This year’s Sydney Film Festival is once again packed full of interesting films, both international hits and hidden gems. In this Staff Picks piece, our writing team goes through the program and picks out some of the films they are most excited to see.
What’s in the Darkness
WHAT’S IN THE DARKNESS is a stunning piece from Wang Yichun – half-procedural, half-drama – that carries an astounding sense of intimacy, pacing, and consistency for a debut film.
Fire at Sea
Gianfranco Rosi’s powerful, Berlinale Competition-selected documentary FIRE AT SEA depicts the European migrant crisis with a patience, humanity and sensitivity beyond the scope of journalism
How They Rescued ‘The Kid Stakes’ – The Story of an Australian Silent Saved by Students in the 1950s
David Donaldson, the inaugural festival director of Sydney Film Festival, writes about the re-discovery of Australian silent THE KID’S STAKES in the 1950s.
These Are the Rules
Croatian director Ognjen Sviličić’s fifth feature film’s dedication to the minimal social realist aesthetic produces some touching reflections on the family unit outside of its overarching narrative.
Sembene!
SEMBENE! is a compelling overview of the career and controversies of legendary Sengalese director Ousmane Sembene, often called the ‘Father of African Film’
From What Is Before
Lav Diaz’s epic 6-hour opus is a solid cinematic experience, more than worth a look in a theatrical context if such an opportunity presents itself.
Dope
DOPE is a moving, often hilarious look at pop culture’s effect on African American identity.
Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown
For those just beginning to dip their toes into the Godfather of Soul’s universe, one could do worse than to start their education with Alex Gibney’s Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown, on of three films by the director playing at this year’s Sydney Film Festival.
She’s Funny That Way
Peter Bogdanovich’s return to feature filmmaking in SHE’S FUNNY THAT WAY is ultimately disappointing, but not without its pleasures