T H U R S D A Y 1 5 O C T O B E R -
W E D N E S D A Y 2 1 O C T O B E R 2 0 2 6
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The Wellington Film Society, Monday 19 October at 6.00pm and 8.30pm :
MONA LISA AND THE BLOOD MOON Ana Lily Amirpour, USA, 2021.
At first glance, Mona Lisa looks like she wouldn't hurt a fly. But appearances can deceive. Mona has a very special gift - the psychokinetic ability to control the actions of others. Using her lethal powers of persuasion to escape the psychiatric facility in which she has been locked up, Mona flees to New Orleans where she meets street smart-stripper Bonnie and her wise-beyond-his-years pre-teen son. Excited to exploit her new friend's talents, Bonnie convinces Mona to swindle the skeezy punters at her strip joint out of their hard-earned dollars. But the pair best beware - although they're raking in the cash, the police are closing in. With its down-and-dirty punk charm, Ana Lily Amirpour's wickedly subversive, adult fairy-tale is a truly wild ride, bursting with wit, imagination, and perhaps most surprisingly, a huge beating heart.
- Michael Blyth, London Film Festival.
Film Society Memberships are available at any time on line.
Film Festivals to note:
The Italian Film Festival runs until 15 November at The Embassy, The Roxy and the Penthouse. Find the programme on line or at the venues.
British and Irish Film Festival runs from 27 October till 18 November at The Embassy, all Lighthouse cinemas and the Penthouse. You can find brochures at the venues and details on their website.
If you have a festival due to run in Wellington and it's not listed here, contact the Cinemaster.
This site relies on the various cinemas having their own websites up to date to access their screening times.
The paragraphs describing the films starting this week are in most cases adapted from the linked reviews.
For comments and movie news, contact the Cinemaster at
filmster@gmail.com.
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s t a r t s t h i s w e e k!
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY -
Georgia Oakley's adaptation of Jane Austen's timeless, beloved 1811 novel is enchanting and beautiful, just as it should be. It's also, in its earthy and humorous way, intensely riveting, which is also as it should be. Austen's novels were gripping, ripping social commentaries and Oakley's rendition keeps that tradition alive, with a twinge more severity than previous versions.
.Also Penthouse, Lighthouse, Queensgate, Monterey, reading, Coastlands and Shoreline.
STREET FIGHTER -
Noah Centineo has offered a glowing early review for Street Fighter during a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. He raved about the new video game adaptation, praising it as being a "big spectacle, tentpole, high-octane action film." He further opined that audiences will be able to "tell we had a hell of a time making" the new Street Fighter movie, particularly as it "knows what it is" and aims to stay true to what fans of the source material love.
Also Queengate, Monterey, Reading and Coastlands.
LA BOLA NEGRA -
While it is technically accurate to say that this is a single feature film from Spain's beloved creative duo, Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi (collective moniker Los Javis), it feels truer to say that they have made four films and magically contained them within the form of one. By the final crescendo, time feels like an illusion and the stories of our dead belong to today.
Also Lighthouse.
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CALLE MALAGA -
The movie is a sweet star showcase that belongs unequivocally to the incandescent Carmen Maura, whose earthy naturalness, sly humor and tenacious spirit feed a direct link back to her Almodovarian glory days. From the NZIFF.
Also Lighthouse Petone.
NAZA -
In its systematic, neutral-toned way of conveying information about Israel's policy-driven perpetration of genocidal war crimes, this is a more effective and urgent documentary than No Other Land.It also makes sense that it's directed by only the Israeli half of that film's directing team, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, who have assumed the responsibility of revealing their government's hidden activities in a way that would have been impossible had their fellow filmmakers joined them.
Also Lighthouse.
A DASH OF LOVE -
Jen Lilley and Brendan Penny play chefs who find themselves in different places in their career. After discovering her recipes are being stolen, they set out to start their own restaurant to show the truth about who the actual chef is behind those recipes. A perfect mix of romance, perseverance, and conflict! From the French Film Festival.
Also Lighthouse Petone and Shoreline.
TENZING -
Based on true events and inspired by a book, this is crafted by director Jennifer Peedom and screenwriter Luke Davies with oversight from Tenzing's son, Tenzing Norbu. On the surface, it’s an adventure flick, but the story has spiritual and emotional depth that gives Tenzing's life mission universal resonance.
All Lighthouse.
WHALEFALL -
This is a thrilling survival story mixed with a father-son grief story that hits very expected beats but earns its emotion thanks to Austin Abrams' agonizing and physically committed performance. Josh Brolin is effective in his short bursts, but the real highlight is the film's craftsmanship. The enveloping sound work is some of the best of the year, the score pulls you into the story's emotional current with the right level of force.
Also Monterey, Reading and Lighthouse Pauatahanui.
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