Programmes for the Auckland leg of the NZ International Film Festival are out and about, and their website is also up and running with session times and ticket info (on sale from this Friday). We’ve been poring over the films on offer and, as per usual, are finding it difficult to choose a physically possible amount to go and see. But while we spend hours playing with the various permutations of films to see within a few weeks, here are ten we’re digging on first impression. Not a top ten, not ranked, just ten that today have made us go “yep!”.
A Field in England
Psychedelic, psychological horror from Ben Wheatley (Kill List, Sightseers), set in 1648 England. The potent properties of mushrooms get the better of a small group of soldiers (including The Mighty Boosh‘s Julian Barratt) when they stop to eat them as they flee a battle. The group quickly descend into a chaos of arguments, fighting and paranoia, and slowly become victim to the terrifying energies trapped inside the field.
Auckland sessions: Mon July 29, 9:00pm; Tues 30 July, 8:45pm; Weds 31 July, 4:30pm
Blackfish
Billed as a ‘psychological thriller’, this documentary explores the story of Tilikum – a killer whale, kept in captivity at SeaWorld Orlando, who has been involved in the death of three people. What are the consequences of keeping intelligent and sentient creatures in captivity?
Auckland sessions: Sat July 20, 4:00pm; Sat July 27, 4:15pm; Tues July 30, 2:15pm; Sat August 3, 11:00am.
Frances Ha
We’re sponsoring the screenings of this sucker, so you bet we’re excited about seeing it. Mumblecore queen Greta Gerwig (Damsels in Distress) stars as the hapless Frances, an aspiring dancer without love and without a job, in this Brooklyn-set comedy from writer-director Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale). Searching for bliss, Frances fumbles for her dreams despite their rapidly fading possibility.
Auckland sessions: Sat July 20, 9:15pm; Fri July 26, 2:45pm; Sun July 28, 4:30pm; Sun August 4, 6:15pm.
In the House
French, school room mystery-thriller from writer-director François Ozon (Potiche, Swimming Pool) co-starring Kristin Scott Thomas, based on a Spanish play by Juan Mayorga. Best Film winner at the 2012 San Sebastián International Film Festival.
A reclusive sixteen-year-old boy insinuates himself into the house of a fellow student from his literature class and writes about it in essays for his French teacher. Inspired by the talent presented by this gifted and unusual pupil, the teacher rediscovers enthusiasm for his work, but the boy’s intrusion will unleash a series of uncontrollable events.
Auckland session: Sat July 20, 6:30pm; Weds July 24, 10:30am; Fri July 26, 6:30pm; Thurs August 1, 6:00pm.
Mud
Coming-of-age drama seen through the eyes of two boys – Ellis and Neckbone – who discover and befriend a charasmatic fugitive named Mud (Matthew McConaughey), hiding on an island on the Mississippi. Mud takes a liking to the boys and recruits them to his cause: the search for true love and a clean getaway. Written and directed by Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter), co-starring Reese Witherspoon and Michael Shannon.
Auckland sessions: Sat July 20, 7:45pm; Sun July 21, 3:15pm; Tues July 23, 8:30pm; Sun July 28, 6:00pm.
Only Lovers Left Alive
A regular to the NZ International Film Festival, filmmaker Jim Jarmusch (Broken Flowers, Ghost Dog) only just snuck into the programme in the nick of time with his latest effort that continues the festival’s tradition of intriguing Closing Night films. Jarmusch received another Palme d’Or nomination for this story of a centuries-spanning romance between two vampires Adam and Eve, played by Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton. Co-stars Mia Wasikowska, John Hurt and Anton Yelchin.
Auckland sessions: Fri August 2, 3:45pm; Sat August 3, 8:30pm.
Sheen of Gold
Director Simon Ogston (Rumble & Bang) continues his excavations of underground Kiwi rock with this tribute to one of Flying Nun’s most disturbing acts – The Skeptics, one of New Zealand’s most influential and eclectic bands of the 80s. Coming from humble beginnings as a Palmerston North high school band in the late 1970s, Skeptics transformed into a fearsome, volatile live act, louder and different to anybody else. Just as they were hitting the peak of their recording abilities working on the Amalgam album, frontman David D’ath discovered he had leukaemia, and despite furiously fighting to complete and release the record, he sadly passed away before seeing the finished product. Although Skeptics then ceased to exist, they leave behind a seminal body of work, and Sheen of Gold uses archival footage and interviews to tell the fascinating tale of musical innovators who have influenced countless NZ artists since.
Auckland session: Sat Aug 3, 6:00pm.
Terms and Conditions May Apply
Online privacy is put under the spotlight in this documentary that looks at the various ways information freely provided by individuals is used by marketers, corporations and governments – with your full consent, if not your actual awareness.
The terms of agreement and privacy policies of websites and apps used by millions, if not billions, every day are seldom read thoroughly or understood by their users. Terms and Conditions May Apply lifts the lid on what Facebook and Google are really up to with your information, as well as the Governmental programmes already using it on a massive scale. Interview subjects include Google’s Ray Kurzweil, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, author Orson Scott Card and musician Moby.
Auckland sessions: Tues July 23, 6:30pm, Weds July 24, 11:30am; Sun July 28, 10:30am.
Us and the Game Industry
Kiwi documentarian Stephanie Beth explores the endeavours undertaken by creative contributors to the 21st century’s biggest art form: the video game.
Auckland sessions: Thurs August 1, 6:15pm; Sat August 3, 1:15pm.
V/H/S/2
In this follow-up to the 2012 horror anthology V/H/S, a new crop of directors helm their own found-footage horror shorts, including Gareth Evans (The Raid), Jason Eisener (Hobo with a Shotgun) and the originators of the phenomenon Eduardo Sanchez and Gregg Hale (The Blair Witch Project).
Auckland sessions: Sat July 20, 10:00pm, Tues July 23, 4:15pm.
