Arts & Culture

Details: Written by: Greg Letts; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 18 September 2024

On a mild spring evening my partner and I wandered down to Luna Leederville to watch a preview of Runt – the movie based on Craig Silvey's critically acclaimed novel. Having watched the trailer but not read the book, I was expecting a film aimed squarely at young children, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that Runt is a film for the whole family, adults included.

Runt tells the story of eleven year old Annie Shearer (Lily LaTorre) and her family, who are struggling to save their family farm (in Upson Downs, Western Australia) from the clutches of the local property magnate, Earl Robert-Barren (Jack Thompson). It hasn't rained for over a year and Earl has built a dam on his property which is hoarding all the water from the properties downstream, including the Shearer's farm.

Annie’s Dad Bryan (Jai Courtney) is trying to keep the farm going while harbouring a secret passion in his mysterious locked shed.

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 23 August 2024

I was lucky enough to preview the French movie Last Summer (L'Été dernier) by director and writer Catherine Breillat before it hits the cinemas at Luna Palace.

Happy families – that’s the appearance that we get when we are introduced to the life of successful and affluent couple Anne (Léa Drucker) and Pierre (Olivier Rabourdin) with their 2 young adopted daughters Serena and Angela.

Then a wild storm blows into their happy household in the form of Theo (Samuel Kircher), a son from Pierre’s previous marriage. Theo is a belligerent and unruly teenager who has been forced to come live with his Dad’s new family who are perfect strangers to him. He has little regard for his new parents and siblings – doing as he pleases till he crosses the line with Anne who in turn reciprocates.

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 29 August 2024

The-Children-Black-Swan

As my partner and I entered through the doors of the State Theatre Centre of WA, the foyer was abuzz with patrons heading upstairs to watch the opening night of The Children by Black Swan State Theatre Company.

The story line of The Children revolves around elderly couple Hazel (Nicola Bartlett) and Robin (Humphrey Bower) – seemingly enjoying their idyllic days in retirement at their country cottage after having long and successful careers as nuclear scientists at the power plant up the road.

But all is not as it seems – as their working life ended abruptly with a freak giant wave that hit and wrecked the power plant and led them to get away from it all.

An unexpected visit from ex-colleague Rose (Caroline Brazier) brings back memories too vividly of events that occurred before it all turned into disaster.

The Children is a captivating and thought provoking piece

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 01 August 2024

My friend and I chatted away whilst waiting for the performance of momenta to begin, we were in awe at the magnificence of the Heath Ledger Theatre with all its beautiful wooden panelling and surrounds.

Let your imagination run wild and its good for your soul were the words of Richard as he introduced the momenta production on its opening night.

Momenta is a visual and sensory delight – bodies merging and synchronised to perfectly choreographed music by Rafael Bonachela.

I enjoyed the undulations between a futuristic setting with a mechanistic beat contrasted against the classical music sets with violins tearing at the heartstrings and eliciting the poignancy of heightened emotion and sadness.

Beautifully sculptured bodies - strong and agile at the same time - swept together in dual and triple formations on the stage, and at other times a fusion of all the dancers meeting together forming an ephemeral quality as they dissolved into the shimmering light merged as one.

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 16 July 2024

It's winter in Perth – and the Scandinavian Film Festival has given Perthites a very good reason to head out the door to Palace Raine Square to watch the feast of movies on offer.

I was lucky to watch the preview of When the Light Breaks (Ljósbrot) at Raine Square yesterday evening.

Set on a long summer's day in Reykjavik, Iceland, the movie centres around young adult Una (Elín Hall), who is happily in a relationship with her boyfriend – albeit under difficult circumstances due to a secret she harbours. But tragedy befalls her boyfriend, who dies before their future can be assured.

Grief – such a complex emotion - is portrayed in this film with the intensity and sensitivity that it elicits.

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 05 July 2024

As my partner and I headed to the State Theatre Centre of WA on a coolish evening, we were looking forward to watching Prima Facie by Black Swan State Theatre Company.

Written by Suzie Miller, the play centres around Tessa Ensler – a criminal defence barrister on top of her game, who hasn't lost a case for months. It has been a hard climb to success for a working class girl, but she has finally made it to the top.

Just as everything appears to be falling into place for Tessa, a new potential relationship with her equally successfully colleague Damo blows her carefully constructed world apart. Whilst under the influence of alcohol and ill from its effects, Tessa is raped by Damo in her own apartment.

What should she do? Report him or let it go?

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 12 June 2024

On a cool winter’s evening, my partner and I headed to the Como Theatre (in its previous life it was known as the Cygnet Cinema).

This theatre brings back fond memories of when I was younger and my family used to go there to watch a movie and spend time together.

Stepping into the renovated theatre was a treat as we admired its restored art deco trimmings in all their splendour, with intricate nautical motifs adorning the side of the walls near our seats.

Armed with a big box of popcorn and a drink we listened to a live music performance by singer songwriter Rachael Coltrona, giving a song tribute to the Two Hands soundtrack.

Two Hands is a cult classic (1999) starring Perth’s own Heath Ledger. In this quintessential Aussie film about bad guys in King's Cross, Ledger plays the role of a Jimmy, a young strip club promoter who gets in trouble with Sydney gangsters when his first job for them goes seriously wrong.

Its a thriller, crime and a comedy all in one.

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GET THE PERTH WALKABOUT NEWSLETTER

Runt based on the novel by Craig Silvey hits the screen at Luna

Last Summer at Luna

The Children by Black Swan State Theatre Company

Momenta by Sydney Dance Company at State Theatre Centre of WA

When the Light Breaks at Scandinavian Film Festival

Prima Facie by Black Swan State Theatre Company

Heath Ledger in Two Hands at the Como Theatre - Exhumed Cinema at Strange Festival