The Curb | Australian Culture, Film Reviews, Interviews, and More...

Ah! The Melbourne Documentary Film Festival always brings wonderful films to my inbox, with delights like Leaving Allen Street for me to watch and engage with. This lovely documentary is directed by Katrina Channells, of We Are Yarn, and it follows the residents of an institution for the intellectually disabled in Melbourne as they move from their old home to a new, custom built facility that will bring them new independence.

This is a genuine treat of a film and you should definitely check it out when the festival kicks off on June 30th, wrapping up online on the 15th of July.

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Featured comfortably on my Best Australian Films of 2020 list is the joyous WA made short film, Sparkles. Written, co-produced, and starring Tina Fielding, this wonderful film follows Courtney, a thirty-something Downs Syndrome woman leaving her country home to find a new life in the city. On the way, she encounters Diamond, a drag queen, and the two spark a beautiful relationship.

Directed by Jacqueline Pelczar and produced by Cody Greenwood, Sparkles recently had its World Premiere at Flickerfest Film Festival. I got to catch up with Tina, Jacqueline, and Cody, to talk about the making of Sparkles and the process of making a short film.

Find out more at RUSH films website.

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Andrew caught up with director Sally Ingleton to talk about her latest documentary, Wild Things.

Every so often I get the chance to chat with a genuine Aussie icon of film and TV, and in this interview, I get to chat with the King of Kings: Roger Ward. 

Star of Turkey Shoot, The Man From Hong Kong, Mad Max, and writer of The Set, Roger's new film, The Faceless Man, is landing around the world for horror fans to enjoy, and in this discussion we talk about his long history of working with great directors in great films. 

Dig on in. 

(Apologies for the background noise as well on this one, it was recorded during a rainy day in Perth.)

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Thanks to the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival, I get to interview wonderful people from all around the world who have fascinating stories to tell and beautiful films to share. In this interview, I chat with director Joshua Belinfante who is one such person, and whose film, The World's Best Film, is full of likeminded folks. It's a gentle, kind film that encourages you to look for the positive in the world.

Small Island Big Song - An Oceanic Songline is a collaborative film, made over 16 Island nations from the Pacific & Indian Oceans, following musicians from Madagascar, to Taiwan, to Zendath Kes, to the Torres Strait and Easter Island, all singing songs about cultural preservation and the need for environmental awareness. This is a joyous, glorious film full of life and hope, all the while informing the viewer about the legacy of these cultures, and their relationship to the oceans.

I caught up with director Tim Cole to have an in depth discussion about his work, exploring the role of the director, the music, and nature, in the filmmaking process. This is a deep discussion, one that I feel enriches the text of the film, and reminds the need for collaboration when it comes to filmmaking.

Watch Small Island Big Songvia the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival here.

Music featured in this episode:

Nake Wara Wara To'o - Small Island Big Song ft' Charles Maimarosia

Check out the website for Small Island Big Song here.

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Oh this film, Keyboard Fantasies: The Beverly Glenn-Copeland Story is a delight. A wonderful gem of a film about musician Glenn Copeland and his album, Keyboard Fantasies, and the impact it had on those who discovered it. I caught up with director Posy Dixon to talk about how she made the film, the celebration of LGBTIQ+ elders, the importance of music in ones life, and the value of recognising our own histories.

Keyboard Fantasies is screening at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival from June 30th til July 15th, and you'd be treating yourself to a glorious cinematic experience by watching this one.

Music used in this episode:

Ever New by Beverly Glenn-Copeland

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Urke1Jcjclw

 

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The Rise of the Synths is a documentary about synthwave music and the people inspired by it. With his documentary narrated by John Carpenter (the John Carpenter) and it screening online for the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival and Revelation Film Festival, Andrew caught up with director Iván Castell to talk about music, making your first film, and nostalgia.

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Our Law is a short film that is currently screening at the Sydney Film Festival online, and will be screening on NITV on Monday 22nd June at 8:30pm on Karla Grant Presents.

Andrew caught up with one of the subjects of Our Law, Senior Sergeant Revis Ryder, to talk about what it means to be an Indigenous Police Officer, the challenges that he faces being part of a large regional area, and the role of football in his life and the community.

Give the interview with Producer Taryne Laffar a listen here.

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Song on this episode:

St Kilda Football Club Theme Song

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