Fancy a Tassie wine-tasting extravaganza, but can't find the time (or cash) to make the trip? How about a quick hop over to North Melbourne instead? If you can get there with 50 bucks to spare this Sunday, August 21, you'll be living the Apple Isle dream. That's because one-day wine festival Vin Diemen is coming back to Melbourne for a second year. Your ticket will get you a take-home wine glass and access to the creations of a whole slew of Tasmanian winemakers, who are crossing the strait to show us what their island is made of. Expect to sample some of the best Pinot Noir in the nation, alongside top-shelf Chardonnay, Riesling and sparkling — cold climate varieties get a better go in Tassie than nearly anywhere else in Oz. And giving the wines the respect they deserve will be a bunch of tasty Tasmanian morsels, including fresh salmon from Huon and cheesy noms from Bruny Island Cheese.
Normally, you mightn't be a fan of American football. You may not care for it at all, in fact, or know anything about it beyond Friday Night Lights. So when the Super Bowl rolls around each year, you might only pay attention for the half-time show and the movie trailers. But if you've been enjoying HBO's video game-to-TV series The Last of Us — if you've been hanging out for new episodes each week, too — then you're now a massive supporter of the biggest US football match of the year. You still don't have to watch the Super Bowl if you don't want to. But HBO thinks that plenty of people will be in America, so it's moving the episode of The Last of Us that's slated to air on Super Bowl day — on Monday, February 13 Down Under, and the show's fifth instalment — to an earlier date. That shift has a ripple effect here in Australia, with streaming service Binge doing the same. Accordingly, mark 12pm AEST / 1pm AEDT on Saturday, February 11 in your diary. This is a one-off move, with The Last of Us returning to Monday releases in Australia for its remaining four episodes of season one from Monday, February 20. Still, for one week — this week — you'll get two instalments in the space of five days instead of seven. In similarly welcome news that was announced earlier in February, The Last of Us is locked in for a second season as well. That development was hardly surprising given the 2013 game that the show is based on also inspired a 2014 expansion pack and 2020 sequel — and also because HBO's version has been attracting viewers faster than any sudden movement attracts zombies — but it was still obviously hugely welcome. If you haven't yet caught up with the thoughtful dystopian series, which is character-focused, supremely well-cast and committed to exploring not just what's happening in its contagion-ravaged world but why life is worth fighting for, it's already one of 2023's big TV highlights. Set 20 years after modern civilisation as we know it has been toppled by a parasitic fungal infection that turns the afflicted into shuffling hordes, it follows Pedro Pascal (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent) as Joel, who gets saddled with smuggling 14-year-old Ellie (his Game of Thrones co-star Bella Ramsey) out of a strict quarantine zone to help possibly save humanity's last remnants. There wouldn't be a game, let alone a television version made by Chernobyl's Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann from Naughty Dog (who also penned and directed The Last of Us games), if that was an easy task. And, there wouldn't be much of either if the Joel and Ellie didn't need to weather quite the brutal journey. Check out the trailer for The Last of Us below: The Last of Us screens and streams via Foxtel and Binge in Australia, and will drop its fifth episode via Binge at 12pm AEST / 1pm AEDT on Saturday, February 11 — before reverting to releasing new episodes each Monday from Monday, February 20. Read our review of The Last of Us' first season. Images: Liane Hentscher/HBO.
Come October, there'll be more than a splash of colour added to your daily commute, when eight of the city's trams are transformed into giant, moving artworks, for the seventh annual edition of Melbourne Art Trams. Announced this week, the lineup of seven new artworks that'll cover the trams have been created by a crew of both emerging and established artists. An eighth tram will be decked out with a recreation of Lesley Dumbrell's 1986 design for Transporting Art – Melbourne's original tram art program, which ran from 1978 to 1993. A collaboration between Melbourne International Arts Festival, Creative Victoria, Yarra Trams and Public Transport Victoria, the project sees local artists submit their own original tram-inspired designs, with a selection of these chosen to grace vehicles across the network for the next ten months. This year, keep an eye out for the vibrant Marbaamarbaa garingali (multi-coloured native dog) by stencil artist Vandal, a photograph-inspired piece from Barkindji man Kent Morris, and Nyein Chan Aung's play on The Last Supper (below) featuring diners at Melbourne's legendary Supper Inn Chinese restaurant. [caption id="attachment_735891" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nyein Chan Aung's design[/caption] The Beaconhills Year 3 Collective has created a Keith Haring-style tribute to friendship, Gene Bawden's work Yours, mine, ours celebrates moves towards diversity, Sophie Westerman's colourful design embraces both connection and isolation, and an intricate piece by Nusra Latif Qureshi nods to Melbourne's culture. Lesley Dumbrell's original design features a bold, geometric style, inspired by a long-ago trip to Italy. The first of Melbourne's vibrant art trams will hit the tracks from October 8, with the fleet running until August 2020. Images: Lesley Dumbrell's 1986 tram courtesy of the Public Record Office Victoria; designs by Vandal, Sophie Westerman, Nusra Latif Qureshi, Kent Morris, Gene Bawden and the Beaconhills Year 3 Collective.
Sometimes artists appear to be larger than life, but in this case they actually are. For almost 20 years, Melbourne-based artist Sandra Bridie has been creating 'fictional artists' — a thought-provoking experiment considering the journey of artists, as well as posing a series of "what if?" questions on Bridie's own career. Eight Fictions presents eight make-believe artists across mediums of photography, performance, sculpture, conceptual art, crafting, curatorship and text works, and with each artist said to be born into a different Melbourne art-world eras and at various stages of their career. Rather than tricking the audience into thinking these artists are real, Bridie makes it clear that she's the creator behind each artist's work. This allows for the audience to discuss the work with a unique context and consider the lives of the artists at their varied levels of success and hardship. Sandra Bridie (b 19--): eight fictions is on display at Blindside Gallery from Wednesday, November 15 until Saturday, December 2. Image: Sandra Bridie, Sandra Bridie, b.1952. Walking Meditation, Santiago, Spain. Video still compilation of walking performance, 2015. Courtesy the artist.
The original 300 was a divisive film; a pantomime of hyper violence and fascist doctrine with as much historical accuracy as a university freshman piecing together his O-Week. Still, it was also wildly entertaining and, visually, one of the first to follow in the wake of the Sin City graphic novel framing and design mould. Fast forward seven years and we're presented with the somewhat unexpected sequel; unexpected because 99.3 percent of all characters in the first film were killed off, and not in any sort of ambiguous 'daytime soap, did he really drown?' kind of way. It was more beheadings, dissections and Spartans skewered on spears like 6'2 devils on horseback. Instead, Israeli director Noam Murro's sequel is, much like The Bourne Legacy, a concurrent tale with the focus on the Athenian response to the same Persian threat that felled the infamous 300. Leading the Greek defence is Themistocles (played by Aussie actor Sullivan Stapleton), a war hero and politician whose actions during the Battle of Marathon both earned him fame and set in motion the eventual Persian invasion by the demigod Xerxes and his naval commander, Artemisia (Eva Green). Green is the standout in 300: Rise of an Empire. Adorned in a series of full-length gothic gowns-come-battle armour, her fearsome stare and contemptuous smirk command the focus in every scene she inhabits, to say nothing of that sumptuous Franco-British accent that makes a word like 'sword' an aural blanket in which to wrap yourself. With a backstory so bleak you scarcely judge her for tearing off a man's head and then kissing him, Green's Artemisia out-menaces Xerxes entirely, rendering the gold-painted God a mere passenger sporting an (at best) conservative Mardi Gras outfit. Stylistically, the film faithfully adheres to Zack Snyder's original monochromatic approach, and employs so much slow-motion that without it, 300: Rise of an Empire would just be a four-and-a-half minute ab workout video. Every flesh-tearing strike is luxuriated in with three-dimensional, Dolby-enhanced ecstasy, an orgiastic fountain of blood sprayed across the battleground as though each combatant were a warrior Pro Hart festooning his rug. The action's so video-gamey at times, you feel yourself ghost-thumbing 'Up Up Down Up Y' just to help the hero navigate the chaos, and yet the whole affair remains an entrancing visual style that should more than satisfy the fans of the original. https://youtube.com/watch?v=2zqy21Z29ps
Dozens of independent arts organisations are looking down the barrel of extinction, after being ditched in the latest round of Australia Council funding. The news makes for depressingly familiar headlines, and marks the latest in a series of significant blows to the country's artistic community since the Federal Government cut the independent funding body's budget to the tune of $60 million over four years. Among the 62 previously funded organisations to miss out are the National Association for the Visual Arts, Melbourne's Red Stitch Actor's Theatre and youth-focused Express Media, and Sydney's Force Majeure dance company and PACT Centre for Contemporary Artists. Organisations lucky enough to receive funding, meanwhile, include Queensland's Metro Arts, Multicultural Arts Victoria, and Carriageworks in Sydney. In total $112 million will be invested between 2017 and 2020. The full list of recipients can be found via the Arts Council website. "In a country with an ever growing population we should be receiving ever greater cultural investment and government support," said Arts Party leader PJ Collins. "Instead we have constant and major cuts to our communities and opportunity in developing and recognising our native talent." A number of the affected organisations also spoke out against the cuts. "This is devastating news not just for Next Wave but for all artists and the Australian community," read a statement from the organisers of Melbourne's Next Wave festival (which is on right now). They also pointed out that the decision to drop funding comes even as the festival is being met "with critical and audience acclaim, and record-breaking box office numbers." Likewise, Kath Melbourne of Sydney theatre company Legs on the Wall told ArtsHub that they and many other organisations were the victims of "political decisions [made] behind closed doors." Australia Council CEO Tony Grybowski tried to put a positive spin on the announcement, stating that "while celebrating the success of the companies forming the new cohort, the Council acknowledges that the outcomes of this highly competitive process will be difficult for some companies and is committed to supporting the sector through this period of change. This support will take various forms, responding to the different needs of both individual organisations and practice areas." Via ArtsHub. Image: Next Wave.
There's just something about Australiana that, when done well, triggers those warm and fuzzy feels. South Yarra's now-dead Sweetwater Inn (RIP) nailed the whole outback-corrugated iron-damper-and-tin-cups thing, and it's hard not to love a tribute to the times of bushrangers, some well-loved Aussie larrikin or even a throwback to those glorious days of the school tuck shop. So Dingo's, the newest addition to Smith Street's ever-booming bar scene, looks bound to make friends quickly when it opens its doors next Friday, October 21. Paying homage to our colourful colloquial culture, the self-described Australiana bar is promising an equally vibrant drinking destination, where the colour palette is '80s retro, and the cocktail list is laced with nostalgia. Expect Alf Stewart references, Cottee's-inspired creations and even a cheeky tribute to your old friend, Passion Pop. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, chef Louie Green and brother Joel (both of Richmond's Tofu Shop International) are getting creative with some suburban favourites, serving a tofu version of the classic pie alongside other vegetarian treats. Even the original Barbecue Shapes look set to make an appearance on the snack menu. The space itself is a comfy one, with vinyl tunes and kitsch aplenty. Plus, they've got an excellent courtyard for sinking Coopers longnecks in the sun. Dingo's will open on Friday, October 21 at 310 Smith Street, Collingwood. Help them celebrate their launch at the bar's opening party from 8.30pm. For more info, visit dingosbar.com.au.
Remember the good old days when you'd meet up with your mate for a beer at the pub, grab a late-night feed and dance till dawn all in one night? Yeah, us too. But just because we can't go out right now and enjoy our city's best restaurants and bars doesn't mean you have to live life in the slow lane. You can still bring the good times to your living room. Want to take your cooking game to the next level? Now's the time to get creative in the kitchen — with some expert guidance, of course. Or you could order a DIY meal kit from your favourite dining spot so you can just worry about all the fun times to be had. Because, when you're at home, you make the rules. If you don't know where to start when it comes to customising your best night in, we've got you covered. We've partnered with Miller Design Lab to celebrate creativity and self-expression when it comes to dining (and drinking) at home. Miller Design Lab is a space built by Australia's leading minds in design, art, technology, fashion and, of course, culinary geniuses. Together, we're celebrating our nightlife and its impact on culture by bringing exceptional experiences to you — like turning your crib into a fine dining restaurant. So, pop on your apron, grab a cold one from the fridge and look no further. [caption id="attachment_505797" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Dinosaur Designs[/caption] START WITH THE ESSENTIALS First up, having the right tools is non-negotiable. Sure, you may have the skills, but you can't create the Sistine Chapel without any paint — and same goes in the kitchen. If you're looking to become a whiz with a wok or perfect the art of baking, you best invest in some good cooking utensils. That said, we're assuming you can cook an egg and peel a potato, so we'll rush through a list of staples: pots, pans, spatula, chopping board, a strainer, vegetable peeler, can opener, cutlery and a wooden spoon. You get the idea. And, unless you plan on turning everything into soup, you'll need a good set of knives. According to Momofuku master David Chang, you only really need three knives: a paring knife, a serrated bread knife and a chef's knife. The first two can be bought pretty cheaply, but you'll want to fork out a bit more on the chef's knife. And as tempting as it may be after MasterChef, don't even think about buying an ice cream machine until you have the basics. Now, the fun stuff. You'll need some nice-looking plates and glassware to take your feast to the next level. There are a bunch of local ceramicists and designers making stunning tableware, including Mud, Studio Enti, Dinosaur Designs and Maison Balzac's colourful goblets and fun champagne flutes, plus independent potters such as Milly Dent, Sarah Schembri and Hayden Youlley. [caption id="attachment_724464" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dan Hong by Nikki To[/caption] SHARPEN UP YOUR SKILLS WITH A TOP CHEF No matter if you're a kitchen novice or know your way around a Le Creuset, we can all learn some tips and tricks from some of the world's most creative chefs. Massimo Bottura is currently hosting nightly cooking tutorials. While the Michelin-starred chef behind Italy's famed Osteria Francescana is in lockdown, he's teaching you the joys of Italian cooking for free with his Kitchen Quarantine lessons. Designed to help spread feelings of connectivity, curb boredom and teach a few new tricks at a time when an increasing chunk of the world's population is in lockdown, self-isolation or self-distancing, these cooking tutorials go beyond textbook cooking. And of course, with Bottura's famously cheery personality, the guy's just a total joy to watch. Because Italian cuisine is the ultimate at-home comfort food, you should learn how to make pasta from a well-seasoned cook: nonna. Actually two nonnas, Nonna Nerina and Nonna Giuseppa. For a lesson on Australian home cooking, turn to Aussie legend and culinary icon Maggie Beer, who is also live streaming every day. Dubbed Cooking with Maggie, the free series of videos show you how to make an easy rustic-style dish in under 20 minutes — from eggplant and eggs to a caramelised onion and persian feta side dish. Another Aussie chef dishing up the goods is Dan Hong (Mr Wong, Ms G's, Queen Chow) via his Instagram. Tune in and you'll learn how to make his famed cheeseburger spring rolls, salt and pepper squid and slow-roasted short rib. For any other kitchen-related (and entertaining) content, check out these eight tasty food podcasts. [caption id="attachment_718506" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Southside Charmers by Kitti Gould[/caption] TRACK DOWN THE BEST (FREE) RECIPES Now that you've learnt from some of the best, you'll want to pick a recipe to tackle on your own. After all, it's time for you to add your own flavour. But before you attempt the best gnocchi ever made or bake even more sourdough, you'll want to do your research. Luckily, you don't have to look too far to find recipes. But, not all are created equal — so, it's about where to look. US-based Bon Appétit — as the name suggests — is a go-to for any culinary query, including a bunch of lip-smacking recipes. Feel like a lobster roll for dinner? No problem, it's got it here. Craving a mean steak? It's got a whole dedicated section. New York Times Cooking also has thousands of the best recipes from the global newspaper. You'll find food editor Sam Sifton's suggestions — from earl grey madeleines to a weeknight fried rice and trini chana and aloo (chickpea and potato curry) — plus a heap of pantry, slow cooker, easy-to-bake and essential Indian recipes. Basically, whatever you've got a hankering for, chances are it's got it. For something more local, podcast Highly Enthused often has a round-up of good recipes. You can listen to it here. [caption id="attachment_751198" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Quattro Deli by Trent van der Jagt[/caption] GET THOSE HARD-TO-FIND INGREDIENTS You're spicing things up, which means you'll probably have some things on your grocery list that you won't find at Woolies or Coles. From artisanal cheeses to Lao Gan Ma chilli sauce and rare spices, such ingredients require you to know where to track them down. At the moment, Sydneysiders can head to Two Providores's Marrickville warehouse every Saturday to pick up everything from top-notch oils to bacon jam, New York-style rare roast beef and hard-to-find flours. For fresh seasonal produce, it's hard to go past Glebe mainstay Galluzzo Fruiterers, which is currently delivering to locals every Monday–Friday. Quattro Deli in Chatswood is dedicated to sourcing the best local and imported specialty items — think Italian gorgonzola, buffalo mozzarella, mortadella, olives, spreads and even vino — and is delivering deli-to-door at the moment. And for all things cheese, Penny's Cheese Shop and Paesanella Food Emporium are great go-tos. For Asian groceries, your best bets are Boon Cafe at Jarern Chai Grocer and Thai Kee IGA Supermarket. For those in Melbourne, a good one-stop-spot is South Melbourne Market, which has launched a drive-thru pick up point. Vegans will find pretty much everything imaginable in Shannon Martinez's and Mo Wyse's spin-off vegan New York-style delicatessen, Smith & Deli. You can place orders for pick up or delivery via Mr Yum. For charcuterie, Obelix & Co has got you pretty well covered and is offering local delivery and if you're after some fancy fromage to go with it, hit up Milk the Cow, which is delivering also. Asian grocers such as TANG, Hometown Asian Supermarket and Minh Phat are all open and well-stocked, too. In Brisbane, Hong Lan Asian Food & Seafoods is one of the best Asian grocers in town. Rosalie Gourmet Market is an institution for a reason — it's packed with everything from oils to pastries, chocolates and fresh flowers. Black Pearl Epicure has your cheese needs sorted with over 300 types and for Italian goods, head to Amici Deli in Chermside. Plus, a bunch of restaurants in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne have turned into mini grocers, many supplying the goods usually saved for industrial kitchens. If you can't leave the house right now, Simon Johnson is delivering across Sydney and Melbourne, too. ORDER IN — AND SKIP STRAIGHT TO THE GOOD TIMES In Sydney, you're spoiled for choice when it comes to DIY meal packs. Ragazzi — the CBD's new pasta bar by the Love, Tilly Devine crew — has ready-to-cook pasta and wine packs (serves two), which are available for pick or delivery within five kilometres of the restaurant. Chippendale's fine diner Ester has weekly takeaway packs, offering a range of ready-to-eat and almost ready meals — with the likes of steamed blood sausage buns, shallot and sichuan pepper tart tartin and leftover sourdough ice cream on the menu. You can pick it up from the restaurant every Saturday between 3–5pm. Mr Wong's, Bert's and Fred's also have packs available for delivery across Sydney metro. Melburnians can order restaurant-quality oysters straight to their door thanks to supplier Mimosa Rock Oysters. They come live though, so you'll have to know (or learn) how to shuck. If you can venture out of the house, you'll find a raft of 'heat and eat' food packages available at Neptune Food & Wine. And while not exactly DIY, Attica — one of the top restaurants in the country — is now offering takeaway and has opened a pop-up bakeshop. If you're in the mood for a big warming bowl of noodles and live in Brisbane, Taro's has DIY ramen packs to go. It even has a how-to video if you need. King Street's French fine diner, Montrachet, is offering a selection of semi-prepared dishes in takeaway packs that can be collected from its Bowen Hills digs (orders must be made before 7pm for collection the next day). Plus, The Balfour Kitchen has a stack of ready-made meals like a Burmese pork curry, spaghetti with Korean bolognese, prawn and ginger wontons and thrice-cooked duck fat potatoes. For dessert, a bunch of spots across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are slinging some top-notch cookie dough for those of us who aren't the next Betty Crocker. To see where you can pick some up, head here. For more ways to celebrate your city's nightlife and recreate its energy in your own space, head this way.
If you like your art digital, interactive and immersive, you should make tracks to the Heide Museum of Modern Art, where Terminus: Jess Johnson and Simon Ward is now on display. Open till March 1, 2020, the virtual reality exhibition is a collaboration between New York-based visual artist Jess Johnson and Wellington animator Simon Ward. Johnson's hypnotic drawings have been transformed into five interactive virtual reality works, which make up five distinct realms filled with "alien architecture, humanoid clones and cryptic symbols". Visitors are invited to explore the artworks through a 30-minute 'quest', venturing between the realms. The choose-your-own adventure exhibition includes journeys into the Fleshold Crossing, Known Unknown and Scumm Engine. Plus, there's a towering piece titled Gog & Magog and the psychedelic Tumblewych. Johnson's drawings and textile works will also be on display alongside Terminus — including quilts made with her mother and garments from her 2016 collaboration with Australian fashion brand Romance Was Born. A public program of artist talks and workshops will accompany the exhibition as well. Events include a virtual reality cinema workshop on February 1 — during which participants will create a VR short — a virtual reality symposium on February 8 and a free screening of the cult 1986 film Labyrinth on February 15. Terminus will go on to tour nationally, too. So, if you're not based in Melbourne, keep an eye out for when it'll head to your city. Image: Installation view, Terminus: Jess Johnson and Simon Ward, Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne. Photograph: Christian Capurro
The National Cabinet was set to meet and decide on how to relax some of Australia's social distancing and public gatherings restrictions on Monday, May 11 — inline with the end of Victoria's second four-week state of emergency — but Prime Minister Scott Morrison decided today, Friday, May 1, to bring this date forward to next week. "Decisions on relaxing restrictions will be made next Friday [May 8]", the Prime Minister said. "Australians have earned an early mark for the work they have done." Some states have started to ease minor restrictions — such as allowing two-person house visits in NSW and more outdoor recreational activities in Queensland — but next Friday's announcement could see some larger decisions made on the federally mandated public-gathering and social-distancing rules. The Northern Territory, which has had a total of 28 cases, has already outlined its own roadmap to the "new normal", with the reopening of restaurants, bars and cafes set to take place on Friday, May 15. The Prime Minister would not comment on exactly what restrictions could be wound back, but that "room density measures" — such as the previous one person per four-square-metre rule for indoor venues — and requirements to remain 1.5 metres apart will not be lifted. This could impact if it's financially viable for restaurants, bars and cafes to reopen, even if they are allowed to. Before any restrictions are lifted, though, the Prime Minister said that more people need to download the government's contact-tracing app COVIDSafe. He said that while 11 of the 15 previously outlined conditions under which restrictions could be eased had been met, the final piece in the jigsaw puzzle of contact tracing was not in place. "There are currently over 3.5 million downloads and registrations of the COVIDSafe app, but there needs to be millions more," the Prime Minister said. He reiterated that if Australians want to go to the pub, they have to download the app. For now, the current COVID-19 restrictions will remain in place for at least the next four weeks. And fines are still in place for disobeying these in NSW, Vic and Queensland. To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website. Top image: Kimberley Low
It's only been three short years since the world first discovered Paul Mescal courtesy of early-pandemic obsession Normal People, and what a three years they've been. Focusing solely on the Irish actor's on-screen work and related achievements, he's also popped up in The Lost Daughter, been nominated for an Oscar for Aftersun and famously spent time making a movie in Australia — and that flick, Carmen, has just dropped its first trailer. Remember all those Mescal sightings Down Under in early 2021? The whole the country does, and this film is why they happened. The movie turns the classic opera of the same name into a screen musical, and features the internet's boyfriend as Aidan, a marine with PTSD, opposite In the Heights and Scream star Melissa Barrera in the titular role. This clearly isn't a standard adaptation of the opera by Georges Bizet that first hit stages back in 1875, as based on the 1845 novella by Prosper Mérimée that's also called Carmen. Here, in what's been dubbed "a gritty modern-day tale", Carmen flees her home in the Mexican desert after her mother is murdered, then makes an illegal border crossing into America. Once in the US, she's troubled by more killings courtesy of a ruthless border guard — which doesn't go down well with his patrol partner, the aforementioned Aiden. So starts Carmen and Aiden's journey together, also escaping to look for her mother's best friend (iconic Spanish actor Rossy De Palma, Parallel Mothers). This take on Carmen also features standoffs, a nightclub as a sanctuary, a police hunt and finding solace in romance, with Benjamin Millepied making his directorial debut behind the lens. Best known as a dancer and choreographer, he was behind the ballet scenes in Black Swan — and also popped up on-screen as David. Millepied's first stint as a helmer will hit US cinemas in April, with a release date in Australia and New Zealand yet to be revealed. Seeing it turn up on the midyear film festival circuit, hitting the Sydney Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival and New Zealand International Film Festival, wouldn't be surprising. Adding to the project's big names is Nicholas Britell, who is responsible for Carmen's original score and songs, after also composing Succession's earworm of a theme. Check out the trailer for Carmen below: Carmen doesn't yet have a release date Down Under — we'll update you when one is announced.
Unfortunately this event doesn't quite warrant the use of 'I'M ON A BOAT', but it does take place on a rooftop, giving you ample Instagram bragging rights. Replicating Vietnam's Nha Trang Yacht Club, Saigon Sally and Hanoi Hannah are hosting an afternoon of Vietnamese snacks, coconuts and St Kilda sunsets. As well as the familiar rice paper rolls and beef cigars, chef Adrian Li will be preparing a range of seafood dishes — perfectly complemented by drinking coconuts and a crisp, cold lager. Your $35 will get you entry and a coconut, with other food and drinks available for purchase. Unfortunately due to unfavourable weather conditions the Nha Trang Yacht Club event this coming Sunday March 16th has been postponed. Sally Sally and Hanoi Hannah will be contacting all tickets holders this week regarding refunds. For any enquires please call Simon at Hanoi Hannah on 03 9939 5181 (ext 1). This event appeared as one of our top ten picks for the 2014 Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. See here for the full list.
Food trucks tick all the right boxes when it comes to those late night foodie dilemmas. They're cheap, fulfilling, fast, and guaranteed to be made fresh on the spot, so it comes as no surprise that they've been steadily growing in popularity on the streets of Melbourne. There's not exactly an abundance of choice when it comes to dining out for vegetarians. Sure there's the vegan restaurant or two, but all too often, vegetarians have had to resort to measly pickings on any given menu. The Little Mushroom Co. have managed to fulfil that niche by rolling burger joint, food truck and vege haven into one cute little converted caravan. Plus, the operation is completely solar powered, so they're environmentally friendly too. For under $10 a pop, you can get one of their signature mushroom burgers (or for the less fungi-inclined, there's the option for haloumi and ratatouille). Thankfully, graphic designer and photographer Erika Budiman has done a service for us all in getting hold of The Little Mushroom Co.'s recipe for their ratatouille burger as part of her new recipe book, Food Truck Feasts, a culmination of her year long quest exploring Australia's multicultural food scene. Now that's a job we want. Get ready for the inevitable blissful food coma. RATATOUILLE BURGER Serves 6 1 whole garlic bulb 2 onions (white, brown or Spanish) 4 ripe capsicums (red, green or yellow) 3 zucchinis 4 tomatoes (Roma or similar) extra virgin olive oil ½ bottle passata sauce ½ cup red wine splash of red wine vinegar dried Italian herbs (or a combination of oregano, coriander and a little rosemary works well) pinch of smoked paprika bay leaf (optional) rocket leaves splash of balsamic vinegar parmesan, grated 6 ciabatta buns or similar Preheat fan-forced oven to 150°C (170°C conventional/Gas 3). Cut the top off the garlic bulb (exposing just the tops of the cloves) and place it, together with two of the whole capsicums, on a tray. Drizzle olive oil liberally over them. Add the whole onions to the same tray, or in a separate smaller tray, and put all of the vegetables in the oven. Cook for approximately 30 minutes (check the garlic bulb after 20 minutes; it may need to be removed earlier). Put the onions, whole, in the oven. Drizzle some olive oil over two capsicums (also whole) and put in the oven as well. Cook onions and capsicums for about 30 minutes. Halve the zucchinis lengthways. Drizzle the zucchinis and the remaining capsicums with a little olive oil and salt, and grill them on a barbecue or on a flat plate with exposed griddles (the taste is much better on a barbecue). Turn the zucchinis when they start to char. Put the capsicums from the grill into a bowl and cover with foil or plastic wrap while the capsicums are still hot, to allow them to sweat. After a few minutes, peel the skins off the capsicums, remove and discard the stem and seeds, and rip into irregular but still large pieces. Cut the zucchinis into large irregular pieces as well. Remove the garlic bulb from the oven and, when cooled a little, squeeze the garlic from each clove. Remove the skin from the onions and cut into irregular bits (they will have separated beautifully after being in the oven). In a large pan, over a medium flame, heat some olive oil and add the capsicum, zucchini, onion and garlic. Cook for a couple of minutes, stirring. Pour in the passata, red wine and red wine vinegar and continue to stir. Add the herbs, paprika and bay leaf, and cover. Reduce to a low heat and cook for two to four hours. When done, toast the buns in a pan or under the grill. Cut them in half and drizzle with a little olive oil. Spoon some ratatouille onto the bun and finish with some rocket, balsamic vinegar and a little parmesan. If the ratatouille tastes quite acidic, you can add a little sugar to the vegetables to balance the vinegar. The ratatouille always tastes much better over the next few days, after it has had time to settle and develop its flavours. It will keep in the refrigerator for around a week. Via Food Truck Feasts, published by Explore Australia Publishing, RRP $34.95, www.exploreaustralia.net.au.
Twelve years after RuPaul's Drag Race first sashayed its way onto US television, viewers Down Under have finally been gifted a local version. Currently streaming via Stan, RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under is exactly what it sounds like — the hit series, still hosted by RuPaul, but featuring Australian and New Zealand drag queens. And, if you'd like to see more of this year's competitors, you'll be able to head along to the program's new live stage show. All ten of this year's drag queens will be hitting up Sydney's Hordern Pavilion, Melbourne's Palais Theatre, Perth's Crown Theatre, Brisbane's QPAC and Canberra's Canberra Theatre as part of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under Live on Stage. It too is rather self-explanatory, and it'll obviously have quite the cast when it hits the road this September. If you've been watching the TV series, you'll already know which contenders have been strutting their stuff for drag supremacy. The lineup spans seven Australians and three New Zealanders, including Art Simone from Geelong, Melbourne's Karen from Finance, and Sydney's Coco Jumbo, Etecetera Etcetera and Maxi Shield. Newcastle's Jojo Zaho and Perth's Scarlet Adams round out the Aussie queens, while Auckland's Kita Mean, Anita Wigl'it and Elektra Shock comprise the NZ contingent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdcgf5I6Qb8&feature=youtu.be RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE DOWN UNDER LIVE ON STAGE TOUR DATES: Saturday, September 18 — Hordern Pavilion, Sydney Tuesday, September 21 — QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane Thursday, September 23 — Crown Theatre, Perth Saturday, September 25 — The Palais, Melbourne Tuesday, September 28 — Canberra Theatre, Canberra RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under Live on Stage will tour Australia from September 18–28. For further details — and to buy pre-sale tickets from 12pm on Friday, May 21 and general tickets from 12pm on Monday, May 24 — head to the Live Nation website.
First, it was a popular 80s comedy starring Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. Then, it became a five-season television sitcom led by Parton's real-life younger sister. In 2009, 9 to 5 made the leap to the stage too, because you just can't stop a good story about female empowerment in the workplace. Revived in the West End earlier this year, it's still a huge hit — and now, after an Australian premiere in Sydney was announced last year, we know that the latest version of the production is coming to Melbourne. Just by reading the show's title, we know that you already have Parton's catchy song of the same name stuck in your head. Pour yourself a cup of ambition, because that tune isn't going away anytime soon. Indeed, you'd best get ready to exclaim "what a way to make a living" more than once when 9 to 5 The Musical plays its local run at Her Majesty's Theatre from July 2020. It comes to Melbourne after its Australian premiere season in Sydney this April. Ahead of its time when it first reached cinemas, this tale of three women who take on their sexist, egotistical and all-round despicable male boss is obviously still highly relevant today. Before #TimesUp and #MeToo, workmates Doralee, Violet and Judy decided to turn the tables by kidnapping their supervisor and reforming their office. Expect the same story in 9 to 5 The Musical, as penned by the original film's screenwriter Patricia Resnick, just with more songs. With Parton herself writing the score — and earning Tony and Grammy nominations for her efforts — expect plenty of feel-good music as well. Although she doesn't appear on stage, the famous country star is still involved with the show, and with bringing it to Australia. While the show will premiere in Sydney, it's possible it'll head to other cities around the country after — cross your fingers and we'll let you know if more dates and locations are announced. While you're still singing 9 to 5 to yourself, check out Parton's announcement video below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eLfds3BNk8 9 to 5 The Musical will hit Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre from July 2020, with tickets on sale on Friday, February 14. For more information, or to join the ticket waitlist, visit the musical's website.
Here's a sentence that would've made zero sense two years ago: from 1am on Saturday, January 15, getting into Queensland will become a whole heap easier. The Sunshine State has had various levels of border rules in place during the pandemic, and currently only allows double-vaccinated interstate visitors to travel to the state and stay without quarantining first — but come 1am on Saturday, January 15, it'll scrap all domestic border restrictions. That means that whether you're a local keen to visit Sydney or Melbourne and then return home, or you reside in those cities and you've been dreaming of a sunny beach holiday, you'll no longer need to show a border pass or provide proof of a rapid antigen test to make the trip into Queensland. Border checkpoints will be taken down as well. "Anyone coming domestically across into Queensland, either by our road or by air, they do not have to show that they have had their border pass, they don't have to show that they have had a rapid antigen test," announced Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk today, Thursday, January 13. "This is the time and the time is now right as we head towards hitting that 90 percent [double-dosed vaccination target] next week." BREAKING: Domestic border restrictions will be removed from 1am on Saturday with Queensland expected to hit 90% double vaccination next week. #covid19 pic.twitter.com/fXAhpVz8rL — Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) January 13, 2022 Queensland's rules around international travel are set to change, too once the state hits 90-percent double-jabbed, with restrictions lifting for double-dosed overseas arrivals. That said, an exact date for when the loosened requirements will kick in hasn't yet been confirmed. The Premier advised that further details will be announced once Queensland reaches the vaccine threshold. While restrictions around travel are changing, the Sunshine State's rules regarding visiting venues all remain in effect. As previously announced, you need to be double-jabbed to enter places such as restaurants, bars, cafes, cinemas, stadiums, festivals, libraries, galleries and museums — but all of those types of sites across the hospitality and entertainment industries no longer have capacity restrictions. Queensland reported 14,914 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, January 13, and currently has 145,294 active cases. Queensland's border rules will ease at 1am AEST / 2am AEDT on Saturday, January 15. For more information about Queensland's border policies and border passes, head to the Queensland Government website.
After a brief sneak peek featured in Disney+'s teaser trailer for its 2025 slate, The Handmaid's Tale has unveiled its first proper look at its upcoming sixth season — the dystopian thriller's final run. Since 2017, watching the series has meant wishing for one thing: the end of Gilead, the totalitarian, male-dominated society that rules the show's dystopian version of the United States. (No, not the masterplanned Sydney community of the same name.) In the award-winning series adapted from Margaret Atwood's book, that outcome is finally coming in a way, and fans will be able to see how the tale wraps up from April 2025. For June (Elisabeth Moss, The Veil) and her fellow red-wearing women, revolution is also coming. Rallying against the oppressive status quo however possible has sat at the heart of this series since day one — and in the last season, June is back in the fight. The teaser trailer for season six is narrated by its protagonist, noting the ways that the regime tried to push her and her fellow women down, including via their restrictive attire. "The dress became a uniform — and we became an army," June advises. Of course, it's highly likely that The Handmaid's Tale won't conclude with the total destruction of Gilead, because a TV version of The Testaments in the works — and is set to arrive sometime after The Handmaid's Tale finishes its run. It too is based on an Atwood novel, on her sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, which hit shelves in 2019, which means that her fictional nightmarish realm isn't going far. If you haven't read the book, The Testaments is set 15 years after the events of its predecessor, and also includes familiar characters. How that'll play into the end of The Handmaid's Tale on-screen obviously hasn't been revealed. For now, blessed be your streaming queue with The Handmaid's Tale season six this autumn — and praise be what looks like one helluva reckoning. Alongside Moss, Yvonne Strahovski (Teacup), Bradley Whitford (The Madness), Max Minghella (Maximum Truth), Ann Dowd (The Friend), O-T Fagbenle (No Good Deed), Samira Wiley (Breaking News in Yuba County), Madeline Brewer (Space Oddity), Amanda Brugel (Dark Matter), Sam Jaeger (Wolf Man) and Ever Carradine (The Neighbourhood) all return among the cast, with Josh Charles (Moss' The Veil co-star) a new addition. The sixth season of The Handmaid's Tale debuts in the US on Tuesday, April 8. Down Under, it streams via SBS On Demand and Neon. Check out the first teaser trailer for The Handmaid's Tale season six below: The Handmaid's Tale season six debuts on Tuesday, April 8 — and streams Down Under via SBS On Demand and Neon.
Since Iron Man first soared into movie theatres in 2008, proved a huge hit and started a massive franchise, fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have been getting their caped crusader fix on the big screen. But, while this immensely popular superhero realm mentions its preferred medium right there in its name, the MCU has also made the leap to television — including via Disney+'s WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier so far this year. Marvel and Disney+ aren't stopping there, either. A heap of new shows are in the works at the streaming platform, including Ms. Marvel, Hawkeye, She-Hulk, Moon Knight, Secret Invasion (about Samuel L Jackson's Nick Fury), Iron Heart, Armour Wars, I Am Groot, a Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special and a series set in Wakanda. Next up, though, is Loki — and, after releasing a sneak peek last year, the Mouse House has dropped a full trailer for the soon-to-premiere show. Obviously, if you've seen a Thor or Avengers movie, then you know who Loki is about. Creative series names aren't part of the package here. So, Tom Hiddleston (Kong: Skull Island) is back as the God of Mischief — and he's enjoying stepping into the trickster's shoes again, if the glimpses so far are anything to go by. Viewers will watch Loki's antics post-Avengers: Endgame, with Owen Wilson (Wonder), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Summerland), Sophia Di Martino (Yesterday), Wunmi Mosaku (Lovecraft Country) and Richard E Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) rounding out the main cast. When the series starts airing from Friday, June 11, Loki finds himself in a bit of trouble thanks to his previous actions with the Tesseract. The TVA — that'd be the Time Variance Authority — is on his case, which is where Wilson's Mobius M Mobius comes in. Obviously, more time-travelling trickery is in Loki's future from there. We're guessing that Wilson will say "wow" once or twice, too. Check out the full trailer for Loki below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUwwdj6AlBA Loki will be available to stream via Disney+ from Friday, June 11. Top image: ©Marvel Studios 2020. All Rights Reserved.
Think about your favourite musician. Now, have a little ol' fantasise about where they rehearse, record and hang out with your other favourite musos. If you can't get a clear image in your head of such a heavenly place, relax. The legendary Bakehouse studios are throwing open the doors for an open day at their Richmond digs. With musicians the likes of Nick Cave, Tool, Beck, The Cat Empire, The Drones, Paul Kelly, Ladyhawke and a bucket-tonne more to have played within these walls, Bakehouse is a pretty special place. The Hoddle Street staple will be opening their glorious doors for the first time ever and to celebrate, Leaps and Bounds Festival are throwing a street party with plenty of music and frivolity. There's also going to be enough contemporary Aussie art to poke a metaphorical stick at, and Bakehouse have also let loose their artist buds to create innovative and immersive installations within the rooms of the studio. It's probably the hippest thing that's ever happened to Melbourne to date; you should almost certainly check it out for bragging rights alone.
Op art, the playful successor to pop art, is reminiscent of the eye-fatiguing Magic Eye craze of the '90s. It never really took off in Australia, but one little-known Oz exponent of op art, John Vickery (1906-1983), was a major fan. He worked primarily as a commercial artist but in his spare time enjoyed the optical dazzle of alternating stripes and undulating patterns. A selection of Vickery's most optically outrageous paintings are on display at the Victorian College of the Arts until March. This is the person whose artistic legacy and altruistic bequest led in 2003 to the establishment of the John Vickery Scholarships, which provide two third-year students with financial support to assist in the often costly practice of producing work for final assessment. A man who created visual magic and is remembered through the act of helping struggling young artists make ends meet — surely, worth a look in. Go play with your own sensory perception and enjoy the oscillating black and white stripes as they come alive between your eyes.
It swept cities across the nation into a sugar-dusted frenzy when its pop-up 'dessert museum' travelled the country. Now, the team behind the nostalgic Sugar Republic and festive Christmasland is taking its sweet-toothed fantasies to a whole new level, announcing plans to open Australia's first-ever sweets-inspired accommodation. Not a whole lot of info has dropped just yet, but we do know the Sugar Republic Sweet Retreat will be opening its doors in Daylesford, Victoria, this autumn. And it's set to be a true candy-coated affair, complete with sugar-themed suites you can stay in, play in and take some rather dashing snaps in. https://www.facebook.com/SugarRepublic.au/posts/456179658379936 Expect a B&B-style getaway, decked out with sweet additions like private ball pits, free candy and even cherry-scented wallpaper. If the original Sugar Republic pop-ups are anything to go by, you can bank on some pretty wild, OTT styling, with a healthy dose of pink, lots of textures and primo selfie opportunities aplenty. While only one has been announced for now, we're hoping more will open across the country in due time, too. Sugar Republic Sweet Retreat is set to open in Daylesford this autumn. We'll keep you posted with more info as it drops. Top images: Sugar Republic's Christmasland by Kate Shanasy.
Comfort food and winter go hand in hand. Since 2022, so have chaotic culinary dramedies and the frostiest time of the year Down Under. Two years back, The Bear debuted in winter in Australia and New Zealand to become one of the best new shows on television. In 2023, it returned in winter for its second season to become one of the best returning shows on TV that year. And in 2024, it has a return reservation with the middle of the year again. Even after the delays in Hollywood caused by 2023's strikes, American viewers will see the Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning hit in June, with an exact date not yet announced. When Aussie and NZ audiences will get their latest taste of Jeremy Allen White (The Iron Claw) hasn't been revealed either, but it should also be this winter — but perhaps not the same day as our US counterparts. Another pattern that surrounds The Bear is delays between its American debuts and arriving Down Under, affecting both seasons so far. Season one hit in June in America, then in August in Australia. With season two, US viewers still had a June date, while Aussies and New Zealanders had to wait till July. So, fingers crossed that the third time is the charm for a same-date release. The Bear was renewed for season three in November 2023 to the surprise of no one, but to the joyous shouts of "yes chef!" from everyone. If you've missed The Bear so far, its first season jumped into the mayhem when White's Carmy took over the diner after his brother's (Jon Bernthal, We Own This City) death. Before returning home, the chef's resume featured Noma and The French Laundry, as well as awards and acclaim. In season two, Carmy worked towards turning the space into an upscale addition to his hometown's dining scene, with help from the restaurant's trusty team — including Ayo Edebiri (Bottoms) as fellow chef Sydney, plus Ebon Moss-Bachrach (No Hard Feelings) as Richie, aka Cousin, aka Carmy's brother's best friend. Also key to The Bear: truly conveying what it's like to work in the hospitality industry and weather a restaurant kitchen's non-stop pressures. In both of its seasons so far, The Bear's creator Christopher Storer (who also has Ramy, Dickinson and Bo Burnham: Make Happy on his resume) has expertly balanced drama and comedy — and, in season two, he also delivered spectacular self-contained episodes that featured everyone from Olivia Colman (Heartstopper) and Will Poulter (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) to Bob Odenkirk (Lucky Hank) and Jamie Lee Curtis (Haunted Mansion). Guest stars aside, The Bear's regular roster of talent also spans Abby Elliott (Indebted) as Carmy's sister Natalie, aka Sugar — plus Lionel Boyce (Hap and Leonard), Liza Colón-Zayas (In Treatment) and Edwin Lee Gibson (Fargo) among the other Original Beef staff. Check out the trailer for The Bear season two below: The Bear streams via Disney+ in Australia and New Zealand. We'll update you with an exact season three release date when one is announced. Read our review of season one and review of season two. Via Variety.
Dance, drink, pizza, repeat. Pizza and late-night partying remains one of history's most iconic duos and they're coming together in full force as 24-hour Hawthorn club Untz Untz launches its adjoining pizza joint and sports bar, Holy Moly, tonight. The new venue has taken over the ground floor of the newly refurbished Glenferrie Road space and enjoy the same 24-hour liquor license. In addition, coffee and doughnut spot Cop Shop will launch next door shortly in April. With a crack team of hospo pros behind it, Holy Moly has some intriguing features, not least of which is the $5 pizza menu, designed by Henry Chan (of Lucky Coq and Bimbo Deluxe) and available until midnight weekdays and later on weekends. Jenna Hemsworth (former Black Pearl bartender and runner-up for Bartender of the Year 2015) has taken the reins of the drinks offering, which features a mix of classics and new-school creations, as well as two cocktails on-tap and three varieties of Bloody Mary. The space comes courtesy of interior designer Michael Delaney (Honkytonks, Sorry Grandma), along with venue director Nick Foley, with the pair describing it as "a shrine to pizza and good times". Eat your pizza in the overtly holy-themed dining hall — with pews for seats, a shrine mounted on the wall and stained glass aplenty — or head over to the memorabilia-packed sports bar, which will be screening classic sporting moments on an 80-inch plasma, and Melbourne's first VOID sound system. Holy Moly is now open at 660A Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn. For more info, visit holymoly.com.au. Images: Alexandra Drewniak.
Close that Netflix-riddled laptop, kick back that unwashed doona and bundle up in All The Knits, there's plenty of happenings worth leaving the house for this weekend. From chocolate sculptures to offensively talented 18-year-old crooners, we've given you a little rundown of the five best things to get out and about for. So incredbly worth it, Orange is the New Black's not going anywhere. Common Sense Art exhibitions are usually a highly visual experience. Everything is white and sterile, and if you touch anything a large middle-aged man is always nearby to tap you on the shoulder and give you a foreboding paternal gaze. But not all exhibitions are created equal these days, and the exciting folk at 1000 £ Bend don't want anything to do with the white cube. Fittingly, their latest one-day exhibition is bound to deliver a sensory overload of sights, smells, sounds and chocolate sculptures. From 1pm-6pm on June 20, this sense of play will be translated through the mediums of sculpture, film, painting, music and gelato. Yes, that's right — gelato. When: Friday, 20 June - 5:30pm Where: 1000 £ Bend , 361 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne How much: FREE It Cannot Be Stopped: Chunky Move Since 1995 Chunky Move has consistently been at the cutting edge of contemporary dance in Australia. It Cannot Be Stopped is a chance to see some of the country’s most exciting emerging choreographers in action, appearing as part of the company’s Next Move program. It’s the first time the program’s showcased the work of three choreographers, and Chunky Move couldn’t have found a more diverse trio. Ben Hancock was most recently seen in action in Neil Armfield’s Ring Cycle, the NGV’s Melbourne Now and Tassie's MONA FOMA, while Atlanta Eke’s work is grounded in political performance art. They’re joined by Paea Leach, whose practice centres firmly on dance. It Cannot Be Stopped will be performed from June 20-29. Book your tickets here. When: Friday, 20 June - Sunday, 29 June Where: Chunky Move Studios , 111 Sturt St, Melbourne How much: $20 - $30 Jesse Davidson Adelaide songsmith Jesse Davidson has been called prodigious and a wunderkind — and those Jeff Buckley comparisons just won't shake. This June and July, Davidson's taking his minimalist acoustics and dreamy vocals on tour, his first solo effort. The tour is set to draw a considerable loyal following who'll want seriously in-grill "I saw Jesse Davidson before anyone" bragging rights. Since being a runner-up in triple j's 2012 Unearthed High competition, the 18 year old has been signed for a Warner development deal, toured with Mac DeMarco and Ball Park Music, co-headlined with Eves, been signed to booking agency Select Music, finished school and released his debut EP Ocean — making you feel really great about having a good few years on him and feeling terribly unaccomplished in comparison. When: Saturday, 21 June - 8:30pm Where: Shebeen , 36 Manchester Lane Melbourne How much: $13 Melbourne International Animation Festival Hosted at ACMI in Federation Square, the latest edition of the 11-day festival shines a light on the world of independent animation. Feature-length efforts by Chris Sullivan and the Melbourne-born Elliot Cowan are the result of years of personal labour, and are sure to offer a very different aesthetic to the glossy productions of Hollywood. The bulk of the festival consists of short films, all of which are separated into streams. The spine of the program is the International Competition, split over seven sessions throughout the duration of the festival. There's also a showcase of South America, the Best of Next student competition, the mind-bending Late Night Bizarre, along with many, many more. For more information on the MIAF program, visit their website. When: Thursday, 19 June - Sunday, 29 June Where: ACMI , Federation Square, Melbourne How much: $7.50 - $120 West Elm and Etsy Pop-up West Elm are teaming up with Etsy this weekend to bring you an afternoon of crafty goodness from your favourite online designers. From 1pm to 6pm on June 21, you'll be able to track down and purchase unique items made by local artisans. Better yet, there's no need for postage fees or waiting periods. Etsy has curated a stellar line-up of 16 sellers, offering everything from nifty jewellery and funky stationary through to re-purposed timber homewares and hand-poured soy candles. There will be a broad range of handmade products oozing with style and personality. Plus, you'll get to chat to your local innovators over treats and tunes. When: Saturday, 21 June - 1:00pm Where: West Elm , 464 Chapel Street, South Yarra How much: FREE Photo credit: Kimberly Chau Lee. Frank There’s no one quite like Frank, the person, and there’s nothing quite like Frank, the film. The former, as played by Michael Fassbender while wearing a papier mache mask, is a soul seemingly eccentric but really just looking for the essence of creation and contentment. The latter is quirky by design but beautifully bittersweet by execution, revelling in all life’s failures and flaws. Frank leads an experimental rock band with the fittingly unpronounceable name of The Soronprfbs, and that’s exactly where Jon (Domhnall Gleeson) finds him. As the reconfigured group ventures from the Irish wilderness to the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas in search of musical fulfilment, the solace they find comes from internal, not external, forces. Read our full Frank review over here. When: Thursday, 19 June - Wednesday, 30 July Where: Various cinemas in Melbourne How much: $15 - $25 Northeast Party House Northeast Party House will be dominating The Corner with two shows over the weekend to launch their highly anticipated debut album. Any Given Weekend features dance floor fillers such as 'Youth Allowance' and 'Fake Friends', which are sure to stir a rambunctious crowd. Latest single off the album, 'The Haunted', is a great example of the strong songwriting chops and poppy hooks you can expect from the stellar debut record as a whole. Forming in 2010, these six Melbourne lads began by playing at warehouse parties, and their reputation for delivering high-energy live performances has stayed strong. Northeast Party House’s alternative dance rock is chaotic but never sloppy, and always wildly fun. When: Saturday, 21 June - Sunday, 22 June Where: The Corner , 57 Swan St Richmond Melbourne, VIC Australia How much: $18 Melbourne's Western Suburbs For a long time the western suburbs have been left off the grid. Cultural maps showing the best dining spots in Melbourne usually stop at North Melbourne, as if there weren't anything beyond Racecourse Road. And while these areas — think Kensington, Footscray, Yarraville, Flemington — have been traditionally frequented by those who actually live there, the western suburbs are slowly falling into the hands of our old friend and foe: gentrification. The suburbs left of the centre have been bubbling with brand new ventures lately, so we've put together the best of the west. No excuses for neglecting this side of town — Kensington is only two stops out of the city, after all. Check out our lineup of the best of the west over here. Words by the Concrete Playground team.
What's the best part about making the most expensive film ever produced in a country of over one billion people? One word: 'extras'. All the computer wizardry in the world can't compete with the visual feast that is thousands of actual humans teeming across a screen with balletic precision, especially when they're dressed like Terracotta Warriors after a Taubmans Colour Chart treatment. Red archers, purple foot soldiers and blue 'crane spear wielders' form the basis of China's secret Great Wall defence, and they're an absolute delight to behold throughout famed director Zhang Yimou's first English language epic of the same name. The concept of a giant wall built to keep out illegal aliens receives more of a literal rendering in this supernatural saga that sees China's army pitted against waves of other-worldly beasts. Spawning from a distant, meteorite-affected mountain, these grotesque monsters inexplicably only attack the wall once every sixty years. Just as curious is China's determination to keep the threat a secret from the rest of the world. Thrust into the mix are western mercenaries William Garoi (Matt Damon) and Pero Tovar (Game of Thrones' Pedro Pascal), whose perilous search for the fabled 'black powder' of the Chinese alchemists sees them stumble unwittingly into the middle of this centuries-old conflict. Fears of another Hollywood 'white-washing' are, however, quickly dispensed with, for it's the Chinese who consistently prove to be the smarter, braver and more honourable participants in both life and in battle. It's refreshing, certainly, but hardly a surprise, for in addition to 'extras' there's another critical, one-word answer to the original question posed: 'audience'. Hollywood's increasing flirtation with a US-Chinese cinematic co-op stems in no small part from the desire to access one of the largest movie-going markets in the world. At a cost of $135 million, The Great Wall represents the first out-and-out attempt to make that union a reality. Damon might be a big deal in the West, but in The Great Wall he's surrounded by some of the biggest names in Chinese entertainment, including Zhang Hanyu, Eddie Peng, Kenny Lin Gengxin, Jing Tian and K-Pop star Lu Han. The problem with a film (and cast) of this size, however, is that it comes at the expense of character. None of the principals receive anything more than a cursory backstory and even less of an arc moving forward. The Chinese generals are unflinching archetypes, while the westerners are, for the most part, untrustworthy slaves to greed. The consequence is a lack of emotional investment on the part of audiences, who'll respond to each new death with pronounced apathy. Given The Great Wall's style and setting, comparisons with Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers are both fair and inevitable, and – at least visually – Zhang's film more than meets the challenge. Its costuming, in particular, sets it amongst the finest we've seen in a long time, yet its threadbare characters and generic plot leave much to be desired. Whether such an expensive gamble ultimately pays off for the movie's producers, only time will tell. Still, as the first major step in cinema's US-China alliance, there's at least enough here to offer reserved optimism for the future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avF6GHyyk5c
There are many, many great things about Nicolas Cage. But if you could only pick one, the sheer erratic nature of his almost four-decade-long filmography has to top the list. He has an Oscar to his name, for 1995's Leaving Las Vegas, but he can also be seen getting goofy in madcap comedies, crooning tunes in David Lynch movies and swapping faces with John Travolta — and playing a deluded literary agent who thinks he's a vampire, yearning over Cher, trying to keep a plane full of criminals in check and grappling with escaped wild animals on a boat. For his latest role, Cage is battling space ninjas. That isn't the type of sentence that you get to write or read every day but, to be honest, it's also a surprise that it hasn't come up multiple times in the actor's career. The reason for the martial arts face-off with aliens: new action flick Jiu Jitsu, which has just dropped its suitably over-the-top first trailer. If you're a Cage fan, you're probably already sold. Watching Cage at his most Cage-esque really shouldn't need much convincing. But if you need more details, the actor also wears a headband, sports flowing locks, dispenses words of wisdom, talks about alien politics, proclaims that he's crazy and claims that he can fly. Of course he does. Story-wise, Jiu Jitsu follows an ancient order of experts in the eponymous martial arts style, who are forced to fight alien invaders for control of earth every six years. Humanity has always won, but when that changes, Wylie (Nicolas Cage) has to help fallen hero Jake Barnes (Alain Moussi) prepare for one last showdown with these violent visitors from a distant gallery. As well as Cage and Kickboxer: Retaliation's Moussi, the film stars The 100's Marie Avgeropoulos, Avengers: Endgame's Frank Grillo, Alita: Battle Angel's Rick Yune, Wu Assassins' JuJu Chan, and Ong Bak and xXx: Return of Xander Cage's Tony Jaa. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywhTeWg8970 Jiu Jitsu releases in the US via video-on-demand on November 20 — we'll update you with release details Down Under when they come to hand.
Just when you thought Melbourne's festival calendar couldn't get any more packed, Summersalt springs into town. From January 23 -February 21 next year this monumental outdoor arts festival will be bringing you giant inflatable whales, artsy bouncy castles, roving street theatre, artworks exclusively for dogs and more. With all events taking place around Southbank and most being completely free, it's safe to say, your summer is looking just that little bit more sunny. Summersalt is the baby of all our best cultural institutions. MTC, Malthouse, ACCA, Melbourne Recital Centre, Arts Centre, VCA, Chunky Move, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, The Australian Ballet and the NGV will all be involved and it's the first kind of Melbourne event that has such high levels of collaboration. The recently announced Sugar Mountain Festival will be run in collaboration with the festival as will next year's White Night. Though the full lineup is yet to be released, what we've seen so far is definitely exciting. If you didn't catch Architects of Air's much-loved EXXOPOLIS at the Glow Winter Arts Festival, it will be back in town after its run at MONA FOMA, or you can opt to get cosy in the belly of a whale or check out the biggest human puppet in the world if you're up for something new (and slightly terrifying). This interest in large-scale, outdoor works is no coincidence — the whole aim of the festival is to draw in new audiences. Come for the giant inflatable whale, stay for the art. Some theatrical favourites from the past year will also be making a welcome return in the form of Malthouse's Blak Cabaret and MTC's Cybec Electric series of cheap play readings. The highly-acclaimed, intimate Cherry Cherry (A Dining Room Tale) will also be back in action as Neda Rahmani invites you over for a BBQ. This theatrical program is looking much stronger than the musical offerings; aside from the glorious Sugar Mountain Festival, not much has been released aside from the always beautiful MSO sessions at Sidney Myer Music Bowl. There are also a couple of odd, miscellaneous works which really stand out from this first round of events. Asking audiences to sleuth through the city and hunt down clues, Sour Times is a wholly interactive work that leads you along secret trails with the help of a special smartphone app. Or, if you'd rather bring along a furry friend, Anastasica Klose will be setting up the Farnsworth Republic for Dogs in the ACCA Forecourt. An off-leash play area of activities and luxury dog beds, the site will complement Menagerie, her new exhibition inside exploring the connection between humans and dogs. Get your calendar out now and start counting down the days. Not only is the start of the year going to be beautiful and sunny, it's going to be full of roving dogs and giant puppets. Bring it on. Summersalt Outdoor Arts Festival will run from January 23 - February 21. Read more at their website.
Raw Comedy is the country's biggest open mic challenge, and the grand final will see 12 aspiring comics from all around Australia go head-to-head for a chance to perform at Edinburgh Fringe. Some of the best local comics in the business are Raw alumni, including Tom Ballard, Hannah Gadsby, Ronny Chieng, Josh Thomas, Demi Lardner and Danielle Walker. In case you need any extra incentive, this year's showcase will be hosted by Venezuelan-born stand-up Ivan Aristeguieta.
For anyone that grew up in a Nintendo household where the company's consoles reigned supreme, getting your Super Mario fix beyond mashing buttons has long been easy. You've been able hit up Google Maps and mobile phones, if you really can't tear yourself away from the games. Mario Kart made the leap to reality, too. There's also the Super Nintendo theme park in Japan, as well as the upcoming second site in Hollywood — and, since 1993, the live-action Super Mario Bros film. Come March 2023, watching the new animated The Super Mario Bros Movie will join that list, and it'll reach the screen bearing a hefty weight of expectations that don't actually cover whether it's any good or not. Yes, hopefully it's entertaining. But, does it look like a Mario game? Does it sound like one? Does it include tunnels and coin blocks, floating bricks and superpowered stars? Does it do the Mushroom Kingdom justice? These are the questions that every Mario fan has. For a couple of months now, The Super Mario Bros Movie has been dropping teasers and trailers giving viewers a glimpse at what's to come, and all of the above essentials look to be taken care of. Still, if you still have any doubts, the just-dropped latest sneak peek — a scene from the movie, with Mario getting a tour of the Mushroom Kingdom — ticks all of the above boxes and then some. The most recent trailer included a rainbow road, and racing along it Mario Kart-style, too — so the film is nodding to plenty of Mario games. Indeed, haunted houses have also featured in snippets so far; fingers crossed they also come with the appropriate music. The new The Super Mario Bros Movie has enlisted Chris Pratt (The Terminal List) to voice the Italian plumber, sees Bowser (Jack Black, Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood) proclaim his desire to rule the world and casts Luigi (voiced by Charlie Day, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) as the Mushroom Kingdom's comedic sidekick. Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy, The Menu) is determined to take on the challenge, and dispense words of advice in general, while battling Donkey Kong (Seth Rogen, Pam & Tommy) also features. The Super Mario Bros Movie's voice cast also includes Keegan- Michael Key (Wendell & Wild) as Toad, plus Fred Armisen (Wednesday) as Cranky Kong. And, it hails from directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (Teen Titans Go!, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies), is penned by Matthew Fogel (Minions: The Rise of Gru) and is produced by Illumination Entertainment (aka the studio behind the Despicable Me and Minions flicks, and the Sing films). Check out the latest sneak peek below: The Super Mario Bros Movie releases in cinemas Down Under on March 30, 2023.
Rolling hills flanked with eucalyptus trees, and the distant roar of the Indian Ocean — the Margaret River region looks calm, almost lazy. But there's serious work happening in the region's wineries. Some of the best chardonnays and cabernet sauvignon in Australia come from Margaret River, and Vasse Felix is the legacy winery that started it all. For one night only, Stokehouse will celebrate Margaret River winemaking with a four-course seasonal menu by Executive Chef Jason Staudt and, of course, the perfect pairings for the occasion by Head Sommelier Wil Martin. Canapes go with the blanc de blancs from Idée Fixe, Vasse Felix's spinoff dedicated to sparkling wines. The night goes on with a selection of Vasse Felix wines, including the 10th release of the acclaimed 'Tom Cullity'. With over two decades at the helm of winemaking at Vasse Felix, Virginia Willcock will walk you through its wines and the tales behind them. Willcock was also recently recognised as the winemaker of the year at the Halliday Wine Companion awards — you'll be dining with a legend.
Pick up a new pair of kicks, show your favourite band some love and help Aussie communities recovering from devastating floods: yes, just by adding some shoes to your wardrobe, you can do all of the above. If you're a Dune Rats fan, you'll already be mighty excited about the Brisbane band's just-launched Volley collection — but the fact that both Volley and Dune Rats are donating funds from each pair of sneakers to flood relief helps make a great thing even better. First, the shoes. Two different styles are available: a black pair of hightops decked out with the Dunies' logo, which'll set you back $99.99; and a white pair of heritage-style sneakers with red and yellow touches, which cost $74.99. Whichever you choose, $10 will be donated to folks in need after the catastrophic weather across Queensland and New South Wales, via both the Red Cross Flood Appeal and GIVIT. "We would normally be so stoked to announce a partnership with such an iconic brand as Volley (we are very proud of this collab), but what is happening right now in our home city of Brisbane and neighbouring towns down in the northern rivers has been devastating," said the band on Facebook. "To do help do our part, Volley is donating $5 from each pair of shoes sold to the Red Cross Flood Appeal and we will match that dollar for dollar ($10 a pair). We ask everyone to do what you can to help these communities. The music industry over the last two years has been decimated, but pales in comparison to loss these great communities are going through. Our hearts are with you," the statement continued. If you're keen to green light some new Dunies shoes for your cupboard right now, and do a great deed in the process, the limited-edition Dune Rats x Volley range also spans three different types of socks ($19.99 each) — including a black pair with lightning strikes — and a Dunies backpack ($69.99). And, this is just the first drop, with the band and brand launching an ongoing partnership. For more information about Dune Rats' Volley range, or to buy a pair of shoes, socks or a backpack online, head to the Volley website.
Within its first 15 seconds, the trailer for Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain states the obvious: "there's no happy ending". June 2021 marks three years since the American chef, author, host and documentarian passed away, and this doco can't explore his work and legacy without also touching upon on his unexpected death. To the surprise of no one, the film's sneak peek quickly gets emotional. The latest project from Oscar-winning 20 Feet From Stardom director Morgan Neville — who also directed affecting Mister Rodgers doco Won't You Be My Neighbour? — Roadrunner steps through Bourdain's ups and downs, successes and struggles, and passion for both food and travel. It showcases his frank, no-nonsense approach and his sense off humour, too. In one clip, just before he jumps into the ocean, he pre-empts an obvious question. "Some of you might ask: how is this food related?" he notes. Then, he replies to himself: "fucked if I know." Indeed, thanks to his long stints in front of the camera in everything from A Cook's Tour and Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations to The Layover and Anthony Bourdain: Parks Unknown, Roadrunner won't lack archival footage. The just-dropped trailer certainly doesn't. Bourdain's face and voice feature in the two-and-a-half-minute clip far more often than its talking-head interviewees, in fact, not that there's any shortage of those. Neville's aim: to peer behind the scenes at the man behind the world-famous personality, and to understand his life and impact — including via using his own words. The end result is set to hit US cinemas in July, with release details Down Under yet to be confirmed. Fingers crossed that the documentary turns up locally sooner rather than later. Check out the Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain trailer below: Roadrunner will release in US cinemas on July 16. Release details Down Under are yet to be confirmed — we'll update you when more details come to hand. Top image: Focus Features.
With 2020's Soul and 2023's Elemental, Pixar took a few cues from its gorgeous 2015 hit Inside Out, but the animated studio isn't done with emotions having emotions. After the original Oscar-winning film spent time inside an 11-year-old's head, seeing how joy, fear, sadness, anger and disgust bounce around her mind, Inside Out 2 will reach cinemas in June 2024 to explore the feelings coursing through the now-teenage Riley. As the just-dropped first teaser trailer shows, she has a newcomer in anxiety. Like Riley herself (who was voiced by Transmission's Kaitlyn Dias in the first movie), the emotions that she's experiencing aren't just sensations — they're characters trying to guide their human in the best way they can. And when Anxiety (Maya Hawke, Stranger Things) shows up, Joy (Amy Poehler, Moxie), Fear (Tony Hale, Quiz Lady), Sadness (Phyllis Smith, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar), Anger (Lewis Black, The Last Laugh) and Disgust (Liza Lapira, The Equalizer) aren't quite sure how to react. The first sneak peek at Inside Out 2 hints at more emotions joining the fold, too, although exactly what they'll be — and who'll voice them — hasn't been announced. The poster for the film shows three other new figures trying to burst through alongside the orange-hued Anxiety, but without enough detail to reveal who they are. Everyone who has been a teenager knows the whirlwind of feelings that can spring, however, and therefore why Riley's mind is about to get crowded. And, you'll also recognise that Anxiety isn't about to just become a barely seen sidekick. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pixar (@pixar) Fans of the first Inside Out will also spot that Hale and Lapira are new additions to the voice cast, replacing Bill Hader (Barry) and Mindy Kaling (The Morning Show) respectively. As Inside Out 2 charts big changes for Joy and the gang — and for Riley — first-time feature director Kelsey Mann (who has a story credit on The Good Dinosaur) directs, while Meg LeFauve (Captain Marvel) wrote the screenplay, as she did with Inside Out. Check out the first teaser trailer for Inside Out 2 below: Inside Out 2 releases in cinemas Down Under on June 13, 2024. Images: © 2023 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
First, get excited about autumn Down Under. Next, get a sneak peek at the number-one show on your early 2023 viewing list. HBO just has announced when its award-winning family-feud drama Succession will return for its fourth season — down to a three-month period, at least — and dropped a full teaser trailer giving a glimpse at what's in store. Sometime between March and May in Australia and New Zealand, Succession will unfurl its next round of squabbles over a media conglomerate, between a father and his adult children, and likely between siblings as well. So far, HBO hasn't been more specific about timing than that, just noting that season four of the show will arrive in spring in the US — which, yes is autumn Down Under. The American network gave a firmer of idea of what the new batch of Succession episodes will cover, however, following on from an initial sneak peek in a broader HBO trailer in mid-October. As patriarch and business titan Logan Roy, Brian Cox (Remember Me) is still monologuing with the best of them, including about his kids. "I'm a hundred feet tall. These people are pygmies," he spits, as the teaser also shows Kendall (Jeremy Strong, The Trial of the Chicago 7), Connor (Alan Ruck, Freaky), Shiv (Sarah Snook, Pieces of a Woman) and Roman (Kieran Culkin, No Sudden Move) banding together to form a rebel alliance against their dad. All the chaos stems from the season-three move to sell the Roy's company Waystar Royco to a tech visionary played by Alexander Skarsgård (The Northman). Unsurprisingly, not everyone is thrilled. When an entire series is about who'll take over the lucrative and powerful family business, removing that option for everyone is going to cause some hefty fallout. Also included in this sneak peek: Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen, Operation Mincemeat) addressing the aftermath of his own actions at the end of season three, and his betrayal of his Shiv. "Do you want to talk about what happened?" he asks his wife, who — also to the astonishment of no one — does not look impressed. It was back in 2021 when HBO announced that Succession would return for a fourth run, after its Emmy-winning third season proved that exceptional — and popular. Viewers can clearly expect more power struggles and more savaging of the one percent, aka more of what Succession has always done best. Indeed, if you're a fan of twisty TV shows about wealth, privilege, influence, the vast chasm between the rich and everyday folks, and the societal problems that fester due to such rampant inequality, there's been plenty of ace examples of late, including The White Lotus and Squid Game. No series slings insults as savagely as this tremendous series, however. No show channels feuding and backstabbing into such an insightful and gripping satire, either. Check out the teaser for Succession season four below: Succession season four will arrive sometime in autumn 2023 Down Under, including via Foxtel, Binge and Foxtel On Demand in Australia and Neon in New Zealand — we'll update you with exact details when they're announced. Check out our review of season three.
Haute couture. Murder. Disco tunes and Studio 54. Throw in one of the biggest names in fashion — and a tale that's filled with both glam and grim strands, too — and that's House of Gucci. Ranking highly among the most anticipated movies set to hit the big screen across the rest of 2021, this Ridley Scott (All the Money in the World)-directed drama steps inside the Gucci family fashion dynasty, charting its successes and shocking moments over the course of three tumultuous decades. If you've read the book The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed, which this new film is based on, then you'll know the details. If you've seen news coverage about or can remember the events that rocked the Italian family back in 1995, you will as well. The focus: Maurizio Gucci, grandson of company founder Guccio Gucci, and the head of the fashion house throughout the 80s and early 90s — until he was assassinated by a hitman in 1995. Adam Driver steps into also Maurizio's unsurprisingly stylish shoes, in what's proving a big year for him in cinemas. He'll also grace the big screen in Scott's next film The Last Duel, which is due to release in October — a month before House of Gucci arrives in November. In the latter flick, he's joined by Lady Gaga in her first big-screen role since A Star Is Born, this time playing Maurizio's wife Patrizia. Obviously, there's quite the tale to tell — and, as the just-dropped first trailer for House of Gucci shows, Scott is going big on striking threads, 70s and 80s tunes and vibes, indulgence and luxury dripping through in every frame, and also an unavoidable air of melodrama. To help, the star-studded cast also includes Jared Leto (The Little Things) sporting plenty of prosthetics and makeup, as well as Al Pacino (The Irishman), Jeremy Irons (Love, Weddings and Other Disasters) and Salma Hayek (The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard). As the trailer reminds us, that's a whole lot of Oscar-winning and Oscar-nominated talent in one flick. Check out the trailer below: House of Gucci will release in Australian cinemas on November 25.
I Know There's a Lot of Noise Outside but You Have to Close Your Eyes is a provocative nugget of a show — compact, elusive and funny. Performers Zoey Dawson and Anna McCarthy devised the piece in collaboration with writer and director Allison Wiltshire, and NIDA Independent has joined Melbourne performance collective I'm Trying to Kiss You to bring the piece to Sydney following its premier at the Melbourne Fringe in 2011. The piece is a deconstruction of standard theatre and the formulaic representations of women. Its abandon is refreshing, but the chaos, however organised, is perplexing. Two childhood friends are meeting each other for a girls' night out after a long time apart to compare their respective success in life. Like a 10-year school reunion, it's a cloak-and-dagger battle of egos presented as cattiness with a smile. McCarthy compliments her friend with a side insult, "I love your dress, it’s hilarious", whilst Dawson patronises, "You're still single? That's OK." This premise, which could easily follow the narrative of drunken admissions of childhood resentments followed by a sentimental reconciliation, unravels instead into a beat poetry dream sequence revealing their inner rage, desire and boredom. The show targets the ideal of women as having to simultaneously beautiful, polished and smart, and to this end Dawson's parody of Cate Blanchett's Oscar acceptance speech for The Aviator is hilarious and accurate. Standing in the spotlight atop a messy pile of chairs, draped in some old netting, she finishes the acceptance speech with, “Sorry, what was I saying?” This empty sentence becomes a repeated motif throughout the show, as the pair drift in and out of comprehensible thought and mindless chatter. The noise they create with their babble does make you want to close your eyes (and ears), as the show's title recommends, but the irritation is an effective way of exposing the banality of everyday conversation. The accuracy of their middle-class, twenty-something, Australian vernacular is excruciatingly good. Their dialogue shatters into mechanical units of speech and each performer flies off on tangential monologues. We quickly farewell any notion of narrative continuity and try our best to follow their thoughts. At times we're on board, at others we're squinting at the dimly lit edge of some woman's reality. The intangible nature of the show is a challenge to the audience to make head or tail of the two women's identities and motives. It's radically non-dramatic and radically non-didactic. This elusiveness means that the creative team can be equally commended for their innovation and criticised for their lack of clarity. But this isn't entertainment; it's an upright middle finger to conventional theatre and its representation of women. The show is as interesting as it is frustrating. This review was written based on the Sydney run of this production, in March 2013 at the NIDA Parade Theatres.
Book-to-film adaptations can go either way. Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather was so good that the novel's author, Mario Puzo, said he wished he'd written a better book. Conversely, The Cat in the Hat made you want to push sharp, salty popcorn into your eyeballs. It's usually when a film makes artistic changes from the source material that the ire of the book's fans is most extreme, and (arguably) nobody feels more passionately about the fundamentals of their favourite book than Christians. Now, I'll admit it's been a while since I read the Bible, but — try as I might — I simply cannot remember the bit about Transformers. Maybe it was in the Book of Michael? Or was it Bay? Suffice it to say, it was more than a touch surprising to see them turn up in the opening scene of Darren Aronofsky's highly anticipated film Noah. Rather than Autobots, however, these giant fallen angels (not to be confused with 'The Fallen' from, yes, Transformers) are called 'The Watchers'. Made ostensibly from stone and speaking with about as much clarity as an underwater Bane, they mark the first of several major departures from, or least reinterpretations of, one of the best-known stories of all time (the next being Noah's propensity to dispatch entire gangs of men with nothing but a tiny blade like he was some sort of biblical Jason Bourne). Thankfully, for Aronofsky, these embellishments and emendations contribute to, rather than detract from, what is literally the epic tale of good and evil. With a budget of US$125 million, Noah has the resources of a blockbuster and a narrative from scripture yet avoids many of the trappings of both. Cerebral and unsanctimonious, it is, in Aronofsky's words, "the least biblical film ever made". God is only ever referred to as 'the Creator', and themes of environmentalism and survivor's guilt outweigh those of sin and the downfall of man. As the film's eponymous lead, Russell Crowe is simply excellent. With his eyes alone he can sparkle with joy or threaten with burning menace, and in Noah that menace increasingly captures the character's singular, unwavering fidelity to his divine cause — culminating in a horrifying personal choice. Alongside him, Jennifer Connelly and Emma Watson play the loyal yet conflicted wife and adopted daughter, while Anthony Hopkins offers an amusing turn as Methuselah. Rounding out the ensemble is Ray Winstone as Tubal-cain, a descendant of Adam's son inserted into the plot to provide the film with a specific antagonist rather than relying simply on the generality of 'all sinful humanity'. Cinematically, Noah is every bit the sumptuous spectacle the story deserves, with the highlight being an enthralling time-lapse chronicle of the 'first seven days' from the Book of Genesis (albeit with an amusing cross-fade just as evolution progresses to the point of simians, whereupon — cue dissolve — man pops separately into existence). No matter your faith (or even the absence of), this is an accomplished piece of direction and a powerful story of belief, devotion and — perhaps — obsession. https://youtube.com/watch?v=UAfJulXFYlc
If you missed last year's Yoko Ono/Opening Ceremony collaboration entitled Yoko Ono Fashions for Men 1969-2012, let me give you a minute to follow the link and get back to me. Wow. Right? LED nipples on a bandeau bra, thigh-high boots and some arseless chaps topped off with some good ol' fashioned ball grabbing! Who knew men's fashion had changed so little in the past 40 years. Half absurdist, half straight-shooting statement on fashion and all Ono, the line was based on sketches made during her relationship with John Lennon. The 80-year-old revealed the songwriter served as her muse, inspired by "love for his hot bod". I bet Sean loved hearing those Lennon family classic stories. Just under six months later and she has jumped back into bed with Opening Ceremony to bring us the next instalment, Yoko Ono Make-Up Tips for Men. It's 1 min 30 of tips on how boys can make themselves pretty, with a noticeable lack of eyeliner and set to a remix of Ono's own 'The Sun Is Down'. The video moves through three sections/moods: day make-up, evening make-up and dawn make-up — or, rainbow time, sparkling time and erasing time. In many ways this video looks like a Family Guy parody of itself, and a stupefied Peter Griffin at the 1 min 27 second mark is an easy edit we can all look forward to seeing on YouTube. But, sarcasm aside, this video is definitely worth some of your conversation time — proof that Yoko still has a lot to say about the Y chromosome, sexuality, self and that she still knows how to say it Ono style. War Is Over (If you want it), an exhibition of Yoko's work across multiple disciplines, will be on at Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in November 2013. Cross fingers, the artist herself will also be present. Via HuffPo Culture.
Can you feel a tingling in your toes as your feet start to defrost? That's the feeling of winter slipping away (or maybe you've been sitting cross-legged for too long) and with its demise comes the return of Australia's beloved Moonlight Cinema. Ahhh balmy nights on the grass, we have missed you. Heralding the coming of the warmer months, Moonlight Cinema is a summertime tradition that is thankfully making a comeback despite everything that 2020 has thrown our way — hitting up screens in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. Nosh-wise, Moonlight Cinema will again let you BYO movie snacks and drinks (no alcohol in Brisbane, though), but the unorganised can also enjoy a plethora of snacks from food trucks — perfect, messy treats made for reclining on bean beds. The overall season runs from November through to April, although it varies city by city. After announcing vague dates last month, Moonlight has now revealed exactly when it's hitting each part of Australia — and expect to hear about what it'll be showing on Thursday, November 12. And, unsurprisingly, this year's Moonlight will be a socially distanced affair. That includes seating and queuing, plus there'll be hand-sanitiser stations, increased cleaning measures and contactless payment — with online bookings recommended. MOONLIGHT CINEMA 2020–21 DATES Sydney: Thursday, November 26–Sunday, April 4 (Centennial Park) Brisbane: Friday, November 27–Sunday, February 21 (Roma Street Parkland) Adelaide: Friday, December 11–Sunday, February 14 (Botanic Park) Perth: Thursday, December 3–Sunday, April 4 (Kings Park and Botanic Garden) Melbourne: Thursday, January 7–Sunday, April 25 (Royal Botanic Gardens) Moonlight Cinema kicks off in November 2020, running through until April 2021. For more information, visit the cinema's website — and we'll update you with program details when they're announced later this month.
Some innovative internetters have thrown their support behind tougher laws on firearms in America by photoshopping classic movie moments so that our favourite gun-toting characters serve their enemies a friendly thumbs up instead of a barrage of bullets. The light-hearted approach by photoblog Thumbs & Ammo comes at a time when America is heatedly debating gun control, and its amusing advocacy of stringent gun control provides a refreshing and entertaining new angle as to why Americans do not need guns. "Real tough guys don't need guns, they just need a positive, can-do attitude," the crowdsourced blog's tagline declares. Let us hope that art can imitate life. In the meantime, take a look at some of our favourites below.
It's official: the warm weather has finally returned to our shores. If there is ever a time to plan a quick jaunt to Sydney, it's right now — the beaches are beautiful, the city is buzzing with activity and there are bars popping up all over the place, so you can get a good fix of vitamin D with a drink in hand. Once you've arrived, we're guessing one of the first things on your agenda is to sit in the sun and sip some cocktails by the water. And luckily, you can do just that — and catch some legendary art — at Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art on your visit. The museum has teamed up with top-notch tequila brand Patrón to launch a summer pop-up bar. The bar opened on Thursday, October 31 and is running from 4–10pm every Wednesday through Sunday until February 16. It'll be running alongside the gallery's retrospective exhibition of British artist Cornelia Parker, also sponsored by Patrón, as part of the MCA's 2019/2020 Sydney International Art Series. It's an all-out celebration of art, culture and fine tequila — and everyone is invited. The ground floor terrace has been transformed into an airy, hacienda-inspired bar that looks straight out over the harbour. Expect an openair space with a polished concrete bar, colourful wall murals and heaps of leafy plants. The bar opens out onto a 'lawn' with wicker sling-back chairs surrounding tequila barrel tables. The space offers unrestricted views across to the Sydney Opera House and will surely give a few other harbourside bars a run for their money this season. Instead of using your usual gin or whisky cocktails, the bartenders will, of course, be shaking and stirring drinks with Patrón — namely Silver, Reposado and Añejo. The 100-percent agave tequila is hand-harvested and produced in small batches in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, which gives it its premium edge, so expect after-work drinks to get a lot fancier. You (and your mates) will be able to spend a balmy evening sipping negronis, highballs and old-fashioneds, all with a seasonal tequila twist. You can also opt for a Patrón, lime and soda, or the signature cocktail inspired by British artist Cornelia Parker — the Cold Dark Matter, made with Patrón Reposado, blackberry liqueur, lime and ginger ale. For the purists, there are classic margaritas and palomas on the docket, too. Apart from the cocktails, there are plenty of Mexican eats from Simon Fox (Graze Restaurant) to keep you going. Think bar snacks like margarita-spiced popcorn ($5) and chilli lime peanuts ($5), or, the star of the show, the Nixtamal tortilla tostadas. These tortillas have been made using a special ancient Aztec method of cooking and grinding corn, and you can nab three for $20. Varieties include slow-cooked pulled pork with pickled cabbage, salt and fennel crusted salmon with sesame yoghurt and an Asian-inspired version with crispy pulled duck, shallots and crushed peanuts. Two vegetarian options are also up for grabs — the mole verde with pickled cactus and chipotle aioli and the pickled eggplant with avocado, marinated olives and feta. And, since its the MCA, you can expect plenty of art, culture and entertainment happenings, too. There'll be interactive performances, DJ sets, art installations and VR experiences to check out throughout the pop-up. Plus, every Sunday, you can try out your own artistic hand — by painting and decorating a 200ml bottle of Patron, that is. If all that isn't enough, you can turn your visit here into the start of a very festive bar crawl around Sydney Harbour. In addition to the MCA pop-up bar, Patrón has also teamed up with a number of other bars around Circular Quay — Bar Patrón, Quay Bar and The Argyle — to create The Art of Patrón precinct. Just keep your Patrón cocktail coaster and scan it at each venue (all in one night or across the entire summer period) to score a complimentary ceramic mug. The Patrón Pop-up will run from Thursday, October 31 through February 16 (excluding public holidays and New Year's Eve). It is open every Wednesday through Sunday from 4–10pm. Visit Patron's website for more details.
The NGV's first-ever showcase of Australian interior design, the Rigg Design Prize 2018 is a groundbreaking exhibition that highlights the artistry of 10 local designers shortlisted for the leading Australian design award. For the exhibition — and coinciding competition — each designer was invited to create a room exploring this year's theme of 'domestic living', with the rooms judged on their use of different materials, methods and design aesthetics. This year, the $30,000 prize has been awarded to Melbourne design firm Hecker Guthrie. Lead designers Paul Hecker and Hamish Guthrie designed a room entitled The table is the base, which features a table as the centrepiece and uses terracotta throughout. The award's international judge, Shashi Caan said it was the design's simplicity that won it the prize, saying, "this project inherently addresses our social need for smaller footprints for today's responsibly designed domestic space." It's now on show at the NGV, alongside rooms designed by nine of Australia's leading interior designers: Amber Road, Arent & Pyke, Danielle Brustman, David Hicks, Flack Studio, Martyn Thompson Studio, Richards Stanisich, Scott Weston Architecture Design and The Society Inc by Sibella Court. The Rigg Design Prize has celebrated the best of interior design since 1994, having undergone a revamp in 2015 when the prize was expanded to encompass the work of designers from outside Victoria. Images: The table is the base, 2018, Hecker Guthrie; Imaginarium, 2018, The Society Inc by Sibella Court; We've boundless plains to share, 2018, Flack Studio; Our natural needs in a digital world, 2018, Richards Stanisich; Panic room, 2018, David Hicks; Take it outside, 2018, Amber 2018; Inner-Terior, 2018, Danielle Brustman. All photos by Shannon McGrath.
Over the past few weeks, Victoria's COVID-19 situation has changed rapidly, resulting in the reintroduction of strict stay-at-home orders for all of metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire. As part of reimplemented lockdown rules currently in place for at least six weeks, residents of both areas can only leave their homes for one of four reasons: for work or school (if you can't do this from home), for care or care giving, for daily exercise, or for food and other essentials. And, if you do venture out for one of these reasons, you'll now be required to wear a face mask. Since Friday, July 10, the Victorian Government has advised that Victorians living in metro Melbourne and Mitchell Shire should wear masks when leaving home and where physical distancing is not possible. Now, on Sunday, July 19, Premier Daniel Andrews has advised that everyone over the age of 12 in those areas now must wear facial coverings in the above situations. To give folks time to purchase or make face coverings, the rule will only be officially enforced from 11.59pm on Wednesday, July 22; however, the government asks that "for those who can, please start wearing yours immediately". Specifically, metro Melbourne and Mitchell Shire residents will be required to don facial coverings if "you are out of your home for one of the four permitted reasons", Premier Andrews explained, while also announcing that the state has recorded 363 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours. "Just as you remember to take your keys when you leave the house, you need to remember to take something to cover your face — to help keep you and our community safe". He stressed that it needn't be a mask, with scarves, bandanas and other pieces of fabric also sufficient. "This is on the advice of the Chief Health Officer that it's a relatively simple thing, but it's also about embedding behaviour which I think is just as important on the other side of this second wave as it is in bringing these case numbers down," Premier Andrews continued, advising that adhering to the new requirement is an important step to hopefully avoid further lockdown conditions. "If we see people wearing masks, so all of us when we're out and about for those four lawful reasons are wearing masks, then that will mean it is less likely we have to move to things like only doing that daily exercise, for instance, in your own local postcode. Or things like saying you can only go shopping within a certain radius or certain distance from your home." The new mandate regarding masks is compulsory and will be enforced from the aforementioned date — so you will be fined $200 if you don't comply from 11.59pm on Wednesday, July 22. That said, Premier Andrews also noted that "common sense will be the rule here". He provided examples: "if you're out running, part of your daily exercise, then it may not be practical to wear the mask while you are running. But you should bring the mask with you and you should wear it before and after you have gone for your run. There'll be some other environments, for instance, where you're going into a bank, then you would need to take your mask off. If you worked at a call centre, then it may be very challenging for you to perform your duties wearing a mask". If you're now wondering which type of face mask is best, where to get them or how to make your own, the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services website has put together a guide — as well as instructions on how to whip up masks at home. You'll also find information about how to wear a mask correctly, how to take it off, and when to wash and replace it. For more information about wearing face masks, and the Victorian Government's advice for metro Melbourne and Mitchell Shire residents, head to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services website.
In 2020, the Melbourne International Film Festival hosted its largest festival to-date — when it came to the size of its audience, that is. Taking place last August when the city was in lockdown, the fest attracted plenty of eyeballs to its online-only lineup. This year, however, Melburnian movie buffs will also be able to head to a cinema to get their film fix. MIFF isn't ditching digital in 2021, though. Instead, it's going hybrid — so watching at home from wherever you happen to be around the country and attending in-person in Victoria will both be options. Just what will be available virtually and what you'll need to see in a theatre hasn't been revealed, but the fest has just announced 32 titles that it'll be showing one way or another between Thursday, August 5–Sunday, August 22. Also, this year's MIFF will be expanding its physical footprint, hitting up not only the usual CBD venues but also suburban and regional spots as well. As for what you'll be seeing, so far the festival has named a hefty number of homegrown movies. Topping the list: the supremely powerful opening night pick The Drover's Wife The Legend Of Molly Johnson, which'll become the first movie by a female Indigenous filmmaker to ever open the fest. Directed by and starring Leah Purcell (Wentworth), the film will launch MIFF 2021 in quite the potent fashion, with this exceptional reimagining of Henry Lawson's 1892 short story making its Aussie premiere after initially debuting at SXSW back in March. Purcell first turned The Drover's Wife into a play and then a book, and thankfully she isn't done forcing audiences to reckon with the country's colonial history and its impact upon First Nations peoples and women just yet. Another big Australian name, and one that'll bow at MIFF after playing at the Cannes Film Festival: the already-controversial Nitram. Read the movie's title backwards and you'll know why it has sparked a reaction long before it even hits the screen. Here, Snowtown and True Story of the Kelly Gang filmmaker Justin Kurzel and screenwriter Shaun Grant reunite on a drama about the lead up to the events in Port Arthur 25 years ago — with Caleb Landry Jones (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) playing the titular figure. [caption id="attachment_815946" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Nitram[/caption] Other notable local titles include Anonymous Club, a Courtney Barnett-centric documentary about creativity; political thriller Lone Wolf, which stars Tilda Cobham-Hervey (Hotel Mumbai), Stephen Curry (June Again) and Hugo Weaving (Hearts and Bones); and Wash My Soul in the River's Flow, which chronicles Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter's performance with Paul Grabowsky's Australian Art Orchestra, and comes to MIFF at around the same time as it'll screen at this year's Sydney Film Festival. This year, the two events overlap — SFF is being held two months later than usual — so cinephiles can expect the fests to share more a few more movies in common than usual. From MIFF's international slate, Petit Mamam leads the bill — and, given that it's the latest film from Portrait of a Lady on Fire's Céline Sciamma, it's an instant must-see. Other standouts include tweet-to-screen comedy Zola, Oscar-nominee Quo Vadis, Aida?, Japanese relationship drama Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy and documentary Hopper/Welles, which charts a boozy 70s conversation between Dennis Hopper and Orson Welles. MIFF will also screen Pedro Almodóvar's (Pain and Glory) latest, a short called The Human Voice that stars Tilda Swinton, and also marks the Spanish auteur's English-language debut. And, it'll host a Hear My Eyes session as the fest often does, this time screening Aussie great Two Hands. The full festival lineup will be revealed on Tuesday, July 13, which is when you'll be able to start planning out your August viewing schedule — and your trips between the fest's 2021 venues, which include Comedy Theatre, the Forum, RMIT Capitol Theatre, ACMI, Kino Cinemas, Hoyts Melbourne Central, Coburg Drive-In, The Astor, Palace Cinemas Pentridge, The Sun Theatre and Lido Cinemas. The 2021 Melbourne International Film Festival runs from Thursday, August 5 to Sunday, August 22 at a variety of venues around Melbourne. For further details, including the full program from Tuesday, July 13, visit the MIFF website.
Even if you're not escaping Melbourne's chill with a Euro-summer holiday this year, a new opening is set to bring all the Italian vibes to St Kilda, slinging pizza, pasta and Eurocentric cocktails out of one of the area's iconic venues. The white brick facade of the Post Office Hotel, or the 'Posty', is now home to The Postina, a new eatery from the hospitality group behind House of Lulu White and The Hamptons Bakery. With executive chef James Turno (Grossi Florentino, The European) at the kitchen's helm, The Postina's family-style menu is a celebration of all things Italian. For those who live by the crust, there's a mammoth lineup of traditional pizza toppings, as well as the less-than-traditional 'McDowells big Mick sauce' for pizza dipping. Handmade pasta options include a pappardelle with slow-braised confit duck and porcini ragu, and a pumpkin Cappelletti with sage brown butter, toasted hazelnut and gorgonzola. For those of a veggie persuasion, there are enough fresh bites to keep everyone happy, including vegan pizza options and sides like shaved cabbage with preserved lemon, and heirloom tomatoes with burrata and black olive crumb. Eurocentric spritzes and cocktails will have aperitivo hour transporting you in holiday mode in no time, along with a wine list of imported Italian wines from regions like Chianti, Puglia and Campania and "Italian-inspired" drops from the Margaret River, Yarra Valley and Riverland. Also Italian-inspired is the hotel's refurbishment, which includes a new light-filled (and plant-filled) al fresco dining area and an intimate, wooden interior decor. A range of daily food and be specials will get you through to the weekend in good spirits, including a Tuesday 'Marg Duo' — $12 margarita pizzas and $12 margarita cocktails. For needing to escape a mid-week hump, Wednesday's 'Pasta Vino' special gets you a plate of handmade pasta and a glass of house wine for only $22, while $7 Malfy gin and tonics and $11 negronis, pornstar martinis and margaritas on Sundays will ease those Sunday scaries in style. The Postina can be found at 304-306 St Kilda Road, St Kilda, and is open Tuesday - Thursday, 2pm until late and Friday - Sunday, 12pm until late.
While you may be forgiven for thinking that all the bright young things of the culinary world are battling it out in the fiery pits of the MasterChef kitchen, it appears that a number of them have actually been working their way up through restaurants around the country. This Sunday, they all converge on Melbourne for the Electrolux Appetite for Excellence awards, but not before they showcase all they have to offer in a very special dinner that is sure to Whet Your Appetite. The dinner is to be hosted on Sunday, 11 August, at Smith Street's Huxtable — a fitting venue, seeing as owner Daniel Wilson was once a Young Restaurateur finalist himself. In a collaboration between the upcoming chefs, restaurateurs and waiters, a unique three-course feast has been developed purely for the occasion, along with a selection of matching drinks. Great food will of course be matched with great conversation, as the up and coming talent will be on hand to discuss their culinary choices, expertise and creativity. Whet your appetite and your curiosity and pull up a seat at the most coveted dinner table in Melbourne this week. Cravats and score cards optional.
Read more: Vivid Sydney 2015 overview The ten best gigs to see at Vivid Sydney 2015 The ten best events to go to at Vivid Ideas 2015
As part of the Belfast Festival, Northern Ireland’s capital city is currently playing host to WISH, a public art project by Cuban-American artist Jorge Rodríguez-Gerada. Already nicknamed by local residents as 'The Face from Space', the portrait of an anonymous Belfast girl is so enormous at its 11-acres that it can only be viewed from an aeroplane (or from a mountaintop). It was first plotted on a grid using some very swish technology and 30,000 manually placed wooden stakes. After that volunteers spent a month helping to 'draw' the portrait using nearly 8 million pounds of soil, sand and rock. Now that's patience. Rodríguez-Gerada is known for his giant-scaled portraits in public spaces. In a statement, he says of WISH, "Working at very large scales becomes a personal challenge but it also allows me to bring attention to important social issues; the size of the piece is intrinsic to the value of its message. Creativity is always applied in order to define an intervention made only with local materials, with no environmental impact, that works in harmony with the location." Via Colossal.
A couple of years ago, Dutch designer Marjan van Aubel posited that every object could be turned into a solar cell. No more dirty coal burning, no more tangled cables, no more electricity bills. Sure, it might sound utopian, but if that sun up there’s been keeping more than 400,000 plant species going for millions of years, then there’s surely no reason it can’t handle whatever the Apple factory can throw at it. Van Aubel started her mission with the creation of a drinking glass that could power a mobile phone. Now, she’s come up with The Current Table — a solar desk that functions as both workspace and electronic gadget charger. The top is made of glass, which has been dyed orange and embedded with tiny particles of titanium dioxide. When sunlight hits, the titanium dioxide releases electrons, creating an electrical current. The process is similar to photosynthesis (plants’ transformation of chlorophyll into energy). What’s particularly impressive about it is that, unlike regular external solar panels, which only respond to direct sun rays, the desk works indoors, because it responds to diffused light. The current is accessible via two built-in USB chargers and any unused electricity is stored in a battery. A light display keeps track of how much power is available. "One cell needs about eight hours to fully charge a battery, and there are four cells for each USB port," Van Aubel explains. "The amount of sunlight the earth receives in one day could power all our electrical appliances for an entire year. The question is how to capture and store it, and how to transport it to where and where it is needed." The Current Table will go on display in Milan in April, as part of the Salone Internazionale del Mobile. Via PSFK.
