27th March: Ray

27TH March (4TH Friday)

Ray

USA | 2004 | 152 mins | Biography, Drama, Music | Dir: Taylor Hackford

Cast: Jamie Foxx, Kerry Washington, and Regina King

Legendary rhythm and blues singer Ray Charles’ life transpires on-screen. Told in his adult life with flashbacks to his youth. Ray Charles was born into an impoverished family in Florida and had a turbulent childhood which included losing his brother and then his sight at the age of seven. He found refuge in music and sounds and found his calling and his gift behind a piano keyboard. Touring across the southern musical circuit, the soulful singer gained a reputation. His dynamic personality and tremendous talent were an explosive combination. Ray took 1940s and 1950s America by surprise. Ray pioneered the coupling of gospel and country music, and started a musical revolution with his emotional interpretations, the characteristic suit, and the big smile on his face. Ray Charles is one of the most enduring and inimitable performers in modern music.

In 2006, Ray won two Grammy Awards for its soundtrack, and in 2005 won or was nominated for six Academy Awards, four BAFTA awards and multiple other awards.

Accompanying Short Film: Things Might Grow | 2020 | John Mathieson

20th February: Lucky Grandma

20TH February (3rd Friday)

Lucky Grandma

USA | 2019 | 87 mins | Comedy, Crime, Drama | Dir: Sasie Sealy

Cast: Tsai Chin, Hsiao-Yuan Ha and Michael Tow

In the heart of Chinatown, New York, an ordinary, chain-smoking, newly-widowed 80-year-old grandma (Tsai Chin) is eager to live as an independent woman despite the worry of her family. When a local fortune teller predicts a most auspicious day in her future, Grandma decides to head to the casino and goes all-in, only to land herself on the wrong side of luck. But her fortunes appear to change when, on the bus home, the man sitting beside her suddenly expires and she absconds with his bag stuffed with US dollar bills. However, the money belongs to New York’s Chinese mob and she finds herself at the centre of a Chinatown gang war. Still, never underestimate an unflappable pensioner.

Accompanying Short Film: Looney Tunes: How to catch a duck (TO BE CONFIRMED)

21st November: COSI

21st November (Third Friday)

COSI

Australia | 1996 | 103 mins | Comedy/Drama/Music/Romance | Dir: Mark Joffe
Cast: Ben Mendelsohn, Barry Otto and Toni Collette

Lewis, a young Sydney amateur theatre director at his first experience, is offered a job with a Governmental program for the rehabilitation of mentally ill patients in a Sydney institution for mentally ill. His project is overrun by one of the patients Roy who wants to put on stage, “Cosi Fan Tutte” (Mozart). None of the patients in the cast can sing and none of them know Italian, which is the language of the libretto. Through a lot of difficulties Lewis and his cast develop a deep understanding. The play smartly adapted for the unusual cast is finally produced: lots of unforeseen situations solved ‘a la crazy way’ but indeed brilliantly. Great success and sad farewell of the director from his cast.

Make sure to pencil Cosi into your calendar and diary.

17th October: AU REVOIR LES ENFANTS [GOODBYE, CHILDREN]

17th October (Third Friday)

AU REVOIR LES ENFANTS [GOODBYE, CHILDREN]

French | 1987 | 104 mins | War/Drama | Dir: Louis Malle
Cast: Gaspard Manesse, Raphael Fejtö and Francine Racette

In 1944, upper class boy, Julien Quentin, and his brother, François, travel to Catholic boarding school in the countryside after vacations. Julien is a leader and good student and when the new student, Jean Bonnet, arrives in the school, they have friction in their relationship. However, Julien learns to respect Jean and discovers that he is Jewish, and the school’s priests are hiding him from the Nazis. They become best friends and Julien keeps the secret. When the priest Jean discovers that the servant Joseph is stealing supplies from the school to sell in the black market, he fires the youth. Soon the Gestapo arrives at school to investigate the students and the priests that run and work in the boarding school.

Between 1988 and 1989, Au Revoir Les Enfants won 28 awards, including Best Film (French Cesar Awards), and received 12 nominations, including, in 1988, for Best Foreign Language Film and for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen (US Academy Awards).

Accompanying Short Film: The Monk and the Fish
UK | 1994 | 6:41 | Animation Short | Dir:Michaël Dudok de Wit | Awards: César Award for Best Short Film (1996); Academy Award for Best Short Film (animated) (1995); BAFTA Award for Best British Short Film (1995).

19th September: THE SQUARE

19th September (Third Friday)

THE SQUARE

Australia | 2008 | 105 mins | Noir/Thriller | Dir: Nash Edgerton
Cast: David Roberts, Claire van der Boom and Joel Edgerton

Lovers, Ray and Carla, plan to burn down her house at Christmas and to run off with her husband’s drug money. Ray has a side scheme going too, taking kickbacks on the love hotel project whose construction he is managing. The suburban Aussie marrieds live across a river from each other, the much older, domesticated Ray in an upper middle-class neighbourhood, Carla on the wrong side of the water. The cheaters will lure their families to the same Christmas picnic celebration, to provide alibis while still being able to sneak off and chat about the arson. Carla’s tow-truck owner hubby, Smithy, is a fearsome tough to cross, so will the philanderers’ holiday gifts come through, or explode in their lying faces?

Between 2008 and 2011, The Square won two awards and received 15 nominations, including, in 2009, for Best Film (Film Critics Circle of Australian Awards and Australian Film Institute and Sydney Film Festival).

15th August: PERFECT DAYS

15th August (Third Friday)

PERFECT DAYS

Japan | 2023 | 125 mins | Drama/Narrative | Dir: Wim Wenders
Cast: Kôji Yakusho, Tokio Emoto and Arisa Nakano

Hirayama works as a toilet cleaner in Tokyo. He seems content with his simple life. He follows a structured everyday life and dedicates his free time to his passion for music and books. Hirayama also has a fondness for trees and photographs them. More of his past is gradually revealed through a series of unexpected encounters.

Do not underestimate the power of this gentle film, which will uplift the weariest traveller.

Between 2023 and 2025, Perfect Days won eight awards and received 42 nominations, including, in 2024, for Best International Feature Film (US Academy Awards).

Accompanying Short Film: THE PITCH
UK | 2015 | 9m | Short | Dir. John Hardwick

18th July: TUNES OF GLORY

18th July (Third Friday)

TUNES OF GLORY

UK | 1960 |106 mins | Drama/Classic | Dir: Ronald Neame
Cast: Alec Guinness. John Mills and Susannah York

Major Jock Sinclair has been in this Highland regiment since he joined as a boy piper. During World War II, as Second-in-Command, he was made acting Commanding Officer.

Now the regiment has returned to Scotland, and a new commanding officer is to be appointed. Jock’s own cleverness is pitted against his new C.O., his daughter, his girlfriend, and the other officers in the Mess.

Between 1960 and 1961, Tunes of Glory won one award, in 1960, for Best Actor (John Mills, at the Venice Film Festival) and received seven nominations, including, in 1960, for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (US Academy Awards).

20th June: BELFAST

20th June (Third Friday)

BELFAST

UK | 2021 | 98 mins | Drama/Coming of age | Dir: Kenneth Branagh
Cast: Jude Hill, Lewis McAskie and Caitríona Balfe

Belfast, 15 August 1969.

Surrounded by sporadic violence and growing danger, nine-year-old Buddy finds himself confronted with the ugly reality of sectarian conflict.

As the suffocating stranglehold of increasing turmoil tightens around his once-peaceful working-class neighbourhood, Buddy tries his best to understand ‘The Troubles’. After all, someone must be responsible for forcing people to flee their homes. Now, Buddy’s family must come face to face with a nearly impossible, life-altering decision: should they stay or should they start packing.

Between 2021 and 2023, Belfast won 60 awards, including, in 2022, for Best Original Screenplay (US Academy Awards) and received 255 nominations, including, in 2022, for Best Motion Picture of the Year (US Academy Awards) and for Best Film (BAFTA Awards) and for Best Picture (Critics Choice Awards) and, in 2023, for Best Non-American Film (Bodil Awards).

16th May 2025: I’M NOT SCARED

16th May (Third Friday)

I’M NOT SCARED

Italy | 2003 | 108 mins | Thriller/Mystery | Dir: Gabriele Salvatores
Cast: Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Dino Abbrescia and Giorgio Careccia

While playing outside one day, nine-year-old Michele discovers Filippo, who is chained to the ground at the bottom of a hole. Michele witnesses town baddie Felice nearby and suspects something bad is happening. Michele is unsure whom he should tell about his discovery, eventually spilling the beans to his closest friend.

Between 2003 and 2006, I’m Not Scared won 14 awards and received 18 nominations, including, in 2005, for Best Non-American Film (Bodil Awards).

Accompanying Short Film: La Lune Folle
UK | 2016 | 10 m | Short Drama Fantasy | Dir: Meneka Das | Cast: Siân Phillips, Tara MacGowran, Yasmin Joy Vigua, Paul Fuller, Max Campbell | Awards: Winner Rajasthan International Film Festival Best Short Film (2017); Nominee London, Dehli, British Idependent, Third Eye Asian, Ramsgate International Film Festivals.

11th April 2025: IT MUST BE HEAVEN

Palestine/France | 2019 | 97 mins | Comedy/Drama | Dir: Elia Suleiman
Cast: Elia Suleiman, Tarik Kopty and Kareem Ghneim

Like a modern Jacques Tati with a hint of Buster Keaton, the director, writer, and actor, Elia Suleiman, embodies a silent version of himself, coming up with subtle and ingenious ways to portray the Palestinian ghettoisation. This time, in search of homeliness, Suleiman’s alter ego travels from Nazareth to Europe, making the first stop at picturesque Paris to promote his movie, and then, off he goes to bustling New York City. There, he meets his friend, the actor, producer, and writer, Gael García Bernal, who is eager to lend a hand; however, it seems that his film is not Palestinian enough. But, when confronted with life’s inherent absurdity, what else is there to do but sit back and stare in bewilderment?

Between 2019 and 2021, It Must Be Heaven won six awards and received 17 nominations, including, in 2019, a Palme d’Or (Canne Film Festival) and was the Official Submission from Palestine for Best International Feature Film (US Academy Awards).