Raoul Peck’s biopic treads with caution, but despite its flaws it’s an accessible, gripping introduction to it subject.
Roller Dreams
Despite its exuberant archival footage, Kate Hickey’s Venice Beach skating doco never quite does justice to the themes it explores.
Maliglutit
Maliglutit offers a meticulous preservation of an endangered lifestyle unsullied by the grot of America’s cultural imperialism.
Axolotl Overkill
Helene Hegemann’s stylish debut uses its teenage abandon for a deeper reflection on the world of adult disarray.
The Party
Sally Potter’s dinner party farce boasts a distinctive style and impressive performances, emerging as a pithy but pleasing satire of the contemporary bourgeoisie.
Chauka, Please Tell Us The Time – An Interview with Arash Kamali Sarvestani and Behrouz Boochani
We spoke with directors Arash Kamali Sarvestani and Behrouz Boochani about their groundbreaking Manus Island documentary Chauka, Please Tell Us The Time.
Ama-San
Cláudia Varejão’s documentary on female Japanese shellfish divers comprises moody, living tableaus that capture informal portraits of the ama and their families.
The Forest of Lost Souls
José Pedro Lopes’ art-horror offers glimpses of the extraordinary, even if there is a lot of clutter.
Austerlitz
Sergei Loznitsa’s formally powerful Austerlitz traces the contours of loss, memory and history by recording the passage of visitors to concentration camp memorials.
We Don’t Need a Map
Warwick Thornton’s irreverent and passionate Sydney Film Festival opener tackles a broad range of pressing contemporary discussions on race, history and identity.