How is it August already? Usually around this time of year, we’d have our flights books and our bags packed for a wintry weekend in Victoria’s capital. Of course, the world made other plans
MIFF has followed suit with their first all-streaming festival. Cheekily titled MIFF 68½, it kicks off this Thursday 6 August and runs through to 23 August.
Now, there’s a good chance that you’ll have the time to watch each and every film on this year’s stellar line-up thanks to local lockdowns and quaratines. Still, times are tough and if you don’t have the cash to splash on all the films, here’s a mixed bag of 11 that’ll keep you indoors and entertained. There’s also plenty of free shorts and online chats as well.
Now, is it your Zoom or mine for the closing night drinks?
First Cow
If there’s a Kelly Reichardt film playing anywhere, you make a date with it. Here the Meek’s Cutoff director turns her minimalist eye to the early-19th-century Oregon Territory where the arrival of a cow leads to profit – and trouble. The bad news? Tickets are already sold out for this one, so if you’re in a state that lets you head over to a friend’s house, settle in and enjoy this one from a safe physical distance.
Black Bear
Not all of my choices will be animal themed, honest. Actor-director Lawrence Michael Levine (Wild Canaries) brings us this Sundance-premiering film about a filmmaker in arrested development who inserts herself into the relationship of a warring couple. It stars Aubrey Plaza because this is a film festival and her appearance is law.
Wendy
With his latest film, Benh Zeitlin expands on the magical realism of Beasts of the Southern Wild. Indeed, when I spoke with him back in 2012, he said his next film was “going to be another big folktale.” Eight years later he made good on this. It’s a beautifully shot piece, backed by a heartbreakingly magical score from Dan Romer, that explores the delicate line between childhood and adulthood, coping with loss and the importance of hope. You may not necessarily think you’d get all of these things out of a gritty reboot of Peter Pan, but there it is.
Hong Kong Moments
It’s a massive understatement to say that Hong Kong is having a moment or two right now. Writer and documentarian Zhou Bing follows a pro-democracy protester, a tea-shop owner, a paramedic, a cab driver, a police officer and two politicians as the ‘umbrella’ demonstrations erupt across Hong Kong. A timely and important bit of viewing.
Ellie & Abbie (& Ellie’s Dead Aunt)
It’s an Australian coming-out and coming-of-age comedy with a ghostly twist! Filmmaker Monica Zanetti’s feature debut, it follows the titular Ellie (Sophie Hawkshaw) who begins crushing on classmate Abbie (Zoe Terakes, Her Own Music) and seeks advice from her dead aunt, a deceased lesbian activist visiting our mortal coil. This one is only available to watch on 19 August so get in fast.
Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky
The 250th anniversary of Cook’s arrival has prompted all sorts of commentary about his true impact on the the Aboriginal peoples of Australia. This well-timed documentary, starring Faboriginal and Black Comedy‘s Steven Oliver, invites viewers to view Cook’s landing “through First Nations eyes and the music of Indigenous singers and performers.”
The Go-Go’s
You’ll be head over heels for a music documentary that’s got the beat. Chronicling the story of the first all-female band who wrote their own songs and played their own instruments to chart big, complete with interviews from all the band members. Comes complete with an appearance from Bikini Kill’s Kathleen Hanna, which should be reason enough to tune into this doco. Does it dish out copious amounts of dirt? Our lips are sealed.
Suk Suk
MIFF presents the Australian premiere of this Hong Kong film (known as Twilight’s Kiss in some markets) about two older gay men who fall in love later in life. Ray Yeung follows his 2015 debut Front Cover with a film that is said to tackle homophobia and ageism within the microcosm of a relationship.
9to5: The Story of a Movement
This is not about the making of a film or song, but the making of a revolution. Documentarians Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert follow American Factory with this journey through the history of the fight for workplace equality, recognition and better pay. Would make a great companion piece to the SFF debut of Australia’s Women of Steel back in June. Now try and get Dolly Parton out of your head.
Wet Season
Another film we’ll be covering for Asia in Focus. Anthony Chen won the Caméra d’Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival for his debut Ilo Ilo, so this highly anticipated follow-up (which reunites the cast members Yeo Yann Yann and actor Koh Jia Ler) is high on our list. It follows the relationship between a Singaporean secondary school teacher and one of her students.
Ema
The closing night film comes from Pablo Larraín, the award-winning Chilean director of No and Jackie. With his latest film, he returns to Chile with a film MIFF describes as a “dance-drama about a couple falling apart after a failed adoption.” Sounds like a pretty decent way to spend a Sunday night.
Bonus ½: Ghosts
The ½ option is not because this is a short film, but because it’s only part of a 10-film Animation Shorts Bundle. This experimental South Korean animated film from director Park Jee-youn premiered at Annecy. The best part? It’s completely free, along with its 9 bundle companions. Indeed, most of the shorts are sponsored and free to watch across Australia.
Tickets, bundles and the full program for MIFF 68½ are all available from their website.
