'Cinema Reborn' Recap
Digby travelled to Sydney to catch up on all things good at Cinema Reborn
Cinema Reborn is the brain child of Geoff Gardner, the former director of the Melbourne Film Festival and co-writer of the prolific Film Alert blog which you can find here. The festival began in response to the annual Il Cinema Ritrovato (Cinema Rediscovered) located in the northern Italian town of Bologna where restored classics were screened. Recent renditions have included retrospectives of directors like Rouben Mamoullian and plenty of Buster Keaton (they predominantly celebrate film from early cinema to the 1960s).
Digby travelled to Sydney to catch up on all the action and provides you with seven capsule reviews of seven films NOT to be missed!
Melbourne audiences can catch its rendition here starting from today (Thursday May 9) and running until Tuesday May 14 at the Lido cinemas in Glenferrie - program here.
Words by Digby Houghton
The Western captivated Hollywood’s imagination for a brief period. It reached its zenith during the 1950s at a time when America was staving off the spread of communism across the world. American exceptionalism was exported internationally through the glorious tones of technicolour that repackaged genocidal denial and Red Scare. No doubt, John T. Chance (John Wayne) in Howard Hawks’ 1959 film Rio Bravo is the revelatory embodiment of this ideology. He is the sheriff of Rio Bravo, a small town in Texas where his deputy sheriff, Dude (Dean Martin), assists him. Dude is recovering from a drinking problem (known by the town as Borachón – meaning drunk) grappling with the grief of recently losing his Mexican wife. The young gunslinging Colorado Ryan (Ricky Nelson) and the deranged Stumpy – providing endless comedic relief thanks to Walter Brennan’s performance – assist the duo as they corral attempts by Pat Wheeler (Ward Bond) to free a prisoner in their custody called Joe Burdette (Claude Akins). The gang’s futile attempts to protect Rio Bravo invokes the perceived threat of Communism during the 1950s.
There is a moment late in Peter Tammer’s touching essayistic portrait of former soldier Bill Neave where we sit in his bedroom watching him and his wife as they sleep. The scene is framed in a long shot as the blue toned moonlight basks on the bed and Bill writhes around traumatised by his memories of war as a soldier in Japan. We follow him downstairs where a closeup of three large red, presumably, sleeping tablets are seen on his table. The film’s title is borrowed from the French author Louis-Ferdinand Céline’s 1932 book Journey to the End of the Night and borrows several passages from it and the Book of Job in excerpts. During this scene we see his hands firmly clasped as he prays that he can forget his troubles but not for forgiveness. Tammer’s other notable essay film Flausfilm served as a tribute to John Flaus and was released in 2009. Journey follows a similar vein as the format of soliloquy is favoured.
Philip Brophy introduced Body Melt – his first and only feature length film – to an audience consisting of the cinematographer (Ray Argyll - now responsible for some of the best restorations in Oz film) and a hungry crowd hellbent on seeing his cult masterpiece. Brophy explained that if it weren’t for Peter Sainsbury (the UK producer of Peter Greenaway’s films and later Director of Film Development for the Australian Film Commission between 1989 and 1992) he may not have made his film. And it might seem common today that the AFC (now known as Screen Australia) funded genre films (Talk to Me, Sissy and Relic have all received financial support more recently), but Body Melt was an outlier at a time when conservatism inculcated the national film financier. Body Melt opens with a distressed man entering a service station seeking washing detergent. The man at the cash register doesn’t have much patience and starts to get angry until the guy starts drinking the detergent and driving incessantly towards Pebbles Court in Homesville screaming, “the first phase is hallucinogenic... the second phase is glandular... and the third phase is AHH, GAWD.” Thus begins Brophy's Psychedlic conquest around suburbia and back again, luring us in with the tantalising mystery of who and what ‘Vimuville’ truly is.
Capitalism reached dizzying heights during the Gilded Age (1870 – 1900) in America. Terrence Malick chooses the backdrop of the Texas panhandle during the aftermath of this cataclysmic event to stage his 1972 film Days of Heaven. The gentle steadicam demonstrates nobody could have evoked turn of the century America with such detail, at the time. Thanks to Néstor Almendros and Haskell Wexler’s cinematography we can – as it weaves and traverses time repeatedly capturing the crimson beauty of golden hour. Ennio Morricone’s waltzing and triumphant score underpin the lightest dissolve fades that are revealed like a series of layered tapestries each more immaculate than the previous one. The recent events of Covid-19 showed that capitalism cannot prepare itself for catastrophe, yet it thrives off it. Malick turns this into a reality as Sam Shepher’s farm becomes the backdrop of unforeseen events and tragedy.
3 to Go is a portmanteau film consisting of three short films by Peter Weir, Brian Hannant and Oliver Howes. Each of the directors focuses on a biographical-like portrait of character’s caught at critical junctures in their youth; Weir’s gaze concerns Michael (Serge Lazareff), the wealthy middle-class boy caught in the “Youthquake” of the early 1970s in Sydney; Hannant focuses on Wendy (Judy Morris) as she decides to move to Sydney away from quiet Tamworth; and Oliver Howes looks at Greek migrant Toula (Rita Ioannou) as her socially conservative parents constrict her lifestyle. The film was funded by the Commonwealth Film Unit which would become Film Australia in 1973 as the imminent “Revival” emerged. Of the three directors Hannant and Weir continued making films; Hannant directed the 1987 sci-fi film The Time Guardian and Weir became a household name abroad showing that early career experimentation is imperative for a healthy national film industry.
Halfway through Kathryn Millard’s 1991 documentary Light Years I started to think of Jeni Thornley’s wonderful essay film titled Memory Film which premiered at MIFF last year. Perusing the credits afterwards I could see that Thornley was a narrative consultant for the film reminding me of the close interconnections within the Australian film scene. It delicately frames Cotton as an eccentric character living in Cowra with her partner Ross McInerney. In a poignant scene Cotton narrates the inception of her 1935 photograph ‘Tea Cup Ballet’ featuring long overdrawn shadows and the sharp rigid handles of the teacups; they were purchased at Woolworths and caught her eye. Although briefly married to the infamous photographer Max Dupain, Millard does an exceptional job of allowing Cotton to steer the narrative.
Yeelen is Souleymann Cissé’s 1987 Afro-adventure film set in Mali. The film notably, and deservedly, won the Jury Prize at the Cannes film festival in the same year. In the introduction to the film Togolese Burundian film scholar Bruce Koussaba spoke of a rendezvous of his family in New Zealand where his grandma laid a curse on him. Koussaba’s words evoked the premise of Yeelen as the handsome Nianankoro (Issiaka Kane) is hunted by his father Soma (Niamanto Sanogo), who believes Nianankoro is destined to kill him. In recent years magical realism can be considered a phenomenon of the Global South (Thailand’s Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Mexico’s Alejandro González Iñárritu and Argentina’s Lucrecia Martel), no doubt courtesy of the prolific work of directors like Cissé who paved the way.
WEEKLY FILM LISTINGS
May 9 - May 15
UNKNOWN PLEASURES @ Thornbury Picture House
Love and Fascism in the 21st Century
Carmen-Sibha Keiso, 2018
Screening Tuesday 14 May, 8:20pm
ACMI
Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus
Neo Sora, 2023
Encore screening Thurs - Sun
Focus on Lily Gladstone
Lily Gladstone Shorts
Multiple directors
Screening Thurs 02 May
Certain Women
Kelly Reichardt, 2016
Screening Sat
Killers of the Flower Moon
Martin Scorcese, 2023
Screening Thur and Sun May
The Unknown Country
Morrisa Maltz, 2022
Screening Fri 10 May
Matinees
Fallen Leaves
Aki Kaurismaki 2023
Screening Fri - Sun
The Book of Solutions
Michel Gondry, 2023
Screening Tuesday 14 May
No screening this week
German Film Festival - Tix Here
Love Lies Bleeding
Rose Glass, 2024
+
Dicks: The Musical
Larry Charles, 2023
Screening Thursday 9 May
My Fair Lady
George Cukor, 1964
Screening Sun
Psycho
Alfred Hitchcock, 1960
Screening Sun
Beau is Afraid
Ari Aster, 2023
Screening Sun
The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser
Werner Herzog, 1974
Screening Mon
BBBC CINEMA (GALLERYGALLERY BRUNSWICK)
Coming soon (May / June)
No screening this week
CHINATOWN CINEMA
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Wes Ball, 2024
Screening Daily
Nothing Can't Be Undone by a Hotpot
Ding Shen, 2024
Screening daily
Spy X Family Code White
Takashi Katagiri, 2024
Limited Screenings
CINÉ-CLUB (Carlton)
Closed for winter
Mommie Dearest
Frank Perry, 1981
Screening Saturday 11 May @ 6:30pm
New Release
Housekeeping for Beginners
Goran Stolevski, 2023
Screening daily
Monster
Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2023
Screening daily
The Way, My Way
Bill Bennett, 2024
Limited Screenings
The Three Musketeers: D'artagnan
Martin Bourboulon, 2023
Limited screenings
General Release
Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus
Neo Sora, 2023
Weekend Screenings
Fremont
Babak Jalali, 2023
Screening Daily
The Taste of Things
Tran Anh Hung, 2023
Screening Daily
Mad About the Boy: The Noel Coward Story
Barnaby Thompson, 2023
Screening Daily
The Teacher’s Lounge
Ilker Çatak, 2023
Screening Daily
Jeanne Du Berry
Maïwenn, 2023
Screening Daily
Challengers
Luca Guadagnino, 2024
Screening Daily
Freud’s Last Session
Matt Brown, 2023
Screening Daily
Evil Does Not Exist
Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, 2023
Screening Daily
Robot Dreams
Pablo Berger, 2023
Screening Daily
La Chimera
Alice Rohrwacher, 2023
Screening Daily
DOGMILK DEGUSTATIONS: @ Miscellania
Going Down
Haydn Keenan, 1982
+
Set Times
Frazer Bull-Clark, 2022
Screening Wednesday 15 May (Doors 6:30pm - Film 7:30pm)
Lumière Noire (Black Light)
Med Hondo, 1994
Screening Monday 13 May @ 6:30pm
ArtsWest 353 Unimelb
GAY24 (Bar Flippy’s)
No screening this week
HITLIST (9 Gertrude St, Fitzroy)
Shut for now
Fantastic Film Festival Australia
Program Here
Cinema Reborn
Program Here
New Release
Housekeeping for Beginners
Goran Stolevski, 2023
Screening daily
Golda
Guy Nattiv, 2023
Screening Daily
Monster
Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2023
Screening daily
General Release
Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus
Neo Sora, 2023
Weekend Screenings
Fremont
Babak Jalali, 2023
Screening Daily
The Taste of Things
Tran Anh Hung, 2023
Screening Daily
The Teacher’s Lounge
Ilker Çatak, 2023
Screening Daily
Spy X Family Code White
Takashi Katagiri, 2024
Screening daily
Challengers
Luca Guadagnino, 2024
Screening Daily
Freud’s Last Session
Matt Brown, 2023
Screening Daily
Evil Does Not Exist
Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, 2023
Screening Daily
Robot Dreams
Pablo Berger, 2023
Screening Daily
Late Night with the Devil
Cairnes Brothers’, 2023
Screening Daily
Civil War
Alex Garland, 2023
Screening Daily
Monkey Man
Dev Patel, 2024
Screening Daily
OVA CLUB
No screening this week
THE MELBOURNE CINÉMATHÈQUE (ACMI)
"ALL ART IS ONE": THE VISIONARY CINEMA OF MICHAEL POWELL AND EMERIC PRESSBURGER
Black Narcissus
Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, 1947
Screening from 7pm
+
The Thief of Baghdad
Michael Powell, Ludwig Berger and Tim Whelan, 1940
Screening from 8:55pm
TOP OF THE HEAP (Tramway Hotel)
No screening this week
Psycho III
Anthony Perkins, 1986
Screening Saturday 11 May @ 8:30pm
MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY: SCREENING IDEAS
No screening this week
PALACE BALWYN / BRIGHTON / COMO / KINO / PENTRIDGE / MOONEE PONDS / WESTGARTH
German Film Festival - Tickets Here
New Releases
Housekeeping for Beginners
Goran Stolevski, 2023
Screening daily
Golda
Guy Nattiv, 2023
Screening Daily
General Release
Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus
Neo Sora, 2023
Weekend Screenings
Fremont
Babak Jalali, 2023
Screening Daily
The Taste of Things
Tran Anh Hung, 2023
Screening Daily
Mad About the Boy: The Noel Coward Story
Barnaby Thompson, 2023
Screening Daily
The Teacher’s Lounge
Ilker Çatak, 2023
Screening Daily
Evil Does Not Exist
Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, 2023
Screening Daily
Jeanne Du Berry
Maïwenn, 2023
Screening Daily
Challengers
Luca Guadagnino, 2024
Screening Daily
Freud’s Last Session
Matt Brown, 2023
Screening Daily
La Chimera
Alice Rohrwacher, 2023
Screening Daily
Late Night with the Devil
Cairnes Brothers’, 2023
Screening Daily
Civil War
Alex Garland, 2023
Screening Daily
No screening this week
New Releases
Housekeeping for Beginners
Goran Stolevski, 2023
Screening daily
Golda
Guy Nattiv, 2023
Screening Daily
Monster
Hirokazu Kore-eda, 2023
Screening daily
General Release
Fremont
Babak Jalali, 2023
Screening Daily
The Taste of Things
Tran Anh Hung, 2023
Screening Daily
Challengers
Luca Guadagnino, 2024
Screening Daily
Freud’s Last Session
Matt Brown, 2023
Screening Daily
Robot Dreams
Pablo Berger, 2023
Screening Daily
La Chimera
Alice Rohrwacher, 2023
Screening Daily
Late Night with the Devil
Cairnes Brothers’, 2023
Screening Daily
Housekeeping for Beginners
Goran Stolevski, 2023
Screening most days
The Fall Guy
David Leitch, 2024
Screening most days
The Taste of Things
Tran Anh Hung, 2023
Screening Sunday
Nashville
Robert Altman, 1975
Screening Sat 2:30pm
Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus
Neo Sora, 2023
Screening Wed 15 May
Perfect Days
Wim Wenders, 2023
Screening Thu, Sun
Challengers
Luca Guadagnino, 2024
Screening on Wed