Tue, 21 Jun 2011 6:30p.m.
Okay, lets cherry-pick some juicy little cinematic morsels from the New Zealand Film Festival tree of delectability!
Programmes are out NOW, get one, get choosing, get booking. And if it helps at all, here are a few picks from what I caught at Cannes and loved, and some picks I am yet to see that I will be queuing up for come July.
I hate to state the obvious to start with, but Lars von Trier’s Melancholia was one of my favourite watches of Cannes and I’m rapt the NZFF has gotten their little mitts on it. Book early to avoid missing out, this is a festival big screen must. In fact, if you book-end the fest with this and the Palme Dór winner Tree of Life you’re set for two epic big screen watches! Strap yourselves in.
Dialing it down a little but no less memorable, is Martha Marcy May Marlene, a taut, creepy, psychological thriller which I adored and you should not miss.
My biggest Cannes regret this year was missing out on The Kid with the Bike, another assured Dardennes masterpiece by all accounts and joint winner of the Grand Prix. It’s top of my NZFF list this year.
Bill Gosden has also managed to secure a gorgeous little film I was lucky enough to see up at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival last year called The First Grader (and practically BEGGED Mr Gosden to consider it ;))
Let us ponder some comedic options, and this looks like just the ticket, Michael Winterbottom’s The Trip, oh YES!
And the film which has me screaming and sobbing with hysterical laughter (and that’s just the trailer) is The Guard. It’s from the same guys who did In Bruges and it stars Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle. See you there.
Miranda July’s first feature Me and You and Everyone We Know entranced so many of us and this unique cinematic voice is back with The Future. Just watching the trailer makes me feel happy.
Let’s talk docos. Despite the fact that I’m not a motor-racing fan, the Ayrton Senna documentary Senna looks gripping and is part of a special Sports Section at this years festival.
I’ll also be heading to see Page one: Inside the New York Times.
Incredibly Strange is ram-packed with an eclectic assortment of craziness. Hobo with a Shotgun will no doubt be a sell-out, 13 Assassins and The Woman also head our way.
NZFF is of course not just all about films from beyond our shores, but the Homegrown Section boasts some excellent offerings from emerging local filmmakers, including the award-winning Cannes short Blue.
As far as Special Presentations, the fest this year brings you the unique opportunity to see the late Merata Mita’s documentary Mana Waka, along with Martin Scorsese’s restored classic Taxi Driver.
Head to www.nzff.co.nz to see the full list of film titles and get booking!
Kate Rodger
Film3