“Balibo” will entertain, inform and inspire.

The Port Fairy Film Society brings the acclaimed and highly anticipated Australian Film “Balibo” to Port Fairy Reardon Theatre this Friday April 16th. This will be the fourth Australian movie shown this year and continues the high standard of Australian films on offer.

BALIBO is a powerful political thriller that tells the true story of war crimes in East Timor that have been covered up for over thirty years.

The film made by writer/director Robert Connolly and based on the book “Cover Up” by Australian journalist Jill Joliffe, tells the true story of the events of November 1975 and the fate of five Australian journalists in East Timor in the lead-up to the invasion by Indonesia. Four weeks after they go missing, the veteran foreign correspondent Roger East (Anthony La Paglia) is lured to East Timor by the young and charismatic José Ramos-Horta (Oscar Isaac) to tell the story of his country and investigate the fate of the missing men. As East's determination to uncover the truth grows, the threat of invasion intensifies and an unlikely friendship develops between the last foreign correspondent in East Timor and the man who will become President.

The magnificence of a film like Balibo is that it engages a new audience who knows nothing of this extraordinary piece of history.

Erin Free film critic from Filminc Australia describes Balibo as

“An incredible film with a well crafted script, beautiful cinematography and a touching story that exposes a deep anger and sorrow.”

Margaret Pomeranz from “At the Movies” agrees;

“I think it’s an important film for this country. I am giving it four stars”

Due to the huge demand for Film Society movies so far in 2010, there will be two planned screenings for Balibo this Friday, one at 7:30 and a later screening at 10pm. Doors open at 7:10pm.

Balibo is rated M. Free tea and coffee available.

CLASSIC MOVIES TAKE OFF IN PORT FAIRY…

"South Pacific", the 1958 musical (PG 150 mins plus interval ) starring Mitzi Gaynor, Juanita Hall and Rossano Brazzi makes this Pacific interlude one of the most popular of the Rogers and Hammerstein musicals.
"South Pacific" is the second film in our Classic Matinee season. The February screening of "Singing in the Rain" was well attended by 60 members, including residents from Moyneyana Hostel and Belfast House. There were some really lovely reminiscences from some who saw it originally at the Reardon Theatre in 1955. One viewer was an usherette at that time and another lady said with a shy smile, that she was courting.
"South Pacific" screens at 1.30pm Tuesday 23 March for members. Membership concessions for the Classic matinees can be purchased through the Port Fairy Senior Citizens Club (5568 1755) and the Port Fairy Day Centre.

BRAN NUE DAE ……Being home never felt so good

The Port Fairy Film Society is looking forward to bringing south west movie goers the eagerly awaited Australian musical “Bran Nue Dae” this Friday at the Reardon Theatre.
Set on Australia’s west coast, Bran Nue Dae is a road movie, coming of age, comedy musical which celebrates the adventure of finding home.
Bran Nue Dae is described by critics as a hybrid of film genres; musical, comedy, road-trip & love story.
Bran Nue Dae was originally a 1990 musical set in Broome, Western Australia that tells stories and highlights issues relating to Indigenous Australians in a humorous way. It was a play written by Jimmy Chi, his band “Kuckles and Friends” and was the first Aboriginal musical.
The musical has been turned into a feature film directed by Rachel Perkins starring Ernie Dingo, Geoffrey Rush, Jessica Mauboy, Missy Higgins, Deborah Mailman, Magda Szubanski and Dan Sultan.
The story is set in the summer of 1965 and centres on Willie, a young man who is filled with the life of the idyllic old pearling port of Broome - fishing, hanging out with his mates and his girl. However, his mother returns him to the religious mission for further schooling. After being punished for an act of youthful rebellion, he runs away from the mission on a journey that ultimately leads him back home.
Bran Nue Dae director Rachael Perkins does a marvellous job of creating a film that captures the energy, fun, music and cheekiness of the original play. She is quoted as saying
“…hopefully the audience will appreciate it for being light, for it being entertaining, and for it being joyous and celebratory and a little bit silly, you know, and mad, because that's what we intended it to be.”

Bran Nue Dae can't be accused of failing to be a crowd pleaser, and word of mouth should help spread the film's accomplishments.

David Stratton from “At the Movies” in his 2009/10 summer movies review says “BRAN NUE DAY represents a really enjoyable visit to the movies this summer…..I’m giving it four stars”

BRAN NUE DAE will be shown at 7:30 at the Reardon Theatre Bank St. Port Fairy. It is rated PG and has some sexual references. For one night only, so be there early as previous monthly screenings have filled fast. Your patience is asked to sign up your memberships. Doors open 7:10pm.

THE BOYS ARE BACK on Friday 19 FEBRUARY

The Port Fairy Film Society brings “The Boys are Back” to its monthly February screening from Academy Award® nominee Scott Hicks (“Shine”). The screenplay by Allan Cubitt is based on the acclaimed 2001 memoir by Simon Carr, (The Boys Are Back), an unflinchingly funny and honest recounting of his journey from grieving husband to full-contact fatherhood in the aftermath of his profound loss.

Shot on location in the stunning countryside of South Australia, and inspired by this true story, THE BOYS ARE BACK is a deeply moving, wryly confessional tale of fatherhood, that intimately evokes both the fragility and wonders of family life.

It follows a witty, wisecracking, action-oriented sportswriter (CLIVE OWEN) who, in the wake of his wife’s tragic death, finds himself in a sudden, stultifying state of single parenthood.

Left with raising two boys, a curious six year-old (NICHOLAS MCANULTY) and a rebel teen (GEORGE MACKAY) from a previous marriage, in a household devoid of feminine influence, and with an unabashed lack of rules, life becomes exuberant, instinctual, reckless . . . and on the constant verge of disaster.

United by unspoken love, conflicted by fierce feelings and in search of a road forward, the three multi-generational boys of the household, father and sons alike, must each find their own way, however tenuous, to grow up.

Their story is not just about the transforming power of a family crisis -- but the unavoidable grace of everyday life and love that gets them through.

Jim Schembri of the Age describes “the Boys are Back” as “[a] beautifully etched, deeply moving drama about single fatherhood, the best film Adelaide director Scott Hicks has made since Shine -- and the peak of Clive Owen's acting career.”

The M rated film screens at 7:30pm on Friday February 19^th at the Reardon Theatre Bank St. Port Fairy. Great new 2010 memberships are on sale at the door, with screenings of Balibo, and Bran Nu Dae coming up in the next few months.

First Classic Tuesday Matinee -- Singing in the Rain

At 1.30pm on Tuesday 23 February, the Port Fairy Film Society brings its members the first of four Classic Hollywood Musicals, Gene Kelly’s acclaimed and loved “Singing in the Rain”.

“Singing in the Rain” is one of the brightest, happiest Hollywood musicals. Set in Hollywood in 1927, Don Lockwood(Gene Kelly) and Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) are stars of the silent era about to make their first talkie movie , when Don becomes infatuated with Kathy Seldon (Debbie Reynolds).

The film has wit, humour, good acting, great dancing and songs, "You Were Meant for Me," "You Are My Lucky Star," Good Morning”,"The Broadway Melody," and of course “Singing in the Rain”.

In 1952, the NY Times reviewed its premiere: “Compounded generously of music, dance, color, spectacle and a riotous abundance of Gene Kelly, Jean Hagen and Donald O'Connor on the screen, all elements in this rainbow program are carefully contrived and guaranteed to lift the dolors of winter and put you in a buttercup mood.”

“Singing in the Rain” is widely acclaimed as one of the finest musicals Hollywood has made.

This is the first of the four Tuesday Matinee Classics that will screen at the Reardon Theatre on the Fourth Tuesday of the month February to May. The 1.30pm sessions have been scheduled to encourage members of the Senior Citizen’s Club and Day Centre to enjoy their lunch and a film on the one afternoon.

Film Society memberships are available at the door, but they can also be pre-purchased at a 50% by members of the PF Day Centre, PF Senior Citizens Club and Moyneyana House residents.

"Singing in the Rain" is rated G and runs for 103mins, but will run for longer as the Classic Matinees will have an interval.

2012 Film Program

2012 PFFS and *Community Fund Raiser* programs (Films at Reardon Theatre in Bank Street unless stated,  
 *non-Film Society screenings, separate ticketing applies)

Port Fairy Film Society Screenings at the Reardon Theatre:

·       Generally the 3^rd Friday of each month. PFFS memberships available at door from 7.15pm.   All  welcome

·       Four monthly Tuesday Matinee Classic Movies from the 30’s 40’s 50’s 60’s.    

At 1.30pm generally on the Fourth Tuesday of the Month, Feb-May & Aug- Nov. 

Admission by membership of  the Port Fairy Film Society.

Concession rates for members of the Port Fairy Senior Citizens Club, Moyneyana House Residents and the Port Fairy, Macarthur & Koroit Day Centres. All Welcome

2012

*Friday 8 June  1 & 7.30pm  THE ARTIST PG 100 mins Romantic comedy about Silent Films PFFSFR $15/$9    *Sunday 10 June 1.30pm HUGO 2D PG 127 mins Scorsese’s fantastic family adventure  PFC School 

Friday 15 June 7.30 pm  THE WOMEN ON THE SIXTH FLOOR (Fr) PG  102 mins.  It's Paris in 1962. Jean-Louis a wealthy stockbroker. (Fabrice Luchini) lives a staid existence with his socialite wife (Sandrine Kiberlain). When the maid leaves, into the residence comes Maria (Natalia Verbeke), a young, hardworking, Spanish, beauty.  Jean-Louis finds a new and enchanting world of music, mayhem, and the joie de vivre of the other Spanish servants on the sixth floor. Their simple and hardworking lives hide a love of Jean Louis responds. Phillipe le Guay’s light French comedy is a simple joy.  3.5 Stars

*Friday 6 July     CHOCOLAT M15+ 115 mins Romantic, sensual fantasy about chocolate  PFWinter W/E

Friday 20 July 7.30 pm      A SEPARATION (Iran) PG(older)  123 mins.  Ashjar Farhadi’s Oscar, Golden Bear, Cesar, GG…. winning human drama of a married couple are faced with a difficult decision - to improve the life of their child by moving to another country or to stay in Iran and look after a deteriorating parent who has Alzheimer's disease. “This exquisite film begins slowly but soon grabs you by the throat as it explores the fine line between truth, honesty, loyalty and justice.  The performances are all excellent. It’s a wonderful film.” Both Margaret & David, ABC  5 STARS!!  

 *TBC Friday 27 July ST. KILDA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 16 of  best films from Australia & O/S MA $10

Friday 17 Aug 7.30 pm  WISH YOU WERE HERE (Aust) MA  93 mins.  Four friends lose themselves in a carefree Cambodian holiday. Only three come back. Dave and Alice return home to their young family desperate for answers about Jeremy's mysterious disappearance. When Alice's sister Steph returns not long after, a nasty secret is revealed about the night her boyfriend went missing. But it is only the first of many. “This is a fine-looking film, beautifully shot and edited with terrific performances” MP 4 Stars “ I think this is a top rate Australia film” DS 4.5 Stars ATM ABC

Tuesday 28 August 1.30pm CAREFREE  (1938) 83mins PG Musical Comedy, music by Irving Berlin w Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers      Dr. Tony Flagg's friend, Steven, has problems in the relationship with his fiancée, Amanda, so he persuades her to visit Dr. Flagg. After some minor misunderstandings, she falls in love with Dr. Flagg. When he tries to use hypnosis to strengthen her feelings for Steven, things get complicated.    

*Friday 3Aug 1 &7.30pm MY WEEK WITH MARILYN M 99 mins True story young man’s week in London w Marilyn Munroe PFFSFR $15/$9    

Beautiful Kate screens 29th January 2010

Film buffs can take pleasure in another year of fascinating and diverse films brought to you by the Port Fairy Film Society. The year kicks off next Friday with Beautiful Kate, a film by first time feature director Rachael Ward.

Beautiful Kate is a 2009 Australian film starring Rachel Griffiths, Bryan Brown, Sophie Lowe and Ben Mendelsohn. Director Rachel Ward adapted the script from a 1982 novel of the same name by Newton Thornburg.

Told in parallel narratives of past and present, Beautiful Kate is the story a writer, Ned Kendall, is asked to return to the family home by his sister Sally, to say goodbye to his father who is dying. The family home is in a very remote and isolated area. While back home, Ned starts having memories of his beautiful twin sister and himself when they were children. These memories awaken long-buried secrets from the family's past.

The score of the film was developed and recorded by Australian musician Tex Perkins and co ‘Dark Horses’ member Murray Paterson.

From all accounts Beautiful Kate is a well-crafted drama with a strong emotional narrative. The narrative touches on taboo subjects that may leave some viewers uncomfortable but does so without sensationalism.

Actor Kate Ward best known for role portraying Meggie Cleary in the television mini-series The Thorn Birds has been an experienced director of short films for many years now but this is her first feature. Film Critics have been thoroughly impressed, Andrew L. Urban from Urban Cinefile, saying “Rachel Ward doesn't put a foot wrong in her debut as writer/director”. Kate said she worked on the script unpaid for 3 years; clearly her hard work on this film has paid off.

Set in the Australian outback, Beautiful Kate has been celebrated for its beautiful cinematography shot by first time feature DoP Andrew Commis.

Beautiful Kate’s is to be commended for its stunning performances from its cast. Ben Mendelsohn has been applauded for his strong performance as 40 year-old Ned Kendall and it has been said that Brian Brown’s performance in this film has been one of his best.

Brian Brown is also the co-producer of Beautiful Kate and married to director Kate Ward.

“I was just completely bowled over by the emotions in this film. It's a very strongly emotional film, with wonderful performances.” (David Stratton At the Movies (ABC))

With a rating of 94% positive at Rotten Tomatoes, Beautiful Kate was very well received critically.

Beautiful Kate screens next Friday 29th January at 7.30pm at Reardon Theatre in Bank Street Port Fairy. 2010 Memberships available at the door with free tea and coffee provided.