Arts & Culture

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 11 June 2024

As we headed towards Windsor Cinema on a coolish winter’s evening, my friend and I were looking forward to watching the French movie Divertimento.

Two young teenage sisters of Algerian descent (aspiring conductor Zahia and cellist Fettouma) – are both passionate musicians talented enough to join the exclusive classical symphonic musical scene in Paris. Thrown into a different world compared to their upbringing out in the suburbs as part of an Algerian family, this beautiful movie tells the inspirational story of their rise to success in the classical musical scene.

Confronting a stiff and unbending approach from musical bureaucracy and its academics, chauvinism and taunting from their peers, this film is testament to making your dreams come true despite setbacks and adversity along the path to success.

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 30 May 2024

The Spanish Film Festival in Perth is just around the corner and my friend and I were lucky enough to preview The Teacher Who Promised the Sea (El maestro que prometió el mar ) at Palace Cinemas Raine Square – the centrepiece of the Festival.

The unique and quaint film title bubbled up in my head in the lead up to watching the movie – curiosity aroused in me as to what story might unfold in the movie.

Young and determined Ariadna (Laia Costa) sets out on a mission to discover the hidden past of her ailing grandfather’s father – something that has not been talked about in her family. She arrives at the exhumation of a mass burial plot close to where her great grandfather resided back in the day, but as it turns out this is only the start of her investigations.

Alongside this plot line, we also follow the story of Antoni Benaiges (Enric Auquer) a teacher from Catalonia who in 1935 is assigned to teach children in Burgos (in a small village called Bañuelos de Bureba). While the kids thrive under his tutelage, his innovative teaching methods are viewed with disdain from the local community.

Details: Written by: Greg Letts; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 28 May 2024

In a world where many movies set in impoverished circumstances dial up the violence, crime and brutality to 11, Radical is a welcome change of scene, faithfully following the standard trope of well-meaning middle-class teacher with new ideas coming to work with disadvantaged schoolchildren, but telling the familiar story with warmth and wit.

Set in Mexico in 2011, Sergio Correa, a teacher who had a breakdown at his previous school, arrives at the Jose Urbina Lopez elementary school to teach sixth grade. In a town where poverty, crime and violence are everywhere, and gunshots can be heard from the classroom, Sergio has the radical idea of teaching his students to think creatively for themselves, instead of just trying to prepare them for the standardised tests that the government makes all children take.

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 26 May 2024

As I waited for my friend to arrive at Luna Leederville, there was an exciting buzz in the foyer as patrons waited to watch the feature film Hesitation Wound, and for the official program launch of the Revelation Perth International Festival.

Hesitation Wound is a legal thriller by Director Selman Nacar - it revolves around the story of Canan, a lawyer who is tasked to defend a young man for the murder of his boss at a factory where he used to work.

Meanwhile, Canan is battling with her own personal problem – her Mum is in hospital in a coma with no hope in sight.

Hesitation Wound was an interesting movie from a myriad of angles – it keeps the film goer riveted as the story unravels and we are left wondering whether the young man did indeed commit the crime that he is accused of.

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 21 May 2024

On a sunny Saturday morning, my partner and I headed down Oxford St to Luna Leederville to watch The Beast (Le Bête).

Starring Léa Seydoux (One Fine Morning, Farewell, My Queen, Blue is the Warmest Colour) as Gabrielle Monnier , and George MacKay as Louis Lewanski, each actor plays 3 different characters spanning over 3 different time periods.

It is an intriguing movie that might best be described as a sci-fi romantic drama – with a thriller and noir element thrown in for good measure.

And intriguing it was, as we were hurled between modern times, back to the past (into Belle Époque-era Paris) and into the future (2044) of a world controlled by AI’s, where feelings are muted through re-programming

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 03 May 2024

The trailer for the movie Housekeeping for Beginners caught my attention – the life and times of a blended family living in Northern Macedonia. It sounded interesting.

Stories about blended families that come to mind include the two Korean movies Shoplifters and Broker by Director / Writer Kore-eda Hirokazu, both of which I have enjoyed in the past.

In Housekeeping for Beginners, the story revolves around the couple Dita (Anamaria Marinca) and Suada (Alina Serban) – with Suada passing from terminal cancer and leaving Dita to care for Suada's kids. Dita never wanted to be a mother and she is left looking after her girlfriend’s two daughters whilst confronting immense grief.

The story unfolds with lots of highs and lows as this newly formed blended family somehow gets it together.

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 28 January 2024

On a balmy Saturday evening, my partner and I headed to one of our favourite spots - Peninsula Farm (a National Heritage building) - along the Maylands foreshore to watch The Oak Tree.

We were greeted by the soothing sounds of the musician Travis on keyboard with a spectacular backdrop of the river as the sun went down.

The flyer that had been displayed around Maylands had caught my attention with its themes of love and grief and the appearance of a ghost from historical times around the old oak tree.

Luckily for the theatre group, Peninsula Farm has a very beautiful and old oak tree – its grandeur making for a very natural centrepiece for the play's story line.

Lenny (Matthew McKail) and Kate (Fiona Blakely) are having a sea change moving from Mt Hawthorn to their new dream place at Byford, trying to leave their tragic past behind them.

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Divertimento at Luna

The Teacher who Promised the Sea at the Spanish Film Festival

Radical Afternoon Tea at Luna Leederville

Hesitation Wound at Revelation Perth International Film Festival

The Beast at Luna

Housekeeping for Beginners at Luna

The Oak Tree at Peninsula Farm by FiFi Productions