NBR guide to the NZ International Film Festival – week II
A further selection from the second and concluding week's screenings.
Most of the first week selections are still showing in the second week (July 27-August 2). New selections are (in order of appearance):
- Leave No Trace (US)
Deservedly high praise for New Zealand actress Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie is not the only for this naturalistic drama about a 13-year-old living off the grid with her war veteran father (Ben Foster). Writer-director Debra Granik (Winter’s Bone). will make a personal appearance at the screening on July 28.
- Cold War (Poland)
Ida director Paweł Pawlikowski’s kaleidoscopic vision of 1950s Europe, bursting with music, dance and the turbulent love of two musicians caught between East and West.
- The Reports on Sarah and Saleem (Israel)
An East Jerusalem Arab food deliverer and a Jewish café owner have an affair that crosses more than a political line. Based on a true story.
- Zama
Argentinian director Lucrecia Martel (Gloria) won this year's Oscar for best foreign film for A Fantastic Woman and Zama (pictured) and was fourth in Sight & Sound magazine's top 40 films of 2017, chosen by some 188 critics.
- Cosy Dens (Czech Republic, 1999
A reprise from the 2000 festival, this is described as a "comic valentine" to the Prague Spring in 1967. From the same team as The Teacher, screened last year.
- Celia (New Zealand)
The only screening of Amanda Millar's documentary about prison officer and social justice advocate Celia Lashlllie is fully booked a so another is planned on August 6.
- Dogman (Italy)
Matteo Garrone (Gomorrah) returns to the scene of the crime with this based-on-fact tale of a timid dog lover driven to terrifying extremes when he hitches his star to a human beast he cannot control. Best actor award for Marcelo Fonte.
Extra screenings
These are a good guide to what's popular. Apart from Celia, These include Apostasy (Aug 6), Three Identical Strangers (Aug 7), Birds of Passage (Aug 8), You Were Never really Here (Aug 8) and Burning (Aug 9).
Full details of all festivals are at www.nziff2018.
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
