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Like a Lanthimos film in a fever dream, Mother! is Darren Aronofsky at his most grandiose. Receiving both boos and standing ovations at festivals, this is a film you will either love or loathe. Obtuse, metaphorical and surreal, its central female character and dark vision held my attention throughout, only faltering as the worthy but somewhat prosaic meaning became clear. Continue reading
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So here are my best of lists for MIFF 2017. I’ve grouped them so you can get a better idea of the kind of movies they are. Continue reading
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If you’re only going to see one romcom this year, make it this one. Set within a Melbourne Muslim community, it tells the story of Ali (Osamah Sami) who is in love with the ‘wrong’ girl. Continue reading
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The Sámi, or Lapp, people of northern Scandinavia have long been subjected to discrimination in Sweden, Norway and Finland. In Sami Blood we see the story of one 14 year old girl, Elle-Marya (Lene Cecilia Sparrok), whose South Sámi family herd reindeer in rural Sweden. Continue reading
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A nostalgic trip to the 90s, Strange Days reminds us of a time when we thought that Y2K would end the world. Continue reading
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On the surface, this is a charming and adept musical odyssey of Scottish folk music. Aidan Moffat, lead singer of band Arab Strap that gained some fame in the 90s, has developed an interest in traditional ballads. Continue reading
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This slow and bleakly beautiful meditation on the decay and desolation of modern day Russia is framed around the story of one broken family. Continue reading
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This is essentially a one-hander for nonogenarian Harry Dean Stanton who beautifully captures the fragility and complexities of old age. Continue reading
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AIDS and activism in the 80s and 90s are inextricably entwined. Grassroots organisations like ACT UP were at the forefront of multifaceted agitation, lobbying, education and shock tactics to reduce the spread of the virus and increase research into treatment. Continue reading
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This is how revenge movie should be made. Turkish director Fatih Akin takes a story that could have been plucked from today’s news and exposes the personal cost of racism. Continue reading
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