Sydney Film Festival Day 4

Today's Films

The Future and Even The Rainy

Music
Waltzing Matilda & Happy Birthday played by 940 saxophonists

Knitting
Laurel Tam/Beret in Malabrigo Worsted for World Wide Knit in Public Day Part 1

Sydney Film Festival Day 3: POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold

Spurlock returns with another playful yet serious documentary. What worked for Supersize Me but didn't for Where is Osama bin Laden works again in this case.

You can't help but laugh as he attempts to not sell out whilst selling every aspect of his film. Hide ability to question his own integrity whilst driving mini-coopers, drinking only POM: Wonderful and

It is really no surprise in this advertising savvy society that everything in film is for sale for a price. True moments of insight come from brand power brokers who can shut down a film that might be adversely representing a brand and the city of Sao Paulo Brazil which has banned all outdoor advertising - it looks amazing!! A new campaign for Get-Up perhaps.

Interviews with directors like Tarrantino and Peter Berg are matter of fact and entertaining whilst admitting that brand and placement is just par for the course these days.

The best moments come when the brands let Spurlock's team are left to their own devices. humor abounds. No shocks but Noti a bad few hours in the cinema.

Sydney Film Festival Day 3: Sleeping Beauty

So how to describe this film. Let's start with opinions were divided, completely and utterly divided.

The film is being hailed as cutting edge and courageous, sorry I just don't see it. A self-involved, self-contained university student with a penchant for risky activities who seems to be willing to do anything ( established early with science experiments, a cafe closing, an office and a bar scene) is the main character.

It follows her slowly increasing involvement with a new employer where she graduates from lingerie waitress at private dinner parties to Sleeping Beauty, where drugged she sleeps through encounters with men (there is a rule for her protection).

A series of random events about a young woman exposing herself to exploitation that offers no insights. Disappointing and to be honest if a man made it we would probably be protesting in the streets.

Some fine performances and the detail built into each scene is not enough to rescue this film from its lack of direction.

Sydney Film Festival Day 3 ( my day 2)

Today's Films

Sleeping Beauty that met with much controversy and criticism at Cannes followed by Pom Wonderful Presents: the greatest movie ever sold by Super Size Me director Morgan Spurlock. An exploration of product placement, brand promotion and sponsorship in film done his way!

Festival Companion - Drk

Knitting

Kaffe Fassett stripy socks -sock 2

Selected Music
The Cure - just Like Heaven
Mark Seymour - Home Again
Michael Franti - Everyone Deserves Music


Reviews for my first day are up!

Sydney Film Festival Day 2: Sing Your Song

Sing Your Song commences with a series of quickly flashing jarring images of suffering, protests and confrontation, both a wake-up call and a glimpse of what is to come.

The film is essentially a personal account of Henry Belafonte's lifelong activism as he pursues freedom and equality. The personal costs of this, the break-down of two marriages, are treated matter-of-factly and with dignity. His children speak lovingly and respectfully of his work.

The film chronicles his post-war personal stands against segregation, his work in the freedom movement of the sixties, his passion and involvement in Africa and Haiti. Interviews with other celebrities and fellow activists are touching and detailed.

The music is there but it's secondary to his true purpose!

The strength, determination and single-mindedness are clearly evident and inspirational. At 80, when he is clearly entitled to put his feet up, he continues to work running workshops for the elders and then the young addressing the growing incarceration problem in the U.S.

Much of the films sequences are topped and tailed by Monologues by Belafonte talking direct to camera ( an implied but not heard interviewer), indulgent- probably but at his age with his history entirely forgivable.

Highlights include the trip to Mississippi with Sidney Portier to deliver $60000 cash during the Freedom Summer, his ongoing relationship with Nelson Mandela, and footage of an 80's trip to Ethiopia coupled with current interviews of their companions ( watch for the doctor that travelled with them - still moved to tears over 20 years later).

A long film but a moving one showing Belafonte's unwillingness to put his feet up when there is still work to be done!

Sydney Film Festival Day 2: Attenberg

Attenberg follows the story of a 23 year old woman in an unattractive, industrial seaside town in Greece. Dealing with her fathers steadily declining health and her own limited experience.

The lead actress is convincingly emotionally detached and heart-breakingly awkward. Small near perfect Moments of sweetness, family connection and humour are drowned out by long drawn out sequences, incoherent segments and a hundred other mediocre ideas all given a share of time.

Disappointing!

Note: There are a series of scenes where the lead character and her best friend walk endlessly back and forward imitating animals. They where the same dresses that apart from colour are perfectly matched. great care has been taken to match their heights with slightly different boots, the finishing point of the boots and the dress length ( a detail noted for Miss Fee!!). At no other point in the film did the lead actress on anything other than jeans, shirt and jumper. Bizarre and distracting

Sydney Film Festival Day 1 Coming Up

Films Today

Attenberg from Greece with a character who adores Attenborough documentaries and lives a relatively isolated life.

Sing Your Song a doco about Harry Belafonte - so some great music

Festival Companion - Gab

Knitting

Kaffe Fassett stripy socks -sock 2

Selected Music
The Herd - Sum of it All
Billy Bragg - I Keep Faith
Jebediah - Harpoon


I will try to keep up with the reviews!

Preparing for The Sydney Film Festival

Festival Guide - check
Passes - check
Snacks - check
Companions identified and meetings organized - in progress
Knitting - no idea!!!

My thoughts turn to what knitting to take

I learnt last year that trying to knit a big project is madness. It needs to be socks - but which ones. I should be working on the S62011 ......

Watch this space

Film Festival Survival Guide - Subscriber Style

Inspired by Scott Henderson's Festival Ninja's guide over at The vine I thought I should put together mine.

As a subscriber i do manage to avoid a lot of the dashing between venues but here goes

• Caffeine is both your friend and your enemy. Manage your intake so you still get a decent amount of sleep. Limit your intake or cut right back after 6:30pm


• For long haul days ( 4 or even 5 films) soup, preferably homemade, and fresh bread are a godsend. A thermos full of tea or coffee is a good investment too.


• Know your terrain - from the State Theatre identify quick and easy food runs, sit down for coffee/tea or even drink locations (i like them quiet!).


• Fun Size chocolates are a great and convenient snack. Not too much sugar but enough to get you between a couple of movies.


• Water, Water, Water always take water with you.


• Bathrooms can be difficult to get to because of the way them move people in and out of venues. Know where they are and plan to use them.


• Schedules - Competition films and sold out films will make getting into the theatre a little more of a challenge. Red Carpets take up a heap of space and will drive you to the George Street end of Market Street. Be aware of sold-out films and give yourself some extra time to get into the cinema.

Hope you enjoy your festival experience.

Moving Right Along

The last few weeks have been about mainly one thing moving our office culminating in a few very long work days over last weekend.

I have compensated for the lack of knitting time with some shopping (online).

I bought some brooches off etsy (below as pendants) and they are really great.


I have also bought an insane amount of yarn.
* Cascade 220 with Miss Fee
* Old Maiden Aunt Alpaca Silk (inspired by Lyns)
* Madelinetosh Eyre Light in Tart
* Madelinetosh Alpaca Sport in Iris
* Bendigo Luxury in Black
* Rowan Felted Tweed

Now I am trying to work out how to fit knitting in around work and the film festival. Starting in 3 days.