An end and a Beginning

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1778620953/

The Port Fairy Film Society ends its highly successful and varied 2011 season with a screening of the 2010 comedy – drama “Beginners”. Written and directed by Mike Mills this tells the story of Oliver (Ewan McGregor), a man reflecting on the life and death of his father (Christopher (Sound of Music) Plummer) while trying to forge a new relationship with a woman dealing with father issues of her own.

Beginners premiered at the 2010 Toronto film festival where it received favourable reviews.

The film is structured as a series of interconnecting flashbacks but characterised by the strong performances of the lead male actors. As the title suggests the film has the theme of new starts, of reshaping the self, of embarking on new adventures and life changing experiences.

What a great way to end the year and begin the new one!!

Those of us old enough to remember the romp through the Austrian alps in Sound of Music will be impressed that old age has not affected Christopher Plummer who gives a sound performance as a man addressing contemporary “father and son” issues.

“Beginners” has moved audiences and is an immensely moving, funny and involving film. Plummer brings a rare wit, compassion and grace to his role ably supported by Ewan McGregor.

This memorable film screens this Friday 7.30 at Port Fairy’s Reardon Theatre. Not to be missed.

And speaking of beginnings this summer brings a host of exciting films to Port Fairy. Moyne Shire in conjunction with the Port Fairy Film society brings a range of films that should not be missed. Commencing with an outdoor screening of Rio (Village Green December 28) the program includes Red Dog, Kung Fu Pandas, The Guard, Jane Eyre and many more. For program details see the Moyanana Festival program or posters around town.

This Friday 2011 Palme d'Or winner The Tree of Life

The Tree of Life trailer

Terrence Malick’s exploration of the meaning in The Treeof Life is personalized in 1950’s Texas in the relationships of the O’Brien family, butgrounded in Malick’s meditative visualization of the impermanence of life, forwhich he won the 2012 Palme d’Or .

Jack (Hunter McCraken), the eldest son and his two brothers, experience the ways of the world with itsstrictures from his authoritarian father (Brad Pitt) while encouraged to discover its joys by their loving religious mother (JessicaChastain). "There are two ways through life - the way of nature and the way ofgrace," says the voice of Jack's mother in the opening moments. The boys are drawn both ways.

With the death of a son, there is remorse and grief, the perspective of a bereaved Christianmother. Through their internal monologue we are privy to the thoughts: Why does misfortune befall the good? If there’s a higher power, who are we to it? In the opening sequence, Malick cites Job.

As an adult, the eldest son Jack( Sean Penn), an architect, still looks forpermanence in the modern world. Dreamsand memory collide in Jack's spiritual, emotional and intellectual journey ashe seeks to reconcile with the past, to reclaim his relationship with hisfather and to properly mourn the loss of his brother.

Malick (The Thin Red Line, Days of Heaven, Badlands) hasboldly visualized his ambient universal themes, using Donald Trumball (2001: A Space Odyssey) forthe beautifully evocative special effects photography, Alexandre Desplat'ssoaring music and Emmanuel Lubezki's glorious cinematography.

For his boldness, Malick haspolarized his audience. For many, the narrative is too labyrinthine, disconnectedfrom the visualizations, that in turn are considered pretentiousand unnecessary.

For Margaret Pomeranz, ABC, “thisis a most audacious, wonderful film. While it lacks a conventional narrativestructure, it has a poetic vision….I was incredibly moved by this beautifullymade film, I was also challenged by it. It doesn't get much better than that. Icannot wait to see it again.” Margaret gaveit five stars, David three stars. Leigh Paatsch, Herald Sun: Fivestars.

Peter Bradshaw, Guardian: “TerrenceMalick's film is an unashamedly epic reflection on love and loss. .. this is visionary cinema on an unashamedly huge scale: cinema that's thinking big. Malick makes anawful lot of other film-makers look timid and negligible by comparison.” Five stars.

A. O. Scott, NY Times: “moviegoers eager forrapture can find consolation — to say nothing of awe, amazement and grist forendless argument — in “The Tree of Life,” Terrence Malick’s new film, which contemplates human existencefrom the standpoint of eternity. ..

There are very few films Ican think of that convey the changing interior weather of a child’s mind withsuch fidelity and sensitivity…

The sheer beauty of this film is almost overwhelming, but as with other works of religiously minded art,its aesthetic glories are tethered to a humble and exalted purpose, which is toshine the light of the sacred on secular reality.”

TheTree of Life is certainly avisionary, emotionally immersive film that must be seen on the big screen. It screensat 7.30pm this Friday 18 November, at the Reardon Theatre, Port Fairy for thePort Fairy Film Society. All Welcome.

Next Tuesday, 22nd November at 1.30pm at the Reardon Theatre,the PFFS screens a sing-a long ”Sound of Music” for the last Classic Matinee for2011. All welcome.

TARERER FILM FESTIVAL

TARERER FILM FESTIVAL Tonight 7.30 at the Reardon Theatre, Port Fairy
Two great films from producer David Josey, curated by Wal Saunders with Archie Roache.

7.30 pm TOOMELAH

A special pre-release screening(Une Certain Regard  2011 Cannes, SFF & MIFF)

Ivan Sen(Beneath Clouds)made the film by himself over many months living in the Toomelah community, his mothers' place. A remarkable act of film making. Great acting by young Daniel who is cheeky, beautiful, himself and Tanitia. (MA15+)106 mins

Toomelah Trailer

9.20pm MAD BASTARDS

 Brendan Fletcher's story of TJ who returns home to the Kimberleys, after time in prison, to reconnect with his son Bullet and his people, himself. The film  is about the transformative effect of the spirituality in contemporary aboriginal communities. The Film has great music from the Pirgrams. It was made through a collaborative project with the local community. "Mad bastards is Music, Hunting, Family.. "

(MA 15+) 95 mins

Mad Bastards Trailer

 TFF Festival Pass $15 , Sessions $10

Big Four weeks on Port Fairy Film Society Calender …a great celebration of films and community in one small town!!

Film lovers will have a treat for the next four plus weeks in Port 

Fairy. It certainly is looking to be one of the busiest times for the 

committee commencing with the Annual General Meeting in the presence 

of some of its 230 members just prior to the monthly screening this 

Friday October 21st at 7:30pm.

This months film is titled “Of Gods and Men” a standout film at last 

years Cannes Festival and winner of the Grand Jury (Second) prize by 

acclaimed director Xavier Beauvios. Inspired by real events, this 

opens on the monastery perched in the mountains of Algeria where 

eight French trappist monks live in harmony with their Muslim 

brothers. They provide medical care and support to their community.  

When a crew of foreign workers is massacred by an Islamist 

fundamentalist group, fear sweeps the region. The army offers 

protection, and after difficult personal and collective decisions the 

monks decide to remain, despite the impending danger and violence 

beyond the monastery. David Stratton of “At the Movies fame, 

described Of Gods and Men as “The best film screened at Cannes”, and 

as “outstanding” and, “a serene, contemplative work”. He went on to 

give it four and half stars.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3877411353/

  Following close behind on Tuesday October 25th the Movie Classics 

brings the great Marx brothers hilarious double ‘Duck Soup” and “A 

Night at the Opera” screening from 1:30pm.

http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s3226791.htm

  Friday October 28th is the next date for the eagerly awaited Port 

Fairy Short Film Showcase, where local film makers will get the 

opportunity to show their short films to an appreciative audience. 

The showcase will also coincide with  “Framed “ the Independent film 

making forum, brought to Port Fairy via ABC Open, where independent 

films and film making will be open for discussion and the audience 

will meet and hear film makers and those involved in the industry. 

This night is a free event and commences at 7pm.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=261011107264391

At 1.30pm on Sunday 30 October, the Port Fairy Consolidated School

have a dress up screening of the classic “Ghostbusters”.

Great fun for the whole family!

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi984219929/

At 7.30pm on Friday November 11th, the Film 

Society hosts the Tarerer Film Festival with two indigenous films 

produced by David Jowsey. The Tarerer festival curator Wal Saunders 

has chosen pre-release “Toomelah” and “Mad Bastards” for a two film festival

around the theme of  youth. They screen at the Reardon Theatre from 7:30pm.

Toomelah http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSYkIEy7pEY

http://www.davidjowseyfilms.com/work/toomelah.aspx

Mad Bastardshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFggTphkkfI

Framed at Port Fairy: Independent Filmmaking Forum

Presented by Open Channel in collaboration with ABC Open
Supported by Film Victoria

To coincide with the Port Fairy Film Society's Short Film Showcase, Open Channel
presents Framed at Port Fairy: Independent Filmmaking Forum.

Friday October 28, 7.00pm - Reardon Theatre - Bank Street, Port Fairy FREE

A night of independent short films and discussion, with films by local filmmakers and ABC Open contributors plus a panel discussion and feedback session with documentary writer/director William Head (Night Fare, We Are Illuminated) film/TV producer Angela Lee (Hard Rubbish, With Tim Ferguson) and ABC Open Producer Colleen Hughson in conversation with Open Channel's Alex Castro.
The night offers fantastic networking opportunities for local filmmakers and opportunities to ask the panellists questions about creating and marketing their own films.

If you would like to submit a film for the Short Film Showcase you can down load a submission form here.
http://freepdfhosting.com/f1e4eed456.pdf

Presenters: William Head, Angela Lee, Colleen Hughson

Portland-raised William Head graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2009 where his graduate film, Night Fare received a number of awards and was selected for the prestigious Australian International Documentary Conference in 2010. His most recent film, We Are Illuminated received production support through the Screen Australia/Open Channel Raw Nerve program and has been selected for festivals in Russia, Mexico and the inaugural Antenna Documentary Film Festival in Sydney. In 2011 he co-founded the monthly non-fiction screening program and online Mubi channel, 'Don't You Have Docs?'. He was selected for the Film Victoria supported Crossover program which brought together teams of filmmakers and computer developers, and this has led to his involvement in an international co-production project with Renegade Films (Rockwiz, Wilfred), BBC Scotland and RTE.

Angela Lee undertook an Open Channel short course in Production and Production Management in 2009 before taking on the role of Line Producer for the Raw Nerve program overseeing four overlapping short film productions. In 2010 she was a script assessor for the Short & Sharp Pitching Competition, Producer of Raw Nerve short film Hard Rubbish, which was selected in the top 10% of TropFest entries from an international pool of more than 700. In that same year she was the Producer of the hit television show With Tim Ferguson, which aired on C31 to a weekly audience of more than 40,000. She has recently completed production on a new Raw Nerve film Phone Call, written and directed by Daniel and Jared Draperis, starring Lewis Fitz-Gerald (Crownies, The Flying Doctors, Breaker Morant) and Mark Leonard Winter (Winners & Losers, Balibo, Blame).

ABC Open Producer Colleen Hughson was born and bred in Warrnambool. A documentary maker, she has extensive experience in filmmaking and digital storytelling both as a practitioner and as a co-coordinator and facilitator for community groups and schools. Some of her award winning work includes All The Ladies, a documentary on women in Hip Hop, Chicks with Decks Skateboard Documentary and A.K.A.Girl Skater, covering the first all-girl/women skateboarding tour.

Framed at Port Fairy is part of Open Channel's Framed: Screen Industry Seminar Series. Framed is supported by Film Victoria.

ABC OPEN South West Victoria                        OPEN CHANNEL

Oranges and Sunshine

http://www.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LINK//video/screenplay/vi1971296793/

As a Fundraiser for the Relay For Life, the Warrnambool Buddhists group screens Oranges and Sunshine at the Reardon Theatre Port Fairy at 1.30 and 7.30pm Friday 7 October. Rated M 104 mins Admission $12

Oranges and Sunshine tells the story of Margaret Humphreys (Emily Watson), a social worker from Nottingham, who uncovered one of the most significant social scandals of recent times; the mass deportation of130,000 children from the United Kingdom to Australia and Canada, 7000 to Australia from 1940 to 1967. Single-handedly and against overwhelming odds, Margaret reunited thousands of families and drew worldwide attention to an extraordinary miscarriage of justice. Children as young as four had been told that their parents were dead.

When Harold Haig was 10 years old, a man in a suit came to visit. "He said to me, 'Would you like to go to this wonderful place called Australia where the sun shines all day every day and you pick oranges off the trees, live in a little white cottage by the sea and ride a horse to school?'" remembers Haig, who is 73 but looks younger, with Pete Postlethwaite cheekbones and flowing white hair. "While I was letting this sink in, he added, 'Well, you know you're an orphan, your parents are dead, you've got no family, you might as well go.'" Haig was one of the children from British care homes .

"What Margaret did for me and for thousands of child migrants is to give us back our lives, give us back our identity, and shine a light in where there was just darkness." Where would he be without Humphreys? "I have my doubts about whether I'd be here alive," he says. "You should ask, where would all of us be?"

“Jim Loach's debut is a powerful, deeply moving, understated account of a major social injustice that went unreported for many years and only this past year received an official apology from the two governments involved, those of Great Britain and Australia”(2009). Phillip French, The Guardian

“But the film, like Humphreys herself, is not an attempt at recrimination; it shows how a single individual can bring about enormous change and make a difference, where perhaps organisations, Governments, political parties and other groupings are impotent.”

“Oranges and Sunshine is a triumph of storytelling on screen and puts us through the emotional wringer - as it should.” Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile

  

“There are beautiful performances here from every member of the cast, and it's much to Loach's credit that he handles this potentially sensational material with such restraint. Above all, many scenes are incredibly moving.”, David Stratton: At the Movies, ABC Margaret and David: 4 Stars

This Fridays screening is Babies……

Four countries, four babies from birth to first steps..…a mesmerizing look at the world of babies.

This Friday night the Port Fairy Film Society is looking forward to bringing the delightful and extraordinary documentary “Babies”. It captures on film the earliest stages of the journey of humanity that are at “once unique and universal to us all.” The children are, in order of the screening Ponijao, who lives in Namibia, them Bayarjargal, who resides with his family in Mongolia, near Bayanchandmani; Mari who lives in Tokyo and Hattie from San Francisco, California.

The French film maker Thomas Blames has chosen four very contrasting parts of the world to capture the universal truths of a common existence where from the time of birth, we observe babies experience the beginning of their  journey into the world , their families, their environment  and their culture.  This is all presented in an observational style, without narration and only the occasional squeals and sounds of the babies as they interact with their surroundings, siblings, parents and animals. The film is captivating and mesmerizing in its simplicity and a joy to watch. Movie goers should find this an enjoyable and engaging way to pass the time in a warm and welcoming theatre on a Friday night.

Margaret from “At the Movies” gives “Babies” 4 **** “Babies” is Rated PG and screens at 7:30pm on Friday September 16^th at the Reardon Theatre.  All Welcome.

View the trailer http://www.madman.com.au/videos/view/2450

Tuesday Classics:                                                                  The Tuesday classics continues its current season with its second film on Tuesday September 27^th with the Classic “Paint your Wagon” from 1:30 pm at the Reardon Theatre. All welcome. 

View the Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0idoJnBAvk