NZFF Day 15

My most looked forward to film of the festival. Oh yes, it’s Melancholia.

Thursday 11 August

Melancholia

Okay, I’m biased. I like Lars Von Trier’s films. I haven’t seen most of them, but I intend to. I mean, the man bought me one of my favourite films of all time, Dogville. When I watched Antichrist, I decided, whilst beautifully shot, I would not watch it again (and I love horror films, I like gorno, I love being challenged and shown disturbing stuff in the cinema). I couldn’t work out whether Antichrist was pro-misogyny, anti-misogyny, or just presenting misogyny (actually, it definitely wasn’t anti-misogyny). With that in mind, I was hoping that Melancholia would be more Dogville than Antichrist.

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TRAGEDIA

On Saturday, I shot a one-minute short film that I wrote, about a Sad Clown (played by Floyd Norman). You can see photos and details on the piece on my Film page.

Once the film has been screened in competition, I’ll upload it to vimeo and will embed it for all to see.

New Business of Content Panel Discussion

I went to the New Business of Content Panel Discussion that Film Wellington organised at the Film Archive last week. It was for movers and shakers in the screen industry to get together and ‘explore the relationship between corporations and local content producers and the potential opportunities of such relationships.’

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NZFF Day 12

Tuesday 09 August

Homegrown: Flights of Fantasy

I made notes. I wrote down which films were played and which I enjoyed and other thoughts. But then, I can’t remember where I put that paper, so here’s what I thought on some of the films.

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Bellydance Classes – Kelburn

The next round of Bellydance classes in Kelburn starts on Wednesday 24 August.

The class will be catered to the level that students are at. Beginners are welcome.

This 6 week block will be introducing Middle Eastern Rhythms, improvisation, isolations and layering. For Intermediate/Advanced students, we will be working on solo techniques and introducing floorwork.

More details below…

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NZFF Day 11

Cover of "Metropolis (Restored Authorized...
Cover via Amazon

Monday 08 August

Metropolis

The film was better than I remembered; it was amazing seeing it on the big screen. This restoration print included never seen before footage, found in Buenos Aires. The soundtrack was the original from 1927. Hey, that’s what I’m interested in. The soundtrack included references to La Marseillaise and Symphonie Fantastique (I wonder how the 1984 re-release soundtrack would have worked. Y’know, with Queen, Pat Benatar, and Bonnie Tyler. Ha!).

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Films and Study and Hafla

As well as writing up my blog posts from the last week of the film festival, here’s what I’m up to.

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NZFF Day 10

Sunday 07 August

The Kid With A Bike

Cyril tries to get hold of his father; his father has his bicycle. The janitor says his father moved out a month earlier. Cyril escapes the boys home where he has been left, to go to his apartment. He is found by the caregivers, who show him the empty apartment. Neither bicycle nor father are to be found. His father sold the bicycle. And thus begins the film about Cyril, the abandoned child. A woman, Samantha (Cécile de France), comes to his aid.

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NZFF Day 9

Saturday 07 August

Project Nim

The first time I heard about Project Nim was a write up in August’s Empire Magazine on Planet Of The Apes. There was a section called ‘The Other Ape Movie’, about Project Nim. Since seeing the film, I spoke to an audience member who saw Rise of Planets of the Apes and then Project Nim, and found the doco scary in contrast.

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NZFF Day 8

Day 8 of the New Zealand International Film Festival, Wellington

Friday 05 August

Aita

Ah, slow cinema. Sometimes I love you. The artiness, the joy in just showing life as it unfolds. The pretentiousness. Hang on, scratch that last part; that’s not what I enjoy.

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