What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 5th November 2026.

The 24th annual SCANORAMA European Film Festival is held this year from Thursday 5th November through until Sunday 22nd November in Lithuania, in the Baltic region of Europe. The festival was usually held in three cities - Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipeda and in 2025 the reach was extended to ten cities in Lithuania. The largest and most prominent international film and cultural event of the autumn season, annually bringing together more than 40,000 cinema lovers. Every November, it presents a carefully curated selection of European films alongside critically acclaimed works from across the globe. The main criterion behind the SCANORAMA programme selection is high artistic value. Films shaping new trends in European cinema are presented in specially curated programme sections, allowing audiences to explore the cinematic fields that interest them most in greater depth. The festival’s distinctive identity is recognised and appreciated both by Lithuanian film industry professionals and international experts alike . . . . . so reads the official website.

There are ten films being screened in the International Feature Film Competition - a programme of films by European filmmakers with unique aesthetics and styles, aimed at discovering and highlighting bold and original works that are rarely distributed outside their own countries. Those films are as given in brief below :-

* 'Do You Love Me' - from France, Lebanon, Germany and Qatar, this documentary is Co-Produced and Directed by Lana Daher. Drawing on films, news reports, home movies and popular songs spanning the past seventy years, the film explores the Lebanese collective consciousness, shaped equally by joy and grief. Images of the civil war give way to Israeli bombardments, while rituals of everyday life - weddings and domestic scenes - punctuate the political narrative.

* 'I Want to Be Human' - from Lithuania, this documentary is Written, Directed and Co-photographed by Rinaldas Tomasevicius. Beneath the rough language, chilling stories, and isolated daily lives of prisoners, the Director manages to reveal that even under the most hopeless circumstances, humanity remains a possibility.

* 'Low Expectations' - from Norway and Denmark, and this drama film is Written and Directed by Eivind Landsvik. After years of gruelling studio sessions, relentless touring and hard partying, 29-year-old musician Maja succumbs to a distinctly twenty-first-century affliction: burnout. Unable to bear the pressure and weight of fame, she moves back in with her mother and takes a part-time job at a local secondary school. Colleagues and friends gradually draw her out of a debilitating depression, while her new reality teaches her to see both life and herself afresh.

* 'Paris Paris' - from Belgium and this drama film is Written and Directed by Isabelle Tollenaere. In a ghostly, seemingly abandoned apartment block in Paris, Yi-En, Junior and Hamzah build a home together. All three have left their countries behind and carry the burden of exile. They share not only a living space, but also memories, dreams and different ideas of what home means. Their unlikely household teems with life, offering shelter to a stray cat and a rescued fish, yet the refuge they have so carefully created remains fragile.

* 'Petty Thieves' - from Croatia, France, Germany and Serbia, this drama film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Mate Ugrin. In summer, the resorts along the Adriatic coast are packed with tourists. Rio works in a local hotel kitchen, supplementing his meagre wages by stealing from foreign holidaymakers. When Andrea discovers his thefts, they agree to join forces and split the spoils. What begins as a pragmatic arrangement develops into an unexpected intimacy.

* Shame and Money' - from Germany, Kosovo, Slovenia, Albania, North Macedonia and Belgium, this drama film is Co-Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Visar Morina. Shaban and his wife Hatixhe run a small cattle farm in rural Kosovo. After a family dispute costs them their herd, their main source of income, they move to Pristina with their daughters in search of work. When Hatixhe’s family offers them jobs cleaning a nightclub, Shaban accepts, but the help brings him more humiliation than relief.

* 'Supporting Role' - from Georgia, Estonia, Turkiye, Switzerland and the USA, and this drama film is Written and Directed by Ana Urushadze. Niaz was once a celebrated star of Georgian cinema. Now back in his homeland, he longs to act again, but the film industry has long since forgotten him. At an audition, a young Director offers him the supporting role of an eccentric old man in her debut feature. The old-fashioned Niaz takes offence - young Directors, he concludes, no longer respect Actors. Given three days to decide, he wanders the streets of Tbilisi, contemplating his own transience, both as an Actor and as a man.

* 'The Patron' - from Sweden, this drama thriller film is Written and Directed by Julia Thelin. A cleaner dreams of escaping her routine and finding a more meaningful life. One evening, posing as an influential art patron, she invites two art students into her employer’s empty home. Intoxicated by her newfound power, she becomes increasingly entangled in the deception, but what begins as an innocent game soon takes a more troubling turn.

* 'Trial of Hein' - from Germany, this drama is Written and Directed by Kai Stanicke. After fourteen years on the mainland, Hein returns to the fishing village where he grew up, on a remote island. The isolated community greets him coldly, and even his closest relatives suspect him of being an impostor. When a trial is convened to establish his identity, it emerges that Hein’s memories differ even from those of his childhood friend. The villagers’ suspicion hardens into open hostility, and Hein resorts to drastic measures to prove his version of the truth.

* 'Under a Bad Star' - from France, this drama film is Co-Written, Co-photographed and Co-Directed by Yann Berlie and Lola Cambourieu. Kiki and her partner Alex are trapped in a paralysing cycle of action and reaction, driven by a distorted, reality-detached notion of love. The couple’s young daughter, Malone, becomes a witness to this relationship drama - over the course of 24 hours, she observes Kiki’s emotional journey as she navigates the twists and turns of pain, passion, confusion, tenderness, and desperation.

For the details of the other film strands being showcased at this years festival, plus a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : http://www.scanorama.lt

Turning the focus back to this weeks seven new movies coming to your local big screen Odeon, we begin with a black comedy political thriller in which a pair of CIA agents face a trust-testing mission from Santiago in Chile to Easter Island in the south-east Pacific Ocean in 1973. Then we have a romantic fantasy comedy drama in which an ostracised fisherwoman tasks the local basketmaker to weave her a husband, but when her wicker creation proves unexpectedly extraordinary, his presence ignites jealousy and upheaval that threatens their peaceful village. Next up, is an action offering that sees a weapon systems engineer and former Green Beret protecting his Wyoming neighbours against a ruthless corporation threatening their rural community. Then we turn to a historical musical drama film in which two brothers find themselves forced onto opposite sides of the American Revolutionary War, turning a fight for freedom into a personal battle for family and forgiveness. This is followed by a Japanese epic kaiju film that is set in 1949, with the Shikishima family having to confront a fresh catastrophe two years after surviving their previous ordeal with this legendary monster. Turning next to a RomCom in which a former lawyer pivots to a career as an event planner after a public professional fallout; and closing out the week we have an Aussie doco about a former Victoria Police detective who spent 27 years on the force, including fifteen years in the homicide, rape, and missing persons units.

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

'WILD HORSE NINE' (Rated MA15+) - is a black comedy political thriller film that is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by Martin McDonagh, whose previous feature filmmaking credits take in his 2008 debut with 'In Bruges' and which he would follow up with 'Seven Psychopaths' in 2012, 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' in 2017, and 'The Banshees of Inisherin' in 2022. This film had its World Premiere screening in the main competition at this years Venice International Film Festival in early September, where it won lead Actor John Malkovich the Volpi Cup for Best Actor. It is released in the UK, the USA and here in Australia this week. Early critical reviews have been generally positive. 

Shortly before the 1973 Chilean coup d'etat, CIA bureau chief MJ (Steve Buscemi) dispatches officers Chris Carlisle (John Malkovich) and Lee Chesterfield (Sam Rockwell) from Santiago, Chile to Easter Island, in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. Among the island's iconic statues, the longtime partners wrestle with their dark pasts and present conspiracies, while Chris's newfound bond with a pair of rebellious students Monica and Alicia (Mariana di Girolamo and Ailin Salas respectively) threatens to send everyone's trip to this remote paradise sideways. Also starring Parker Posey and Tom Waits.

'WICKER' (Rated MA15+) - this UK, US and Australian Co-Produced romantic fantasy comedy drama film is Written and Directed by Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson, and is based on the short story 'The Wicker Husband' by Ursula Wills. Here, In a small medieval farming town with rigid social hierarchy and patriarchal culture, a reclusive fisherwoman (Olivia Colman, who also Co-Produces here) is ostracised due to her persistent fish smell and rejection of institutionalised marriage. When the japes at her spinster status intensify, she sarcastically commissions for herself a husband made out of wicker. The master weaver (Peter Dinklage) brings the Wicker Husband (Alexander Skarsgard) to life, where his utility and dedication to his wife creates a romance so pure it causes absolute chaos amongst the villagers of the closed-minded town. Also starring Elizabeth Debicki and Richard E. Grant. The film premiered at this years Sundance Film Festival in late January, was released in the US and the UK in late October and here in Australia from this week, having garnered generally positive critical acclaim, and has so far grossed US$17M from a US$10M production budget.

'GHOST SOLDIER' (Rated CTC) - is an American action film that is Directed by William Eubank who made his feature film Directorial debut with 'Love' in 2011, which he would follow through with 'The Signal' in 2014, 'Underwater' in 2020, 'Paranormal Activity : Next of Kin' in 2021, 'Land of Bad' in 2024, with 'The Last Druid' currently in post-production and set for a release sometime in 2027. Henry 'Fitz' Fitzgerald (Jim Caviezel) is a former US Army Special Forces (Green Beret) soldier who lives off the grid in Wyoming designing weapons for a US military research projects agency. When an asset management company employs corrupt law enforcement officers and foreign agents to seize vast swaths of ranch land and water for their own benefit, Fitz steps up to protect his neighbours from their aggressive schemes. Also starring Olivia Thirlby, Shea Whigham, Garret Dillahunt and Beau Knapp. The film is released Stateside on 11th November to coincide with Veteran's Day. 

'DRUMMER BOY' (Rated PG) - this American historical musical drama film is Directed by Ben and Joel David Smallbone. Ben Smallbone made his feature film Directorial debut with 'Priceless' in 2016 and would go on to helm 'A Rush of Hope : Find Answers to Life's Questions' in 2020, 'Johnny Cash : The Redemption of an American Icon' in 2022, 'Fame : Fortunes, Failure and Faith' in 2023, 'Stoned Cold Country' in 2023. 'Homestead' in 2024 and 'For King + Country : No Turning Back' in 2025. Here then, as America's fight for independence begins, a young drummer boy Benjamin Clem (Lucas Leach), an enslaved woman Emmaline (India Brown), and a divided family each search for freedom in a world built to deny it. With music carrying hope through battle and loss, Drummer Boy turns the Revolution into a deeply human story of faith, forgiveness, and the belief that no person is born to live in chains or be forgotten. Also starring Joel David Brown as Jeremiah Clem, Ioan Gruffudd as Nathaniel Clem, Melora Hardin as Rachel Clem and Iain Glen as Major John Ambrose. The film is released by Angel Studio's this week also in the US and is the second film released by the studio this year set during the American Revolution, after July's 'Young Washington'.

'GODZILLA MINUS ZERO' (Rated M) - this Japanese epic kaiju film is Written, Directed, and with visual effects by Takashi Yamazaki, and is the sequel to 2023's 'Godzilla Minus One' which grossed US$116M of the back of a US$10M production budget, and was also Directed by Takashi Yamazaki. This film is the 39th film in the Godzilla franchise which began in 1954 with 'Godzilla'. Set in 1949, the effects and aftermath of WWII reduced Japan to zero, and Godzilla plunged it into minus. Two years have passed since then, and the country has faced agonising struggles to achieve recovery and finally reclaim its daily life. Just as humanity managed to cling to a hard-won peace, a new threat strikes, crushing hope in an instant. There is no third time. Everything ends here as Japan faces a new threat from King Ghidorah, a three headed dragon like creature, and Godzilla regenerates and resurfaces to combat the monster. The film saw its Premiere screening at the New York Film Festival at the end of September and is released in the USA and here in Australia this week, having garnered generally positive early critical reviews.

'LOVE ON DECK' (Rated G) - is an Australian romantic comedy film Directed by Colin Budds who made his feature film Directing debut with 'Hurricane Smith' in 1992 and woulds go on to helm the documentary 'Danger Zone : Stunt School' in 2007, 'Romance at the Vineyard' in 2023 and 'A Vintage Christmas' in 2024, as well as Directing numerous TV series and short films throughout his career to date. Here then, after a devastating professional betrayal, ex-lawyer Samara Hart (Rhiannon Fish) has rebuilt her life from the ground up - trading courtrooms for creativity as the owner of her own event-planning business. When her longtime friend Liv Stevens (Lana Golja) hires her to plan her parents' lavish 40th wedding anniversary celebration aboard a luxury yacht in tropical Queensland, Samara thinks it's the perfect job . . . until she discovers the charter captain is Nate Lawson (Daniel Lissing), the former colleague she blames for destroying her career. Forced together at sea, their stubborn banter gives way to undeniable chemistry neither can ignore.

'THE POLICEWOMAN' (Rated MA15+) -  this Australian true crime feature documentary film is Co-Produced, photographed, Directed and Edited by Steven Pasvolsky who made his feature film debut with 'Deck Dogz' in 2005 and would follow this up with other doco's including 'Calibrate' in 2021 and 'The Power of Activism' in 2023. This film chronicles Narelle Fraser's journey from young constable in the 1980's, to a respected and highly skilled detective with Victoria Police. It depicts her 'real life' story, yet is told with creative license, including archival footage, interviews and re-enactments using miniature models. These re-enactments support her memories in an internal way as she recounts the events and encounters that shaped her Police life. 

With seven 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-