Film Festival - what I saw - YouLookFab Forum

A while ago Una was talking about her sister's film, and Viva was talking about going to a local film festival too. I promised to update after I had been to our local International Film Festival. I have been to three films - it is on for one more week but I suspect I won't get to any more. Una's sister's film made it to Sydney but not to NZ.

I have seen:

Le Ride - documentary about the 1928 Tour de France with an Antipodean team entering. Phil Keoghan, from The Amazing Race, toured around France recreating the tour on single speed old bikes. Stunning scenery, slick production, worth seeing for keen cyclists and anyone interested in Le Tour.

http://philkeoghanleride.com/

The Clan - an Argentinean film set in the 80s about a Mafia family who kidnapped and ransomed rich people...their son was a Puma/rugby player. It is a drama, but based on a true story - too unusual to be made up. We enjoyed this very much.

http://variety.com/2015/film/r.....201587198/

Weiner - another documentary, about Anthony Weiner, another story too strange to make up. I am sure most of you know about this interesting character with a fatal flaw - a charismatic genius but certainly with some struggles. I see that this scandal has come back over recent times and his marriage has ended. I can see why he allowed the documentary to be made but I did spend a bit of time cringing at how uncomfortable the scandal is.

http://www.vox.com/2016/8/31/1.....ocumentary

And on Netflicks we have just finished "Stranger Things" which I would recommend too.

Any other recommendations?

9 years ago

viva

Veteran

Sally, thanks for these recommendations! I will keep an eye out for the first two. So far, I have resisted opportunities to see Weiner: just thinking about the guy makes me uncomfortable.

Our festival is next weekend. I'll let you know what I see -- the lineup is quite good, but there is always the question of how long I will last. And this year, DH will be out of town, so I will be on my own.

On television, we just started the miniseries Capital, available on Amazon, starring Toby Jones and a terrific lineup of British actors I have seen on various British series. It's based on the John Lancaster novel from a couple of years ago and very good so far.

Here is the Amazon synopsis: "Anonymous postcards stating “We Want What You Have” baffle the residents of a London street. As the mystery deepens, interweaving stories reveal lives filled with love, loss, fear, and greed. Toby Jones (Detectorists) and Rachael Stirling (The Bletchley Circle) lead a terrific cast in this “superbly performed” drama (The Times, UK)."

JAileen

Those look interesting. Thanks for mentioning them. I saw a different film of Una's sister, about Robert De Niro's father. It was on HBO, and was very good.

In our town they show the Oscar nominated shorts, both live action and animated. We've gone a couple times and enjoyed seeing them. Otherwise when they broadcast the Oscars I'll have seen nothing.

Barbara Diane

A Borrowed Identity- don't read too much about it. A promising Palestinian Israeli student's life in Israel. Written by same.

Sandstorm-centers on the life of a Bedouin family in Israel. Focus is on Bedouin life, you almost don't know where it is set. Let it unfold, don't read too much about it.

The Kind Words- In the wake of their mother's death, unexpected information leads siblings searching for their birth father, and they discover much about themselves and each other. Better than the Hallmark movie way I described it.

catgirl

Aren't film festivals fun? I am going to try to make it to the one in Hawaii since my sister will be there. I'm not sure what else is currently going around but her films Prison Dogs and Peacekeepers are both on the circuit.

We just started Stranger Things and I love it. So nostalgic of the 80s Spielberg classics. We are only two episodes in but I was afraid to open the door at 11PM to call the cat in!

Our local big festival is in a month, so all info. appreciated.

Sal

Thanks Viva, Weiner was fascinating but an uncomfortable view. There are always so many films I want to see but it comes down to timing (with one or two screenings each) - and I now try and see ones I think might not come back on general release.

I did see Capital here on TV and enjoyed it, one of those multi-layered shows with characters not entirely good or bad.

Jaileen - I love short films too. It is good to get along and see something different and escape temporarily to a different part of the world.

Barbara Diane - I like the sound of all those films. Sandstorm was in our film festival and I wanted to see it but the timing was all wrong. I also wanted to see Sunshine Song and Elle and the Ken Loach film but I think they might come back on general release. We have a small "arthouse" cinema 15 mins walk from our house where you can buy coffee or hot chocolate or wine and sit under chandeliers prior to the movie. It gets some big movies too but shows lots of smaller movies. I typically prefer the smaller plot driven movies but I do enjoy the odd blockbuster too!

DH and I hadn't gone to movies much. I recently found out I love the film festival and art house films. And also one man/woman shows. Luckily, we have many opportunities near us.

Great Una, I will keep an eye open for those films as they may come here seperate to the festival.

I wanted my 14 year old to watch Stranger Things with us but he was not interested. I wasn't sure about the 11 year old - is your son watching it or not? Let me know what you think as you move forward with the series - I thought the child actors absolutely nailed it.

My son is not watching - he is a big chicken and so is DH! He would sleep in our bed if I let him watch. I can't even get him to watch classics like The Goonies or Gremlins or anything remotely creepy. The kids remind me so much of the kids from ET and Stand By Me and all those other kid-perspective films from back in the day - plus bonus throwback Winona Ryder! Is there a resolution or a second season? That's the one thing that worries me is being left hanging.

I believe there is a second season in the wind but there is a conclusion at the end of the series...I agree it is very much a homage to 1980s films. I was also mildly into Dungeons and Dragons for a while, and used to love roaming around on my bike. We lived rurally so I didn't have too much scope in terms of friends nearby. My sons roam around our neighbourhood a little bit- I encourage it because I used to love it when I had the chance.

Category