What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 24th November 2022.

The second edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival runs this year from Thursday 1st December through until Saturday 10th December and is held in Jeddah in western Saudi Arabia. The RSIFF is for film lovers, filmmakers, and the global film industry. The Red Sea Film Foundation is an independent, non-profit organisation created to support the film industry in Saudi Arabia in the production and distribution of films, as well as education on cinema. The Foundation’s initiatives support the ambitious plans for the Kingdom in the entertainment industries, with its pillars of a vibrant society, an ambitious nation and a thriving economy. This festival is a unique and powerful platform for celebrating film, connecting cultures, and expanding our horizons. Much more than a film-watching event - it is a diverse and comprehensive platform that celebrates every facet of filmmaking. These ideas of celebration, connection, and cultural exchange made their way into this year’s theme : 'FILM IS EVERYTHING'. A bold, cinematic, progressive and cultural ten-day festival for film lovers, storytellers, and industry professionals from around the globe, so the official website reads.

The Opening Night Gala film presentation is 'What's Love Got To Do With It?' Directed by Shekhar Kapur and stars Lily James and Shazad Latif in the story of two people from different cultures who fall in love. The Closing Night film is Khaled Fahd’s Saudi feature 'Valley Road', about a man from a Saudi village who is believed to have a disability; and only his sister recognises his difference is what elevates him.

The Festival is divided into eleven sections, with each programme expertly curated by a team of internationally renowned programmers, delivering the best in Arab and world cinema, television, and VR to engaged Saudi and global audiences. The Red Sea Competition values all cinematic forms, from narrative to animation and documentary, featuring works from Asia and Africa, including the Arab world. It presents challenging cinematic works with innovative filmmaking and great storytelling by emerging and established voices, celebrated with generous prizes awarded by an international jury. There are fourteen feature films in competition, these being :-

* 'A Childless Village' - from Iran and Directed by Reza Jamali. Kazem, an elderly film-maker, tried to shoot a documentary twenty years before this film takes place in a remote Azeri village where the women, who were all childless, were presumed to be sterile. His film was never completed, and the village women, anxious to preserve their dignity, burnt the footage. Two decades later, when it is established that it is the men who were and are infertile, Kazem decides to go back with his camera.

* 'A Summer in Boujad' - from Morocco, France and Belgium and Directed by Omar Mouldouira. Seven years after the death of his mother, thirteen-year-old Karim has left Paris for Morocco with his father Messaoud, who has remarried and decided to return to his homeland. After a year at a French boarding school in Casablanca, Karim joins the newly blended family – including his new half-brother, stepmother and his father’s mother-in-law - for the summer in Boujad, a small town in central Morocco.

* 'Before Now and Then' - from Indonesia and Directed by Kamila Andini. Set in West Java, Nana finds refuge in a second marriage after losing her family to war in the 1940's. Then, she befriends her second husband's mistress, Ino, together seeking for the meaning of freedom.

* 'Dirty Difficult Dangerous' - from France, Italy, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Qatar and Directed by Wissam Charaf. Set in Beirut, Lebanon, an impossible love story unfolds between an Ethiopian housemaid and a Syrian refugee whose body is undergoing mysterious changes.

* 'Hanging Gardens' - from Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, UK and Saudi Arabia and Directed by Ahmed Yassin Al Daradji. When a young Iraqi rubbish picker rescues an American sex doll from the Baghdad dumps, he crosses into a perilous red zone, where friends become enemies and nothing is certain in an explosive mix of love, war and madness.

* 'Harka' - from Tunisia, France and Saudi Arabia and Directed by Lotfy Nathan. Ali is barely making a living selling contraband gasoline. The young impoverished Tunisian all of a sudden finds himself in charge of his two sisters following the death of his father. 

* 'Mountain Onion' - from Kazakhstan and Directed by Eldar Shibanov. The story of the growing up of eleven-year-old Dzhabai, who sells mountain onions on the highway, and who finds his mother with his idol, a truck driver. He then goes off to a remote corner of China with his little sister for the so called Golden Viagra for his father, so that he can regain his position as the man of the family.

* 'Next Sohee' - from South Korea and Directed by July Jung. High school student Sohee starts a job training at a call centre, but she faces the pressure of greedy company only interested in their balance sheet, which ultimately leads to her death. Detective Oh Yu-jin, who has something in common with Sohee starts to follow the clues to reveal the truth.

* 'Nezouh' - from the UK, Syria and France and Directed by Soudade Kaadan. Even as bombs fall on Damascus, Mutaz refuses to flee to the uncertain life of a refugee. His wife, Hala, and daughter, Zeina, must make the choice whether to stay or leave.

* 'Our Lady of the Chinese Shop' - from Angola and Directed by Ery Claver. When a Chinese merchant brings to a neighbourhood of Luanda a peculiar holy plastic figure of Our Lady, a mourning mother will seek peace, a committed barber starts a new cult and a stray kid will look for revenge for his lost friend.

* 'Raven Song' - from Saudi Arabia and Directed by Mohamed Al-Salman. At the age of thirty, Nasser is drifting, convinced his father doesn't understand him. His life comes into sharp focus, however, when he is diagnosed with a brain tumour. At the same time, he meets and becomes infatuated with a striking but enigmatic young woman and must make some rapid decisions before he undergoes risky neurosurgery.

* 'Shimoni' - from Kenya and Directed by Angela Wanjiku Wamai. A teacher newly released from prison after seven years renegotiates the confines of the physical world while forced to face his nightmare in the flesh.

* 'The Last Queen' - from Algeria, France and Saudi Arabia and Directed by Damien Ounouri and Adila Bendimerad. In 1516, Algerian King Salim Toumi accepted the help of feared pirate Aroudj Barbarossa to liberate Algiers from Spanish occupation, only to die in mysterious circumstances once the city was secure. The next day, Barbarossa proposed marriage to Salim's Queen Zaphira, having already vowed to his crew that he intended to take Salim's palace, horse and wife. Zaphira, who may or may not have existed but, whose passion and determination became the stuff of legend - proved more than a match for him.

* 'Within Sand' - from Saudi Arabia and Directed by Mohammed Alatawi. When 'Snam' gets ambushed by a group of thieves and leave him for dead, he finds himself lost in the Saudi desert. While his pregnant wife, Halla is about to give birth to their first child, he finds himself being followed by a lone wolf.

For the Short Film Competition details and the other programme strands, plus a whole lot more besides, you can go to the official website at : https://redseafilmfest.com/en/

Turning attention back to this weeks eight new release movies gracing a big screen Odeon near you, we kick start with a murder mystery that is a stand alone sequel to a successful 2019 film that sees our famed Southern US detective traveling to a Greek island for his latest case. Then we have a young couple who travel to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises. Next up is a story of first love between a young woman learning how to survive on the margins of society, and an intense and disenfranchised drifter. This is followed by a historical telling of a Queen who in 1402 is ruling over Sweden, Norway and Denmark through her adopted son, but a conspiracy is in the making and the Queen finds herself in an impossible dilemma that could shatter her life's work. Following on we have a darker version of the classic children's fairy tale of a wooden puppet that transforms into a real living boy; before a story of a real estate agent, who after reaching a crossroads in her life, decides to trade in her career for one in the spotlight as a Dolly Parton impersonator. Then we turn to a cinephiles roller-coaster ride through the rise, fall and re-birth of projected film; before closing out the week with an animated action adventure offering that sees the legendary Clades family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest and most crucial mission.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the eight latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the week ahead.

'GLASS ONION : A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY' (Rated M) - this American murder mystery film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Rian Johnson whose previous film making credits take in his big screen debut with 'Brick' in 2005, then 'The Brothers Bloom' in 2008, 'Looper' in 2012, 'Star Wars : Episode VIII - The Last Jedi' in 2017 and 'Knives Out' in 2019, to which this film is a standalone sequel. This film had its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in mid-September this year and is scheduled to have a one-week limited theatrical release from this week before its streaming release on 23rd December by Netflix. It has received positive reviews from critics and cost US$40M to produce.

Tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) invites his friends, including Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) for a 'murder mystery party' getaway on Glass Onion, his private Greek island. However, when someone turns up dead for real, Blanc must crack the case and discover who the killer is. Also starring Janelle Monae, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jnr., Jessica Henwick, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, Ethan Hawke, Natasha Lyonne, Hugh Grant, Yo-Yo Ma and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. 

'THE MENU' (Rated MA15+) - is an American black comedy horror film Directed by Mark Mylod whose prior feature film making efforts are his debut in 2002 with 'Ali G Indahouse', then 'The Big White' in 2005, with 'What's Your Number?' in 2011 being his last big screen offering before this one. In the meantime he has also Directed multiple episodes of 'The Royle Family', 'Entourage', 'Game of Thrones', 'Shameless' and 'Succession'. This film saw its World Premier screening at the Toronto International Film Festival in mid-September this year, before its release in the US last week and here in Australia this week. Here then, young couple Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Tyler (Nicholas Hoult) travel to a remote island to eat at Hawthorne, an exclusive restaurant run by celebrity chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes), who has prepared a lavish molecular gastronomy menu where food is treated as conceptual art, but his approach to cuisine has some shocking surprises for the wealthy guests. Also starring Hong Chau, Janet McTeer and John Leguizamo, it has received generally favourable reviews. 

'BONES AND ALL' (Rated MA15+) - this coming-of-age romantic cannibal road horror film is Directed by Luca Guadagnino whose previous film making credits take in the likes of his 1999 debut with 'The Protagonists', then 'I Am Love' in 2009, 'A Bigger Splash' in 2015, the much awarded and lauded 'Call Me By Your Name' in 2017 and 'Suspiria' in 2018. This film is based on the 2015 novel of the same name by Camille DeAngelis and saw its World Premier showcasing at at this years Venice International Film Festival in early September where it won the Silver Lion for Best Direction. This is a story of first love between Maren (Taylor Russell), a young woman learning how to survive on the margins of society, and Lee (Timothee Chalamet), an intense and disenfranchised drifter; a liberating road odyssey of two young people coming into their own, searching for identity and chasing beauty in a perilous world that cannot abide who they are. The film also stars Mark Rylance, Michael Stuhlbarg, Andre Holland, Chloe Sevigny and David Gordon Green, and has generated largely positive reviews. 

'MARGRETE : QUEEN OF THE NORTH' (Rated MA15+) - this Danish historical drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Charlotte Sieling whose previous feature film making efforts are 'Above the Street, Below the Water' in 2009 and 'The Man' in 2017. This film was one of the largest productions in the history of Danish cinema, enjoying the largest budget ever for a Danish-language feature film coming in at about US$10M. It premiered in its native Denmark in mid-September 2021 and has generated largely positive Reviews, but this has failed to make a dent in its Box Office takings, so far recovering just US$46K of its production budget. The year then is 1402. Queen Margrete (Trine Dyrholm) has achieved what no man has managed before. She has gathered Denmark, Norway and Sweden into a peace-oriented union, which she single-handedly rules through her young, adopted son, Erik (Morten Hee Andersen). The union is beset by enemies, however, and Margrete is therefore planning a marriage between Erik and an English princess. An alliance with England should secure the union's status as an emerging European power but a breathtaking conspiracy is under way that can tear Margrete and all she believes in apart. 

'GUILLERMO DEL TORO'S PINOCCHIO' (Rated M) - is a stop-motion animated musical fantasy film Co-Written for the screen and Directed by Guillermo Del Toro with Mark Gustafson sharing the Director credit, and is based on the 1883 Italian novel 'The Adventures of Pinocchio' by Carlo Collodi. The film saw its World Premiere at the BFI London Film Festival in mid-October this year, was released in select cinemas in the US on 9th November, before its streaming release on 9th December by Netflix, cost US$35M to produce and has received universal critical acclaim. A wooden puppet, Pinocchio (voiced by Gregory Mann) comes to life and dreams of becoming a real boy in 1930's Fascist Italy. When Pinocchio comes to life, however, he turns out not to be a nice boy but instead the opposite, causing mischief and playing mean tricks. But at its core, Pinocchio is a story of love and disobedience as Pinocchio struggles to live up to his father's expectations, learning the true meaning of life' Also starring the voice talents of Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Christoph Waltz, Tilda Swinton, Ron Perlman, Finn Wolfhard, Cate Blanchett, Burn Gorman, Tim Blake Nelson and John Turturro.  

'SERIOUSLY RED' (Rated M) - this Australian drama film is Directed by Gracie Otto in her feature film making debut. Here, Red (Krew Boylan) is at a crossroads in her life. A vivacious and hilarious redhaired woman grappling with high expectations and low self-esteem, she pours herself a cup of ambition and trades her 9-to-5 career in real estate for a life under the spotlight as a Dolly Parton impersonator. After misreading her work party's dress code, Red tumbles outta bed into a new world of tribute artists and impersonators in her wild and messy journey that includes romancing a Kenny Rogers impersonator. Red has to lose herself in order to find herself. Also starring Bobby Cannavale, Daniel Webber, Rose Byrne, Celeste Barber and Jean Kittson. 

'SPLICE HERE : A PROJECTED ODYSSEY' (Rated CTC) - is an Australian documentary film Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Edited by Robert Murphy. The film explores the single greatest change in the history of cinema - the digital shift from recording and projecting movies on film. Now ten years on from this momentous transition, film maker and projectionist Rob Murphy shares his personal journey to find out what has really happened to film. The journey starts in Australia and then expands geographically and thematically as Rob ventures into the projectionist underground, meeting the champions of projected film and lesser known heroes behind the scenes. We discover that the digital revolution has not just changed the way we see movies but is becoming a threat to how we will remember them.

'STRANGE WORLD' (Rated M) - this American computer-animated science-fiction action-adventure film is Produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, is the 61st animated film produced by the studio, and is Directed by Don Hall whose other feature film Director credits are 'Winnie the Pooh' in 2011, 'Big Hero 6' in 2014 and 'Raya and the Last Dragon' in 2021. The film chronicles the legendary Clades family, mainly Searcher Clade (voiced by Jake Gyllenhaal) who has always been a farmer and has never had the bravery of his family of explorers, but they are forced to tackle their latest and most crucial mission as they must rely on each other and forced to put away their differences while in an uncharted and treacherous land of Avalonia to find a special creature that awaits. Also with the voices of Dennis Quaid, Jaboukie Young-White, Gabrielle Union and Lucy Liu. It is released Stateside this week too. 

With eight new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-