At the movies

I finally got around to going to see both Samson and Delilah and Bastardy this week.
I loved both of them and if you haven't already, GO SEE them.


This documentary portrait of Jack Charles is of a funny, eloquent and very stylish man. The film has its distractions, but it felt very special to watch him, put together in his tweedy coat with his shock of amazing silver hair. The tragedy in his story is balanced by his warmth and charisma, he's made for the screen, and knows it.


Jack Charles with Director Amiel Courtin-Wilson

Samson and Delilah is an intimate portrayal of shy teenage romance, on the outskirts of remote Central Australia. It's stunning, so beautifully shot, with amazing performances from all of the cast but especially the young lead actors, so much more difficult and real than anything I've seen in ages. That said, it's not totally despairing either and leaves you with hope.



I hate to be preachy but we here need to see more films like these. Australia.

Mary and Max

We went to see Mary and Max last night. It was well worth the trip out into the cold rainy night. I am not the biggest fan of cute, quirky claymation, but even so, I loved it. It's beautifully made, sad, sweet and funny. And for a lover of letters, and the art of writing them, it's a reminder of what treasures they are. In an age of easy flippant communication, the wonder of a letter traveling across the world and actually getting to you, the time taken to write, the hand and thoughts and stories wrapped up in it, not to mention the squashed chocolate bar, is a wonder, I hope not forever lost.

It opened at Sundance Festival this year, and this is from the Sundance website.

This film explores friendship, autism, taxidermy, psychiatry, alcoholism, where babies come from, obesity, kleptomania, trust, copulating dogs, sexual and religious differences, agoraphobia and more, and is rooted in a very personal relationship. Proof of why we go to the movies - a truly exceptional portrait of compassion and love.

Go see it! People I know actually got work animating it. And the animation is gorgeous, Max thundering away on his typewriter made my heart skip a beat. Help them make more films.

on the train

We caught the train to the country. It reminded me of this quote from 'The Great Railway Bazaar' written by Paul Theroux in 1975, which I just finished reading...
At my lowest point, when things were at their most desperate and uncomfortable, I always found myself in the company of Australians, who were like a reminder that I'd touched bottom.

HA. I loved the train trip, It's all tough grey green trees, dusty brown paddocks and black cattle. I was kept amused by the antics of teenage Crystal and Coral bickering with there UDL drinking mother, constantly texting for the hour and a half trip, jumping off at each stop for a quick ciggie. It's like tv (equally appalling) when sat face to face with strangers for the duration.

Adam's uncle lives in a beautiful lush valley at the bottom of a pile of giant boulders in the mountains. There are spring blossoms and fresh baby LAMBS, a horse and koalas, grape vines and giant gum trees rustling in the breeze. Also a verandah and hammock to lay about on listening to the birds. Talk about a racket. Cockatoos, Kookaburras, Galahs, Eagles, Currawongs etc.

We sampled far too much of this years vintage and slept through a rainy morning. It's so beautiful it makes me more than a little melancholy. Then we came home. On an empty train through fields full of grazing and lazing kangaroos. I think I feel better now.

a petition

To end mandatory detention in Australia. Help bring an end to Australia's inhumane detention regime.