Featuring our pick of the films for May ……
Paris 36 (M) 120 mins
Director: Christophe Barratier (The Chorus)
Cast: Gérard Jugnot, Clovis Cornillac, Kad Merad
Language: French
Synopsis: The setting is Spring 1936; a working-class district in the north of Paris. This neighbourhood probably had a name once but now everyone simply calls it The Faubourg. In early May, three residents of the Faubourg - Pigoil, Milou, and Jacky - still sulk over the closing of the Chansonia four months ago. Supported by the locals who live to the rhythm of Monsieur TSF's radio, the three friends decide to take hold of their destiny by producing the 'hit' musical the Chansonia has always needed. With the help of the town, and the arrival of a mysterious and beautiful young actress named Duce - Pigoil, Milou, and Jacky bring the magic of the stage back to the Chansonia.
Closed for Winter (M) 85 mins
Director:J ames Bogle
Cast: Natalie Imbruglia, Daniel Frederiksen, Deborah Kennedy
Synopsis:The emotional and poetic story of Elise, a beautiful young woman haunted by a tragic event in her youth. As Elise attempts to piece together the mystery of her sister's disappearance at the beach, twenty years before when both were children, she must face dark family secrets that have remained unspoken. As the past is revealed, Elise at last finds the courage to begin to live.
Based on Georgia Blain's critically acclaimed novel of the same title, Closed for Winter, features a stunning performance by international star Natalie Imbruglia in her first leading role.
Elegy (M) 112 mins
Director: Isabel Coixet
Cast: Penélope Cruz, Ben Kingsley, Peter Sarsgaard, Patricia Clarkson, Dennis Hopper
Synopsis: Starring Academy Award winners Penélope Cruz and Ben Kingsley, with extraordinary supporting performances from Dennis Hopper, Patricia Clarkson and Peter Sarsgaard, Elegy is based on Pulitzer Prize-winner Philip Roth's short novel The Dying Animal.
Driven by Isabel Coixet's (My Life Without Me) visually assured and deeply observant direction, Elegy charts the passionate relationship between a celebrated college professor and a young woman whose beauty both ravishes and destabilizes him. As their intimate connection transforms them-more than either could imagine-a charged sexual contest evolves into an indelible love story. With humanistic warmth, wry wit and erotic intensity, Elegy explores the power of beauty to blind, to reveal and to transform.
Tulpan (M) 99 mins
Director: Sergei Dvortsevoy
Cast: Askhat Kuchinchirekov, Samal Yeslyamova, Ondasyn Besiskbasov, Tulepbergen Baisakalov
Language: Kazakh/Russian
Subtitles: English
Synopsis: Crazy camels, dust storms and days spent chasing wayward sheep; this is the life of a shepherd on the bleak and windswept Kazakh steppes – and it is all young Asa dreams about.
After completing his naval service, Asa travels back to the Hunger steppe where his sister and her shepherd husband live a nomadic life. Although eager to care for a flock of his own, Asa is told he must get married before he can become a fully-fledged shepherd.
His one and only hope for marriage on the deserted steppe is Tulpan, the beautiful daughter of another shepherd family. Asa is disappointed to learn that Tulpan doesn't like him because she thinks his ears are too big, but he doesn't give up! Instead, he continues to dream of a life that may not be possible.
Polished, funny and utterly charming, Kazakhstan director Sergey Dvortsevoy's first feature film tells of a family not only surviving but also relishing the harsh life of nomad shepherds on a barren landscape.
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (M) 94 mins
Director: Mark Herman
Cast: Asa Butterfield, Zac Mattoon O'Brien, Domonkos Németh, Henry Kingsmill, Vera Farmiga, Cara Horgan, Zsuzsa Holl, Amber Beattie
Synopsis: Berlin 1940's. Eight year old Bruno returns from playing with his school friends to find his home bustling with preparations: his father, a Nazi officer, has just been promoted and his mother is planning a party. Bruno sees no cause for celebration: his father's new job is outside Berlin and the whole family will be moving to the countryside, forcing him to leave the home and friends he loves. His fears of loneliness are confirmed when the family arrives at their dreary, isolated house.
The Boat That Rocked (M) 132 mins
Director: Richard Curtis (Love Actually)
Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman,Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Bill Nighy
Synopsis: The Boat That Rocked is an ensemble comedy, where the romance is between the young people of the 60s and the pop music. It's about a band of DJs that captivate Britain, playing the music that defines a generation and standing up to a government that incomprehensibly prefers jazz.
In 1966 British pop music's finest era the BBC played just two hours of rock and roll every week. But pirate radio played rock and pop from the high seas 24 hours a day. And 25 million people, more than half the population of Britain, listened to the pirates every single day.
Mary and Max (PG) 92 mins
Director:Adam Elliot
Cast:Philip Seymour Hoffman, Toni Collette, Eric Bana, Barry Humphries
Synopsis:Following the success of the world wide smash hit Slumdog Millionaire, Icon Films will release Mary and Max, the claymated feature film from the Academy Award winning creators of Harvie Krumpet. Earlier this year Mary and Max opened Sundance Film Festival, becoming the first Australian film to ever open the esteemed event.
Based on a true story, Mary and Max traces the 20 year friendship of two eccentric ugly ducklings who form an accidental pen pal friendship, and subsequently learn to love, feel and accomplish their dreams.
Like Harvie Krumpet, Mary and Max is innocent but not naive, as it takes us on a journey that explores friendship, autism, taxidermy, psychiatry, alcoholism, where babies come from, obesity, trust, agoraphobia and much much more.
Awards: 2009 Sundance Film Festival: Opening Night Film
Summer Hours (M) 99 mins
Director: Olivier Assayas
Cast: Juliette Binoche, Charles Berling, Jérémie Renier, Edith Scob, Dominique Reymond
Origin: France
Language: French
Subtitles: English
Synopsis: How much or how little are we obliged to honour the wishes of our parents after they're gone? This is the question posed by Olivier Assayas in his rueful and wise new film.
In Summer Hours, the divergent paths of three forty-something siblings collide after their mother (Edith Scob), heiress to her uncle's exceptional 19th century art collection, dies suddenly, leaving them to come to terms with themselves and their differences. Adrienne (Juliette Binoche) a successful New York designer, Frédéric (Charles Berling) an economist and university professor in Paris, and Jérémie (Jérémie Renier) a dynamic businessman in China, are forced to discuss the practical details concerning the collection: preserve or sell? Display, or protect? In doing so they must confront the end of childhood, their shared memories, background and unique vision of the future.
Every moment of this wonderful film is imbued with longing, joy, regret and illumination. Incisively written, superbly acted and boasting a delicately understated approach to the subject matter, Assayas' new film moves effortlessly through its narrative with all the grace of Renoir at the height of his powers.
Easy Virtue (PG) 93 mins
Director: Stephan Elliott
Cast: Jessica Biel, Kristin Scott Thomas, Colin Firth, Ben Barnes
Synopsis: Easy Virtue marks the much-anticipated return of Australian director Stephan Elliott (The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert).
An adaptation of the 1924 play of the same name by Noel Coward (who is often regarded as the godfather of true wit and priceless dialogue), Elliott's version retains the essential qualities of the original while making it relevant to a contemporary, wider audience.
Jessica Biel plays Larita, a sexy and glamorous young American widow who marries a provincial Englishman (Narnia: Prince Caspian's Ben Barnes) after knowing him only a few days. When he takes her home to his family, she must contend with the overbearing matriarch Veronica (Scott Thomas) and the bitchy, narrow-minded sisters. A battle of wits ensues and sparks soon fly. The only reprieve in this oppressive environment is Veronica's long-suffering husband, Mr Whittaker (Firth). Renowned perfectionist Elliott brings his own flamboyant flair to this droll comedy of manners that plays on the snobberies of the English aristocracy and the mistrust of all things American.
