We can recommend the opening night film, Blitz, directed by Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave, the Small Axe series). It is visually striking, sometimes overwhelming in recreation of the Blitz of London in 1940. Bombs fall in close-up, there are fires, ruins, as well as the population sheltering in the Underground. McQueen tells the story of a mother and the evacuation of her son, his jumping from the train and getting back to London. History, but also a number of social issues, especially racism.
Still serious, there is a new Mike Leigh film, Hard Truths. This is yet another of his tough slices of life about Black families in London. Also serious is Poison where a couple 10 years estranged after the accidental death of their son, meet at the cemetery. The meeting is angry and tense and the audience hopes for some understanding, possibilities for reconciliation.
On the lighter side are some romantic comedies. Two of them defy expectations. In Falling into Place, we have a couple meeting by chance on the Isle of Skye, really clicking and then they go their separate ways, no addresses. For most of the rest of the film, we spend time with each of them, getting to know them well and their troubles. The title indicates that they will meet again. We hope so. Then there is And Mrs, which may seem like a misprint. This one, London-set, does defy expectations. It could be described as a ‘post-modern romance’.
A documentary to recommend is Merchant/Ivory, a portrait of director, James Ivory, and his partner, producer, Ismail Merchant. We remember, especially, a Room With a View, Howard’s End, Remains of the Day. Full of information, many scenes from their films and interesting interviews with many of the actors in their films.
Many prominent films are scheduled for release in 2025 and will be reviewed then: Conclave from Robert Harris’ novel with Ralph Fiennes, The Return, the Odyssey with Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche and Firebrand with Jude Law as Henry VIII.
Festival dates
6 November - 8 December: Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Ballarat, Perth, Byron Bay and Ballina
7 November - 8 December: Sydney