Touch - a film at Palace Cinema Westgarth

As part of Scandinavian Film Festival, this film was recommended by my client. 

It has a very good story, but, I found the film somehow failed to be convincing. I don't mind the scenes going back and forward, but I felt the film wasn't deep enough, especially towards the end. 

The story obviously carries a very heavy subject on survivors of nuclear bomb. I just didn't get that emotional enormity I was expecting. 

By the way, there's a very good book "Hiroshima Maidens" by Rodney Barker. 

I believe it was the film maker's intention to leave the story up to viewer's' imagination rather than showing everything like most of Hollywood films do so awfully. 

I'm looking forward to reading the book the film based on. 

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Perfect Days - a film

I went to Palace Balwyn cinema this morning.  A lovely cinema. It was almost empty. 

A great film. It's a meditation on life. The film tells a lot about the complexity of our life without saying almost anything, leaving it to the views' imaginations. 

The only thing I found odd was when he hugged his sister when they met after many years. I don't think a Japanese in that generation does that. 

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The Lost Leonardo - film

Palace Cinema in Balwyn. Great film. 

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Father - a film

I just came across this Australian film on Beamafilm. Never heard of it before. 

The subject matter is very fascinating. I liked it a lot. 

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Oranges and Sunshine - a film

A good one. 

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The Fountainhead - film

I came across this film based on Ayn Rand’s famous novel. What a gem!

By the way, this website Internet Archive is  full of treasures. 

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Muriel Matters - film

A great documentary by Ronin Films. 

I’ve never heard of her. This period of women suffrage movement in the early 20th centuries is fascinating, and I’ve been reading a bit about it. 

There’s also a great lecture by Dr Clare Write on ABC Radio National, Big Ideas. 

The link is here.

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A Late Quartet - film

A very touching film, beautifully shot. A formidable performance from the very best. 

I liked it a lot. 

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RBG - documentary

Recommended by my client. 

I’ve had absolutely no idea about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court Justice, let alone her  remarkable achievements in America. 

Superbly produced, this film teaches us a lot about gender equality, legal system, family, love.... 

You should watch this. 

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Maudie - film

Recommended by my client. 

This is one of the best films I’ve ever seen. 

Never heard of Maud Lewis. 

I just loved the way film was shot; beautiful but restrained cinematography, costumes, landscapes....

And, what a performance by Sally Hawkins!

At the end of the day, it’s a story of Maud and her passion for painting that moves me the most. 

I’m so glad to come across this remarkable film and know her life story. Very inspiring. 

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Hilary and Jackie - film

Well, after reading Jacqueline du Pre’s biography by Carol Easton and watching terrific documentaries by Christopher Nupen, it’s very difficult to come up with anything positive about this film. 

Emily Watson and Rachel Griffiths show great performances here, but, the storyline and a rather grotesque description of her state of mind spoils the whole concept of the production. No wonder the film was harshly criticised by people who knew her. 

Obviously there’s always a great danger of canonising this great musician. At the end of the day, she was a human being with all familiar defaults like the rest of us. And there’s no way now of judging her character because she’s already gone. 

However, reading lots of stuff written by people who were very close to her, I do think the film was very unfair. 

And, to make things more complicated, it was based on the book written by her siblings.

Well, that’s another example of human frailty. 

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My Left Foot - film and Christy Brown

What is your favourite Daniel Day-Lewis film? One of the greatest actors ever.

It’s really a tough one. I’d say, In the Name of the Father. Well, it’s a long story. 

Then, this one. Definitely. 

I had seen it a long time ago. I was at Ivanhoe Library last week and I thought I should see it again now that I’m a painter myself. 

What an astonishing performance! 

However, as you probably know, this Oscar winning film left out a truly tragic ending of the life of Christy Brown. If you don’t know, you need to read a book by Georgina Louise Hambleton. 

I’m not so sure why the film makers decided to choose that rather misleading ‘happy’ ending. 

Like I said, because I practise painting myself now, looking back at his artistic life, as tragic as it was, I’m enormously inspired by this man. The book of the same title by himself is also worth reading.

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Darkest Hour - film

It was too hot to go back home after work, so I decided to go to Palace Cinema in Balwyn.

I didn’t have any particular film in mind, it was just a matter of timing. 

I really enjoyed this one. It must be a difficult job to sustain audience’s interest when the story line is a well-known historical event. 

In that sense, the film succeeds greatly due to wonderful performances by main characters and beautiful soundtrack. Production design is also very impressive, creating a very convincing atmosphere of the time. 

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Breathe - film

I drove to Palace Cinema in Balwyn this morning. Weather forecast was not good, so, it’s a perfect day to go watch a film in this beautiful place. 

Well, one cannot help but feel very touched emotionally when watching a real story like this one, brilliantly acted by not only main characters but also nearly everyone. 

Putting aside British upper class privileges and its unashamed legacy of colonialism, the film at its core offers us an opportunity to reflect on what it means to live a life fully. 

Comparison to another film ‘Theory of Everything’ is inevitable. But, This is not what I was thinking. I was thinking of the man in ‘The Diving Bell and The Butterfly’. It’s a French film I saw a long time ago. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it. 

Another thing I was thinking was Henrietta Lacks. Without her, there wouldn’t have been Polio vaccines. 

It’s very fascinating to see how each life ended up intertwined. 

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Final Portrait - film

Due to bad weather forecast, I went to Palace Cinema in Balwyn this morning. 

As usual, Geoffrey Rush does a magnificent job portraying Alberto Giacometti. It’s a very intriguing character study better suited for a theatre than a film, in my opinion.  

I hated its camera work, shaky handheld frames always make me sick. It’s really a shame because I liked a washed out colour scheme of the film a lot. Very effective. 

The production design was brilliant, especially the artist’s studio. You can almost smell cigarette smoke and turpentine. And feel the dust on the floor. 

I had read some books on this sculptor but I didn’t know this story. So, it was great to see the film. As you know, you can’t go wrong with Geoffrey Rush. I don’t think I would have enjoyed the film as much as I did if he hadn’t been in it. 

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A Quiet Passion - film

Along with Edna St Vincent Millay, Emily Dickinson is my favourite American poet. Oxymoronic title aside, this film is a beautifully crafted life story of the elusive poet. 

There're two kinds of poetry in the film. Her poems are well selected and cleverly used. Dialogue itself sounds like reading expertly constructed long verses in English. I love listening to these. 

The other one is the director Terence Davies' meticulous visual poetry. Every single shot is framed with exquisite care. 

I'm not familiar with any of the cast, but, they're all superb. 

Palace Cinema in Westgarth is a lovely place, particularly on a sunny Monday afternoon. Very quiet. I like it a lot. 

Towards the end, it features one of my favourites, This World is not Conclusion. 

This World is not Conclusion. 

A Species stands beyond - 

Invisible, as Music -

But positive, as Sound -

It beckons, and it baffles - 

Philosophy, dont know - 

And through a Riddle, at the last - 

Sagacity, must go -

To guess it, puzzles scholars -

To gain it, Men have borne 

Contempt of Generations 

And Crucifixion, shown -

Faith slips - and laughs, and rallies - 

Blushes, if any see - 

Plucks at a twig of Evidence - 

And asks a Vane, the way - 

Much Gesture, from the Pulpit -

Strong Hallelujahs roll - 

Narcotics cannot still the Tooth 

That nibbles at the soul -

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Vincent Van Gogh - The Full Story

Borrowed from a local library, this three part series DVD is a joy to watch and also very educational. Presented by none other than Waldemar Januszczak. I like it a lot. 

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Utopia - film

On the eve of so-called 'Australia Day (??)', I can't think about anything better than watching this remarkable film by John Pilger. 

"We're refugees in our own country"

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'Lion' - film

I went to Palace Cinema in Balwyn this afternoon. 

This is a powerful film based on a true story. Stellar performance by, well, everyone in the cast. 

I particularly liked the first half, depicting harsh reality of life in a slum. I'm not in a position of knowing how much it actually reflects the reality, but, it was really tough to watch. That child actor was really superb. 

It's very clever the way the film intertwined the present and the past seamlessly. 

A film that makes us think, and lingers in our minds for a long time. 

A definition of a great film. 

I wasn't a big fan of the use of soundtrack by Sia at the end of the film, when film credits started to roll. 

As much as I like her as a musician, I felt the song changed the tone and texture of the film so abruptly that it lost its integrity. Well, at least for me. 

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I, Daniel Blake

Well, I somehow question my judgement on deciding to go to Palace Balwyn after work (in order to avoid 35°C heat) and see this film on Christmas Eve!

I knew this is a very important film, though. 

The hard-hitting social realism this film presents certainly blew away ostentatious, quasi 'festive' mood I had been forced to endure in a salon upon hearing so many idiotic Christmas songs recently. 

And I'm very grateful for it. 

Easily the best film I've seen this year. It deserves to be seen by anyone who is interested in social justice in our society. If not on Christmas Eve. 

By the way, the music in this trailer is 'Night' by my favourite Ludovico Einaudi. 

He's coming to Melbourne in February. 

I can't wait. 

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