"Potiche" - very French and very funny.

This months offering at the Port Fairy Film Society should tempt film lovers out into the cold and into the warmed up Reardon Theatre, for this very French and very funny film, complete with famous French stars and silly, farcical situations in a retro 70's setting. Based on a very successful hit comic play, Catherine Denueve plays Suzanne, the "Potiche" or submissive, housebound, trophy wife of a successful but tyrannical businessman Robert (Fabrice Luchini).

Robert is taken hostage by irate workers who go on strike at his umbrella factory and Suzanne steps in and takes charge of the factory and the situation, proving herself to be more than competent and capable. Things of course get complicated, and so the battle of the sexes and the classes ensues with comic consequences. With further great performances from Gerard Depardieu, playing a former union leader and Suzannes ex-lover ("a lovelorn political beast") and an ensemble cast of comic actors the film unfolds to be a hugely enjoyable and entertaining satire.

Critics have said of "Potiche"

"For pure pleasure of cinema, there's nothing better out there at the moment."

and

"This frothy, farcical film from Francois Ozon dotes on its star and Deneuve delivers. She's fabulous and funny. The song and dance routine she does with Depardieu is alone worth the price of a ticket." Margaret ABC

"Potiche" will be screened on Friday July 15th at 7:30pm at the Reardon Theatre Bank St. Port Fairy. It is Rated M and its running time is 110 Minutes. New and existing members always welcome. Free tea and Coffee and sweets for sale.

It's a big movie month at Port Fairy in May..

Friday May 6th: 7:30pm. Movie: "Strange Birds in Paradise" A community fundraiser for the West Papuan Association SW Victoria.

The Australia West Papua Association (SW -Vic) and the Port Fairy Film

Society are proud to present the award winning full length feature

documentary by Australian film maker. Charlie Hill-Smith, "Strange Birds in

Paradise".

Winner of the 2010 IF award for "Best Documentary" and nominated for four

AFI awards, Strange Birds in Paradise is a journey into just some of the

more than 250 West Papuan cultures.

Intercut with Hill-Smith's travelogue

and short animations, the interviews paint a picture not only of a country

with a rich musical tradition and breathtaking nature, but also of a country

weighed down by Indonesian military oppression.

A large number of retired

army generals have substantial economic interests in West Papua, and the

army uses extreme violence to keep the lid on the West Papuan population's

independence movement.

In 2006, Hill-Smith decided to return to West Papua,

this time equipped with a professional camera and all the knowledge he had

gained about the country's history.

While the Indonesian army continues to dominate the indigenous inhabitants

of West Papua, three friends gather in Melbourne to record outlawed folk

songs with renowned Australian rock musicologist David Bridie.

Charlie Hill -Smith confronts a basic question: how could these two vibrant

cultures be at war and how can the rest of the world seemingly not care?

The film features music by award winning performer, composer and frequent

visitor to SW Victoria, David Bridie.

The film is presented as a fundraiser to support educational programs about

human rights and non-violent resistance in West Papua and to support health

and education for West Papuan refugees living in camps on the PNG - West

Papua border.

entry is $12/$8 concession Rated PG, 78 Mins.

To see the film trailer go to http://www.strangebirds.com.au/

Friday May 13th: 7:30pm.Movie: "The Girl who Kicked the Hornets Nest" Rated MA 15+. A community Fundraiser for St.Patrick's School Port Fairy.

The Third film in the Millenium Trilogy based on Stieg Larssons popular crime thrillers.

It takes up where the previous two films finished with Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace) recovering in a hospital from horrendous attacks and awaiting trial for three murders. When she is released, Mikael Blomqvist (Michael Nykvist ) must prove her innocence. Meanwhile, Lisbeth is plotting her own revenge against the people who put her in this situation.

"The third and final entry in Stieg Larsson's enormously successful series is perhaps the least thrilling, but it's easily the most satisfying."

Tickets available at the door. Rated MA 15+ 147 Mins

The trailer can be viewed at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi650316057/

Friday May 20th: Usual monthly PFFS Screening. Movie: "Another Year" Rated M (UK) 130 Mins

Directed by Mike Leigh (Secrets and Lies, Vera Drake, Happy go Lucky), Starring Jim Broadbent & Ruth Sheen.

The PFFS brings yet another of Director Mike Leigh’s wonderful domestic dramas with the 2011 released "Another Year" starring Jim Broadbent, Lesley Manville and Ruth Sheen. This drama & comedy follows the story of a married couple who have managed to remain blissfully happy into their autumn years, are surrounded over the course of the four seasons of one average year by friends, colleagues, and family who all seem to suffer some degree of unhappiness.

It is described by critics as "An unassuming little masterpiece.." "Desperation and fulfilment, anxiety and warmth, pain and contentment -- all come together in the darkly splendid Another Year. " . “a deeply involving, intelligent, compassionate drama of the sort only Leigh can create” (Peter Bradshaw) ..with all the sadness and happiness that Leigh can staple onto the screen in the amalgam that is life around him”(Andrew Urban)

The Trailer can be viewed at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi4561177/

Tuesday May 24th: Tuesday PFFS Movie Classic: 1:30pm. "Rebecca"

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Laurence Olivier, Joan Fontaine and George Sanders. Rated PG 130 Minutes

Rebecca is a masterpiece of haunting atmosphere, Gothic thrills, and gripping suspense.

A lonely man, a lovely girl... struggling against the secret of Manderley….The shadow of a remembered woman came between their lips... but these two had the courage to hope... and to live their love!

The Trailer can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwneccC52fY

Final film in this 2011 Feb-May series of Classic Movie matinees; Next season August- November 2011, starts at 1.30pm on Tuesday 23 August. Concession Memberships through the PF Day Centre, Senior Citizens Club and Moyneyana House.

Have a Great May!!!!

The Tree in Port Fairy this Friday

Described as one of the better Australian films of 2010, Julie Bertuccelli’s “The Tree” has wonderful cinematography of the Australian landscape, fine acting by Charlotte Gainsbourg, Marton Csokas, Morgana Davies, Aden Young, Christian Byers, Tom Rusell, Gabriel Gotting, Penne Hackforth-Jones, Gillian Jones. It was the closing night film at the 2010 Cannes film Festival.

The Tree is the story of young Simone and her mother Dawn. After her father is killed in an accident, Simone decides her father lives on in the tree and protects them. With time the huge Morton Bay Fig Tree becomes entwined with their house. When Dawn finds herself a new love problems emerge.

Whilst it is generally agreed Bertuccelli, who wrote the screen play and directed the film, has not made a masterpiece, “this is a beautifully made film and it is beautifully acted, I think, by the entire cast. I think they are all very, very good”( David ABC). Both Margaret gave the film 3.5 Stars.

http://youtu.be/iSLTwvurWA0

The Tree is a Port Fairy Film Society screening at 7.30pm on Friday 15 April at the Reardon Theatre, Bank Street Port Fairy. Memberships are on sale from 7.15 pm. All Welcome. Free tea and coffee.

This month the Tuesday Matinee Classic, “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” with Jane Powell and Howard Keel is on the THIRD Tuesday at 1.30pm at the Reardon Theatre.

http://youtu.be/CfFFFfRwsR0

Winters Bone... an independent Classic

This Friday’s Port Fairy film is the highly acclaimed independently made "Winters Bone", Winner of the 2010 Sundance Grand Jury Prize and nominated for four academy awards including best actress for Jennifer Lawrence, the film is directed by Debra Granik and based on a novel by Daniel Woodrell.

Set in the rural poverty of the Ozark Mountains it opens with seventeen-year-old Ree Dolly (Lawrence) who sets out to track down her bail-jumping dad after he uses the family home to secure his bond. Failing to find him will mean that she, her mother and siblings will have to fend

for themselves in the bitter Ozark woods. Overcoming her kin's code of silence and threats of retribution and violence, she slowly uncovers the truth behind her father's disappearance.

Standing out in this film is Jennifer Lawrence's indomitable performance as a young woman pushed to breaking point by the will to survive, and the desire to remain loyal to local customs, is a truly standout piece of work.

Critics describe Winters Bone as "..spectacular for its humanity, austere beauty and heart stopping urgency " Wall Street Journal. ABC's "At the Movies" critics Margaret and David have both awarded it 4 and a 1/2 stars and was Margaret’s favourite film for 2010. It was also voted by Movie fans at Number 16 in the 2010 At the Movies Top 100 movies viewers poll.

Winters Bone is rated MA 15+ and screens this Friday March 18th at the Reardon Street Theatre Port Fairy at 7:30pm.

All welcome new and old members,

Free Tea and Coffee.. see you round the urn…

Kathy Sanderson President

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE_X2pDRXyY&feature=player_embedded

Film Society kicks off 2011 season with Aussie film double bill.

Hello to all our Members and welcome to another great year of screenings….

Well, as a busy and exciting Port Fairy summer film season draws to a close, the Port Fairy Film Society launches its annual 2011 program with two Australian Films as a special offer to both its loyal and new members.

Coming this Friday January 28 at the Reardon Theatre , in celebration of Australia Day, there will be a recently released beautifully crafted film from 2010 called “The Waiting City” and the r estored 1971 classic “Wake in Fright” These films are very different in many ways and display the amazing diversity in Australian film making.

“The Waiting City” which will screen at 7:30pm is rated M and is a drama and romance starring Radha Mitchell and Joel Edgerton as an outwardly happy Australian couple, who journey to Calcutta to collect their adopted baby, but on arrival find that the arrangements have yet to be finalized.

Soon, the intoxicating mystic power of the Indian city pulls them in separate and unexpected directions, and the vulnerability of their marriage begins to reveal itself. David Stratton of ABCs “At the Movies” describes it as “an intimate, complex love story of transformation “giving it a 4 star rating.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2BJx1JhGXY&feature=fvw

“Wake in Fright” which screens at 9:45 is rated M and by contrast explores much darker and challenging themes against the backdrop of male outback culture seen through the eyes of a young school teacher passing through the town of Bundayabba. He soon discovers something more sinister behind the friendliness and hospitality of the locals.

David Stratton ABC states “I think it’s a grand milestone in Australian cinema history. I am giving it 4 and a half stars.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkER6haC8bI

Wake in Fright has been unavailable for many years and only recently restored for a new audience.

The monthly Friday screenings are shown by the Port Fairy Film Society and entry is by memberships purchased at the door.

Members have a special offer of two films for the usual door price this Friday. Members who still have passes from last year will be able to use them for the January screening as 2011 memberships start from our February screening.

Thanks to all those who volunteered at the Summer movies Program.

Just a quick look at whats ahead…more detailed program will soon be available.

Fri 18 February 2011 at 7:30pm. “Gainsbourg” French Rated MA 15+ 115 minutes A surreal and evocative biopic of French composer Serge Gainsbourg growing up in the 1940’s to his transformation into the enfant terrible, womanizing and successful song writer of the 50”S and 60”s. 4 stars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQH4R2RwM1U&feature=fvw

Friday 18 March 2011 at 7:30pm. “Winters Bone” USA Rated M 100 minutes. A crime thriller about a 17 year old girl form the Ozarks who finds her criminal father in an attempt to keep her family together. “One of the films of the year”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE_X2pDRXyY

Fri 15 April 2011 at 7:30pm. “The Tree” Australian Rated M 103 minutes. Julie Bertaccellis sensitive drama, after the sudden death of her father Peter, 8 year old Simon shares a secret with her mother dawn (Charlotte Gainsbourg).She is convinced her father speaks to her though the leaves of her favorite trees and that he has come back to protect them. “Beautifully made and beautifully acted”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSLTwvurWA0&feature=player_embedded#!

Don’t forget Tuesday Classic commencing at 1.30pm Tuesday 22 February 2011 with "The King And I", shall we dance? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvbZNxZFn-g

Tell a friend about the Film Society and see you around the Urn….

Kathy Sanderson on behalf of The Committee 2011.