MIFF 2014 - Day 1
Aaaaaaaaaaaand I'm back. Back in the familiar embrace of dodgy seats at The Forum. Seriously, they're falling apart. One day someone is going to fix them, right? ACMI somehow remains fairly comfortable, by and large, but The Forum is in need of some TLC. Anyhow, movies!
Cheatin'
I love Bill Plympton, I really do. He's a bit of an acquired taste, but like anchovies once you've got it you'll never shake it. This film sees him turning his quirky eye to fidelity and relationships. And it's suitably weird. After rescuing Ella from being electrocuted by a levitating dodgem car, Jake ditches the girl he's with and marries Ella. Jake's a good looking bloke, and every woman he meets keeps trying to seduce him. But he only has eyes for Ella. At least until one wily woman photographs Ella in a changeroom with a bunch of mannequins, and the none-too-bright Jake becomes convinced she's been cheating on him. So off he goes to sleep with every woman who looks his way. Ella's solution involves possessing the bodies of the women and using little tells to make him think of her every time he cheats. It's a mix of sadism and sainthood, as she tries to turn him from his wicked ways. Hysterically funny, as always, and with a cameo from the dog from many of his short films, it was a great way to kick off the festival.
Pulp: A film about Life, Death and Supermarkets
I still remember Florian Habicht introducing his film Woodenhead so many years ago at MIFF. It remains one of the most memorable introductions ever, and he's lost none of his energy or charm in the years since. The path to making this documentary allegedly involves hiring a private detective to dig out Jarvis Cocker's email address, so, well... It's a great doco though, focused equally between the different members of the band and their home town of Sheffield. There's some great characters interviewed, and Habicht achieves what would seem near impossible, he allows everyone a chance to shine, and avoids Cocker's personality overwhelming the film. With great concert footage, and great people from Sheffield, it's an odd rockumentary that's definitely worth seeing.
Cheatin'
I love Bill Plympton, I really do. He's a bit of an acquired taste, but like anchovies once you've got it you'll never shake it. This film sees him turning his quirky eye to fidelity and relationships. And it's suitably weird. After rescuing Ella from being electrocuted by a levitating dodgem car, Jake ditches the girl he's with and marries Ella. Jake's a good looking bloke, and every woman he meets keeps trying to seduce him. But he only has eyes for Ella. At least until one wily woman photographs Ella in a changeroom with a bunch of mannequins, and the none-too-bright Jake becomes convinced she's been cheating on him. So off he goes to sleep with every woman who looks his way. Ella's solution involves possessing the bodies of the women and using little tells to make him think of her every time he cheats. It's a mix of sadism and sainthood, as she tries to turn him from his wicked ways. Hysterically funny, as always, and with a cameo from the dog from many of his short films, it was a great way to kick off the festival.
Pulp: A film about Life, Death and Supermarkets
I still remember Florian Habicht introducing his film Woodenhead so many years ago at MIFF. It remains one of the most memorable introductions ever, and he's lost none of his energy or charm in the years since. The path to making this documentary allegedly involves hiring a private detective to dig out Jarvis Cocker's email address, so, well... It's a great doco though, focused equally between the different members of the band and their home town of Sheffield. There's some great characters interviewed, and Habicht achieves what would seem near impossible, he allows everyone a chance to shine, and avoids Cocker's personality overwhelming the film. With great concert footage, and great people from Sheffield, it's an odd rockumentary that's definitely worth seeing.
posted by Andrew Lee at 12:33 AM
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