Culture

This year’s International Film Festival was the biggest Dunedin has ever seen, presenting the greatest selection of movies our branch of the Festival has ever been privy to. Based on critical response, whispers on the street and my own personal opinion, here are Critic’s official Festival awards:

Best Film with Famous Actors: The East

Directed by Zal Batmanglij

There’s always that one film full of Hollywood actors that you really don’t want to be your favourite from the Festival ... but deep down you know it is. At last year’s Festival it was Cabin in the Woods; this year, it’s The East.

Director Zal Batmanglij (that’s right, take off the last four letter and his surname is Batman) co-wrote the script with actress Brit Marling, who then co-starred with Alexander Skarsgard and Ellen Page. The beauty of the Festival’s Hollywood numbers is that if you missed out, you’re sure to find the film elsewhere – so get looking.

Best True Story: Behind the Candelabra

Directed by Steven Soderberg

This late addition to the Festival could not have been better received. Behind the Candelabra is Steven Soderberg’s made-for-TV movie (no Hollywood studio dared to take it on due to its strong homosexual themes) that found a place on HBO. The film tells the astonishing true story of Liberace’s twisted love affair with teenager Scott Thorson. The film has already been nominated for 15 prime time Emmy awards. I wouldn’t be surprised if it made a clean sweep.

Best Foreign Film: Child's Prose

Directed by Calin Peter Netzer

This Romanian family drama took home the coveted Golden Bear award for best film at the 2013 Berlin Film Festival. Child’s Pose follows controlling mother Cornelia (Luminita Gheorghiu), as she bribes, threatens and manipulates her son out of a manslaughter charge. This film is an intense study of family, guilt and selfishness that will leave you feeling raw, and is worth watching simply for Gheorghiu’s incredible performance.

Best Soundtrack: Only Lovers Left Alive

Directed by Jim Jarmush

Jim Jarmusch’s foray into vampire films (godamn has he classed that genre right up) feels like one very long and beautiful music video. With tunes from such artists as Kasbar Rockers, Wanda Jackson, Hot Blood (appropriate) and Black Rebel Motorcycle club, the music perfectly matches the film’s dark aesthetic and contemplative tone. Not only is the music an integral part of its style, but also the topic of much of its dialogue. If you like rock music, and for that matter, rock stars, this the film for you.

Best New Zealand Film: Gardening With Soul

Directed by Jess Yeast

As someone who is rather cynical about organised religion, I was set to find Gardening with Soul a difficult watch. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Documentarian Jess Yeast spent a year following 90-year-old Sister Loyola Galvin of Wellington to create a film not so much about religion, but spirituality.

Sister Loyola is never afraid to speak her mind and is fiercely brave in giving her two cents on the issues of feminism and child abuse in the Catholic church. She is a cheeky, fascinating and inspiring subject for a documentary, and constantly stresses what our time on Earth is really about – love.

Best Documentary: Twenty Feet From Stardom

Directed by Morgan Neville

Film is a great medium through which to raise awareness about grave and distressing world problems – “The Issues” – but there are also so many wonderful, happy stories to be told. Take Twenty Feet From Stardom, which presents a history of contemporary music from the perspective of a back-up singer. This ain’t no sob story about being underappreciated and “almost famous”: these musicians have helped to shape today’s musical landscape. Bring your hankie, this puppy’s uplifting.