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November - 'Shiva Baby', and other reviews...

27/11/2021

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The main film for discussion this month was “Shiva Baby”, but we also shared comments on “Red Notice”, “Eiffel”, “Respect” and “The Rose Maker”. 
 
“Shiva Baby”: While at a Jewish funeral service with her parents, a college student has an awkward encounter with her sugar daddy and her ex-girlfriend.  It was different from many other films we have watched.  It was primarily a “real time” film, based on an event rather than a story.  Apart from the first scene, all the action took place in or around the house where the Shiva (Jewish mourning period) was taking place.  The main characters are Danielle, her mother (Debbie), her sugar daddy (Max), Max’s Wife (Kim) and Danielle’s ex-girlfriend (Maya).  The film explores the relationships between these key people, but also Danielle’s relationship with the Jewish culture and money.  It was the first film for director Emma Seligmann who also wrote the script.  The film was promoted as a comedy, but we did not find it particularly humorous.  Some of the characters were not very likable, and Max was certainly not seen as a very nice person.  There was a degree of stereotyping the Jewish culture but this was consistent with experiences some have had with Jewish friends.  The cinematography used lots of close ups, but I am not sure whether this was a good or a bad thing.  Overall perhaps a well-directed film, but the film itself was frustrating and unenlightening.  We rated it as 2.5/5.
 
“Red Notice”: When an Interpol-issued Red Notice (the highest-level warrant to hunt and capture the world's most wanted) goes out, the FBI's top profiler John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson) is on the case. His global pursuit finds him in the middle of a daring heist where he is forced to partner with the world's greatest art thief Nolan Booth (Ryan Reynolds) in order to catch the world's most wanted art thief, "The Bishop" (Gal Gadot). The high-flying adventure that ensues takes the trio around the world, across the dance floor, trapped in a secluded prison, into the jungle and, worst of all for them, constantly into each other's company.  It is full of twists and turns, and you can never be sure who were the “goodies” and who are the “baddies”.  It is totally implausible, but a piece of enjoyable escapism with references to James Bond, Indiana Jones etc.  Rated as 3.5/5.

“Eiffel”: The story behind the building of the Eiffel Tower. The government is asking Eiffel to design something spectacular for the 1889 Paris World Fair, but Eiffel simply wants to design the subway. Suddenly, everything changes when Eiffel crosses paths with a mysterious woman from his past.  It is in French, with subtitles, needing a lot of concentration to keep across all that was happening. Intriguing, informative and stimulating, rated as 3.5/5.
 
“Respect”: the story of Aretha Franklin’s life.  An interesting film, with a sound focus on her music.  Perhaps a little long, but this could be because they include large excerpts of her songs, not just a few lines which is often the case with documentaries.  An inspiring film rated as 4/5.
 
“The Rose Maker”: another sub-titled French film.  A gentle film, light and easy to watch.  It included some magnificent roses, fostering talents and with a message that the process of growth (people or plants) is more about the nurturing than the actual steps.  Light and easy to watch rated as 3.5/5.
 
For our December class discussion, we have a choice of two films – “No Time to Die”, the new James Bond film, and “The Last Duel”, an historical drama based on the final judiciary duel in France in the 14th century. 
 
 Joy Shirley
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    About our Film Discussion Group

    Do you enjoy watching films?  Do you find discussing films adds to your enjoyment?   Do you find that you can better understand a movie by hearing and sharing thoughts about the film?  We certainly do.  At our Film Discussion  classes we discuss a film we have watched during the month. In 2023:
    • We will select a film screening at BPACC
    • Participants will attend the film at a time that works with their individual commitments
    • We will meet in the Library on the 2nd Wednesday at 2 pm to discuss the film
    If a participant cannot attend a specific film, they can come along to learn about the film, or add to the discussion by talking about another film they have seen.

    BPACC sell books of ten tickets for $100.00 (Meaning the films only cost $10 each) or I will have individual tickets available for $10 from a book prepurchased.  ​

    Convenor 

    Picture
    Joy Shirley 0417065351​

    Meeting times

    2nd Wednesday
    2 pm to 3.30 pm
    Benalla Library 

    Guide

    The things we will watch for in viewing the film include:

    Did you enjoy the film?  What in particular did you like?
    Was there anything that you did not like?
    What did you think about the cinematography?
    What did you think of the performances?  Any strong performances that stand out? Any weak performances that spoilt the film?
    Overall rating out of 5.

    Films over time:

    All
    A Call To Spy
    'A Man Called Otto'
    'Buckley's Chance'
    COVID 19 Virus
    Cruella
    'Death On The Nile'
    'Downton Abbey - A New Era'
    'Dream Horse'
    'Falling For Figaro'
    'From The Vine'
    'Good Luck To You
    'House Of Gucci'
    June Again
    'King Richard'
    Leo Grande'
    'Marry Me'
    'Mothering Sunday'
    'No Time To Die'
    'Off The Rails'
    'Operation Mincemeat'
    Penguin Bloom
    'Please Murder Me'
    'Rams'
    'Six Minutes To Midnight'
    'Spencer'
    'The Dry'
    'The Duke'
    'The Father'
    'The Last Duel'
    'The Railway Children'
    'Ticket To Paradise'
    'To Olivia'
    'Where The Crawdads Sing'

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We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and pay our respects to their elders - past, present and emerging.
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