SYDNEY FILMFEST WEEKEND SCREENINGS
June 13th 2008 05:20
Following this short review on MERMAID which screened last night at the festival are the weekend screenings for the 55th Sydney Film Festival. Dont miss out on seeming some amazing films. Couldnt think of a better way to spend the weekend.
MERMAID
(Russia).
Dir: Anna Melikian
Cast: Masha Shalaeva, Yevgeniy Tsyganov, Maria Sokova.
A buxom young woman’s brief affair with a Russian sailor results 9 months later in the birth of a highly spirited and free willed sea sprite, Alisa who can make her strongest wishes come true. As she grows older, she moves to Moscow where she befriends the suicidal playboy Sasha, embracing romance with the dangerous combination of naivety, determination and the awakening of adult emotions. It seems Alisa has a date with destiny and is on a collision course with the universe.
While looking through the festival guide MERMAID was one of those films I wasn’t 100 percent commited to. The storyline seemed interesting enough, but with so many films over such a limited time frame, would there be something else on at the same time and on the same day that would hold a stronger appeal. Thankfully on this particular Thursday evening I would like to thank all those for not only supporting the festival on the whole, but for making my choice for me.
MERMAID tells the story of generously proportioned and highly spirited young woman who has a very brief affair with a sailor resulting in the birth of Alisa, a little girl who can make her strongest wishes come true. Increasingly disilussioned with the world she is brought into and waiting for the return of her father, Alisa retreats further and further into her own world until one day she decides to stop speaking at altogether wishing that she could just go away. The film then continues on its weird and wonderful course while relocating the family to Moscow where the 17 year old finally opens up after a chance encounter, after a shambles of an 18th birthday, on a bridge, with a young man whose job is unique to say the very least. Finally at last she has found some happiness in her life.
Written and directed by Anna Melikian, this latest offering from the Russian Big screen is definitely in safe hands with the captivating Masha Shalaeva (for whom the role was specifically written) whose performance is astonishing in the least. The audience feels every bit of pain and suffering as well as taking takes pleasure in those moments of bliss as Alisa struggles to find happiness in a world that tells us we can have it all if we really want it without actually telling us how to find it.
The film details with the everyday battle between carrying on with our everday lives while we look for that elusive slice of the pie that will make everything worthwhile. And what happens when we find it? You will leave the cinema reflecting on the last two hours you have just spent in that darkroom.
FRIDAY JUNE 13 SYDFF 2008 CALENDER OF EVENTS
930 DENDY AWARDS various shorts State Theatre
200 A Gentle Breeze in theVillage Nobuhiro Yamashita / Jap World Views Dendy OH Quays
415 Night and Day San-soo Hong / SKO, Fra World Views Dendy OH Quays
430The Class Ilmar Raag / Est World Views Greater Union
630Stop-Loss Kimberley Pierce / USA Competition State Theatre
Jerusalema Ralph Ziman / S.A. World Views Greater Union
700A Thousand Years of Prayer Wayne Wang / USA World Views Dendy OH Quays
The Wackness Jonathine Levine / USA World Views Greater Union
840The Song of Sparrows Majid Majidi / Ira World Views State Theatre
845Man on a Wire Todd McCarthy / UK Red Hot Docs Dendy OH Quays
850The Unseeable Wisit Sasanatieng / Thai World Views Greater Union
915CSNY: De Ja Vu Bernard Shakey / USA Apocalypse Now Greater Union
SATURDAY JUNE 14 SYDFF 2008 CALENDER OF EVENTS
1000Lake Tahoe Fernado Einbcke / Mex Competition State Theatre
1150Stop-Loss Kimberley Pierce / USA Competition State Theatre
1200A Thousand Years of Prayer Wayne Wang / USA World Views Dendy OH Quays
Anatomy Rhys Graham / Aus Australian Greater Union
Come Drink with Me King Hu / HK Revive and Restore Greater Union
145Useless Jia Zhang-ki / Chn Chinese Currents Dendy OH Quays
A Tale of Two Mozzies Jannik Hastrup / Den Kids Films Greater Union
210Black Narcissus Michael Powell / UK From Kerr to Eternity State Theatre
215The Class Ilmar Raag / Est World Views Greater Union
330Elite Squad Jose Padilha / Bra World Views Greater Union
Good Man Dog Singing Chen / Tai World Views Dendy OH Quays
415Playing in the Shadows Iannello/Ettinger-Epstein / Aus Australian State Theatre
430 Buddha collapsed out of Shame Hana Makhmalbaf / Iran World Views Greater Union
600 Man on Wire James Marsh / UK Red Hot Docs Dendy OH Quays
615CSNY: De Ja Vu Bernard Shakey / USA Apocalypse Now Greater Union
630 In Bruges Martin McDonagh /UK,Bel Competition State Theatre
645 Jerusalema Ralph Ziman / S.A. World Views Greater Union
800 Let the Right One In Tomas Alfredson / Swe World Views Dendy OH Quays
815 Appleseed Saga: Ex Machina Shinji Aramaki / Jap World Views Greater Union
900 Children of the Silk Road Roger Spottiswoode / Aus Australian State Theatre
940 The Wackness Jonathine Levine / USA World Views Greater Union
1230 OFFICIAL TALK LAKE TAHOE Fernado Einbcke / Mex Competition State Theatre
230 OFFICIAL TALK STOP-LOSS Kimberley Pierce / USA Competition State Theatre
SUNDAY JUNE 15 SYDFF 2008 CALENDER OF EVENTS
1000In Bruges Martin McDonagh /UK,Bel Competition State Theatre
1230Terrors Advocate Barbet Schroeder / Fra Red Hot Docs State Theatre
315The Bands Visit Eran Kolirin / Isr, Fra, USA World Views State Theatre
630The Square Nash Edgerton / Aus Australian State Theatre
915I Always wanted to be a Gang Samuel Benchetrit / Fra World Views State Theatre
1200Hope Stanislaw Mucha / Pol World Views Greater Union
215Where is Winky's Horse Mischa Kamp / Ned Kids Films Greater Union
400From Here to Eternity Fred Zinnerman / USA From Kerr to Eternity Greater Union
630Grace is Gone James C Strouse / USA Apocalypse Again Greater Union
830The Unseeable Wisit Sasanatieng / Thai World Views Greater Union
1200Go West: A Lucky Luke Adv Olivier Jean-Marie / Fra Kids Films Greater Union
200Man of Cinema
ierre Rissient Todd McCarthy Red Hot Docs State Theatre
400Suddenly Last Winter zGustav Hofer / Ita Red Hot Docs Greater Union
645Princess of Nebraska Wayne Wang / USA World Views Greater Union
945Fantastic Parasuicides Park Soo-young / SOK World Views Greater Union
1100Little Moth Peng Tao / Chn Chinese Currents Dendy OH Quays
1215Chasing Birds Greg Woodland Australian Dendy OH Quays
200Ballast Lance Hammer / USA World Views Dendy OH Quays
400Derek Isaac Julien / UK Red Hot Docs Dendy OH Quays
245Chop Shop Rahmin Bahrani / USA World Views Dendy OH Quays
745Fear(s) in the Dark Various World Views Dendy OH Quays
1230 OFFICIAL TALK In Bruges Martin McDonagh /UK,Bel Competition State Theatre
400 OFFICIAL TALK Apocalypse Again Various Apocalypse Again State Theatre
Legend
Aus – Australia Den - Denmark Jap - Japan Rus – Russia
Aut – Austria Fra – FranceLat – Latvia Spa – Spain
Bra – Brazil Ger – Germany Mex – Mexico Swe - Sweden SOK - South Korea
Can - Canada Gre - Greece N.Z. – New Zealand Tai - Taiwan
Chn - China H.K. – Hong Kong Ned – The Netherlands Thai - Thailand
Chi – Chile Ita – Italy Nor - Norway U.K. United Kingdom
Isr - Israel Pol - Poland USA - United States
MERMAID
(Russia).
Dir: Anna Melikian
Cast: Masha Shalaeva, Yevgeniy Tsyganov, Maria Sokova.
A buxom young woman’s brief affair with a Russian sailor results 9 months later in the birth of a highly spirited and free willed sea sprite, Alisa who can make her strongest wishes come true. As she grows older, she moves to Moscow where she befriends the suicidal playboy Sasha, embracing romance with the dangerous combination of naivety, determination and the awakening of adult emotions. It seems Alisa has a date with destiny and is on a collision course with the universe.
While looking through the festival guide MERMAID was one of those films I wasn’t 100 percent commited to. The storyline seemed interesting enough, but with so many films over such a limited time frame, would there be something else on at the same time and on the same day that would hold a stronger appeal. Thankfully on this particular Thursday evening I would like to thank all those for not only supporting the festival on the whole, but for making my choice for me.
MERMAID tells the story of generously proportioned and highly spirited young woman who has a very brief affair with a sailor resulting in the birth of Alisa, a little girl who can make her strongest wishes come true. Increasingly disilussioned with the world she is brought into and waiting for the return of her father, Alisa retreats further and further into her own world until one day she decides to stop speaking at altogether wishing that she could just go away. The film then continues on its weird and wonderful course while relocating the family to Moscow where the 17 year old finally opens up after a chance encounter, after a shambles of an 18th birthday, on a bridge, with a young man whose job is unique to say the very least. Finally at last she has found some happiness in her life.
Written and directed by Anna Melikian, this latest offering from the Russian Big screen is definitely in safe hands with the captivating Masha Shalaeva (for whom the role was specifically written) whose performance is astonishing in the least. The audience feels every bit of pain and suffering as well as taking takes pleasure in those moments of bliss as Alisa struggles to find happiness in a world that tells us we can have it all if we really want it without actually telling us how to find it.
The film details with the everyday battle between carrying on with our everday lives while we look for that elusive slice of the pie that will make everything worthwhile. And what happens when we find it? You will leave the cinema reflecting on the last two hours you have just spent in that darkroom.
FRIDAY JUNE 13 SYDFF 2008 CALENDER OF EVENTS
930 DENDY AWARDS various shorts State Theatre
200 A Gentle Breeze in theVillage Nobuhiro Yamashita / Jap World Views Dendy OH Quays
415 Night and Day San-soo Hong / SKO, Fra World Views Dendy OH Quays
430The Class Ilmar Raag / Est World Views Greater Union
630Stop-Loss Kimberley Pierce / USA Competition State Theatre
Jerusalema Ralph Ziman / S.A. World Views Greater Union
700A Thousand Years of Prayer Wayne Wang / USA World Views Dendy OH Quays
The Wackness Jonathine Levine / USA World Views Greater Union
840The Song of Sparrows Majid Majidi / Ira World Views State Theatre
845Man on a Wire Todd McCarthy / UK Red Hot Docs Dendy OH Quays
850The Unseeable Wisit Sasanatieng / Thai World Views Greater Union
915CSNY: De Ja Vu Bernard Shakey / USA Apocalypse Now Greater Union
SATURDAY JUNE 14 SYDFF 2008 CALENDER OF EVENTS
1000Lake Tahoe Fernado Einbcke / Mex Competition State Theatre
1150Stop-Loss Kimberley Pierce / USA Competition State Theatre
1200A Thousand Years of Prayer Wayne Wang / USA World Views Dendy OH Quays
Anatomy Rhys Graham / Aus Australian Greater Union
Come Drink with Me King Hu / HK Revive and Restore Greater Union
145Useless Jia Zhang-ki / Chn Chinese Currents Dendy OH Quays
A Tale of Two Mozzies Jannik Hastrup / Den Kids Films Greater Union
210Black Narcissus Michael Powell / UK From Kerr to Eternity State Theatre
215The Class Ilmar Raag / Est World Views Greater Union
330Elite Squad Jose Padilha / Bra World Views Greater Union
Good Man Dog Singing Chen / Tai World Views Dendy OH Quays
415Playing in the Shadows Iannello/Ettinger-Epstein / Aus Australian State Theatre
430 Buddha collapsed out of Shame Hana Makhmalbaf / Iran World Views Greater Union
600 Man on Wire James Marsh / UK Red Hot Docs Dendy OH Quays
615CSNY: De Ja Vu Bernard Shakey / USA Apocalypse Now Greater Union
630 In Bruges Martin McDonagh /UK,Bel Competition State Theatre
645 Jerusalema Ralph Ziman / S.A. World Views Greater Union
800 Let the Right One In Tomas Alfredson / Swe World Views Dendy OH Quays
815 Appleseed Saga: Ex Machina Shinji Aramaki / Jap World Views Greater Union
900 Children of the Silk Road Roger Spottiswoode / Aus Australian State Theatre
940 The Wackness Jonathine Levine / USA World Views Greater Union
1230 OFFICIAL TALK LAKE TAHOE Fernado Einbcke / Mex Competition State Theatre
230 OFFICIAL TALK STOP-LOSS Kimberley Pierce / USA Competition State Theatre
SUNDAY JUNE 15 SYDFF 2008 CALENDER OF EVENTS
1000In Bruges Martin McDonagh /UK,Bel Competition State Theatre
1230Terrors Advocate Barbet Schroeder / Fra Red Hot Docs State Theatre
315The Bands Visit Eran Kolirin / Isr, Fra, USA World Views State Theatre
630The Square Nash Edgerton / Aus Australian State Theatre
915I Always wanted to be a Gang Samuel Benchetrit / Fra World Views State Theatre
1200Hope Stanislaw Mucha / Pol World Views Greater Union
215Where is Winky's Horse Mischa Kamp / Ned Kids Films Greater Union
400From Here to Eternity Fred Zinnerman / USA From Kerr to Eternity Greater Union
630Grace is Gone James C Strouse / USA Apocalypse Again Greater Union
830The Unseeable Wisit Sasanatieng / Thai World Views Greater Union
1200Go West: A Lucky Luke Adv Olivier Jean-Marie / Fra Kids Films Greater Union
200Man of Cinema
ierre Rissient Todd McCarthy Red Hot Docs State Theatre400Suddenly Last Winter zGustav Hofer / Ita Red Hot Docs Greater Union
645Princess of Nebraska Wayne Wang / USA World Views Greater Union
945Fantastic Parasuicides Park Soo-young / SOK World Views Greater Union
1100Little Moth Peng Tao / Chn Chinese Currents Dendy OH Quays
1215Chasing Birds Greg Woodland Australian Dendy OH Quays
200Ballast Lance Hammer / USA World Views Dendy OH Quays
400Derek Isaac Julien / UK Red Hot Docs Dendy OH Quays
245Chop Shop Rahmin Bahrani / USA World Views Dendy OH Quays
745Fear(s) in the Dark Various World Views Dendy OH Quays
1230 OFFICIAL TALK In Bruges Martin McDonagh /UK,Bel Competition State Theatre
400 OFFICIAL TALK Apocalypse Again Various Apocalypse Again State Theatre
Legend
Aus – Australia Den - Denmark Jap - Japan Rus – Russia
Aut – Austria Fra – FranceLat – Latvia Spa – Spain
Bra – Brazil Ger – Germany Mex – Mexico Swe - Sweden SOK - South Korea
Can - Canada Gre - Greece N.Z. – New Zealand Tai - Taiwan
Chn - China H.K. – Hong Kong Ned – The Netherlands Thai - Thailand
Chi – Chile Ita – Italy Nor - Norway U.K. United Kingdom
Isr - Israel Pol - Poland USA - United States
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