Wednesday 1 September
Jour de Fête
France, 1949
Genre: Comedy
What's it about?
Jour de Fête tells the story of an inept and easily distracted French mailman (Jacques Tati) who frequently interrupts his duties to converse with the local inhabitants, as well as inspect the travelling fair that has come to his small community. Influenced by too much wine and a newsreel account of rapid transportation methods used by the United States postal system, he goes to hilarious lengths to speed the delivery of mail while aboard his bicycle.
Streaming from 1 September.
Thursday 2 September
Monos
Colombia, 2019
Genre: Drama, Thriller
What's it about?
In Alejandro Landes’ award-winning drama, a group of adolescent soldiers reign over the lofty heights of an unnamed Latin American mountaintop wilderness. This heavily armed rebel force spend their days completing training exercises, engaging in cult-like rituals and keeping watch over an American hostage. Order descends into chaos when a precious cow left in their care by drill captain Mensajero is inadvertently killed during a wild wedding celebration. With echoes of Lord of the Flies and Apocalypse Now, Monos is a dark fable of potent visuals and hypnotic power.
Friday 3 September
Vice
USA, 2018
Genre: Comedy, Drama
What's it about?
From Academy Award winning writer/director Adam McKay (The Big Short) comes a subversive take on former Vice President Dick Cheney’s stealthy rise from Congressional intern to the most powerful man on the planet. Christian Bale fully inhabits the role of the highly secretive title character who reshaped the country and the globe in ways that we still feel today. Nominated for 8 Academy Awards and winner of the Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling Award for the incredible transformations in the film.
Saturday 4 September
Dances with Wolves
UK, USA, 1990
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Western
What's it about?
Wounded Civil War soldier, John Dunbar tries to commit suicide and becomes a hero instead. As a reward, he's assigned to his dream post, a remote junction on the Western frontier, and soon makes unlikely friends with the local Sioux tribe.
Streaming from 3 September.
Sunday 5 September
The Family
France, UK, USA, 2013
Genre: Crime, Comedy
What's it about?
After snitching on the mob, a Mafia boss and his family enter the Witness Protection Program and relocate to a sleepy town in France, but their insistence on resorting to their old habits places them in danger from vengeful cronies.
Monday 6 September
The Lunchbox
India, 2013
Genre: Drama, Romance
What's it about?
In Mumbai's famously efficient lunchbox delivery system, a meal made by an unhappy young housewife mistakenly lands in the hands of a widower. After realising the mix up, the strangers begin to communicate through a series of letters, revealing a little more of themselves each time.
[link title="The Lunchbox review: Gentle romance gets the flavours just right " url="node/18160"]
[link title="Irrfan Khan opens up about The Lunchbox, love letters and his favourite foods (interview)" url="node/18520"]
[link title="Dinner and a Movie: The Lunchbox" url="node/89715"]
Tuesday 7 September
Putuparri and the Rainmakers
Australia, 2015
Genre: Documentary
What's it about?
Tom "Putuparri" Lawford is a man caught between two worlds: his past and present in modern society, where he battles with alcoholism and domestic violence; and his future as a leader of his people, reconnecting with his ancestral lands and shouldering his responsibility to pass this knowledge on to the next generation. Director Nicole Ma spent more than a decade documenting Putuparri's journey, travelling with him and his family on numerous occasions as they fight for their native title claim over the area.
Wednesday 8 September
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
USA, 2014
Genre: Horror
What's it about?
In the Iranian ghost-town Bad City, a place that reeks of death and loneliness, the townspeople are unaware they are being stalked by a lonesome vampire. Don't miss this new vampire classic from writer/director Ana Lily Amirpour.
Source: SBS Movies
Thursday 9 September
The Commitments
UK, Ireland, 1991
Genre: Music, Drama
What's it about?
Jimmy Rabbitte, just a tick out of school, gets a brilliant idea: to put a soul band together in Barrytown, his slum home in north Dublin. First he needs musicians and singers: things slowly start to click when he finds three fine-voiced females virtually in his backyard, a lead singer in Deco at a wedding, and, responding to his ad, an ageing trumpet player, Joey "The Lips" Fagan.
[link title="The Commitments review: Dirty, gutsy, and full of soul" url="node/37735"]
Streaming from 3 September.
Source: SBS Movies
Friday 10 September
Black Narcissus
UK, 1947
Genre: Drama
Language: English, Hindi
What's it about?
A group of Anglican nuns, led by Sister Clodagh, are sent to a mountain in the Himalayas. The climate is hostile and the nuns are housed in an odd old palace. They work to establish a school and a hospital, but slowly their focus shifts. Sister Ruth falls for a government worker, Mr Dean, and begins to question her vow of celibacy while Sister Clodagh becomes immersed in her own memories of love. This psychological drama was written, produced and directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, and stars Deborah Kerr.
Streaming from 5:40pm 9 September.
Saturday 11 September
Another Round
Denmark, 2020
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Language: Danish, Swedish
What's it about?
A group of friends embark on an experiment of being mildly intoxicated throughout the workday to heighten productivity in this hilarious and moving film starring Mads Mikkelsen. Directed by Thomas Vinterberg, one of Denmark's most important, award-winning and internationally celebrated directors, the film won the 2021 Best International Feature Film Academy Award.
Streaming from 8:30pm 4 September.
Sunday 12 September
Booksmart
USA, 2019
Genre: Comedy
Language: English
What's it about?
Best friends Amy and Molly realise on the eve of graduation that they've been cast aside by their peers as pretentious bookworms. They decide to let loose and make up for lost time. Directed by Olivia Wilde and starring Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein this is a wickedly funny and endearing coming of age story.
Monday 13 September
The Light Between Oceans
New Zealand, 2016
Genre: Drama
Language: English
What's it about?
Tom Sherbourne (Michael Fassbender) is a young lighthouse keeper on a remote island off Western Australia. The only inhabitants of Janus Rock, he and his wife Isabel (Alicia Vikander) live a quiet life, cocooned from the rest of the world. That is until one April morning, when they rescue an abandoned baby from an adrift rowboat. Only years later do they discover the devastating consequences of the decision they made that day.
[link title="The Light Between Oceans first-look review " url="node/82593"]
Tuesday 14 September
Charlatan
Czech Republic, 2020
Genre: Drama, History
Language: Czech, German
What's it about?
This beautiful film from three-time Oscar nominated director Agnieszka Holland is inspired by the true story of herbalist Jan Mikolasek, who dedicated his life to caring for the sick despite the immense obstacles he faced in his private and public life. Born at the turn of the 20th century, Mikolasek wins fame and fortune using unorthodox plant-based treatment methods to cure a wide range of diseases. Already a local institution in Czechoslovakia before World War II, the healer gains in reputation and wealth both during the Nazi occupation and under Communist rule. One after the other, each regime wants to use his skills and in return give him protection. But how high shall the costs be to maintain this status as the tide turns?
Streaming from 10 September.
Wednesday 15 September
Wolf and Sheep
Afghanistan, 2016
Genre: Drama
Language: Dari
What's it about?
An anthropologist observes remote shepherd communities in Afghanistan, where wolves and sheep have equal importance.
Thursday 16 September
Man on Wire
United Kingdom, 2000
Genre: Documentary
Language: English
What's it about?
A daredevil, a maverick, a dreamer, an artist: Philippe Petit is all of these things and more. On a slightly windy day in the summer of 1974, a lone figure appeared high above the heads of the people of Manhattan, balancing perfectly on a high wire strung between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. For almost an hour, the performer danced on the wire, ignoring the pleas from police to get down, simply rejoicing in his artistic expression. This "coup" marked the culmination of several months of planning, during which Petit and his rag-tag bunch of conspirators would become implicated in a feat considered "the artistic crime of the century".
[link title="Man on Wire: interview" url="node/1911"]
[link title="'Man On Wire' celebrates Philippe Petit's walk across the sky" url="node/43717"]
Source: SBS Movies
Friday 17 September
Lusala
Kenya, Germany, 2019
Genre: Drama
Language: English, Swahili
What's it about?
Horrific memories from his past haunt Lusala. He fled his violent father in the countryside at a young age. Although this event keeps stalking him, his wealthy adoptive family in the metropolis of Nairobi thinks it's high time he worked on his future. He's almost a man, so he is given a job as a mechanic, with his own apartment above the garage. Lusala is motivated to make the best of things, but the demons from his past cannot be exorcised.
Streaming from 17 September.
Saturday 18 September
Supa Modo
Kenya, Germany, 2018
Genre: Drama
Language: Kikuyu, Swahili, English
What's it about?
Jo, a witty 9-year-old girl, loves films and superheroes. Battling a terminal illness, she dreams of being a superhero, and inspires other kids in the children's hospital to play out scenes from action films. One day, her mother Kathryn takes Jo back to her rural village to spend the rest of her short life with her family. Against all odds and battling the time left her, the whole village takes it upon themselves to make Jo's last wish a reality: to make a film and star in it. Supa Modo is a deeply moving observation of the comforting nature of imagination in the face of the finiteness of life, directed by Kenyan filmmaker Likarion Wainaina.
Streaming from 17 September.
Sunday 19 September
Dear White People
USA, 2014
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Language: English
What's it about?
Four black students are enrolled at a prestigious Ivy League college when a riot breaks out over a popular 'African American' themed party thrown by white students.
[link title="Dear White People Review" url="node/13822"]
[link title="Sundance 2014: Ladies, LGBT, and Those Dear White People" url="node/13860"]
Streaming from 17 September.
Monday 20 September
Asia
Israel, 2020
Genre: Drama
Language: Hebrew, Russian
What's it about?
Despite living together, Asia barely interacts with her daughter Vika. Their routine is shaken when Vika's health deteriorates rapidly. Asia must step in and become the mother Vika so desperately needs.
Streaming from 17 September.
Tuesday 21 September
The Taverna
Australia, 2019
Genre: Comedy
Language: English
What's it about?
This black comedy from award-winning Australian writer/director Alkinos Tsilimidos covers one utterly chaotic evening in a family run Greek restaurant. Taverna owner Kostas gets more than he bargained for when his popular belly dancer refuses to work to avoid her ex-husband and his new girlfriend, and is replaced at the last minute by one of his eager waitresses. Matters are further complicated by a kidnapping, a scooter accident involving Kostas' son, a well-meaning chef who cooks up a rare treat and a sleazy customer who doesn't know his limits. It all adds up to a darkly comic ride into the wild side of life, love, food and cultural differences.
Streaming from 17 September.
Wednesday 22 September
Denial
UK, USA, 2016
Genre: Drama, History
Language: English
What's it about?
Acclaimed writer and historian Deborah E. Lipstadt must battle for historical truth to prove the Holocaust actually occurred when David Irving, a renowned denier, sues her for libel.
[link title="A Quest For Truth... Among Lies, Deception And Denial.
" url="node/3040"]
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[link title="Fight over the Holocaust explored in 'Denial'" url="node/85732"]
Thursday 23 September
Regression
Spain, USA, 2015
Genre: Crime, Drama
Language: English
What's it about?
This psychological thriller-horror-mystery film is directed and written by Alejandro Amenábar. Set in 1990 Minnesota, Detective Bruce Kenner investigates the case of young Angela, who accuses her father, John Gray, of an unspeakable crime. When John unexpectedly and without recollection admits guilt, renowned psychologist Dr Raines is brought in to help him relive his memories and what they discover unmasks a horrifying nationwide mystery.
Friday 24 September
The Night Eats the World
France, 2015
Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller
Language: Norwegian, French, English
What's it about?
After waking up in an apartment where only the night before a party was raging, Sam is forced to come to grips with reality: He is now alone and the living dead have invaded the streets of Paris. Petrified with fear, Sam is going to have to barricade himself inside the building and organise his survival. But is he really the sole survivor?
Streaming from 24 September.
Saturday 25 September
What Maisie Knew
USA, 2013
Genre: Drama
Language: English
What's it about?
The offspring of a hot-headed musician and an art dealer, little Maisie learns the hard way about how difficult divorce can be on a youngster. The quiet, obedient child gets caught in the middle as her self-absorbed parents use her as a pawn in a bitter custody battle. After her parents marry new mates, Maisie finds reason to hope for some genuine affection, but permanent damage to her psyche may have already been done.
[link title="What Maisie Knew: Scott McGehee and David Siegel interview" url="node/1591"]
[link title="What Maisie Knew review" url="node/6207"]
Source: SBS Movies
Sunday 26 September
The Secret of Kells
Ireland, 2009
Genre: Animation, Adventure
Language: English
What's it about?
A young boy in a remote medieval outpost under siege from barbarian raids is beckoned to adventure when a celebrated master illuminator arrives with an ancient book, brimming with secret wisdom and powers.
Streaming from 2 September until 2 October.
Source: SBS Movies
Monday 27 September
Sibyl
France, 2019
Genre: Drama
Language: French
What's it about?
A psychologist who longs to be a writer but lacks inspiration begins borrowing source material from a real-life patient and imperils both women in the process, in French director Justine Triet's sultry, stylish psychodrama starring Virginie Efira, Adèle Exarchopoulos and Gaspard Ulliel.
Tuesday 28 September
High-Rise
UK, 2015
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Language: English
What's it about?
After his divorce, Dr Robert Laing moves to a high-rise building in which the residents are divided into classes. The rich live upstairs, the lower class downstairs. When it comes to tension and a murder, Robert is literally right in the middle. Based on the 1975 novel by J. G. Ballard, this wild dystopian drama is directed by Ben Wheatley and stars Tom Hiddleston, Sienna Miller, Elisabeth Moss and Luke Evans.
Wednesday 29 September
Tanna
Australia, Vanuatu, 2015
Genre: Romance, Drama
Language: Bislama
What's it about?
In a traditional tribal society in the South Pacific, a young girl, Wawa, falls in love with her chief’s grandson, Dain. When an inter-tribal war escalates, Wawa is unknowingly betrothed as part of a peace deal. The young lovers run away, refusing her arranged fate. They must choose between their hearts and the future of the tribe, while the villagers must wrestle with preserving their traditional culture and adapting it to the growing outside demands for individual freedom.
Thursday 30 September
Support the Girls
USA, 2018
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Language: English
What's it about?
Lisa Conroy is general manager at a highway-side 'sports bar with curves', Double Whammies. She nurtures and protects her employees fiercely, but over the course of one trying day, her optimism is battered from every direction... Double Whammies sells a big, weird American fantasy, but what happens when reality pokes a bunch of holes in it?
