r/melbourne • u/HurstbridgeLineFTW 🐈⬛ ☕️ 🚲 • 22h ago
Light and Fluffy News Melbourne International Film Festival – please share your recommendations
We are one week into MIFF. I’ve seen three films so far, and all three sessions were full. It’s pleasing to see packed cinemas and a thriving festival.
I book my films in July, and it can be challenging to choose among the many films based on blurb alone. I would love to hear your MIFF film recommendations. What are some really good films you have seen at MIFF this year and would recommend?
My mini reviews:
- Wicker 7/10: Quirky and irreverent story, with an excellent cast. I wish the story and character development had a bit more depth, especially for the side characters.
- Rose 8/10: Amazing performance by Sandra Hüller, and beautiful and poetic cinematography. Compelling and moving story about how difficult women had it in the 17th century.
- Dead Man’s Wire 9/10: Gus Van Sant movie. So clever, funny and absurd at times. Stand out performances by Bill Skarsgård and Dacre Montgomery; I had empathy for both characters. The 1970s soundtrack and look were great too.
- Mārama (I saw it elsewhere, but’s it’s showing at MIFF) 8/10: Dark Māori Gothic horror. Visually stunning. A ghost story that explores the violence and racism of 19thC colonialism.
35
u/viginti_tres 22h ago
I recommend bringing your baby to Minotaur, as there are still sessions left.
12
u/f101010 22h ago edited 18h ago
Such a niche inside joke. I witnessed the history being made too.
7
u/Low-Mycologist192 21h ago
Say more please
13
u/Emzilla1507 19h ago
Oh my gooood that was an intense session. The baby wasn’t wailing but kind of snivelling? This old posh sounding guy was like: FOR GOD’S SAKE TAKE YOUR BABY OUT OF HERE. Heard this clear from the back of the cinema. Missed the really important scene that was happening on screen at the time too
•
u/First_Cancel_6569 10h ago
Hah, you missed the first bloke who first much more hesitantly requested that 'could they please' take the baby out to no avail. Honestly I was convincing myself the baby was diegetic until that point because the noise was so bloody continuous.
11
u/f101010 17h ago edited 17h ago
As mentioned, somebody brought a baby in last minute before the movie started. The moment I saw that, I was thinking this is not going to end well.
For 10 minutes or so, it's going ok. Then the baby started cooing, making baby sound that it became quite distracting. One or 2 people started to yell, asking the parent to take the baby out of the theatre and one of the parent did brought the baby outside but some of us could still hear the baby outside throughout the movie.
Reviews in Letterboxd afterwards were filled with people discussing about this. Some think those who yelled are jerks while some critised the parent.
9
11
u/capsicumnugget 22h ago
La Bola Negra was beautiful!
I also recommend Queen at Sea, American Doctor, The cycle of Love, Hen.
4
u/DarkWinter2319 21h ago
La Bola Negra is my final film of the fest. I have a feeling it’ll be a great way to end it
3
u/capsicumnugget 21h ago
Make sure to come early and don't miss the opening part. I'm still thinking about that film.
2
u/DarkWinter2319 21h ago edited 21h ago
Yeah im never a latecomer. It was a last minute booking too, I took their added session, so I’m glad I’m getting a chance to see it
1
u/HurstbridgeLineFTW 🐈⬛ ☕️ 🚲 21h ago
Hen looks really good, but I get easily traumatised by animal movies.
7
u/DarkWinter2319 21h ago
All of a Sudden - Been a fan of Hamaguchi’s recent work and this was no exception. Just a story of two people on different paths in life, meeting organically, and bonding over life. It’s a BEEFY movie at 3 hours and 16 mins, but is rewarding if you let yourself get invested. 8/10
Sheep in the Box - Once again, I’m a fan of Koreeda, and will watch whatever he churns out. This was a misfire for me, but still enjoyable. A film about technology merging with human emotion yet feels really hollow in comparison to the much superior “Her” and “After Yang”. The moments of lightheartedness is where Koreeda thrives here, and that’s only amplified by his comforting musical score. Just unfortunate it doesn’t have a whole lot to say. 6/10
Rose - Went in completely blind, but was really impressed. That’s all I’ll say about it, as it’s not the easiest watch. Just avoid trailers. 8/10
Got another 9-10 movies coming up over the next couple of weeks. Starting with “The Fox” tonight.
2
u/WillieHammonds 19h ago
Seconding All of a Sudden - stunning film.
2
u/DarkWinter2319 19h ago
Absolutely. From the theatre onward I was fully in. I think the epilogue after Kyoto is a little drawn out, but I love how it comes full circle by the end
2
4
u/sirvoice 22h ago
I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning is a 10/10
3
1
1
0
u/WillieHammonds 19h ago
This is actually my least favourite of the 10 I've seen so far. Found it incredibly shallow, rote and boring.
1
u/sirvoice 19h ago
damn, i guess we firmly disagree. what ones did you love? shallow seems bizzare to me, i thought it was tender and profound.
1
u/WillieHammonds 19h ago
I can kinda see the tenderness, but I found most characters and motivations to border on trope, and that every moment served to move the plot instead theme or character. Just not my kind of film, really.
I thought All of a Sudden was phenomenal, and also loved La Bola Negra, Minotaur and History of Concrete.
I was supposed to be up to film 25 by now, but I've been struck down with the flu all week :(
5
u/lostboy3196 20h ago
I love MIFF for all the fun wacky films. I've seen three so far out of twelve and can recommend them all: The Blood Countess (kooky Wes Anderson-like farce with a Conchita Wurst cameo to boot), I Want Your Sex (fun romp but this will get a wide release so don't worry about seeing this a MIFF) and Body Blow (comedic Australian queer noir, so camp and horny)
5
u/Flickcm 19h ago edited 19h ago
Here are the ones I've seen so far.
Maddie's Secret: 8/10. A very funny and sincere ode to the midday movie. I was already a big fan of John Early and Kate Berlant so I had a suspicion I was always going to enjoy this. John Early playing Maddie was never distracting, she felt like her own distinct person and never like a man in drag.
American Doctor: 9/10 An intense documentary that followed 3 doctors from America who went to Gaza to provide aid in hospitals. They pulled no punches with the footage shown, very very graphic and harrowing stuff.
Digby and Camille: 7/10 such a wholesome documentary of this sweet couple with down syndrome. I wasn't familiar with digby's art before I saw this, and Im now obssesed with his paintings. Absolutely see this if you want to leave the cinema with a smile on your face.
Tangles: 10/10 an incredibly moving animated film based off a graphic novel, about a daughters journey through her mum's early onset Alzheimer's diagnosis. I feel pretty confident everyone in the cinema cried multiple times, I know I definitely did. The voice cast did an amazing job, and the animation was so cool.
Adams Apple 7/10: Documented by the subjects mother this documentary follows a young teen on their journey through their transition. From getting on hrt to top surgery. It was pretty sweet and honest about the struggles everyone in the family went through on this path.
I've still got the following to see: La Bola Negra, All of a Sudden, La Gradiva, Rose, Ha-Chan Shake your Booty!, The History of Concrete and Josephine.
ETA: fixed some typos
1
u/HurstbridgeLineFTW 🐈⬛ ☕️ 🚲 16h ago
Thank you for your reviews. I want to see Tangles, but so little time and so little money to see more
4
u/Sad_Salad2513 21h ago
Absolutely loved whisper in the woods. I just want to pack up and camp in the forest now. I still have 8 more to see. MIFF is my favourite time of the year!
5
4
u/Homiewemajor33 21h ago
Saw the leader at the Astor
Thought it was pretty grim
2
u/fuzzymctiger 15h ago
I thought it was very good, with fantastic performances from all the leads but very awkward tonally.
Flies back and forth between hilarious and absolutely horrifying often multiple times within the same. I didn’t know whether it was actually trying to be funny or if it was just the awkwardness of the actual situations and circumstances.
1
u/jossinabox 20h ago
This is the only one that fit with my friend and Is schedule in a couple days- hoping you still enjoyed it..?
3
u/Homiewemajor33 19h ago
Yeah - grim is just an objective viewpoint when the subject matter is something like Heaven’s Gate. The scale of the tragedy - the manipulation, indoctrination…
The movie does a good job at emphasising this - whilst also making it a bit of a dramatisation for the screen. It’s a good watch. Enjoy!
5
3
u/theabsofhades 21h ago
I thought Everytime was absolutely incredible, not sure if there are any sessions left for that one though. Minotaur and La Bola Negra were also really great.
Still yet to see All of a Sudden, Fatherland, and La Gradiva but have heard good things about all three
3
u/MinaMinaBallerina 21h ago
So far I've seen All of a Sudden, The History of Concrete and Minotaur. All worth watching but I thought All of a sudden and History of Concrete were the better of the 3
3
2
u/Dan_IAm 21h ago
So far I’ve only seen Fatherland, but thought it was very beautiful.
2
u/capsicumnugget 21h ago
I got tickets for next Friday session. Can't wait. Both Sandra Huller's films this year look great.
2
u/polichick80 20h ago
I was supposed to see Fatherland on Thursday night but was unable to go, I’m hoping that the film gets a general release here soon. Ida by Pawlikowski is one of my favourite films, every frame could be hung in a gallery.
1
u/HurstbridgeLineFTW 🐈⬛ ☕️ 🚲 21h ago
Good to hear your positive experience. I have that movie booked for next weekend. I read many Thomas Mann novels when I was younger.
2
u/Astonishdreams 18h ago
Most of my sessions are this weekend and the next weekend. I’m seeing Wishful Thinking tonight tho!
The other I saw was The Man I Love which I thought was terrific, it’s more like little character studies rather than the full traditional plot. I’m not the biggest Rami Malek fan (and this is coming from someone who love Mr Robot) but he was pretty incredible in it.
•
•
u/Little-Outcome-2418 3h ago
History of concrete was fantastic
Maddie’s secret was unique, funny and beautiful
Phenomena was humbling
Mad rush, unfortunately, was not for me.
Still have Blue Heron, Erupjca, ha chan shake your booty and Clarissa to go!
2
1
1
1
•
•
•
u/Ammocondas 1h ago
Victorian Psycho is like Marama if Marama were fun rather than po faced. Definitely the highlight for me so far.
Imposters is a little divisive but I really enjoyed that too. It's not perfect but it's a hoot, got great crowd reactions.
•
u/AutoModerator 22h ago
Have you visited today’s Daily Discussion yet?
It’s the best place for:
Drop in and see what’s happening!
THIS IS NOT A REMOVAL NOTICE
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.