What would a look at the Australian Film Industry in Crisis be without
a continuation of our much loved retrospective series “Australian
Cult Cinema”? Here comes part 4 for you all to get your Antipodean
eyeballs on…
The Final Stage
KINO DENDY | Fri 8th July 7pm
Dir Frank Howson | 85min | 1991 | Australia
Frank Howson’s most personal and introspective work deals with a group
of people trapped in a surreal purgatory world of seemingly no escape, where
the past sins of former lives are redeemed, dissected and repeated ad infinitum.
Howson’s film is a brave and confronting one that uses language to
its utmost effect to portray the entropy and vicissitudes of relationships,
childhood abuse and social problems. Featuring a stunning performance by
Tommy Dysart as Stinky and featuring Abigail in the nude…yes again!…This
film should prove once and for all Frank Howson’s talent as a director,
writer and pioneer in the recent local film industry. Be part of this exclusive
public Australian Premiere featuring intro and Q&A with the director
and cast. An essential and long lost gem of Australian cinema makes its debut
at MUFF…don’t miss out.
The Intruder
KINO DENDY | Mon 11th July 9pm
Dir Richard Wolstencroft | 90min | 1991 | Australia and
The Making Of Pearls Before Swine
Dir Richard Wolstencroft | 85min | 1996/2005 | Australia
With Frank Howson’s appearance back on the scene in 2005, I thought
I would pull out the ‘work in progress’ cut of my long lost second
feature The Intruder aka Deliver Us From Evil… that was a collaboration
between the two of us. Frank Howson wrote and Produced the film and I was
hired to direct it back in 1991. Turned down by Aleksi Vellis, who graciously
and kindly recommended me for the job, thanks Alex! I was at the ripe age
of twenty-two making a 35mm feature film in a house in Elwood, over two hectic
weeks with Bloodlust DOP Gary Ravenscroft. Starring Tottie Goldsmith (Sex:the
series), Lachy Hulme (Lets Get Skase), Greg Parker (Heaven’s Burning)
and Paul Moder (SNAK, Razoreaters), the film is about a young couple
who are terrorized by a Serial Killer who breaks into their home. The film
is presented here as a rough cut, without music, over dubbing, reshooting
or title sequence or titles and is naturally quite raw. But to those interested
it is a sneak peak at a serial killer flick Australia almost had at
its cinemas. Here is maybe your only chance to see it. Screening with the
Making of Pearls Before Swine the new doco about the making of the film that
started MUFF, shot by Mark Bloothoofd during the films production and produced
in time for the 2005 US DVD release.
NOTE: Those who accuse me of nepotism, ie playing my own work… should
basically shut up. James Hewison, MIFF director did it when he Associate
Produced “Letters to Ali” to no complaints… as he damn
well should have. So why do people complain when a filmmaker plays his own
work in his own festival? When a filmmaker makes films and runs festivals
this should be applauded as the act of a man capable of wearing many hats. – Richard
Wolstencroft, Festival director
Virgin Beasts
KINO DENDY | Sat 16th July 11pm
Dir Toby Zoates | 1991
Sydney artist, animator and filmmaker Toby Zoates somehow convinced
the AFC to fund this insane collision of John Waters, Ralph Bakshi
and freaked-out fever dream in the late 80’s and it has remained pretty much unseen
in Melbourne. It’s like a low-budget, drug-fucked Wizard Of Oz full
of corrupt politicians, evil demons, apocalyptic ramblings, gibbering Sharmans
and assorted crazies. Combining animation with live action with an innovative
gusto that pre-empts films like Dick Linklater’s WAKING LIFE (2002),
VB is a whacked-out addition to down-under film and cultural history that
MUFF is proud to raise from the dead. Beauty meets the Beast at the Masque
of the Red Death to get Landrights for Gay Whales : the last wishes of a
dickhead arms-dealer on his death-bed. Thanks to Jon Hewitt.
The Last Wave
KINO DENDY | Fri 15th July 11pm
Dir Peter Weir
This mysterious and esoteric movie about the end of the world in a
gigantic tidal wave would not play well now in Tsunami swept Indonesia,
Sri Lanka and Thailand but is assuredly one of Peter Weir’s best films.
A band of Aboriginal tribes people who are actually the traditional tribes
people of Sydney, give cryptic warnings of an apocalypse to come in a rain
soaked Sydney. Richard Chamberlain plays a lawyer drawn into the lives of
a tribe of Aborigines through a murder case and the ancient Aboriginal prophecies
that he starts having visions of. There are many discoveries to be made under
the Sydney metropolis as the prophecy of The Last Wave is revealed. Totally
ace!! Peter Weir does late 70’s weirdness with style and acumen. One
of our votes for best Aussie film ever! Don’t miss it.