We are all guilty. Source: SBS
Run Lola Run
M
Germany, 1998
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Language: German
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Franka Potente, Moritz Bleibtreu, Ludger Pistor
What's it about?
A very relatable movie if you're pressed for time. Lola is in a real hurry, as she races against the clock to meet her boyfriend, to help him settle a major debt with his gangster boss. The film plays out in three scenarios, which demonstrate the repercussions of tiny choices and missed opportunities. This German cult classic burst onto the screen as a techno fast-paced Sliding Doors.
[link title="Run Lola Run Review" url="node/3784"]
The White Balloon
G
Iran, 1995
Genre: Family, Drama
Language: Persian
Director: Jafar Panahi
Starring: Aida Mohammadkhani, Mohsen Kafili, Fereshteh Sadre Orafaiy, Anna Borkowska, Mohammad Shahani
What's it about?
Several people try to take advantage of a little girl's innocence to hustle money her mum gave to her to buy a goldfish with. An international success and the winner of the Camera d'Or at Cannes in 1995, this charming parable celebrates tenacity, ingenuity and the wide-eyed innocence of youth. Co-written by the legendary Abbas Kiarostami (The Taste of Cherry, Close-Up, Certified Copy).
The ABCs of Love
M
France, 2020
Genre: Comedy
Language: French
Director: Noémie Saglio
Starring: Vincent Dedienne, Camélia Jordana, Samir Guesmi, Alix Poisson, Anne Charrier, Oscar Pauleau
What's it about?
Thirty-year-old adult (going on teen) Vincent babysits animals and children for a living, and his latest job is looking after 9-year-old Bart, who just moved into the building with his overworked single mum. At his new school, Bart is keen to build a cool reputation, so when everyone assumes that laid-back, eccentric Vincent is his dad, he begs him to play along, especially when his “dad’s” fun, immature behaviour delights all the kids in his class! Initially reluctant, Vincent changes his mind after falling in love with his “son’s” attractive young teacher. To spend as much time with her as possible, he does his best to make sense of the mysterious codes and expectations of his weird new tribe: the Parent–Teacher Association. But Vincent soon faces a bigger issue: How to backtrack on the huge “tiny little lie” he’s got himself into.
Airs on SBS World Movies Monday 19 April at 9:30pm, The ABCs of Love will be available to stream at SBS On Demand after broadcast.
The Red Turtle
PG
Japan, France, 2016
Genre: Drama, Animation
Director: Michaël Dudok De Wit
What's it about?
The revered Studio Ghibli joined forces with London-based artist to create this stunning, dialogue-free, animated fable set on a desert island. A shipwrecked sailor washes ashore and explores his new home. He finds a sandy beach fringed by palm trees, a swaying bamboo forest, limpid freshwater pools and a rocky incline. It's an earthly paradise that our lanky castaway is desperate to leave, but his escape plans are mysteriously thwarted. It's a simple story, akin to fairy tales or myths, illustrated in exquisite line and colour, with spectacular dream sequences. Winner of the Special Jury Prize at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
[link title="The Red Turtle review: Studio Ghibli's new animation a gorgeous island myth" url="node/87810"]
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
MA15+
Spain, 1988
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Language: Spanish
Director: Pedro Almodovar
Starring: Maria Barranco, Julieta Serrano, Antonio Banderas, Carmen Maura
What's it about?
High atop a posh Spanish penthouse, three women have had it: Pepa teeters around on stilettos as she obsesses over Iván, the lover who just jilted her by answering machine; her neurotic best friend Candela seeks refuge at Pepa's place because she recently realised her lover is a terrorist; and Iván's ex-wife Lucía was just released from a 20-year stint in a mental institution. One of them is about to commit murder unless the others can stop her.
My Big Gay Italian Wedding
M
Italy, 2018
Genre: Comedy
Language: Italian
Director: Alessandro Genovesi
Starring: Diego Abatantuono, Monica Guerritore, Cristiano Caccamo, Salvatore Esposito, Dino Abbrescia, Diana Del Bufalo
What's it about?
Antonio has finally found the love of his life, Paolo, with whom he lives happily in Berlin. Even though they are still not sure about their families’ reactions, they decide to get married in Italy, in the small village where Antonio’s parents live. His mother, Anna, immediately accepts their union, as long as all traditions are respected: the future mother-in-law will have to attend the wedding, a famous wedding planner will be in charge and the marriage will be celebrated by her husband, Roberto, the mayor of the town, who has based all his politics on hospitality and integration. Joined by their bizarre friends Benedetta and Donato, the two fiancés start to prepare the ceremony, but will Paolo’s conservative mother, Vincenza, attend the wedding? And, above all, will Roberto support his son?
Source: Supplied
Support the Girls
M
USA, 2018
Genre: Comedy
Language: English
Director: Andrew Bujalski
Starring: Regina Hall, Shayna McHayle, Haley Lu Richardson
What's it about?
Lisa is the last person you'd expect to find in a highway-side "sports bar with curves", but as general manager at Double Whammies, she's come to love the place and its customers. An incurable den mother, she nurtures and protects her girls fiercely, but over the course of one trying day, her optimism is battered from every direction... Double Whammies sells a big, weird American fantasy, but what happens when reality pokes a bunch of holes in it?
Sometimes Always Never
PG
UK, 2018
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Language: English
Director: Carl Hunter
Starring: Bill Nighy, Sam Riley, Jenny Agutter
What's it about?
Alan is a stylish tailor with moves as sharp as his suits. He has spent years searching tirelessly for his missing son Michael who stormed out over a game of Scrabble. With a body to identify and his family torn apart, Alan must repair the relationship with his younger son Peter and solve the mystery of an online player who he thinks could be Michael, so he can finally move on and reunite his family.
Roxane
PG
France, 2019
Genre: Comedy
Language: French
Director: Mélanie Auffret
Starring: Guillaume de Tonquédec, Lea Drucker, Lionel Abelanski, Kate Duchêne, Liliane Rovère
What's it about?
In an unconventional pairing, Cyrano de Bergerac meets a chicken farm in this exciting animal fable from young filmmaker Mélanie Auffret. Poultry farmer Raymond lives happily with his wife and their three children. While dedicated to producing the best eggs possible, Raymond harbours a passion for the stage, which he shares with his hens – the secret audience for his rousing performances of Edmond Rostand’s famous 1897 play, Cyrano de Bergerac. After local chicken farms suffer a devastating financial blow, Raymond comes up with a money-making scheme so crazy it just might work: broadcasting his theatrics to audiences via YouTube, co-starring his favourite hen and star-in-the-making, Roxane.
As Raymond’s unorthodox actions gradually galvanise the community into action, Roxane emerges as a tale about following one’s passions and taking a stand to fight for what you love.
Offside
PG
Iran, 2006
Genre: Comedy
Language: Farsi
Director: Jafar Panahi
Starring: Sima Mobarak-Shahi, Shayesteh Irani, Safdar Samandar
What's it about?
Tehran, and possibly the whole of Iran, is galvanised by a match to be played at the Azadi stadium between Bahrain and Iran, the victor of which will qualify for the World Cup. Although women are banned from watching, a number of them, undeterred, attempt to buy tickets and enter disguised as men. Funny and fierce in equal measure Offside was filmed during the actual Iran versus Bahrain match in Tehran in 2005.
[link title="Comedy drama ‘Offside’ shows how far women will go to watch football" url="node/206781"]
‘Offside’. Source: Madman Entertainment
