Skip to main content

FilmFest Australia · 2008

FilmFest Australia 2008

Unnamed Strand

Programme

12 films · 12 reviews

Jump to a film

All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane

Review preview for All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane

Anthea may be dull, but she’s nice. Michael may be passive, but he’s sweetly charming. You care enough about them to wonder whether they kiss better than camels on heat.

Angus Wolfe Murray · 3 out of 5
Restless twenty-somethings can't decide whether to stay or leave or fall in love. Touring.

(Country: Australia; Year: 2007; Director: Louise Alston; Writer: Stephen Vagg; Stars: Charlotte Gregg, Matt Zeremes, Ryan Johnson, Cindy Nelson, Gyton Grantley, Romany Lee, Sarah Kennedy, Christopher Sommers Pete Nolan, Kirsty Cash, Damien Freeleagus, Sandra Galvin, Francesca Gasteen, Adam Green) , Official site

Full review

Touring

Black Water

Review preview for Black Water

In a watertight script, no option available to the characters is left unconsidered, and each has its deadly downside, leaving viewers to wonder what they themselves would have done.

Anton Bitel · 3.5 out of 5
Three young adventurers find themselves stranded in a mangrove swamp with a killer crocodile waiting in the water.

(Country: Australia; Year: 2007; Director: David Nerlich, Andrew Traucki; Writer: David Nerlich, Andrew Traucki; Stars: Andy Rodoreda, Maeve Dermody, Diana Glen, Ben Oxenbould, Fiona Press) , Official site

Full review

Bra Boys

Review preview for Bra Boys

It may be brash and a slightly biased but it nonetheless offers a fascinating insight into this surfing society.

Amber Wilkinson · 3.5 out of 5
Documentary about an Australian surf 'tribe'.

(Country: Australia; Year: 2007; Director: Sunny Abberton, Macario De Souza; Writer: Sunny Abberton, Stuart Beattie; Stars: Koby Abberton, Sunny Abberton, Jai Abberton, Wayne Cleveland, Maurice Cole, John Gannon, Russell Crowe (narration), Kelly Slater, Cheyne Horan, Jack Kingsley, Sean Doherty)

Full review

Touring

Clubland (Introducing The Dwights)

Review preview for Clubland

A touching and honest look at awkward teenage romance under the disapproving eye of mum.

Tony Sullivan · 4.5 out of 5
Comedy performer finds growing old is a funny business.

(Country: Australia; Year: 2007; Director: Cherie Nowlan; Writer: Keith Thompson; Stars: Brenda Blethyn, Emma Booth, Peter Callan, Khan Chittenden, Brendan Clearkin, Russell Dykstra, Rebecca Gibney, Frankie J. Holden, Philip Quast, Katie Wall, Richard Wilson)

Full review See: Sundance Film Festival 2007: Day 4

Forbidden Lie$ (Forbidden Lies)

Review preview for Forbidden Lie$

A terrific tale.

Jeff Robson · 4 out of 5
A harrowing ‘true-life’ story about an honour killing in Jordan becomes a publishing sensation. But the author is not all that she seems. Touring.

(Country: Australia; Year: 2007; Director: Anna Broinowski; Writer: Anna Broinowski; Stars: Norma Khouri, Linda Mutawi, Malcolm Knox, John Toliopoulos) , Official site

Full review

Touring

Global Haywire

Review preview for Global Haywire

By injecting such serious issues with a killer dosage of humour, Petty keeps the whole thing energised and interesting.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
Quirky, partially animated documentary looking at the relationship between the East and West. Touring.

(Country: Australia; Year: 2006; Director: Bruce Petty; Writer: Bruce Petty; Stars: Tariq Ali, Noam Chomsky, Robert Fisk, Gore Vidal)

Full review

Touring

The Home Song Stories

Review preview for The Home Song Stories

Like girls who rely on their beauty to get what they want, Rose has faith in her ability to charm men into bed and, if required, move in with her and pay the bills.

Angus Wolfe Murray · 3.5 out of 5
Chinese children grow up in Australia with their beautiful mother who was a nightclub singer in Hong Kong.

(Country: Australia/Singapore; Year: 2007; Director: Tony Ayres; Writer: Tony Ayres; Stars: Joan Chen, Qi Yuwu, Joel Lok, Irene Chen, Steven Vidler, Kerry Walker) , Official site

Full review

Kenny

Review preview for Kenny

Despite the subject matter, it is remarkable there are almost no puerile toilet jokes, with most of the laughs coming directly from the characters and situations.

Steve Harwood · 4 out of 5
A day in the life of an Aussie toilet plumber.

(Country: Australia; Year: 2006; Director: Clayton Jacobson; Writer: Clayton Jacobson, Shane Jacobson; Stars: Shane Jacobson, Chris Davis, Alf Scerri, Hayley Preusker, Glenn Preusker, Mark Robertson, Jesse Jacobson, Ronald Jacobson) , Official site

Full review

Lucky Miles

Review preview for Lucky Miles

Interwoven strands of the plot are handled neatly, dialogue is sharp and there is not a dull performance to be seen.

Robert Reid · 4 out of 5
Hide and seek delivers gentle thrills in desert comedy drama.

(Country: Australia; Year: 2007; Director: Michael James Rowland; Writer: Helen Barnes, Michael James Rowland; Stars: Kenneth Moraleda, Rodney Afif, Sri Sacdpraseuth, Glen Shea, Sean Mununggurr, Don Hany, Deborah Mailman, Sawung Jabo, Arif Hidayat, Majed Abbas, Asaad Abdulrazak) , Official site

Full review

Razzle Dazzle: A Journey Into Dance

Review preview for Razzle Dazzle: A Journey Into Dance

This is one of those films I will tell all my friends they MUST see, especially if they’ve been having a bad year.

Moominkat · 5 out of 5
A passionate dance teacher struggles to prepare his disorderly troupe for a big competition.

(Country: Australia; Year: 2006; Director: Darren Ashton; Writer: Carolyn Wilson, Robin Ince; Stars: Kerry Armstrong, Ben Miller, Nadine Garner, Denise Roberts, Tara Morice, Jane Hall, Toni Lamond, Barry Crocker, Noeline Brown, Scott Irwin, Damon Gameau) , Official site

Full review

Romulus, My Father

Review preview for Romulus, My Father

Builds up an emotional head of steam that draws audiences towards it.

Amber Wilkinson · 4.5 out of 5
Tale of familial love and emotional upheaval in post-war Australia. Touring.

(Country: Australia; Year: 2007; Director: Richard Roxburgh; Writer: Nick Drake, based on the memoir by Raimond Gaita; Stars: Eric Bana, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Franka Potente, Marton Csokas, Russell Dykstra, Jacek Koman, Alethea McGrath, Esme Melville, Terry Norris, Veronica Sywak)

Full review See: Richard Roxburgh Interview about Romulus, My Father

Touring

Unfinished Sky

Review preview for Unfinished Sky

As a two hander, the film eases gently towards acceptance, even affection, until a melodramatic ending blows it to smithereens.

Angus Wolfe Murray · 2.5 out of 5
An Afghan refugee hides out on an isolated farm in Australia.

(Country: Australia; Year: 2007; Director: Peter Duncan; Writer: Peter Duncan; Stars: William McInnes, Monic Hendrickx, David Field, Bille Brown, Roy Billing, Christopher Sommers, Milo) , Official site

Full review