There don’t seem to be a lot of movies aimed at actual adults in cinemas these days, but the line-up for the British Film Festival has a choice offering of films, including retrospectives, that you can sink your teeth into. For once, there’s not a superhero in sight!
The festival was started 15 years ago by Kim Petalas when he was programming director of Palace Cinemas.
He has been the curator ever since.
“Australian audiences really embrace British cinema, and I thought if we put the best of them in one package, then they would embrace that,” Petalas said.
“We’ve got the same sensibility, and I think we really understand their comedy and their humour. They’re real people to us. Some of the Hollywood films are a little bit glossy whereas British films are much more earthy.”
The festival’s opening night and closing night offer special treats, with Petalas programming My Duchess, directed by Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) to open the festival. About Wallis Simpson’s last years, it stars the seemingly indefatigable 93-year-old Joan Collins as the widow of Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne to be with her, with Isabella Rossellini as Simpson’s lawyer, who might be trying to take advantage of the elderly woman.
“It’s just a really gripping film, about loyalty, deception and control,” Petalas said. “It’s got beautiful production values, and I thought it was a superb film.”
Your ticket to the opening night reception will buy you a drink of choice, a delicious treat and a cinema snack, as well as an official festival gift bag, all while listening to live music pre-film. (There’s also a cheaper, non-reception ticket.)
Olivia Colman stars as a fisherwoman in Wicker, based on a short story by Ursula Wills-Jones and co-starring Alexander Skarsgård as the fisherwoman’s perfect husband, woven from wicker.
Andrew Scott has certainly made his mark since playing the “sexy priest” in Fleabag. In closing night film Elsinor, he portrays the actor Ian Charleson, who’s preparing to give the performance of his life in Hamlet at the National Theatre in London, while also battling AIDS. The cast includes Olivia Colman and Johnny Flynn. Closing night reception will have pre-film drinks, ice cream and popcorn.
Colman also makes her presence felt in what looks like a delightfully weird film called Wicker. It’s based on a short story by Ursula Wills-Jones and is co-directed by Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson (who previously co-directed Save Yourselves). The short story was called The Wicker Husband – and that’s pretty much what you’ll get.
“It’s funny, it’s dramatic, it’s raunchy,” Petalas said.
“Olivia Colman plays someone who’s a little bit of a recluse in this community, and she asks the local basket maker (Peter Dinklage) to weave her the perfect husband (Alexander Skarsgård) made out of wicker. It’s a really bold film, and it’s romantic and got a lot of heart.”
Another highlight for Petalas is Prima Facie, starring Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo. Anyone who’s read the book or seen the stage play by Australian playwright Suzie Miller will know it’s a gritty story about a London barrister who’s used to defending men accused of sexual assault, only to end up in a shocking situation when she has to fight for justice after being attacked herself.
Psychological thriller A Talent for Murder stars Helen Mirren as Patricia Highsmith, author of The Talented Mr. Ripley, who’s retired and living in Switzerland.
Another film based on a play is the psychological thriller, A Talent For Murder, starring screen legend Helen Mirren. If you saw Joanna Murray-Smith’s brilliant play, Switzerland, a few years back, this adaptation will be must-see.
Mirren plays Patricia Highsmith, author of The Talented Mr. Ripley. She is retired and living in Switzerland when she’s approached by an emissary from her publisher, who tries to get her to write one last book starring Tom Ripley.
Queen at Sea, starring Tom Courtenay and Juliette Binoche, is another film Petalas praises and which should provoke conversations.
“Juliette Binoche goes to visit her mother and stepfather (Courtenay), and they’re very elderly and they’re sleeping together, but the mother is suffering from dementia,” he said.
“Juliette Binoche’s character argues that her mother can’t consent to sex, so it’s an interesting film about consent and living with dementia and a relationship between two elderly people.”
Amid the plethora of highlights, Petalas points out Bill Nighy’s latest offering, 500 Miles, about an estranged relationship between a man and his two grandsons.
“It’s a road journey where the two boys run away from home to see their grandfather in Ireland,” he said. “It’s a really beautiful film, very moving.”
Other interesting films to consider are the 18th century-set Savage House with Richard E. Grant and Claire Foy, and The Uprising with Andrew Garfield, about the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt in England. Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day also sounds worth a look, about a woman who wants to be an astronomer in 1910 and is thwarted by the patriarchy.
Claire Foy and Richard E. Grant star in 18th century drama Savage House.
A documentary that will no doubt be popular is Parky, about the legendary talk show host, Michael Parkinson.
“This is a really strong doco,” Petalas said. “It’s told by Michael Parkinson, his son and his wife. It’s set in his actual stunning home and goes into all of these incredible interviews.”
As for the retrospectives, you’re spoiled for choice, among them the David Bowie-starring vehicle directed by Nicholas Roeg, The Man Who Fell to Earth, which is having a 50th anniversary 4K restoration screening. Then there’s The French Lieutenant’s Woman with Meryl Streep and Shirley Valentine – a tribute screening to its late star, Pauline Collins.
All that’s left to say is to check out the program, with Petalas adding that he believes this is the strongest British Film Festival so far. When looking at the offerings, it’s hard to argue.
The Russell Hobbs British Film Festival is at select cinemas in Adelaide, Brisbane, Ballarat, Byron Bay, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney from October 28-December 6