Sydney Film Festival: Recommended Viewing

Film festival’s are not only a great way to enjoy a bit of cinema from around the world but they are perfect fodder for first dates: giggle together over graphic french sex scenes, discuss your favourite home grown film, go to the bar for a glimpse of Margaret Pomerantz – it’s a treasure trove of romantic moments just waiting to happen.

Having said that – whether looking for a date or not – the Sydney Film Festivall kicks off on the 2nd of June running until the 14th, so if movies are your bag and you’re in the vicinity take a look at the full program – or take a look at some of the movies we’re most interested in:

The Ghost Writer (Director: Roman Polanski)

Roman Polanski’s highly anticipated return is a political thriller that takes its cues from classic Hitchcock. Ewan McGregor stars as a ghost writer hired to pen the memoirs of an ex-British Prime Minister (Pierce Brosnan) after the accidental death of his press secretary and original scribe. Expect slick direction, twisted plot lines, and wry humour. An Australian premiere.

Waste Land (Director: Lucy Walker)

Sundance documentary prize-winner Waste Land follows the journey of renowned artist Vik Muniz from his home in Brooklyn to his native Brazil and the world’s largest garbage dump. There he photographs an eclectic band of catadores – self-designated pickers of recyclable materials, who turn his photos into their own works of art: self-portraits made from garbage around them.

Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child (Director: Tamara Davis)

Another documentary that gives audiences a compelling glimpse into the much-lauded and much-criticised artist and his genuinely fascinating real-life story. The documentary was made by Tamara Davis, who started filming the artist – a close friend of hers – in the late Eighties, a couple of years before he died of a heroin overdose in 1988.

Howl (Directors Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman)

The Australian premiere of the Allen Ginsberg biopic starring James Franco, based on the obscenity trial that followed the publishing of Ginsberg’s iconic beat poem. Mad Men‘s Jon Hamm also features as the defence attorney who challenged the claims in court. So that means it’s full of super handsome people = win.

Red Hill (Director: Patrick Hughes)

One of the most anticipated Australian films on the program, Red Hill stars Vinnie from Home And Away, also know as Ryan Kwanten (True Blood) as a cop who moves to the country with his pregnant wife only for an escaped convict to go batshit crazy on a host of the town’s victims. Steve Bisley also stars as well as the landscapes of country Victoria.

Brotherhood (Director: Nicolo Donato)

Made in Denmark this violent, confronting film tells the story of Lars, a man forced out of the army due to allegations of sexually propositioning another soldier. He returns to the family home only to develop a relationship with a homophobic neo-Nazi skinhead. So far so good. At once brutal and tender, Brotherhood tells the tale of forbidden love.

Nobody Knows About Persian Cats (Director: Bahman Ghobadi)

My top pick is Bahman Ghobadi’s documentary about Tehran’s indie rock scene. Popular music has been banned there since 1979 so performers went underground, creating an incredible, diverse live scene. The passion and talent of the musicians that let Ghobadi into their world are sure to inspire.

Ajami (Directors: Scandar Copti, Yaron Shani)

The Israeli port city of Tel Aviv-Jaffa is known for its close-quarters mix of Jews, Christians and Muslims, with the Ajami neighbourhood a particularly volatile district. When an Arab teenager is mistakenly assassinated in a revenge killing, the tragedy has a ripple effect that grows to encompass community leaders, average Palestinians, forbidden lovers and a Jewish cop.
Add to that a cast of remarkable unknowns, a dangerous reality that is world’s away and more awards than you can poke a stick at, Ajami is sure to be one of the shining entries at the Festival.

More Stuff From PEDESTRIAN.TV