northern Macedonia. The first film ever to be nominated for Oscars as both best documentary and best international feature film. Hatidze and her mother are the last inhabitants of an abandoned village in North Macedonia, where she…