What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 31st July 2025.

The 14th BlackStar Film Festival takes place this year from Thursday 31st July through until Sunday 3rd August in the US city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. BlackStar creates the spaces and resources needed to uplift the work of Black, Brown and Indigenous artists working outside of the confines of genre. The festival does this by producing year-round programmes including film screenings, exhibitions, an annual film festival, a filmmaker seminar, a film production lab, and a journal of visual culture. These programmes provide artists opportunities for viable strategies for collaborations with other artists, audiences, funders, and distributors. The festival prioritises visionary work that is experimental in its aesthetics, content, and form and builds on the work of elders and ancestors to imagine a new world. BlackStar elevates artists who are overlooked, invisibilised or misunderstood and celebrate the wide spectrum of aesthetics, storytelling and experiences that they bring to new audiences, as well as place it in dialog with other past and contemporary work, so reads the official website.

This year there are 90+ films being showcased from around the world, including twenty World Premiere screenings and thirteen North American Premieres. Those films being screened in the Feature Narrative section are as given below :-

* 'Don't Cry, Butterfly' - from Vietnam, Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia, and is Directed by Du'o'ng Dieu Linh. Tam, a hardworking staff member at a wedding venue, finds out about her husband’s affair on live TV. Instead of confronting him, she seeks to win back his love with the help of a powerful spell master.

* 'Sugar Island' - from Spain and the Dominican Republic, and Directed by Johanne Gomez Terrero. Makenya, a Dominican-Haitian teenager, navigates an unwanted pregnancy and the harsh labour that defines her world.

* 'Hanami' - from Switzerland, Portugal and Cape Verde and Directed by Denise Fernandes. On a remote volcanic island that everybody wants to leave, little Nana learns how to stay.

* 'Next Life' - from the USA and Mexico and Co-Produced, Directed, photographed and Edited by Tenzin Phuntsog. A Tibetan family seeks moments of 'temporary happiness' while living in exile in suburban America. As their father suffers from a mysterious inner pain rooted in childhood trauma, they turn to Buddhist teachings on death and rebirth. North American premiere.

* 'Compensation' - from the USA and is Co-Produced, Directed and Co-Edited by Zeinabu Irene Davis. A portrait of the struggles of Deaf African Americans and the complexities of loving relationships at the bookends of the 20th century.

* 'All That's Left of You' - from Germany, Cyprus, Palestine, Jordan, Greece, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Directed by Cherien Dabis. After a Palestinian teen gets swept up into a West Bank protest, his mother recounts their family’s story of hope, courage and relentless struggle that led them to this fateful moment.

* 'White House' - from Brazil and Directed by Luciano Vidigal. De is a Black teenager from Chatuba, a Rio de Janeiro favela. He receives the news that his grandmother, Almerinda, is in the terminal stage of Alzheimer’s disease. He and his two best friends, Adrianin and Martins, decide to make the most of the last days of life with her.

* 'Viet and Nam' - from Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore, France, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, and the US, and Directed by Minh Quy Truong. In the underground coal mines, Nam and Viet, young miners, face danger and darkness. One prepares to leave for a new life, but they must find Nam’s father’s remains, a soldier lost in a faraway forest, retracing the past through memories.

* 'Carissa' - from South Africa and Co-Produced and Directed by Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar and Edited by Devon Delmar. A young woman who dreams of leaving small village life to live in the city breaks away from her grandmother’s home only to be drawn into the care of her grandfather’s mountain rooibos plantation.

* 'Sabbatical' - from South Africa and Directed by Karabo Lediga. A banker returns unannounced to her childhood home and her overbearing mother, whom she hardly visits. Unbeknownst to her mother, a life-changing secret brought her back, threatening to upend their relationship forever. North American premiere.

* 'Love, Brooklyn' - from the USA and Co-Produced and Directed by Rachael Abigail Holder. Three longtime Brooklynites navigate careers, love, loss and friendship against the rapidly shifting landscape of their beloved city.

* 'Killer of Sheep' - from the USA and Directed, photographed and Edited by Charles Burnett. A mosaic of Black life in the Watts neighbourhood of Los Angeles, where Stan, a father worn down by his job in a slaughterhouse, and his wife seek moments of tenderness in the face of myriad disappointments. Released in 1977 this is a Retrospective premiere.

For the full schedule of the other film strands being showcased, plus a whole lot more good stuff, you can go to the official website, at : https://www.blackstarfest.org/festival/

This week we have six new movies coming to your local big screen Odeon, starting off with an Aussie horror film in which after moving to the countryside, a supernatural encounter starts to transform a couple's love, their lives, and their flesh. Next up we have an American action comedy that has a group of gun totting mercenary types take a lavish wedding hostage, but, they have no idea what they are in for as the Maid of Honour is actually a secret agent. Then we turn to a French comedy drama offering about a retiree living in Burgundy who expects her grandson for the holidays but a mistake ruins her plans, and she falls into a depression until her best-friend's son is released from prison. This is followed by an American comedy drama film that tells a story of love, friendship, grief and healing, about a New York based writer who adopts a Great Dane that belonged to a late friend and mentor. Then, we have another French comedy drama film about how a specialist in modern art, receives a letter according to which a painting by Egon Schiele had been discovered in Mulhouse, in the Alsace region of France. And closing out the week we have an Aussie doco about a remarkable Christian hymn, written in ancient Greek musical notation during the time of the Roman Empire, and how it has been resurrected for the modern era.

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.

'TOGETHER' (Rated MA15+) - is an Australian and US horror Sci-Fi romance film from Writer and Director Michael Shanks in his feature film making debut. The film saw its World Premiere showcasing at the Sundance Film Festival in late January this year, goes on general release in Canada, the UK, the US, here in Australia and a handful of other territories from this week and for the rest of the world throughout August, September and October. 

Years into their relationship, Tim and Millie (real life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie, who also both Co-Produce here) find themselves at a crossroads as they move to the country, abandoning all that is familiar in their lives except each other. With tensions already flaring, a nightmarish encounter with a mysterious, unnatural force in a remote cave threatens to corrupt their lives, their love, and their flesh as that strange mystery substance creates a disturbingly powerful magnetic attraction between them. Also starring Damon Herriman. The film has generated positive critical reviews.

'BRIDE HARD' (Rated M) - this American action comedy offering is Directed by Simon West whose previous feature film making credits include his Directing debut in 1997 with 'Con Air' which he would follow up with the likes of 'The General's Daughter' in 1999, 'Lara Croft : Tomb Raider' in 2001, 'The Mechanic' in 2011, 'The Expendables 2' in 2012 and 'Wild Card' in 2015. Here, Sam (Rebel Wilson) is a world-class secret agent but a terrible maid of honour. After blowing off bridal duties for an international spy mission, she's demoted to bridesmaid at her childhood best friend's wedding. What should've been a weekend of reconnecting and celebration turns into a five-star death trap when armed mercenaries crash the big day. Sam's the only one who can save the bride, and hopefully earn back the trust she lost along the way. Dodging bullets and trying not to ruin the floral arrangements, Sam takes on the ultimate wedding crasher, realising that sometimes the toughest mission isn't taking down the bad guys, but showing up for the people who matter the most. Also starring Anna Camp, Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Stephen Dorff. The film was released in the US on 20th July and has garnered generally negative press. 

'WHEN FALL IS COMING' (Rated M) - is a French comedy drama film Co-Written and Directed by Francois Ozon whose prior feature film credits most recently are 'Summer of 85' in 2020, 'Everything Went Fine' in 2021, 'Peter von Kant' in 2022 and 'The Crime is Mine' in 2023 with 'L'Etranger' currently in production for a 2026 release. Here then, Michelle (Helene Vincent) is enjoying a peaceful retirement in a Burgundy village, close to her longtime friend Marie-Claude (Josiane Balasko). When her Parisian daughter Valerie (Ludivine Sagnier) drops off her son Lucas (Garian Erios) to spend school vacation with his grandma, Michelle, stressed out by her daughter, serves her toxic mushrooms for lunch. Valerie quickly recovers, but forbids her mother from seeing her grandson anymore. Feeling lonely and guilty, Michelle falls into a depression, until Marie-Claude's son gets out of prison. The film was released in its native France in early September last year, on limited release in the UK from mid-March and the US early April and only now is released in Australia having so far grossed US$6.7M at the Box Office and generating largely positive critical reviews.

'THE FRIEND' (Rated M) - this American comedy drama offering is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Co-Directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, the pairing of which have given rise to other features including their 1993 debut with 'Suture' followed by 'The Deep End' in 2001, 'Bee Season' in 2005, 'Uncertainty' in 2008, 'What Maisie Knew' in 2012, and 'Montana Story' in 2021. This film is based on the 2018 novel by Sigrid Nunez. Writer and teacher Iris (Naomi Watts) finds her comfortable, solitary New York life thrown into disarray after her closest friend and mentor Walter (Bill Murray) dies suddenly and bequeaths her his beloved 70kg weighing Great Dane. The regal yet almost uncontrollable beast, named Apollo (Bing), immediately creates practical problems for Iris, from furniture destruction to eviction notices, as well as more existential ones, his looming presence constantly reminding her of her friend's problematic choices in both life and death. Yet as Iris finds herself unexpectedly bonding with the animal, she begins to come to terms with her past, her lost friend, and her own creative inner life. Also starring Carla Gugino, Constance Wu and Owen Teague. The film has so far grossed US$4.2M since its release in the US and Canada in early April this year, and has garnered generally positive press.

'THE STOLEN PAINTING' (Rated M) - is a French comedy drama film Co-Written and Directed by Pascal Bonitzer who made her feature film Directorial debut with 'Encore' in 1996 and would follow this up with other titles including 'Nothing About Robert' in 1999, 'The Great Alibi' in 2008, 'Looking for Hortense' in 2012, 'Right Here Right Now' in 2016 and 'Spellbound' in 2019. Set in present day Paris, brash forty-something year old Andre Masson (Alex Lutz), a hotshot modern art appraiser at prestigious high-end auction house Scottie’s, receives word that a painting by Egon Schiele may have been found in a young factory worker’s home in the Alsatian city of Mulhouse. Though highly sceptical, Andre travels to view the canvas with his ex-partner Bettina (Lea Drucker) who is also an expert valuator, only to be convinced of its authenticity as a masterwork long assumed destroyed by Nazi's during WWII. For Andre, the ramifications of this once-in-a-lifetime find for his career and for his contentious relationship with his less-than-reliable intern Aurore (Louise Chevillotte), will prove both unexpected and transformative. The film was released in in France in early May 2024, has worked the US film festival circuit in the meantime and only now does it get a release date here in Australia, having so far grossed US$2.8M.

'THE FIRST HYMN' (Rated G) - this Australian documentary film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Mark Hadley in his screen debut. This is the story of an ancient scrap of papyrus uncovered in the deserts of Egypt that contains the remnants of the oldest known Christian hymn. In its lyrics Professor John Dickson discovers evidence of beliefs some say Christians never held this early in history. However, uncovering this ancient treasure is only the first step. With the help of world-renowned Christian composers, Chris Tomlin and Ben Fielding, Professor Dickson sets out on an epic journey to record the First Hymn as a modern worship song for the new millennium.

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-