AFRICAN-EUROPEAN CO-PRO TO OPEN EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL IN SA

 

(Above: An image from “Goodbye Julia”. Pic supplied)

The celebratory 10th edition of the European Film Festival in South Africa, opens with the African–European film Goodbye Julia, set in Sudan, at Ster-Kinekor’s The Zone in Rosebank, Johannesburg on October 12, 2023.

Goodbye Julia is a remarkable six-country coproduction between Sudan, Egypt, Germany, France, Sweden and Saudi-Arabia, and the first film from Sudan ever to be presented in the Un Certain Regard competition at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the prestigious Prix de la Liberté (Freedom Award).  

The film tells the story of two women who represent the complicated relationship and differences between northern and southern Sudanese communities. The multi-layered narrative takes place in Khartoum during the last years of Sudan as a united country, shortly before the 2011 separation of South Sudan.

Supported by superb cinematography by South African Pierre de Villiers and a moving musical score by Sudanese musician Mazin Hamid recorded during ongoing clashes between the military and civil society in Khartoum, this is a powerful directorial debut by the largely self-taught filmmaker Mohamed Kordofani. Pierre de Villiers, will be in attendance at screenings of the film in Johannesburg and Cape Town, and will also present cinematography workshops at film schools in both cities during the festival.

After kicking off the festival on October 12, Goodbye Julia will have subsequent screenings on October 22 at The Labia, Cape Town, and on October 21 at Ster-Kinekor Gateway, Durban.

 

African stories

(Above: An image from “Nayola”. Pic supplied)

Connecting the festival more closely to the contexts and the continent in which this festival takes place, Goodbye Julia is one of three African stories in this year’s festival. At the heart of the film Mother, directed by Bulgarian Zornitsa Sophia, is the unfolding of the narrative in Kenya, where a theatre director undergoes profound transformation during her experiences at a local orphanage in Kibera, often called one of the biggest slums in Africa. Mother is based on the true story of artist and cultural activist Elena Panyatova. Nayola, directed by José Miguel Ribeiro, is a thrilling animated story about three generations of women plagued by the long civil war in Angola. Based on a play by José Eduardo Agualusa and Mia Couto, Nayola is bold and thrilling storytelling alive with vivid eye-candy animation!

The European Film Festival runs from October 12-22, 2023, with screenings in cinemas, as well as online. Visit www.eurofilmfest.co.za for the film synopses, trailers and screening schedules.

The European Film Festival 2023 is a partnership project of the Delegation of the European Union to South Africa; the participating European embassies of Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine; and the cultural agencies of British Council, Camoes Institute of Portugal, Diplomatic Representation of Flanders, French Institute in South Africa, Goethe-Institut and Italian Cultural Institute.  The festival is organised in cooperation with Cineuropa, supported by Ster Kinekor, The Labia and coordinated by Creative WorkZone.

 

NOTE:  The opening film screens on October 21 at Ster-Kinekor Gateway, Durban, October 12 at The Zone, JHB, and October 22 at The Labia, Cape Town.

The fest is also available online (11 of the 16 films)

GARDEN FAIR 2023

 

(Right: Bradley Raath from Potting Shed Garden Centre, one of the organisers of the 1000 Hills Tourism Garden Fair, with Colette Norris from Horti Couture – one of the organisers of the 1000 Hills Tourism Garden Fair. Pic by Harry Lock)

To celebrate spring, and honour our natural heritage, there will be a glorious Garden Fair at View Top Farm in Hillcrest (home to NU Driving Range) over Heritage long weekend, September 23 and 24, supported by 1000 Hills Tourism.

To plan for spring, when garden preparation starts in earnest, a selection of growers; nurseries; retailers; garden product suppliers; manufacturers; landscapers; and those involved in the garden industry have been invited to showcase their wares and services in a farm-type setting catering for those with a tiny green space, patio, window box or indoor garden; to those with larger properties and subsistence farmers.  Provision will be made to promote water-wise gardens.

Garden Fair 2023 has come about after numerous requests from growers and gardeners for an opportunity to showcase, buy and sell plants and products in the light of the Royal Show Grounds in Pietermaritzburg being sold and no longer available for the Witness Garden Show – which was always a calendar highlight.

1000 Hills Tourism has partnered to assist in marketing the new Garden Fair to be held on View Top Farm in Hillcrest which is the home to the NU Driving Range, Paintball, 4 x 4 course, Golf Academy, Putt-Putt course, new nine-hole golf course, and more. There will be food and coffee outlets and a kiddies area on site.

Understanding that now is the time to get your garden summer ready, 1000 Hills Tourism invite garden lovers to visit the Garden Fair over Heritage long weekend, as well as consider creating a plant and garden-themed self-drive 1000 Hills meander by also visiting some extensive nurseries in the Valley of 1000 hills - such as Potting Shed Garden Centre at Pot & Kettle; Ludwig’s Star Roses; Macnut Farm (especially their Sunday Fresh Produce Market); Shongweni Market; Stonehouse; Woza Moya; Pilgrim's Rest; the Mushroom Farm; Fig Tree Farm and over the Heritage weekend while Umgeni Steam Railway is running, visit Inchanga Craft Market at Inchanga Station which has stalls selling plants.

The event is FREE to the public.

Stand Holders will be charged minimal fees just to cover expenses. There are still stalls available. Well-behaved dogs on a leash are welcome

The fair is open from 08h30 until 16h00 situated at the NU Driving Range in Shongweni Road, Hillcrest.

From PMB / Durban – travel on M13 – take exit 31 (Plantations / Shongweni offramp)

From Hillcrest – continue straight down Shongweni Road (past Plantations) and over the M13.

For more information contact gardenfairkzn@gmail.com

MONDAY @ 6 AT ST CLEMENTS: CHRIS NICHOLSON

Pieter Scholtz and friends invite patrons to a book launch. Elgar’s Secret Lover by Chris Nicholson, author, scholar and retired judge on October 2, 2023. Nicholson will read, share Elgar’s music and discuss this musical thriller about British composer, Sir Edward Elgar: his loves, his life and secret muse in the creation of his masterpiece, the Enigma Variations.

About the book: When old friend Arnold Chater Q C sends retired Norwegian Judge Christofferson a yellowing manuscript with the mysterious initials G B on the first page, the latter starts a quest to seek the truth about British composer Sir Edward Elgar’s secret muse in his masterpiece, the Enigma Variations, and whether he fathered an illegitimate child.

Fascinated with riddles and puzzles, the composer was in the habit of leaving a series of codes denoting the inspiration for his timeless compositions. But in the Enigma Variations, Elgar forsook his usual practice of inserting initials to honour his muse, explicitly refusing to name his great love by using a mysterious ellipsis. Cheekily, he gives a clue about his inspiration in the violin concerto with the words, “Here is enshrined the soul of …”

Nicholson’s seminal musical thriller, Elgar’s Secret Lover weaves an amazing tale with enigmas piled on riddles. Nicholson flagrantly delights in leading readers on a breathless chase of the women who were extraordinarily important in Elgar’s life.

At the same time, he also unmasks Elgar as a man who hid himself and his intimate affairs behind a mask of respectability.

Nicholson is merciless in the details of Elgar’s life, loves and music, deciphering all the clues and delivering the final judgment as only he can.

“Christopher Nicholson’s book about the great English composer Sir Edward Elgar is as enthralling as it is illuminating… [it] is an important contribution not just to our thinking about Elgar, but also to the extant literature about artists and their muses.” — Christopher Ballantine, LG Joel Professor of Music Emeritus and University Fellow, University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Copies of Elgar’s Secret Love by Chris Nicholson will be on sale at a special introductory price of R150 per copy. Or enjoy Nicholson’s special offer: “Buy two and pay for both.”   Message from Val, who will handle book sales: “Please bring cash!”

Chris is the author of six previously published books including Papwa Sewgolum, from Pariah to Legend; Permanent Removal: Who Killed the Cradock Four; and The Level Playing Field (An inspirational account of Pietermaritzburg’s Aurora Cricket Club).

If you buy the book, feel welcome to ignore the donations box. Otherwise, as is the norm, please drop in least R50 per person. St Clements plans to have this event outdoors. If it’s chilly, remember to dress warmly. If it rains, they will need to set up indoors.

Bookings limited to diners in support of St Clements restaurant and staff. They stay open specially for the Mondays @ 6 at St Clements events.

Table Bookings Essential: RSVP ST Clements 031 202 2511

Be there in time to order before the performance, scheduled to start at 18h00.

Please cancel if you book then can’t make as they often close booking due to space constraints — and this one is sure to be fully booked.

 

KUTLWANO MASOTE FOR MUSIC REVIVAL CONCERT

 

(Left: Kutlwano Masote. Pic supplied)

Music Revival is thrilled to welcome SAfm presenter Kutlwano Masote in a special evening event on Friday September 29. In conversation about his journey as a musician, introducing some of his favourite music which will Christopher will play, he will also be playing the cello in a popular selection.

Local fans will also have opportunity to hear his magical words and music at Woodgrove and Amber Valley on Thursday September 28. Details below.

For their Ballito audiences - their new venue at the All Souls Anglican Church in Salt Rock starts Sunday September 24 at 15h00.

Please keep your eyes open for an Open House & Garden Weekend mid-October at Casa Mexicana (depending on the weather forecast)!

 

Music Revival Concert for September - An Evening with Kutlwano Masote.

Popular radio personality and presenter Kutlwano Masote, of SAfm’s Weekend Sundowner Classics broadcast every Saturday and Sunday afternoons, will be in conversation with Music Revival’s Christopher Duigan. He will also introduce a selection of his favourite music (which Duigan will play), and play the cello in a short selection of favourites.

Kutlwano Masote was raised in a rich classical music environment, excelling on the cello, and has been a professional classical music practitioner for nearly 30 years. He made his professional conducting debut in 2006 in a concert of the music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo with accompanied by full orchestra. In 2007, he conducted the Todd Matshikiza Retrospective Concert at the State Theatre. During the MIAGI Festival of 2008, Masote conducted the world-premiere Coming Home, a jazz gospel cantata by Isak Roux. Some of the mainstream artists he has conducted include Sibongile Khumalo, Jamali, Elvis Blue, Lira and Yvonne Chaka Chaka. His appetite for bridging the gap between different performance traditions has seen him undertake projects to orchestrate music from multiple genres for Khuli Chana, Kwesta, Maleh, Brenda Mntambo and others.

Music Revival: An Evening with Kutlwano Masote takes place on September 29, 2023, at 19h00 at Casa Mexicana, 35 Montgomery Drive, in Pietermaritzburg. Booking through booking@musicrevival.co.za

Tickets: R150 plus add on R150 for a light meal after. There is secure parking. Booking is essential - Please include your contact numbers in all email bookings.

Book via WhatsApp 0834174473 or booking@musicrevival.co.za

This programme is open to all and will also be presented at:

Woodgrove - Community Centre on September 28 at 15h30. Tickets R100. Booking is essential via WhatsApp 0834174473 or booking@musicrevival.co.za

Amber Valley - Howick on September 28 at 19h00. Tickets R80. Book at Amber office - Open to residents and their guests only

 

(Right: Christopher Duigan. Pic by Val Adamson)

Classic Icons

For the opening concert of Music Revival’s new series at the All Souls Anglican Church on September 24 at 15h00 in Umhlali, Christopher Duigan plays a programme of concert favourites that has been received with popular acclaim in previous performances. His programme Classic Icons features a number of the most regularly programmed and directly appealing works of the standard concert piano repertoire.

This includes Beethoven - Sonata op. 57 ‘Appassionata’, music by Mozart and Chopin, and Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12.

This will be Music Revival’s first concert at the venue. Tickets: R150 include tea and refreshments at interval. Booking preferred via WhatsApp 0834174473 or booking@musicrevival.co.za

All Souls Anglican Church is situated on Sheffield Beach Road, Umhlali / Salt Rock.

 

Romantic Favourites

In the presentation Romance on October 1 at 12h00, Christopher Duigan plays romantic favourites from the vast piano repertoire. Includes Liebestraum No. 3, Chopin - Nocturnes, Debussy - Rêverie and Sinding’s Rustle of Spring!

This will take place at Casa Mexicana, 35 Montgomery Drive, Pietermaritzburg

Tickets: R100. Booking is essential. Please include your contact numbers in all email bookings. Book via WhatsApp 0834174473 or booking@musicrevival.co.za

There is secure parking.

MUSIC IN THE HILLS (MITH) SEPTEMBER 27 2023

 

(Above: N’den: Thulile Zama & pianist David Smith)

Arguably the KZN Midlands’ best-loved music venue, Music in The Hills (MiTH) is an opportunity for beginners, professionals, and passionate music fans to share the joy of music at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm in Hilton.

 

19h00: Jes Bedingfield

Jes Bedingfield is a creative in many things. One of her things is four-stringed instruments, like bass guitar and ukulele.

Having played in more than 10 bands over her 15 years as a musician, she is now branching out as a solo artist with her instrument of choice: the ukulele. Jes's husky voice compliments the sound of the uke, and she will be playing an eclectic collection of covers. From bizarre songs that you may have never heard before, to songs that make you want to sing along, and songs that make you go, "Ahh! Remember the good times we had!”

 

20h00: Lukin Joshua

Lukin Joshua is a Johannesburg-born, Cape Town-based indie-folk solo singer-songwriter, loop artist, multi-instrumentalist and music producer. Lukin is best known for his ability to entertain crowds all over the country through the magic of looping different sounds and instruments over each other. Whether you're a canoe-on-a-pond kind of person or a full-on adrenaline junkie, he's sure to get you moving.

Lukin has shared the stage with South African artists like Springbok Nude Girls, and Black Cat Bones, and performed at Splashy Fen in 2023.

 

21h00: N’Den

N’den is proud to share original music from their debut offering Sisingathiwe which dropped on all digital music platforms on June 16, 2023. The album echoes the essence of guardianship, warmth, protection, and love for humanity. It weaves around a musical collaboration brewed within the quirky nature of the duo's camaraderie and stylistic nuances that straddle Jazz, neo-soul, and a hint of contemporary Durban jazz feel. With a friendship of nearly two decades, the originality and musical chemistry brought to bear on the album will leave listeners admiring their creativity and musicianship. Sisingathiwe is a culmination of the success of their debut single Coffee in the Morning, which received a warm reception.

N'den comprises vocalist Thulile Zama, and pianist David Smith, who met in the early 2000s while studying music at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Their humble musical beginnings as a duo took off when they began performing at various locations in Durban.

Smith’s passion for music is undeniable, and he plays a vital role in the successful Jazz/Hip-Hop band, Big Idea, which made waves throughout the country. Zama, distinguished by her dazzling voice, is the lead vocalist of the thriving all-female contemporary jazz band, Heels Over Head (best contemporary jazz nominees SAMA - 2011; Yamaha Young Artist winners 2010). Zama’s versatility as a vocalist is well-known and loved within the jazz circuit in Durban. Her talents have taken her to Hamburg, Berlin, and New Orleans.

Together, they have been part of the Tributes to Mama Africa/Sophiatown band since 2017. The band has performed in various places around the country and has recently headlined the No Franco #5 festival in Maputo, Mozambique. In the last few years, the duet has composed original music and covered some of their favourite songs for their YouTube channel and social media pages.

Entrance: R50 - Cash or Zapper at the door

Doors open at 18h00 and the music will kick off at 19h00. Bring your own booze. Food and soft drinks are available for purchase.

For more information contact 082 331 7271. Visit www.mith.co.za for more details and directions. Musicians can contact mithbookings@gmail.com for slots.

MiTH takes place at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm, Knoll Drive, Hilton.

 

DIRECTIONS TO MiTH: Take the N3 to Hilton, take the Hilton turnoff and go South into the Village (away from Hilton College). Travel 5,2km along Hilton Avenue (past two sets of traffic lights and Crossways Pub) and keep going straight as Hilton Avenue turns into Dennis Shepstone Drive. At the 5,2km mark, Knoll Drive will be on your right – the entrance to MiTH is the *second* entrance on your left into The Knoll Historic Guest Farm.

EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL: EO: REVIEW

 

Review by Barry Meehan

Origin: Poland

Language: Polish, Italian, English, French (Subtitles)

Duration: 88 Minutes

Script: Jerzy Skolimowski and Ewa Piaskowska

Director: Jerzy Skolimowski

Cast: Sandra Drzymalska, Lorenzo Zurzolo, Mateusz Kościukiewicz, Isabelle Huppert

 

The film EO is part of The European Film Festival 2023 which runs from October 12 to 22, 2023 with screenings of all 16 films at cinemas in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and limited screenings in Durban, and online.

EO is a donkey. Actually, in this Polish “road” movie, he’s played by six donkeys, all of which are given billing in the credits - Ettore, Hola, Marietta, Mela, Rocco, and Tako (if that means anything to anyone!)

This film won the Jury Prize at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, and was nominated as Best International Film for the 2022 Oscars. It has an approval rating of 97% on the Rotten Tomatoes website, with an average approval of 8.2/10 after 151 reviews, and has an 85/100 rating on Metacritic, based on 30 reviews. It was ranked fourth on Cahiers du Cinéma's top 10 films of 2022 list.

The idea behind this donkey-driven drama is apparently to give the cinema patron an idea of the world as seen through the eyes of a donkey, or any other animal that is incapable of interacting with humans through recognisable speech.

Be that as it may, and in spite of the critical acclaim heaped upon it (as above), and bearing in mind that this is purely one man’s humble opinion, I cannot rate this film as anything I could recommend, unless you are a passionate fan of European “art” movies. Certainly, it brings the sad life of most donkeys into perspective, and emphasises man’s violence and brutality towards helpless animals, but one gets that after the first five minutes of the movie, and doesn’t need it rammed down one’s throat over and over again as the movie progresses.

EO is 88 minutes long (including closing credits) which is just less than the recommended 90-minute feature film duration. I get the feeling that the director was struggling to get the film to feature length, so added arbitrary scenic and “arty” shots and close-ups of donkeys’ eyes, mouths, hooves, fur etc to reinforce his point, which we got some time previously. There are many pointless shots that do nothing to move the story along, and are inserted with no regard to continuity.

Apologies, but like I said, this is purely my opinion. If you take the time to see the film based on its universal approval, I sincerely hope that you can get lost in its cause and message. Take an open mind along, and enjoy it! – Barry Meehan

Screenings take place at Ster-Kinekor’s The Zone in Johannesburg, and The Labia in Cape Town. Each film will screen once.

Ster-Kinekor Gateway in Durban will present a limited programme of films not available in the online streaming. Five of the most recent films will only show in cinemas: Anatomy Of A Fall, Goodbye Julia, The Old Oak, The Teachers Lounge and Mavka – The Forest Song. 11 films can be viewed for free online.

Visit www.eurofilmfest.co.za for more information or click on the European Film Festival logo to the right of this article.

CLANSTHAL SEASONAL CRAFT MARKET

 

(Bianca, one of the stallholders, cheerfully shows her wares)

On Sunday October 1, 2023, the Cunningham family will open their home as a venue for a craft market. Over 40 stalls that have been carefully selected will be offering a variety of quality products.

Their philosophy is that the items on sale are hand-crafted and/or are unique. They support traders who contribute to conscious living.

Do join them at 111 Pig n Whistle Drive in Clansthal, the rolling garden offers shade and beautiful sea views. There will be light meals and refreshments to enjoy while you relax and listen to music.  As this is a private garden, they request no visiting dogs.

This boutique craft market provides a platform for the Clansthal Conservancy to raise funds for the conservancy’s projects in the area.

The Clansthal Seasonal Market will take place from 09h00 until 14h00 on October 1, 2023, at 111 Pig & Whistle Drive, Clansthal.

For more information contact Liz Cunningham on lizc@scottburgh.co.za or 083 556 8108.

 

EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL: ANATOMY OF A FALL: REVIEW

Review by Barry Meehan

The film Anatomy of a Fall is part of The European Film Festival 2023 which runs from October 12 to 22, 2023 with screenings of all 16 films at cinemas in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and limited screenings in Durban, and online.

Director – Justine Triet

Script – Justine Triet and Arthur Harari

Language/s – English, German and French (with subtitles)

Duration – 150 minutes

Genre – Courtroom Drama/Thriller

 

Anatomy of a Fall is a highly complex but intriguing and very watchable film by French writer and director, Justine Triet, who became only the third woman in history to win the coveted “Palme d’Or” award, the top honour at the Cannes Film Festival. Julia Ducournau was the winner in 2021 for Titane, and Jane Campion took the prize in 1993 for The Piano.

Married couple Sandra (Sandra Hüller) and Samuel (Samuel Theis) live in what should be an idyllic location – a wooden cottage in the heart of the French Alps – with their son Daniel (Milo Machado Graner), who is visually impaired after an accident some years prior. Daniel goes out for a walk in the ever-present snow with his dog Snoop, but returns to find his father dead on the frozen ground, with blood pouring from his head. So the question is – did Samuel slip and fall from the attic, where he’d been carrying out repairs to the house? Or did he jump in a suicide attempt? Or was he pushed? If so, by whom?

The “fall” in the title refers to a lot more than Samuel’s fall from the attic. Above the fall of Samuel’s literary career, it refers to his and Sandra’s very existence in their relationship. The script puts their marriage under incredibly detailed scrutiny as they battle to cope with infidelity, blame for Daniel’s accident, fear of failure, lack of support for each other and more. She is French, he is German – languages that are as far apart as the character’s distance from each other – so they use English as a middle ground.

As flashbacks show their relationship becoming more and more acrimonious, communication becomes harder, with both of them believing that they are giving more than taking, until it becomes impossible for them to see the other’s point.

Anatomy of a Fall centres on the arrest of Sandra, who is accused of her husband’s murder after the authorities fail to define the cause of his death. The court case is very cleverly written in that it leads us one way and then the other as regards her involvement in the demise of her husband, until the explosive climax. Performances all round are excellent, with special mention to be made of Sandra Hüller’s measured portrayal of a woman whose life has fallen to pieces around her, and Milo Machado Graner as Daniel, who should have a long and illustrious career in the industry, if this emotion-provoking performance is anything to go by.

Anatomy of a Fall is highly recommended as an intellectual look at the basics of marriage and European courtroom procedure. But bear in mind when watching the film this line from Sandra’s lawyer – “A trial is not about the truth. It’s about how people perceive you.” - Barry Meehan

 

Screenings take place at Ster-Kinekor’s The Zone in Johannesburg, and The Labia in Cape Town. Each film will screen once.

Ster-Kinekor Gateway in Durban will present a limited programme of films not available in the online streaming. Five of the most recent films will only show in cinemas: Anatomy Of A Fall, Goodbye Julia, The Old Oak, The Teachers Lounge and Mavka – The Forest Song. 11 films can be viewed for free online.

Visit www.eurofilmfest.co.za for more information or click on the European Film Festival logo to the right of this article.

 

EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL: THE OLD OAK: REVIEW

 

Review by Patrick Compton

The film The Old Oak is part of The European Film Festival 2023 which runs from October 12 to 22, 2023 with screenings of all 16 films at cinemas in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and limited screenings in Durban, and online.

This may well be 87-year-old Ken Loach’s final film – his 28th in a distinguished career that has spanned 56 years devoted to the lives of ordinary working people, mainly but not exclusively in England.

In terms of his immovable and unrelenting socialist agenda, he has explored many themes, from homelessness in his first feature, Cathy Come Home, to a biting indictment of the British education system in what many think of as his masterpiece, Kes, and now his last, The Old Oak, about the relationship between local working-class people and Syrian refugees in a down-at-heel old mining town near Durham in north-eastern England.

If it is to be his swansong, The Old Oak is a fitting testimony to Loach’s (never uncritical) reverence for working people in what he believes is a cruel capitalist system in which the poor and the dispossessed are exploited mercilessly.

Tommy Joe Ballantyne (‘TJ’ to everyone in the community) is the owner of a down-at-heel pub (The Old Oak) that is almost the last usable public space in the village. It is filled with a variety of characters, some bitter about the past in which unsuccessful strikes have not been able to keep the local mine alive. Unable to direct their bile at the uncaring Tory government, they lash out at those less fortunate than themselves – an influx of Syrian refugees who are moving into the neighbourhood.

TJ (a powerful performance by Dave Turner) is essentially a decent man, albeit complex with his fair share of skeletons, and he forms a friendship with Yara (warmly played by Syrian actor Ebla Mari), one of the refugees who has a talent for photography. The film’s theme of reaching out (or not) to the Syrian refugees, hinges on the rehabilitation of a long-disused room at the back of the pub into some kind of charity diner where the whole community can eat sponsored meals together. (“Those who eat together, stick together,” is TJ’s takeaway from his dad's days as a miner).

This is a film about desperation and hope, with the refugees mourning their lost ones, victims of the brutal Assad regime, while the English villagers vary from bitter racial hatred (‘let’s take our country back’) to those wishing, however reluctantly at times, to make gestures of accommodation.

Scripted by Paul Laverty (his 14th film with Loach) and directed with unswerving verisimilitude by Loach, The Old Oak is a powerful portrait of some of the grim challenges of our time, with the director finally offering us a ray of hope in what could otherwise have been the blackest of movies. – Patrick Compton

 

Screenings take place at Ster-Kinekor’s The Zone in Johannesburg, and The Labia in Cape Town. Each film will screen once.

Ster-Kinekor Gateway in Durban will present a limited programme of films not available in the online streaming. Five of the most recent films will only show in cinemas: Anatomy Of A Fall, Goodbye Julia, The Old Oak, The Teachers Lounge and Mavka – The Forest Song. 11 films can be viewed for free online.

Visit www.eurofilmfest.co.za for more information or click on the European Film Festival logo to the right of this article.

EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL: AS IN HEAVEN REVIEW

 

(Review by Patrick Compton)

The European Film Festival 2023 runs from October 12 to 22, 2023 with screenings of all 16 films at cinemas in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and limited screenings in Durban, and online.

A 14-year-old girl walks in a field of wheat. As she gaily blows away the blossom of a flower she looks up at the sky and sees a sinister blood-red storm coming her way.

Perhaps a mite too obvious as a symbol, this is a sure sign for us that young Lise’s carefree life is under threat.

As in Heaven is the gripping, highly promising debut feature of Danish director Tea Lindeburg. Set on a prosperous farm in Denmark in the late 1800s, the action is seen through the eyes of a soon-to-be-liberated young girl (superbly played by Flora Hoffman Lindahl) over a 24-hour period that will change her life forever.

Life is free and easy for Lise and her five younger siblings at the farm, with the promise of some kind of freedom for Lise whose mother is determined to send her away to be educated, a prospect that thrills her but not her stern, resentful father.

Lise’s mother is pregnant, again, and the family prepares for another addition. But there are complications with the birth and the events of the day are punctuated by her agonised cries.

The action is seen through the increasingly disturbed eyes of a young teenager and it is immediately obvious that Lise occupies an involuntary place in a patriarchal world ruled by a stern God. Lise’s mother, however, is attempting to rock the foundations. “God has great plans for you,” she tells Lise as she prepares for the birth, but we wonder as the film constantly hints at future catastrophe. A guilty Lise has issues to contend with, and she will bargain with this God as the day ends.

Director Lindeburg is a fresh new talent in Denmark and she portrays patriarchal 19th Century society through the eyes of a feminist and also the secular perspective of someone who sees God as an Old Testament trap, certainly for women. Another image, late in the film, is of butterflies trapped in a spider’s web, and though another somewhat crude symbol, we certainly get the message.

Marcel Zyskind’s camera is a study in contrasts, from the bright landscapes of the fields and woods where children lark around, to the dark corridors of the farmhouse where only pain and anguish lurk. - Patrick Compton

 

Screenings take place at Ster-Kinekor’s The Zone in Johannesburg, and The Labia in Cape Town. Each film will screen once.

Ster-Kinekor Gateway in Durban will present a limited programme of films not available in the online streaming. Five of the most recent films will only show in cinemas: Anatomy Of A Fall, Goodbye Julia, The Old Oak, The Teachers Lounge and Mavka – The Forest Song. 11 films can be viewed for free online.

Visit www.eurofilmfest.co.za for more information or click on the European Film Festival logo to the right of this article.

THERE IS A PLACE ON EARTH

 

(Article courtesy of Tubantia - April 2023)

Promoted by KZN non-profit, environmental education organization, Wilderness Leadership School, There Is A Place On Earth is a feature-length documentary exploring the role of artists in wilderness conservation.

Dutch Filmmaker Ellen van den Honert takes us on a beautiful and poetic journey around the world where we meet artists/ conservationists who share extraordinary creative work and a commitment to the environment. In the process we experience a unique, intuitive connection to the wild – and the necessity to protect it.

Film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=_BjgueUwKQg

Film website: http://www.thereisaplaceonearth.com/

South African poet/psychiatrist Ian McCallum, and South African street artist Falko One are featured in the documentary, and were filmed in and around Cape Town.

Otherwise, the film was made in Hawaii, India, Portugal, Canada, The Netherlands, France and the US. 

After the screening there will be room for discussion and conversation. To be on the guest list RSVP directly to Ellen van den Honert: ellen@honertmusic.com

The screening takes place on Sunday September 24, 2023, at 18h00 at The Labia Film Theater in Cape Town (68 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town https://www.thelabia.co.za/#position)

Or: tickets for the Labia can be purchased here: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1531857435

EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL: “MOTHER” REVIEW

 

(Review by Patrick Compton)

Mother is part of The European Film Festival 2023 which runs from October 12 to 22, 2023 with screenings of all 16 films at cinemas in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and limited screenings in Durban, and online.

“We do not have a word for ‘dream’, nor do we have a word for ‘future’.

This devastating observation motivates Bulgarian theatre director Elena (Daria Simeonova) to work in an orphanage in the slum of Kibera outside Nairobi in Kenya. Children, she devoutly believes, do not live by bread alone, but need to give artistic expression to their lives and culture in whatever way they can. 

Based on a true story, writer-director Zornitsa Sophia’s Mother is how Elena – unable to have children herself – finds her calling thousands of kilometres away from her homeland. She becomes, in effect, a mother to many.

It’s an extraordinary tale, one that forces the viewer to contemplate his/her own life in the midst of the kind of poverty, deprivation and desperation that permeates our planet.

The story begins in Bulgaria where Elena is unable to have children with her husband Leon, a music director. She successfully works with children in her town outside the capital, Sofia, but is offered an opportunity to try and translate her work in a completely different environment.

Elena experiences personal and existential crises in Kibera as she wrestles with her life, her failing relationship with her husband, and some of the dreadful social and medical problems in the slum. The head of the children’s home, Matt – the movie’s conscience – is sceptical about the true commitment of European aid agencies and their agenda and Elena becomes intensely aware of this.

At one stage, Leon, who tries to tempt her to return home, tells her: “I just want you to be happy”. She replies, somewhat mysteriously: “I don’t want to be happy.” The complexity of this reply informs the rest of the film.

Mother is not – thankfully – a film that swims in sentiment though there are plenty of opportunities for it to do so, particularly with regard to Elena’s relationship with one of the children, Jomo. If there is a criticism, it is that too much space is given to Elena’s rather formulaic relationship with her husband, and not enough to Matt and his co-worker at the children’s home. - Patrick Compton

Screenings take place at Ster-Kinekor’s The Zone in Johannesburg, and The Labia in Cape Town. Each film will screen once.

Ster-Kinekor Gateway in Durban will present a limited programme of films not available in the online streaming. Five of the most recent films will only show in cinemas: Anatomy Of A Fall, Goodbye Julia, The Old Oak, The Teachers Lounge and Mavka – The Forest Song. 11 films can be viewed for free online.

Visit www.eurofilmfest.co.za for more information or click on the European Film Festival logo to the right of this article.