The full 2018 programme for the New Zealand International Film Festival is out! Get into it.
Flicks editor Steve Newall and writer Liam Maguren smashed the programme into their faces and pulled out a dozen films (not previously announced) that they can’t wait to throw into their eyeballs.
The Ancient Woods
Each year I find myself needing a break from the festival’s often-grueling explorations of the human psyche – enter the animal doco! This one was nearly a decade in the making, painstakingly shot in a Baltic forest and documenting its inhabitants – from stork to spider – without the need for anthropomorphisation (or voiceover at all). Good viewing if you’re having a day that makes you think people suck. SN
See also: seeing-eye dog doco Pick of the Litter.
Brimstone & Glory
Like the film above, sitting in a cinema to watch the fireworks focus of Brimstone & Glory seems almost counterintuitive. But I can’t wait to wave goodbye to daylight, immerse myself in darkness, and be captivated by the pyrotechnic splendour on offer here, as the camera gets dangerously close to the spectacular San Juan de Dios celebrations in the Mexican town of Tultepe. Sounds like the only thing missing will be the gunpowder smell… SN
See also: The explosive nature of tennis bad-boy John McEnroe in French doco In the Realm of Perfection.
Filmworker
Stanley Kubrick was notoriously difficult to work with. I’d struggle to make him a decent cup of coffee let alone play a significant role in one of his films. And yet, the main subject of this documentary – Leon Vitali – assisted him for decades behind the scenes to help create cinematic history time and time again. I want to know all about this man’s diligence, determination, and motivation, making this film an absolute must-see. LM
See also: local doco on an NZ film legend Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen.
The Guilty
A Danish dude takes centre stage in this Sundance award-winning thriller with a glancing resemblance to Diane Lane’s Untraceable or Halle Berry’s The Call. That this looks better has nothing to do with gender, just that to these Nordic noir-loving eyes a ticking clock tale set entirely in a police dispatchers’ emergency call centre in Denmark offers tension in spades. SN
See also: Lynne Ramsay’s grim-looking noir You Were Never Really Here.
Last Child
Some of my favourite films come from South Korea. Naturally, this year’s Cannes hit Burning damn well nearly tops my film-fest-to-watch list, but this mourning drama also draws me in with its premise alone. How can a couple cope with the loss of their son? And how is their grieving process affected when the boy their son saved comes to them with the heavy weight of guilt? LM
See also: The film I just mentioned Burning.
Mandy
Yes, we weren’t going to mention Cannes films, but a hallucinogenic revenge pic set in the 80s, starring Nicolas Cage as he hunts a religious cult who have abducted his wife – and seemingly including a chainsaw fight according to the poster – does not exactly scream highbrow. Sundance also went nuts for this midnight madness though, and it sounds like Nicolas goes full Cage here. We can’t wait, and that’s why we’re proudly sponsoring this nutso nightmare. SN
See also: If crazy is what you’re after, Gaspar Noé’s latest – Climax – looks typically bonkers/tough-going.
McQueen
Self-destructive, rule-breaking British fashion genius gets an eponymous documentary chronicling his ascent to dazzling heights of creativity, with five of Alexander McQueen’s astonishing shows brought to the big screen, augmented by voiceover insight from those close to him, and bolstered with additional archival footage. Expect intimate insights among the man’s magnificent art. SN
See also: Kiwi Pietra Brettkelly’s doco on Chinese designer Guo Pei Yellow is Forbidden.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post
This coming-of-age tale on “conversion therapy” won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, which is reason enough to grab a ticket. More important to me, however, is that this is the sophomore feature from Desiree Akhavan. Her debut, Appropriate Behaviour, is a superbly witty ode to swaying sexuality and Brooklyn hipsterism. It’s massively exciting to see her move to a more confronting story. LM
See also: Kenyan lesbian coming-of-age hit Rafiki.
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda
Pioneering electronic music composer Ryuichi Sakamoto is credited with inspiring genres ranging from synth-pop to techno, house, electro and hip hop. Equally known as an award-winning film composer, if not more so, he scored notable films including Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, The Last Emperor and The Revenant (and less-notable ones like Brian De Palma’s Femme Fatale). I can’t wait to see this documentary explore his life and artistic process. SN
See also: Sundance award-winning doco Matangi/Maya/M.I.A on Sri Lankan rapper M.I.A.
Searching
This isn’t the first seen-from-the-perspective-of-
See also: online paranoia doco The Cleaners.
Three Identical Strangers
I can never attend NZIFF without seeing at least one documentary, and I’ve been hankering for this one since it did the rounds at Sundance. The setup is entrancing enough, following the unbelievable story of adult triplets – separated from birth – who just happened to bump into each other. However, as the trailer teases, the reason for their separation opens up something very disturbing… LM
See also: another can’t-believe-it’s-true doco A Mother Brings Her Son to Be Shot.
Transit
Barbara is great. Phoenix is outstanding. Both those films, written and directed by Christian Petzold, played at NZIFF. Frantz, which played at last year’s fest, starred an exuberant Paula Beer. Another festival fave, one-shot wonder Victoria, featured an engrossing performance from Franz Rogowski. Pop those three names into a calculator and basic maths would dictate that I need to see this false identity drama immediately. LM
See also: Cannes-winning romance Cold War.
Check out the full programme, times and locations at NZIFF.
