BY MATT RICHARDS
How To Die In Oregon – Peter Richardson (2011 USA Doco) – 4.5 stars
Absolutely heartbreaking and humbling doco set in the only state of the USA that currently allows the terminally ill to legally end their lives with medication. This is a deeply touching, philosophical work and the dignity, integrity and openness displayed by the films participants is truly honourable. You’ll need some tissues.
Monsieur Lazhar – Philippe Falardeau (2011 Canada) – 4.5 stars
The polar opposite of ‘detachment’ this Academy award nominated pic gently and poignantly follows the arrival of a mysterious substitute teacher and his impact on a classroom reeling from the suicide of their previous teacher. It’s an assured work that is heart-warming and honest, exquisitely photographed, performance perfect and at the same time manages to subtly comment on immigration, truth and bias.
LORE – Cate Shortland (2012 Germany, Australia) – 4.5 stars
The compelling and emotionally harrowing tale of a parent-less German family on the run at the end of WW2. Shortland goes in strong and tackles the topic of an irreparable broken psyche as told through the eyes of a 15 year old, imbuing it with superb performances and wonderfully tactile imagery. My only small gripe was the repetitive score. A perfect example of how to tell a big story on a low-budget.
Oslo August 31st – Joachim Trier (2011 Norway) – 4 stars
An intelligent and painfully tragic tale of a recovering drug addict. The film succeeds brilliantly in conveying a sense of loss; a loss of time, innocence, friendships and that horrible realisation that the world moved on without you while you were living in a party cocoon. It’s bleak for sure, but so refreshing to see a drug film done from a slightly different perspective.
Michael – Markus Schleinzer (2011 Austria) – 4 stars
Extremely engaging and uncomfortable study of the private life of a paedophile and the 10 year-old boy held hostage inside his basement. The director chooses to stay impartial and act as an observer in the Haneke tradition. The audience is spared gory detail and instead left to contemplate things from the spaces between events thus focussing on the character relationship. Fascinating.
Beasts of The Southern Wild – Benh Zeitlin (2012 USA) – 4 stars
Superb performances, original writing and a completely fresh approach elevate this tale of child neglect, poverty and community to a whole other level. It’s not without its flaws and requires a couple of large leaps of faith, but is so strong in it’s mythology-infused weave that the faults are easily forgiven.
Patience (After Sebald) – Grant Gee (2012 UK Doco) – 4 stars
A fascinating look into place and space as prescribed by German author W.G Sebald. The structure of his writing draws parallels with the documentary work of Chris Marker. Seemingly unrelated vignettes, facts and observations come together to form a portrait of humanity that seems impossible to have arrived at in any normal linear manner.
Hearat Shulayim (Footnote) – Joseph Cedar (2011 Israel) – 4 stars
A clever and lively tale of familial rivalry within the sciences told with bristling energy and dry wit. Footnote becomes a sort of essay on the unveiling of truth; that great aim of science itself, and all of the prestige that comes as part of the package. Perfectly designed and structured with bold graphic sequences the film really has few flaws.
Martha Marcy May Marlene – Sean Durkin (2011 USA) – 4 stars
A very cool and creepy look at a naïve girls conflicted struggle to pull herself together after escaping from a cult. A few large plot holes, but strong performances and a delicate, cliche-free approach create an evocative, slow-burn, psychological thriller.
Las acacias – Pablo Giorgelli (2011 Argentina)
A solitary man who drives a logging truck for a living has to give a lift to a stranger. As a bond begins to develop this act leaves him both challenged and conflicted. It’s a simple set-up yet surprisingly moving. That which is unspoken sometimes speaks the loudest. The baby is fascinating to watch.
Cloud Atlas – Andy & Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer (2012 Int Co-Pro) – 4 stars
Ambitious, risky film making with equal parts of sheer brilliance and horrible short-comings. Cloud Atlas interweaves 6 stories of the same ‘souls’ interacting through different time eras in an attempt to examine interconnectedness and the repercussions of choice on eternity. Doona Bae is fantastic while Tom Hanks and Halle Berry are odd choices and the least convincing. Well worth 3 hours of your life for an engaging, inventive look at humanity.
