NOTES ON BLINDNESS brings blind theologian John M. Hull’s audio diaries to life in vivid and profound style, compensating for some narrative shortcomings.
A Monster with a Thousand Heads
The lean new feature from Rodrigo Plá depicts violence well but can’t sustain its pseudo-political thriller conceit with enough character substance.
Francofonia
FRANCOFONIA is a satisfying and stimulating docu-fiction film by Aleksandr Sokurov (RUSSIAN ARK), exploring the cultural heritage of the Louvre through the fallout of catastrophic war.
Aquarius
AQUARIUS is a perceptive sophomore feature from director Kleber Mendonça Filho that explores the boundary between past and present, with an impressive performance from Sonia Braga.
I Smile Back
I SMILE BACK’s gamble on Sarah Silverman as a dramatic lead backfires, with a screenplay and direction that is too eager to capitalise on her public persona.
Dheepan
DHEEPAN showcases director Jacques Audiard’s talent for squeezing raw power from moments of both violence and intimacy.
Hockney
Randall Wright’s study of the life of artist David Hockney spruiks moments of sophistication, but is unfortunately far too safe for its own good, especially considering its central subject.
At Home
AT HOME is literate enough to meld various influences into a coherent product, however, its conclusions are poorly expressed and finally disappointing.
The Physician
Philipp Stölzl’s The Physician is hampered by humdrum plotting and a ludicrous failure to cleave to any semblance of real cultural history.
Dominguinhos
A documentary about Brazilian musician Dominguinhos also paints a striking portrait of a place and a time in South American cultural history.