MIFF 2019 - Day 15

Judy and Punch

A feminist retelling of the Punch and Judy story, examining the violence in the story and the way culture reinforces attitudes. It meanders a bit towards the end and wraps up a bit preachy. Like it didn't trust the audience to get the point, so decided to spell it out ala The Great Dictator, but it's a good film all the same. Good performances and a cool anachronistic soundtrack.

One Child Nation

A deeply personal documentary about the consequences of the one child policy in China. Infanticide, baby trafficking, forced sterilisations and more. Notably, few people oppose the idea of the policy, but all regret the things it led them to do. Talking to her family, and from there more people connected to their story, the director records many of the horrific results of the policy. As she says, it's important to remember, now that the policy is gone, and soon propaganda will erase the memory of those times.

Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks

A ripsnorter doco covering the enduring influence of Hong Kong kung fu cinema. Linking it to the rise of breakdancing, rap battles, parkour and more, it's a convincing argument for the cultural significance of the genre. My only gripe is there was no love for Mark Dacascos, which was a bit disappointing since Drive is a kung fu film worth remembering. But that oversight aside, it's bloody awesome.