Everlasting Moments (2009)
This was the last of our film festival films, and we were sad that it was over. We were still waiting for a dud, but that was only because my friend had not been to see A Christmas Tale .

This was a gentle film, based on the true life of a Swedish family, starting in 1907. Maria Larsson is married to a trouble making, alcoholic womaniser and is left to bring up the children and patch up the pieces. Once she pulls out an old camera, and discovers her talent at taking pictures, her life slowly changes. Friendship with the local photography studio owner allows her to take pictures of her family and neighbours, and her confidence grows.

I enjoyed this film, I loved it's graceful style and beautiful images. 4/5

Pia - have you seen it? What did you think?

So, goodbye film festival. See you next year!!

Flame and Citron

Flame and Citron (2008)
Ohhh the frustration, I saw this yesterday and forgot to write about it. I guess one of the few movies I have been to where there were a majority of male viewers. Although I shouldn't be surprised, as there were few films with car chases and violence.

Flame and Citron are two members of the Danish Resistance during the German occupation of Denmark in world war two. As instructions from the Danish leaders and the British become more demanding and confusing, both become disillusioned with who is honest, and who is betraying them. Not knowing who to trust, they continue to murder Nazis and sympathisers, until retaliations and executions increase.

I think it was a well done story, at least without too many Hollywood moments but I was distracted by the first 5 minutes when the main character of Flame, walks to the car past a couple of modern steel garage doors and climbs into the car under a modern streetlight. Aww it kinda ruined the beginning for me, when the rest of the sets and outdoor scenes were well done.

3/5

Broken Embraces

Broken Embraces (2009)
I believe the premieres for this movie are happening as we speak. I went to a daytime session, and was running a bit late, so had to sit high up at the movie theatre as it was mostly full.

It seemed to me to be purely a project to highlight Penelope Cruz, who is undeniably stunning and talented. A blind movie writer/director tells of how he became blind after becoming involved with the mistress of a powerful man. Determined to find out if his mistress is having an affair, he gets his son to film a behind the scenes documentary about the movie they are making. When the betrayal is confirmed, the lovers seek to escape, leaving the movie to be finished by others.

I don't know, maybe I am jaded but I just didn't get it. It wasn't really much of a story and just ambled along, and I didn't really believe or like any of the characters. I have to say that I am going to have to give it a 2/5 - and two only because of Penelope Cruz and also because the Spanish sounded awesome.

My Year Without Sex

My Year Without Sex (2009)
A cute little Aussie film about an everyday family. Mum is holding down a job, actually talks to her husband and keeps the two kids under control. Suffering a headache while at the doctors, she awakes after brain surgery for an aneurysm and has to face a very different future, and a year without sex.

Funny and realistic, it didn't feel forced and I very much enjoyed this movie. A real warmth ran throughout, and unlike most movies I have seen, I felt I could have sat through another hour of this. 4/5

Wendy and Lucy

Wendy and Lucy (2008)
This years picks at the film festival seem to overwhelmingly be about being homeless and poor. I hope the universe isn't sending me a message. Wendy and her dog Lucy are travelling to Alaska to start a new life. Passing through Oregan, Wendy has car troubles and a couple of bad choices see her losing her dog Lucy. Stuck with no money, she then sets out to find her dog.

Simply made with few characters and not much of a wardrobe, it is still a likeable gentle film. Another reminder of going home to a warm bed and good shower, I'm very lucky.

3/5

Coco Before Chanel

Coco Before Chanel (2009)
The fashionistas were out in force at the film festival today. Apparently it was one of the few movies sold out within the first week, as the shallowness of the local community rears its head.

Andrey Tatou is one my fave actresses, and does a fab job of portraying Coco Chanel in her early years. The period of the story starts with her and her sister being dropped at the orphanage by their father, and continues until the setup of her successful fashion empire. Essentially though, it is a love story.

Beautiful scenery and clothes, it was a gentle film after the more raw Samson and Delilah. 4/5

Samson and Delilah

Samson and Delilah (2009)

A theme often repeated in movies, is the coming of age, first romance story. It's a universal story we all understand, wherever we live and whatever our age and background. Samson and Delilah are two teenagers living in a tiny Aboriginal community. Delilah is in charge of looking after her grandmother and helping with the art, and Samson has nothing to do with his time.

Their experiences are brutal and frightening, made even more powerful I think because of the sparse dialogue. Even though we are in the middle of a recession, and so many of us think that things are tough, and often they are, movies like this make you realize how much you have and should value. Living homeless and hungry does not look appealing in the slightest.

A powerful performance by the lead two actors, who were not professionals, and only recruited four weeks before shooting was to begin. At the showing at Wellington, we were lucky to have the producer of the movie do a short Q&A session, and explain a little about the movie and its response in Australia.

One of the most interesting comments I have read on a website today was that for a cost of only 1.5 million dollars, this is sooo much more a better film than Australia at one hundred and fifty million. I think though, older audiences are more discerning, they want better quality movies and not just the same 20 airbrushed actors pushed out for another showing.

I am going to go with a 5/5, as I am sure this movie will replay in my head for some time (does that make me sound crazy?). What I mean, is that so many films have no impact on changing the way I see things, and this movie had that power to move me.

The Strength of Water

The Strength of Water (2009)
In a small settlement in Hokianga, New Zealand we follow ten year old twins, Kimi and his sister Melody, who help out with the family chicken business and spend time mucking around.

Tai, a young drifter, arrives in the settlement and not long after there is a terrible accident. The impact on the family is deep, and each deals with the loss in their own way.

4/5 - a simple story that is told with power by a mainly untrained cast, especially the children.

Mary and Max

Mary and Max (2009)
Mary is a lonely Australian schoolgirl, who lives with an alchoholic mother, and a father who loves taxidermy in his shed. So taking a random name from a phonebook, she sends a letter to a stranger.

The stranger she has chosen, is Max, who is lonely as well in his small dark apartment in New York. So a correspondance and a friendship develop, where each shares their darkest secrets, and hopes for a better life.

This claymation is beautifully done, and has more drama than most recent movies. It may however not be suitable for younger viewers, as Wallace and Gromit it is not.

4/5 - as we laughed and almost cried.

A Christmas Tale

A Christmas Tale (2008)
It was a terrible rainy windy day here, so an escape to the film festival was in order. Now to put it bluntly, the woman next to me fell aslepp and snored, and the chap on the other side left half way through. Another 10 people walked out, and I did consider it, but thought to stay in case it got better. It didn't.

0/5 for this French holiday movie. Far too long, too boring, I didn't really like anyone except for Sophy and the father, story seemed to be missing and it was depressing.

Seraphine

Seraphine (2008)
The weather here has turned nasty again after several clear blue, almost warm days the winter has returned again. So it was time to return to the International Film Festival. An early morning movie is the best way to get me moving in the daytime, so this morning it was Seraphine.

Seraphine is a washerwoman/cleaner, who after growing up orphaned and poor eeks out her life doing chores for others for small change. Collecting herbs, flowers, blood and wax from church candles she makes her own paints and spends her evenings painting pictures of flowers and trees in her room at night.

In 1914, art critic/dealer William Uhde, rents a house in the village and is surprised to find that a picture of apples he likes has been painted by the housekeeper. Buying up all the paintings she has, he provides her with some money but is unable to continue, as the war is approaching.

Returning in 1927, he discovers Seraphine is still alive and painting, and his patronage continues until disrupted by the depression.

3/5 - In French with subtitles, the village life is hypnotic and makes you want to disappear to a quiet French town and paint.

An Education

An Education (2009)
Jenny is a schoolgirl whose live changes when she meets the charming and amusing 30-something David (Peter Sarsgaard). I guess all movies with teenagers are coming of age films, in this one Jennys suburban life is swapped for fancy clothes, drinking and parties and her education is pushed aside. Dreaming of Oxford, Jenny begins to wonder what value it will have for her, and if she needs it at all.

An enjoyable look at the early 1960s, and somehow it left me wondering if anything really has changed. Girls still race off to get an education and career, but somehow are seen as less than successful if they don't find a man and have babies.

Great performances and witty writing make the movie engaging, charming and fun without being twee and stereotypical over the top, like so many recent recreations. 4/5

Kisses

Kisses (2008)
11 year old Kylie and 13 year old Dylan, escape from their life at home by running to the streets of Dublin. We had to run to the theatre too, as we had gone to the wrong cinema. Luckily we made it just as the movie started, without too much loss of popcorn or lung power.

Certainly this made us realise that even though we are middle-aged, we wouldn't survive on the streets at all. Too dirty and cold, and the smells. Not for me and my friends. Maybe one to take your teenagers too, if they think things are bad and would like to live rough. 3/5 - only because I almost needed sub-titles as the Irish accents were hard to figure out sometimes.

Bright Star

Bright Star (2009)
Tonight was opening night of the Wellington International Film Festival and we were lucky enough to get tickets to Bright Star, Jane Campions new film. Bright Star tells the story about Fanny Brawne, who falls in love with the poet next door, John Keats. Over three years they are often kept apart by Keats interfering friend Brown, and by Fannys family who worry over the Keats lack of funds.

How hard it must have been in those days, when you were at the mercy of your family and the choices they made for you. How gossip could destroy your reputation, and how poverty was such a real hardship. Like in The Piano, I admired Jane Campions ability to show passion and desire with the touch of a hand, heaving heartbeats and stolen glances. Something male directors often fail to focus on.

Luckily for us, Jane Campion came to speak before the movie as Wellington is her hometown, and we were privlidged to get a sneak peek at this beautiful movie. 4/5