FILM FESTIVAL WEEKEND

One of my lovely tweeps, a Librarian from Melbourne, recently said I had the Life of Riley and so it would seem. Last year I was under a self imposed house arrest to save money for my fabulous European Vacation. So this year I am partaking of all the things I had to say "Non" to last year. Newcastle is buzzing with fabulous things to do, with festivals of films and writers, great cafes, music, wonderful places to walk and fabulous friends to do all of this with...yeah if that's the Life of Riley I will take it all!

And so to the weekend that caused M the Librarian to make that comment.

The Tower Cinemas in Newcastle are really upping the ante with all sorts of alternative films, documentaries, foreign films and so forth and this weekend there were not one but TWO Film Festivals showing.

The first is The French Film Festival, which I always love. I adore foreign films and French films, in fact anything French! And the second the shOUT Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. How fabulous for them to be showing simultaneously.

DAY ONE

First up was the opening night of the French Film Festival on the Friday night, with lots of French books and films to purchase, and a lovely spread of French Food, yummy croissants, quiches, wraps, cheese and patisseries...oh and wine!

A, L, M & myself mingled, ate and enjoyed the atmosphere with live French music, then headed into the cinema for the film. After a lovely fashion parade from Emma Soup and some raffles being drawn the film started.

What a delight...Camille Rewinds. Camille is 40 and about to be divorced from her husband. After passing out on the count of midnight at a NYE party she wakes up in hospital in 1985 and is 16 again. Her parents are alive, she is back at home and in high school with the awareness of her life up until 40. This is a key part of her life, where her Mum drops dead unexpectedly and she finds herself pregnant...can she prevent this turmoil, should she try to change things, can she change anything, what can she do and will she ever go back to her 'reality'...whatever that is?

Noemie Lvovsky wrote, directed and starred as Camille in this funny and poignant film. She is outstanding, capturing the awkwardness of 16 in a 40 year olds body, yet with the knowledge a 40 year old brain and soul would bring to being 16 again! Rather than using a younger actress in the 1985 scenes, having Lvovsky act the part in that way added to the pathos and was incredibly funny. The supporting cast, in particular her parents and Samir Guesmi as Eric, her husband are great. Also a superb 80s soundtrack with authentic fashion! I was 14 in 1985, and despite being set in France, it was spot on!!!

Watch the trailer, then go and find the film!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7hA7CKveOw&feature=share

After the film, we hit the newly opened Beer bar, The Grain Store. In the former View Factory in Newcastle East, it was buzzing with young, beautiful people. But the beer was good, plenty to choose from, great deco-ish interior, also a good looking food menu, though it was too late to eat. Fun way to end a great night...though some 80s music would have suited better!

Here is something that will forever be entwined with the film:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPUmE-tne5U

DAY TWO

Saturday night was our first ShOUT film, Farewell, My Queen with Diane Kruger as Marie-Antoinette. We were treated to a bit of a show beforehand!

Set at the very beginning of the French Revolution as the Bastille is to be stormed, it is about the relationship between Marie-Antoinette and her reader, Sidonie. Sidonie reads books, poety and magazine articles to Marie-Antoinette. Sidonie is advised by Madame Campan, one of Marie-Antoinette's lady in waiting (played by Noemie Lvovsky from Camille Rewinds!), what sort of mood the Queen is in and they choose books accordingly. With everything in turmoil, Marie-Antoinette is moody, stressed and upset. She is also bereft her friend, Duchess Gabrielle, is unable to spend time with her.

As the movie proceeds and the 'list' of beheadings goes round the palace things become more frantic, people trying to escape including royals and their servants. Marie-Antoinette, desperate to leave, has no choice but to stay, The Duchess decides to leave. She is in grave danger, and Marie-Antoinette has a plan to help The Duchess, but will Sidonie risk everything to help her beloved queen?

Filmed mostly in Versailles and at the castle itself, the film is rich and stunning. Having recently been there is was lovely to see some of the rooms I visited and the surrounding grounds. The costumes were divine and Diane Kruger was perfection as Marie-Antoinette. Lea Seydoux (Gabrielle in Midnight in Paris) was lovely as Sidonie, carrying the film with every look and glance. The supporting cast also great. This is a French film foremost with just a tiny inkling of a possible romance between The Queen and The Duchess. Highly enjoyable, especially for those who are history buffs.

DAY THREE
First film of the Day was Journal de France. A documentary about French photographer, Raymond Depardon. This film follows Depardon, in his 70s, as he criss crosses the French countryside taking the most stunning photos from the most ordinary things. He uses a large format 20x25 camera - the type you slide pieces in and out of. Intertwined with this are moving images and stills from his career.

And what an outstanding career he had, the footage shows him in varying situations including war, riots and getting himself arrested numerous times. He also did political exposes, filmed movie stars and regular people walking the streets. Fascinated by what I saw I have looked him up and found out he has filmed conflict in Chad, Vietnam, Biafra and Algeria - most of this was shown in the film. Haunting and up close with rebels too, his film was very confronting and obviously incredibly dangerous. I suspect he was very charming to get in and out of these situations. He co-founded Gamma, a photojournalism agency in the early 70s and received a Pulitzer Prize for his work in Chad in the late 70s.

Raymond has shot many documentaries, short and full features, most of which are very difficult to get or lost. There was one amazing sequence, from 1993, of Nelson Mandela. It was one minute of him filming Mandela looking at the camera. Depardon says he did not need to time it, Mandela was used to counting time from his time in prison! And right on the 60 seconds, Mandela moves his hands as if to say times up and gets up from his chair. Hypnotising!

There is so much more to this film, the beauty he sees in everything, the way people react to getting their photo taken or being filmed, his interesting take on his subjects, his numerous jailings for crossing the line, the stunning soundtrack of classical and modern pieces, finishing with Patti Smith over the credits.

I found the film online, no subtitles though, so will be difficult to get context, however you will see his visuals and that is what the film is about!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeD3Svqrjq4

We had some time to kill before Film 2, so headed into the newly opened 'Soul Foods' on the corner of Brown and Hunter Streets, in the old bank (previously a kfc). What a stunning location for this lovely cafe. Amazing food and wares. Plenty of healthy alternatives for vegetarians and those that like a little meat in their meals. Coffee, tea, smoothies, gelato, lots of amazing breads. The cafe has everything. L & I had little butter chicken pies topped with sweet potato mash and a delightful side salad including pear and caramelised (or candied?) walnuts...oh my!

After a walk though the mall to stretch our legs before the next lot of films, we headed back to meet A for La Vie d'une Autre (Another Woman's Life).

The brilliant Juliette Binoche stars as Marie, young and carefree and falling in love with Paul on her 30th birthday. The next morning she wakes up in a strange house and finds herself at 40, with a young child and in the midst of divorce to Paul. Where has the time gone and what has happened?

Similar in subject matter to the film Friday night, yet moving in the opposite direction. It is funny and sad as we watch Marie at 40 act like her younger self, but realising she had indeed been very different, changed, and possibly not at all nice. Binoche shines in this role, reacting as her 30 year old self against her life, playing with her young son, and not exactly wowing them in the boardroom. Can she save her life and make amends, when she doesn't even know what she did? Why is she in this state? Thoroughly enjoyable and set right in the heart of Paris, right next to The Eiffel Tower no less. Another gem from the festival and Binoche, who rarely takes a misstep.

Film 3, Toast - part of the shOUT Festival - was proceeded by a lovely afternoon tea from Euro Patisserie. Exquisite! Best mini Banoffee Pie!

Toast is about the childhood of chef and food writer, Nigel Slater. It is a bittersweet tale of his early life with his beloved mother and tough father. His mother could not cook and was unwell, and after her passing, was 'replaced' by the cleaner, rough as nails but a superb cook, played with tongue firmly placed in cheek, by Helena Bonham Carter. Teen Nigel, played by Freddie Highmore, and Mrs Potter (cleaner come step mother) don't get on and once Freddie's love of cooking takes off, they get into a serious 'bake off' for the attention of Nigel's father, with serious consequences. Incredibly funny and rather camp, the film also has moment of melancholy with a great supporting Dusty Springfield soundtrack. And then there's the food, you will walk away from Toast wanting Lemon Meringue Pie like your life depends on it!

I had intended to round out my weekend of Films by heading straight into Film Society, but was worn out so had to give it a miss. Whilst the atmosphere at The Towers is outstanding, the seating still needs a little work. We were both a little twisted and contorted by the end of it all.

What a fabulous weekend though, thanks to L for sharing the fun, and to A & M for joining us for some of it. The travelling Sydney Film Festival is coming up in a month! Can't wait!