What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 7th November 2024

The 69th Cork International Film Festival (CIFF) takes place this year from Thursday 7th through until Sunday 17th November, in the Irish city of Cork, and is a local, national and international celebration of cinema. CIFF’s mission is to present Ireland’s most exciting, diverse, and ambitious annual film festival, connecting and stimulating audiences and artists through a carefully curated selection of the best films, to create a unique shared cultural experience, rooted in Cork, open to the world. It is also Ireland’s first and largest film festival and one of Cork’s most significant and popular annual cultural events. Award-winning films from the international film festival circuit, new discoveries and cinema classics are selected by an experienced curatorial team, to be premiered in cinemas in Cork and screened online via the Festival Digital Platform, available to viewers nationwide.

The Opening Night Gala film presentation is 'Conclave', the mystery thriller film Directed by Edward Berger and stars Ralph Fiennes as Cardinal Thomas Lawrence who organises a papal conclave to elect the next Pope, and finds himself investigating secrets and scandals about each candidate. The Closing Night Gala film is 'Rumours' and this black comedy film is Co-Written and Directed by Guy Maddin that has world leaders who meet at the G7 Summit but get lost in the woods whilst trying to compose a joint statement on an unspecified global crisis. Beset by thick fog and menaced by undead bog bodies and a giant brain, they navigate the tortured passions between them. 

Those films competing for the Spirit of the Festival Awards for Best Film and Best Screenplay are as follows :-

* 'Arcadia' - from Greece and Bulgaria, and Directed by Yorgos Zois this fantasy drama film has psychologist Katerina having to confront her worst suspicions as she accompanies Yannis, a once-respected doctor, to identify the victim of a tragic car accident at an off-season seaside resort.

* 'Gloria!' - from Italy and Switzerland this historical musical film is Directed by Margherita Vicario. Here, Teresa, a maid in eighteenth-century Venice, works at a girls' musical institute. As the Pope's visit approaches, she discovers the piano amid the institute's preparations.

* 'The Imminent Age' - from Spain, this drama is Directed by Clara Serrano Llorens and Gerard Simo Gimeno and tells the story of eighteen year old Bruno, whose life is becoming increasingly limited by the growing dependence of his 86 year old grandmother Natividad, the only family he has ever known. When the opportunity to take her to a nursing home arises, both will have to deal with a decision they had not allowed themselves to consider before.

* 'Julie Keeps Quiet' - from Belgium and Sweden this psychological drama film is Directed by Leonardo Van Dijl and is about Julie, a star player at an elite tennis academy. When her coach falls under investigation and is suddenly suspended, all of the club's players are encouraged to speak up. But Julie decides to keep quiet.

* 'Lesson Learned' - from Hungary, this drama film is Directed by Balint Szimler and tells the story of a young teacher who rebels against archaic school methods as Palko, a new foreign student, struggles to adapt to Hungary's demanding education system.

* 'Loveable' - from Norway and Directed by Lilja Ingolfsdottir, this drama offering sees Maria juggling four children and a demanding career while her second husband, Sigmund, travels all the time. One day they get into an ugly argument which gives rise to Sigmund eventually asking her for a divorce.

* 'Rabia' - from France, Germany and Belgium and Written and Directed by Mareike Engelhardt, this drama film has Jessica and her best friend leave their home in France for Syria to join Daech. Driven by the promise of a new life, when they arrive, they find themselves locked up in a women's house run by the authoritarian and charismatic Madame.

* 'Under the Volcano' - from Poland and is Co-Written and Directed by Damian Kocur. This drama film sees a Ukrainian family of four are enjoying the last day of their holiday on the island of Tenerife, Spain. However, upon arriving at the airport, they quickly learn that their flight has been canceled, as Russia has invaded Ukraine. Trapped on the island, the tourists become refugees.

* 'The Village Next to Paradise' - from Austria, Germany, France and Somalia, this drama is Written and Directed by Mo Harawe, and tells of a newly formed family confronting challenges while pursuing individual goals and facing the intricacies of modern life, relying on love, trust, and resilience to guide them.

For the other film strands being presented, including the Best New Irish Feature, World Tour, Culinary Cinema and more, plus a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can go to the official website at : https://corkfilmfest.org/

This week, with six new movie offerings coming to a big screen Odeon close to home, we launch with an American drama film set in 1936 Pittsburgh, in which this black American family grapples with family legacy and difficult decisions as they determine the fate of their heirloom piano, exploring deeper themes along the way. Then we have an American Christmas action adventure film that sees Santa Claus getting kidnapped, and so the North Pole's Head of Security must team up with the world's most infamous bounty hunter in a mission to save Christmas. Next up we have an American absurdist fantasy drama film about a family of four Sasquatches living in the dense forests of North America who find themselves on a collision course with the ever changing world around them. And following these we have a trio of Aussie films starting with a comedy about a self-appointed Mother of the Year who sees an opportunity when her daughter falls into a coma and assumes her daughter's identity. And closing out the week we have two Aussie doco's - the first traces a year in the life of probably Australia's most iconic beach side swimming pools and what it means to the local and more far reaching community; and the second tells the story of a former world #4 tennis star who rose through the ranks while surviving war, bullying and extreme domestic violence.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the six 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 coming week.

'THE PIANO LESSON' (Rated M) - is an American drama film Co-Written and Directed by Malcolm Washington (son of Denzel) in his feature film Directorial debut, and is adapted from the 1987 play by August Wilson. This the third big screen adaptation of an August Wilson play - the first 'Fences' was Directed and starred Denzel Washington and Viola Davis in 2016 and the second 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' starring Chadwick Boseman and Viola Davis and was Produced by Denzel Washington in 2020. Denzel Washington has shepherded the films and has vowed to continue Wilson's legacy by adapting the rest of his plays into films for a wider audience. Washington said, 'the greatest part of what's left of my career is making sure that August is taken care of'. This film is once again Co-Produced by Denzel Washington. 

Set in 1936 Pittsburgh during the aftermath of the Great Depression, the film follows the lives of the Charles family in the Doaker Charles household and an heirloom, the family piano, which is decorated with designs carved by an enslaved ancestor. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, Corey Hawkins, Ray Fisher and Danielle Deadwyler, the film saw its World Premiere at the Telluride Film Festival at the end of August, is released here in Australia and the USA from this week before streaming on Netflix from 22nd November onward.

'RED ONE' (Rated PG) - this American Christmas action adventure comedy film is Directed by Jake Kasdan whose previous feature film credits take in his debut with 'Zero Effect' in 1998, then 'Orange County' in 2002, 'Walk Hard : The Dewey Cox Story' in 2007, 'Bad Teacher' in 2011, 'Sex Tape' in 2014, and the last two 'Jumanji' reboots in 2017 and 2019. Here then, when Santa Claus, Code Name : RED ONE, (J.K. Simmons) is kidnapped, the North Pole's Head of Security, Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson) must team up with the world's most infamous bounty hunter, Jack O'Malley (Chris Evans) in a globe-trotting, action-packed mission to save Christmas. Also starring Lucy Liu and Bonnie Hunt, the film cost a reported US$250M to produce and is released in the UK this week too, and the US from next week.

'SASQUATCH SUNSET' (Rated MA15+) - is an American absurdist fantasy drama film Co-Produced, Co-Directed and Co-Edited by Nathan and David Zellner, with David also writing the screenplay. In the misty wilderness forests of Northern California, a family of four nomadic Sasquatches, quite possibly the last of their enigmatic kind, embark on an absurdist, epic, hilarious, and ultimately poignant journey over the course of one year. These shaggy and noble giants fight for survival as they find themselves on a collision course with the ever-changing world around them. Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Riley Keough and Nathan Zellner, the film saw its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in mid-January this year, was released Stateside in mid-April, in the UK in mid-June, has so far collected US$1M at the Box Office and has garnered generally favourable reviews.

'AUDREY' (Rated MA15+) - this Australian comedy film is Co-Produced and Directed by Natalie Bailey in her feature film debut although she has a career spanning some 25 years Directing TV series. Here then, following self-appointed Mother of the Year, Ronnie Lipsick (Jackie van Beek), who is living a life she never wanted, with a derailed career, a husband whose love for life has gone limp (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor) and two daughters who she struggles to connect with (Josephine Blazier and Hannah Diviney). When an accident lands her eldest daughter Audrey (Josephine Blazier) in a coma, Ronnie gets a second chance at life by taking on her daughter’s identity – only she’s not the only one in the family who sees Audrey’s comatose state as an opportunity.

'THE POOL' (Rated M) - is an Australian documentary film Directed by Ian Darling that showcases Bondi Icebergs Club and its most photographed pool in the world. For nearly a century this spectacular fifty metre stretch of sparkling blue water at the southern end of Bondi Beach has occupied a special corner in the hearts of millions. This is where generations of children have learnt to swim, where the diehard have braved the frigid waters of one hundred winters, where the young and beautiful have come to bond and bake in the hot sun, and where sightseers from around the world have taken refuge during the scorching heights of endless Australian summers. Icebergs is at once a meeting place, a resting place, a workout place and a place of romance and ritual, capturing the lives of those who gather there, and revealing how this iconic space fosters a deep sense of community, connection, and belonging.

'UNBREAKABLE : THE JELENA DOKIC STORY' (Rated M) - this Australian documentary film is Written and Directed by Jessica Halloran and Ivan O'Mahoney, and tells the true story of how Jelena Dokic overcame extraordinary odds, and of her ultimate triumph in the face of poverty, bullying and extreme brutality. It’s about how she survived as a refugee, twice. How she survived on the tennis court as she ascended to become world No.4. But most importantly, how she survived the unimaginable abuse by Damir Dokic, her violent father and manager. The man whose love she craved most. It’s a story of growing up – never being alone, but always lonely. Ultimately, it’s the story of how the tennis world and a nation of fans chose to look away when Jelena needed them most. The film features firsthand testimony from Jelena, Australian and international tennis greats, including Pam Shriver and Lindsay Davenport, as well as former WTA officials and journalists.

With six 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 week ahead.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-