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.
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…
NZFF Day 11
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!).
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.
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.
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.
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.
NZFF Day 7
Days Seven of the New Zealand International Film Festival 2011 (Wellington)
Thursday 04 August
Submarine
Absolutely Brilliant! Oliver Tate, Welsh teenager, has his first relationship and copes with the idea that his parent’s marriage may break up.
Picks of the NZ International Film Festival so far
One of the wonderful things about being a Film Festival Volunteer usher is that you get to see a whole lot of films. Some of the ushers have taken time off work, and are seeing 4 or 5 films a day. My 11 films so far (in under a week) is paltry compared to some. Anyway, because we ushers are seeing so many films, we get to recommend what films are worth seeing. So here are a few films to keep an eye on*:
- Tree Of Life**
- Cave Of Forgotten Dreams (3D)
- Another Earth
- Arrietty
- Incendies
- Weekend
- The Trip
- The Man From Nowhere
- 13 Assassins
- Martha Marcy May Marlene
- The Black Power Mixtape: 1969-75
- Fire In Babylon (that’s my recommendation)
And Films I’ve yet to see, but I’m majorly looking forward to…
Check out other recommendations on the 3 News site and on Andy’s Film Blog. I’ll do another one of these lists in a week or so, when we’ve all seen more films.
Which films have you seen? Which would you recommend?
Continue reading “Picks of the NZ International Film Festival so far”
NZFF Day 5
Day 5 of the 2011 New Zealand International Film Festival (Wellington)
Tuesday 02 August
Busy Times 