NZ Film Festival Reviews

NZ Film Festival Reviews 2012

The annual New Zealand International Film Festival gets underway in Auckland on July 19th and I've been lucky enough to get early access to six of the titles playing this year.

So, here's some potted reviews to maybe help you make some choices:

Undefeated - the winner of the best doco at the Oscars this year, this film could be simply described as a doco version of TV show Friday Night Lights in that it follows a college American football team who are the  underdogs and not likely to do big things. But one year, under the tutelage of Bill Courtney, a man who gives his all to the mainly black team (running them from place to place, offering sage advice on women - and aftershave to one - and helping them with school), everything came right for this team. It's about the team rather than the games and the film-makers wisely confine any of the on field action until crucial games at the end of the season by which point you're totally invested. Sure, you could argue that you can see what's coming as Bill looks after two of them in particular but what gets you out of the blind side is just how much you end up damn well caring towards the end.




The Ambassador - this guy's certainly got some balls. Mads Brugger, who'll be at the New Zealand International Film Festival this year, shows just how frighteningly easy it is to buy a diplomatic title and live the high life in countries where money talks and ethics walk. Over the course of the doco, you'll be astounded at how far he can get and how murky his world becomes as he enters the shadowy world of blood diamonds to show how far the corruption goes. But what becomes more and more apparent is how high up the chain of murky ethics goes up and how fragile it all is. It ends somewhat abruptly as the stakes become too high (which is a little frustrating) but as you watch this sharp-suited, cigar-smoking  guy get involved in chats that start with the phrase "This conversation we're about to have never happened", you'll be shocked how far he can go while blagging it. Hidden cameras catch some out but reality intrudes and invades as you realise just how high Mads set the bar for himself.



Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present - artsy farty docos sometimes try my patience to be honest. I get that these people are talented and have a vision for what they want to create. But sometimes, they're presented in a totally alienating way to those who're outside their community. So it was with a healthy scepticism that I approached this film about a Serbian performance artist who was building up to a 2010 performance at MoMA in New York. But what emerges is a surprisingly interesting and in part. utterly poignant piece about the effect an artist has on others. Her new piece, The Artist is Present, involved her sitting on a wooden chair for 8 hours a day with people spending time sat opposite her. People chose to queue for hours before to get their chance to sit opposite her - like some kind of rock god coming to town. Hardly any words are spoken and each encounter has a profoundly moving effect on both sides. Plus, when Marina's staring directly down the camera, you start to feel a part of it too - which is a peculiarly odd experience. A surprising film and one which will see you examine some of your own preconceptions about artists as a result.

Bert Stern, Original Madman - The last person to photograph Marilyn Monroe and pretty much everyone who was ever anyone, this doco takes a look at how Stern managed to revolutionise American advertising and how his trail blazed the way for those who followed. Using the traditional talking heads/ still photos format, this piece is a whirlwind of the globe trotting man, who had a rogue-ish way with women and as one describes him "terribly exciting with blue eyes," got many to fall for him. You begin to connect with the guy as his imprint over generations of advertising and celebrities starts to become more apparent. Interestingly, he was behind Lindsay Lohan's recent Marilyn inspired photoshoot - and you start to see what his appeal was. An intriguing portrait of a man unknown by many but who was severely blessed by talent and inspired many for generations to come.

Policeman - One of only two dramas I've managed to catch pre-festival, this 2011 Israeli drama is about a policeman in an elite counter terrorism unit and is as tightly wound as a spring about to snap. I'm loathe to reveal too much about this one except to say two storylines converge in a particularly violent physical and emotional outcome - it's a shock to the senses in parts which have been lulled into a false sense of security.



Monsieur Lahzar - This Canadian/French drama won an Oscar nod and features some of the strongest ever performances by child actors I've ever seen. It centres on a Bashir Lazhar, an Algerian immigrant and teacher, who comes to an elementary school after one of the teachers hangs herself in the classroom. Lazhar has his own demons as well with family killed in attacks back home. But gradually, Lazhar heals as do the children in his care. Enormously affecting, Monsieur Lazhar deals with grief, hope and offers a picture of healing which many will latch onto. The two child leads who play the kids who find the teacher hanged simply blow the adults off the screen and their simple, honest acting will resonate with many.


Keep checking back on this blog as there'll be reviews throughout the festival - and would love to hear what you've seen, rated or hated - or are looking forward to. Leave a comment below and see you at the festival!