In Curtis Vowell’s comedy Baby Done, outdoorsy Zoe (Rose Matafeo) works as an arborist, alongside her boyfriend Tim (Matthew Lewis). Theirs is a happy union. All their coupled-up friends seem to be having babies, but the thought of being tied down makes Zoe shudder. And then she discovers she’s pregnant. Shellshocked Zoe doesn’t tell Tim…
An entertaining psychological thriller, Drop involves menacing trolling in the most unlikely of circumstances. Violet (Meghann Fahy) is a widow and psychologist with a five-year-old son, Toby (Jacob Robinson). She is still traumatised by the domestic violence she experienced, to which Toby was privy. Since her husband died, she hasn’t been on a date, but…
The third British Film Festival screens at Palace Cinemas around Australia from October 28, and according to festival director Kim Petralis, the growth of the festival in three short years has been quite staggering. When the festival started off in 2013 they had a humble 123 sessions nationally. This year, Petralis says that they are…
Sandra Pankhurst was a remarkable woman whose life hardly followed a conventional path. She founded a successful trauma cleaning business and is a no-holds-barred public speaker. The documentary Clean starts by outlining the work undertaken by her conscientious employees. They must have a strong constitution, because this is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea. Blood,…
With five in the cast on a catwalk-like stage, this is a modern, generally slapstick and cartoonish interpretation of Euripides’ Greek tragedy Medea. In the historic work, Medea seeks revenge on her unfaithful husband. In Jane Miller’s Just a Boy, Standing in Front of a Girl, all the characters have received a contemporary makeover. Further, misogyny, fat shaming…
In story, Swallow is about when strangers cross paths. Thematically, however, the work gives audiences so much more to contemplate. And the result is a challenging but rewarding experience thanks to the excellent execution by all involved in the production. Hermitted in her home, Anna (Elise Greig) is in need to focus, frenetically completing self-decided…
The early-20th Century struggle for women’s suffrage in Britain is given earnest, if somewhat pedestrian, treatment by director Sarah Gavron (Brick Lane) in Suffragette. The film ticks a lot of boxes, but never quite elevates itself beyond many other solid British period dramas. The film’s release hasn’t been particularly well-timed. With the aftermath of the…
Eight years after he first hit the screen, the clumsy, plump, black and white panda Po (voiced by Jack Black) is back with a new test of strength and resilience in Kung Fu Panda 3. He’s been living large and loving life as the Dragon Warrior, until his teacher Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) presents him with…
People and cultures collide in David Leitch’s literally fast-paced action thriller, Bullet Train. Leitch (Deadpool 2) uses his stylised but often profuse violence to great effect in this rollicking tale of intersecting characters and agendas. And while the film is hardly cerebral, I found myself swept along by it. Screenwriter Zak Olkewicz adapts Kôtarô Isaka’s…
Australian theatre doesn’t get much rawer and stirring than Barbara and The Camp Dogs now playing at The Belvoir. For 90 minutes we were entertained by an excellent all-girl pub band, we shared a road trip to the country’s top end, and we bemoaned the shameful degradation of the indigenous population. There’s so much talent…
