THE PAWNSHOP – ★★★☆

Polish documentary about a pawnshop that has seen better days, in an industrial town that also feels like it has as well. Much of the context wasn’t shared, but it seems like times are hard for many in the town, and this fly on the wall documentary has a share of funny and tender moments as well as ones that have you clenching in fear of what would be severe occupational health and safety risks. The characters are all heroes in some ways, and flawed in others. I liked the honest approach in introducing the various staff and customers.

DIAMOND HANDS: THE LEGEND OF WALLSTREETBETS – ★★★☆

Entertaining and well made documentary about the WallStreetBets sub-reddit, which attempted to squeeze large firms who had shorted GameStop stock. When an intelligent young man realised that Wall Street had bet against GameStop by 140%, he had a theory that if enough people bought GameStop stock, it would create a situation where the stock would skyrocket as those who’d bet against it had to buy out their losses. Having watched some of this occurring at the time, I felt it was a good representation of the nature of the people who were pushing for this, and the various memes associated. Congratulations to those who sold their GME at $400+, I sure wish I had right now.

ON THE COUNT OF THREE – ★★★★

A powerful Canadian comedy/drama about two best friends, both who decide they don’t want to live anymore and agree to mutual suicide. A pretty dark comedy that avoids following the expected path one might predict, and lends to giving a voice to try and understand how tragedies can occur. The second ‘comedy’ about suicide at MIFF this year, and we’re only two days in.

HIT THE ROAD – ★★

Maybe it’s been too long since I went to the movies, but this counts as the third film (or the fourth? I’ve lost count) at MIFF this year where I felt like any introduction to the setting around the story has been skipped. From what I could work out, it’s about an Iranian family taking their son on a road trip to a destination so he can be sneakily taken somewhere. Maybe they were trying to sneak him across a border? Possibly to skip bail? I don’t know. I was looking forward to this one, but would have likely left, if I’d snagged an aisle seat. Several unnecessarily long takes with little to watch but a person walking from point A to point B (or a motorbike being ridden from point A to point B), interjected with an annoying child that would nag/scream/yell incessantly. If there was one redemption, it was the performance by Pantea Panahiha, who played the mother.

BEFORE, NOW & THEN – ★★★

Beautifully shot Indonesian film about a woman, who through unrest lost her husband, and remarries. Most of the story occurs about 15 years after her attempt to run from a threat by militia(?), not knowing what happened to her husband. Unfortunately for me, I had a hard time understanding the plot and context as it happened. Would recommend looking for a non-spoiler synopsis before watching.

MEDITERRANEAN FEVER – ★★★★

I really enjoyed this drama/comedy about a Palestinian middle aged father suffering from depression and considering suicide, when a new neighbour arrives and a friendship strikes up. Has light and humorous moments while dealing with a subject that has affected many, especially in recent years. Not a feel good film, but resonated. 

1976 – ★★★

Incredible wardrobe work, sets and backing soundtrack for this film about a Chilean woman who tries to help the priest of their summer home hide and heal an injured member of the resistance against the government. Unfortunately, like the first film of the day, I had lost track of the plot at a certain point, and was unable to ascertain much around the story.

LOVE AND OTHER CATASTROPHES – ★★★★☆

This film was released 26 years ago and formed part of the launch for MIFF’s ‘Melbourne on Film’ focus of this year’s festival. I saw it when released, and enjoyed it, but hadn’t seen it for many years. It spoke to me then as the characters were around my age, and it was shot around that areas I spent time (Melbourne University, Brunswick Street, etc). Many years later, it still holds up, and provides an incredible time capsule into when Gen X’ers were in their 20s. A piece of nostalgic joy.

It’s back! In person! Here are the films that have caught my eye from this year’s program:

6 Festivals
1976
The Apartment With Two Women
Are You Lonesome Tonight?
The Balcony Movie
Battlecry
Because We Have Each Other
Before, Now & Then
The Blue Caftan
Bodies Bodies Bodies
Brian and Charles
Broker
Children of the Mist
Close
Closing Night Gala - Clean
Costa Brava, Lebanon
David Thomas Tribute Screening - Splice Here: A Projected Odyssey
Decision to Leave
Diamond Hands: The Legend of WallStreetBets
Emily the Criminal
Ennio
Everybody Loves Jeanne
The Exam
Falcon Lake
Final Cut
Fire of Love
Flux Gourmet
Funny Pages
Godland
Hit the Road
The Humans
Incredible but True
The Integrity of Joseph Chambers
Leila's Brothers
LOLA
The Lonely Spirits Variety Hour
The Lost City of Melbourne
A Love Song
Lynch/Oz
Marcel the Shell With Shoes On
Mars One
Mass
Mediterranean Fever
Meet Me in the Bathroom
Millie Lies Low
Moja Vesna
Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon
My Old School
Navalny
One Fine Morning
On the Count of Three
Pamfir
The Passengers of the Night
The Pawnshop
The Pez Outlaw
Plan 75
Playground
The Quiet Girl
Saloum
Silent Land
Something in the Dirt
Sweet As
Three Thousand Years of Longing
Tori and Lokita
Under Cover
Valerie and Her Week of Wonders
Watcher
We Might As Well Be Dead
Who Killed The KLF?

Let’s see how we go…

WIFE OF A SPY – ★★★

A Japanese drama set during World War II, and about the wife of a Japanese business man who becomes involved in secrets when they are disclosed to him on a trip to China. He feels like he needs to do something about it, despite the consequences, given Japan’s allies in the war. It was nicely made overall, perhaps a little bit slow. The set design was nicely done, despite the film seeming low budget. It was originally made as a TV movie for Japan, so that might explain it. Perhaps some of it was lost in translation, but it seemed to meander a little and I was uncertain of the reason behind the ending being wrapped up the way it was after the slow start.

THE NOWHERE INN – ★★★☆

This mockumentary starts Carrie Brownstein (Portlandia tv show, or Sleater Kenny, depending on your demographic) and St Vincent. It’s fictional, but crosses with live performances by St Vincent, and they play themselves in the film. I was surprised that I liked this as much as I did, because I do have a bit of a like/dislike relationship with St Vincent. I loved her ‘mixtape’ radio show on Beats One back in the day. I didn’t mind some of her songs. But, I also found her live show when I went to be self-indulgent. Anyway, if you don’t mind a bit of tangential story with several amusing quips along the way, it’s worth checking out.

CHEF ANTONIO’S RECIPES FOR REVOLUTION – ★★★★

An excellent finish to MIFF for this year. This documentary is about an Italian Chef who hires people with disability (specifically those living with Down syndrome) in his restaurant and hotel. The general joy and patience he shows in helping others was inspiring to me. In the doco we see several of his staff and learn more about their lives. In addition it appears that his idea is expanding with several hotels in the chain opening up. One day when travel permits, I look forward to trying the one in the Blue Mountains, NSW.

THE WITCHES OF THE ORIENT – not rated

I was a bit tired when I tried this documentary about the Japanese Olympic volleyball team from the 1964 games, and after about 10-15 minutes stopped it. If there was a story to tell it might have been better to have started it sooner into the film than the scattered collection of vignettes that occurred in what I watched. Not rating it as I didn’t give it a fair chance.

JAMES AND ISEY – ★★★

I was glad when this was added as a stream-able film in the last days of MIFF this year, as it’s one I was looking forward to. It’s a documentary about a Maori son (James) and mother (Isey). It documents the week or so leading up to Isey’s 100th birthday and covers her history, as well as some of the background of her son who is taking care of her and planning the party. I liked the film, but I couldn’t help but feel at points that perhaps it was a vehicle for James who had a background in entertainment, and whether at times it became more about him than his mum. Overall though it was enjoyable and did have a reasonable number of funny moments.

LANGUAGE LESSONS – ★★★

The closing night film for MIFF 2021. I was very much looking forward to it for several reasons. I like both leads (Mark Duplass and Natalie Morales), and in these difficult locked down times, a comedy appealed. It’s about a man who is given Spanish lessons by his husband, conducted via video chat, and the relationship between them. It was an interesting idea, and every scene being a ‘video meeting’ without it actually relating to Covid lockdowns was executed well enough. However, I found that after spending many hours each week in video meetings of my own, that it was a bit ‘too soon’ for me to experience more of it right now. Also, I felt like it could have been better with the story being a little bit ‘lighter’. There were several different plot points and it felt a bit heavy handed at times, especially for the interactions between two people who don’t know each other. I think it’ll be an easier watch in a couple of years when hopefully the constant video chats and being shut in at home are behind us.