The cultural capital of Australia, Melbourne is inarguably the premiere location for film fans down under (no matter what anyone from Sydney tells you). These weekly posts will take you beyond the multiplex and highlight the Top 5 movie alternatives worth checking out each week.
1.Asghar Farhadi Retrospective (ACMI)
Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, the man behind the Oscar winning A Separation, is the latest director to be subject of a career retrospective at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. In addition to his 2009 drama About Elly (which floored me when I saw it earlier this week), the program includes his acclaimed earlier works Dancing in the Dust, Beautiful City and Fireworks Wednesday. (Fri, Mar 29 – Mon, Apr 8)
2. Cinema Fiasco: Night of the Lepus (Cinema Nova)
Just in time for the launch of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Cinema Fiasco sees Geoff Wallis and Janet A. McLeod delivering live audio commentary on forgotten B-movie gems. And what with it being Good Friday, what could make for better comedic fodder than William F. Claxton’s giant killer rabbit movie Night of the Lepus. (Friday, March 29, 7:30pm)
3. Sleepwalk with Me + Q&A (Cinema Nova)
A semi-autobiographical tale about a stand-up comedian struggling with an unsuccessful relationship and disastrous bouts of sleepwalking, Sleepwalk with Me has been a big hit on the U.S. indie-film scene. Prior to the beginning of the film’s exclusive Australian run at Cinema Nova next Thursday, writer/director/star Mike Birbiglia will take part in a Q&A, along with special satellite guest, producer and “This American Life” host Ira Glass. (Sunday, March 31, 7:30pm)
4. The Party (Rooftop Cinema)
Peter Sellers stars in this semi-cult comedy about a bumbling Indian actor accidentally invited to a swanky Hollywood party, and the various cultural misunderstanding that happen as a result. Brownface aside, this may be one of Sellers’ finest comedic performances, and will please fans of classic slapstick comedies, including and especially the work of Jacques Tati. (Saturday, March 30, 9:30pm)
5. Vivre Sa Vie (Melbourne Cinémathèque)
The story of an aspiring actress forced to prostitute herself in order to make ends meet, Vivre Sa Vie will screen at ACMI as part of the Melbourne Cinémathèque’s look at some of the lesser known films of French New Wave master Jean-Luc Godard. It’s not a film that I’m personally familiar with, but it was the subject of near unanimous critical praise on its release. (Wednesday, April 3, 7pm)
