Something delightful is happening in cinemas across the country. After months spent empty, with projectors silent, theatres bare and the smell of popcorn fading, Australian picture palaces are starting to reopen — spanning both big chains and smaller independent sites in Sydney and Brisbane (and, until the newly reinstated stay-at-home orders, Melbourne as well). During COVID-19 lockdowns, no one was short on things to watch, of course. In fact, you probably feel like you've streamed every movie ever made over the past three months, including new releases, comedies, music documentaries, Studio Ghibli's animated fare and Nicolas Cage-starring flicks. But, even if you've spent all your time of late glued to your small screen, we're betting you just can't wait to sit in a darkened room and soak up the splendour of the bigger version. Thankfully, plenty of new films are hitting cinemas so that you can do just that — and we've rounded up, watched and reviewed everything on offer this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loGLiMU5fuI TENET Christopher Nolan has never made a Bond film. He certainly didn't helm The Matrix franchise, either. But pick and twist aspects of each, including narrative tropes, sci-fi trickery and special effects wizardry, and the writer/director's latest slick, bold, mind-bending action-thriller Tenet is the end product. Spy flick elements are evident from the outset, thanks to a tense, taut, supremely well-executed opening attack on the jam-packed Kiev Opera House. When a gun fires during the chaos, but the bullet returns to the weapon rather than shooting out from it, Tenet's nods to late 90s and early 00s sci-fi are apparent, too. Soon afterwards, a scientist (Clémence Poésy) talks the film's CIA operative protagonist (BlacKkKlansman's John David Washington) through some of the nuts and bolts of the shadowy situation he finds himself in, explaining that inverted objects being sent back through time from the future, that a war is coming, and detailing the reverse trajectory of the bullet — and the Protagonist, as he's literally called, exclaims a Keanu-esque "whoa!" that's particularly memorable. Armed with the relevant background — tidbits the film wants viewers to pay close attention to as well — the Protagonist must hop around the world to stop life as everyone knows it from ending. He has suave handler Neil (Robert Pattinson) for company, but if Tenet's premise sounds a tad vague and convoluted, well, that's the movie's wavelength. As obsessed with time, space, existence and consciousness as much of Nolan's work, the cerebral feature doesn't get any less tangled or labyrinthine, or try to. It boasts the kind of plot that is actually quite straightforward, yet is told in an overly complicated fashion to keep viewers puzzling. Nolan likes messing with audiences' heads, so this shouldn't come as a surprise; however he jumps even beyond Inception's leaps, The Prestige's magic tricks and Interstellar's temporal dilations. As a result, as entertaining and downright spectacular as it is when it's at its action-packed best, there's also a sense that Tenet is bounding forward in some ways, while also needlessly looping back on itself in others. It's stirring, but also laborious. It's designed to overwhelm viewers in an inventive head trip, yet it makes the audience feel like they're working. It's intricate and exacting, and also messy and repetitive. It's a Nolan film through and through, in other words — usually to a mesmerising degree, but too indulgently as well. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIsEZ2tTavU&t=6s LES MISÉRABLES Almost 160 years since Victor Hugo immortalised the Montfermeil commune in Les Misérables, first-time feature writer and director Ladj Ly heads there to tell a different story. Or, to be exact, his Cannes prize-winning, Oscar-nominated crime-thriller that's also called Les Misérables stops by the spot to explore comparable themes in contemporary France — and to interrogate the reality of life in the Les Bosquets housing estates in one of the capital's banlieues. The latter and their communities have featured in the likes of 1995's La Haine and 2014's Girlhood before, two hands-down French movie masterpieces, but the approach here is especially inspired. Drawing parallels with a globally known, much-adapted, long-popular classic to shine a spotlight on modern-day class and cultural clashes is smart and savvy and, in the hands of a filmmaker from the area who is already known for making documentaries about the area, results in an especially compelling and confronting piece of cinema with revolution at its heart. Every neighbourhood bubbles with stories. So, focusing on Les Bosquets, Ly relays as many tales as he can. With propulsive and fittingly restless energy, his film flits between the locale's cops, kids and gangs — with troubles between all three groups reaching boiling point over the course of two summery and eventful days. The catalysts: familiar prejudices, long-held beefs, a stolen lion, a wrongful shooting and some controversial drone footage. The fallout: considerable. Unrelentingly terse and unafraid to filter real-world unrest through every frame, this Les Misérables is not always subtle; however, given the complicated terrain that it traverses, it needn't be. As a portrait of social tensions drawn from real-life situations, this is a movie of explosive emotional and visceral power even when it's clearly lacking in nuance. As an examination of how one event can escalate, detonate and spark a chain of chaos, and, Hugo-style, how insurrectionary acts come about, it hits hard. This definitely isn't a musical, but Ly's gripping, evocatively shot, deftly choreographed and impressively acted feature is still a rousing cinematic song of angry Parisians. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtCmpNdsA44 THE EIGHT HUNDRED The first Chinese film shot entirely on IMAX cameras, The Eight Hundred delivers exactly what that status demands. That'd be an impressively staged and shot spectacle, and plenty of it. Indeed, this big-budget dramatisation of the October 1937 Sihang Warehouse standoff during the Second Sino-Japanese War (which also formed part of the Second World War) is filled with fights, frays, combat and bloody confrontations to an almost relentless extent. Of course, that's the war movie formula, with the genre routinely endeavouring to steep viewers so deeply in the minutiae of the action that they feel both the mass and the personal toll. In The Eight Hundred's case, that means spending the bulk of its lengthy 147-minute duration with the 400-plus soldiers from the 524th Regiment of the National Revolutionary Army's 88th Division, who hold their ground for four days as the Imperial Japanese Army closes in on and wages an assault on the building — with the latter already overpowering Chinese forces at large during the Battle of Shanghai, and the former now representing China's last stand in the city. Complicating matters tactically, at least for the Japanese, is the warehouse's location. Adjacent to Suzhou Creek, and therefore across from Shanghai's International Settlement, the structure is in full view of the neutral zone. For writer/director Guan Hu (Mr Six), however, that gives the film an extra opportunity to dazzle visually. On one side of the waterway sits carnage; on the other, luxury, shining lights and streets filled with well-dressed onlookers all beckon. Yes, The Eight Hundred is that blunt. Yes, it takes every opportunity to be as blatant as possible on as many levels as possible, too. This is a feature that uses a white horse galloping through the mayhem as one of its overt metaphors, after all, and deploys 'Londonderry Air', aka 'Danny Boy', as its emotive song of choice. Also among its sizeable list of heavy-handed touches: repeatedly making the case for sacrifice and bloodshed in the name of China's glory and greater good, visibly adoring solider point-of-view shots, and offering little in the way of depth amongst its heaving roster of characters. If you're wondering what else is currently screening in cinemas, check out our rundown of new films released in Australia on July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23, July 30, August 6, August 13 and August 20 — and our full reviews of The Personal History of David Copperfield, Waves, The King of Staten Island, Babyteeth, Deerskin and Peninsula.
Stepping into Kittyhawk has always been a little bit like stepping back in time. The cocktail bar in the CBD takes its cue from the Liberation of Paris at the tail-end of WWII, and it's got the drinks list and the decor to match. Next step? The music. Every Thursday night from 6pm, Kittyhawk plays host to Cass & The Ragin Cajuns, bringing a blend of jazz, soul and blues, as you party like it's 1944. Of course, while you're there, you'll want to take advantage of Kitty's famed libations and Parisian plates like French gnocchi, steak frites and a truffle croque monsieur.
As we approach the winter solstice — and shortest and coldest days of the year — our sights are firmly set on winter cabins, hot springs and wintry weekends away. But staying in the city doesn't mean you can't take advantage the best bits of winter — after all, it's your biggest opportunity to gorge on hot cheese, down endless mugs of steaming mulled wine and spend time by the fireplace. But if you're looking to go all out and really immerse yourself in Sydney's winter (which is comparatively mild, mind you), put on a beanie and head to one of these pop-ups. From winter wonderlands to cosy cheese-filled teepees to a tropical harbourside 'beach', they're all designed to let you embrace (or, in some cases, escape) even the most toe-freezing days of winter.
When your nine-to-five plays out like a well-oiled machine, it can sometimes feel like each week is a little same-same. But Sydney is brimming with a fine bounty of things to experience and explore each and every day. So aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing some adventure and spontaneity into your schedule. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to help you celebrate the little things that bring a sense of adventure to life. Shake things up, as we give you seven different detours to take each week in Sydney. From Monday to Sunday, enrich your everyday with one completely achievable activity that inspires you to take the scenic route as you go about your daily routine. This week, go to town on some bottomless mussels and frites, unleash your inner artists at a burlesque life drawing class and catch a flick followed by a Japanese degustation. Plus, we've got your future detours sorted for the next few weeks here. All require no more effort than a tiny break from the norm — what's your excuse for not trying them all?
One massive art auction is headed to Sydney this February — and it's all for a good cause. Taking over the National Art School's main gallery and courtyard on Wednesday, February 12 from 7–10pm, The Home Bushfire Relief Art Auction will see over 50 of Australia's leading artists donating their works to help raise funds for the bushfire recovery effort and Australia's climate future. Top name artists include Rebecca Baumann and Kate Mitchell — who are both currently exhibiting at Carriageworks as part of Sydney Festival 2020 — along with environmentalist Janet Laurence, sculptor Callum Morton, Indigenous Australian artist Tony Albert, Japanese installation and performance artist Hiromi Tango and Archibald Prize-winning artist Fiona Lowry. And that's to name a very few. Organised in the wake of Australia's devastating bushfires, the fundraiser is hoping to help with the recovery efforts by donating all profits to three charities: Climate Council, Firesticks Alliance and WWF Australia. [caption id="attachment_759323" align="alignnone" width="1920"] 'Glam Spam' by Caroline Garcia[/caption] Both new and existing works will be up for grabs, including paintings, photography, sculptures and even the above diamantéd Spam can by artist Caroline Garcia. On the night, both a silent and invite-only live auction will take place, but if you can't make it, you can bid on some of the artworks on the website, and have a look at what's available on the fundraiser's Instagram. Online bidding runs is now open until Wednesday, February 12 via homebushfirerelief.com. Alongside the auction will be DJ performances by Client Liaison, Gemma (Club Kooky), Marcus King and Tyson Koh. And you can expect food and drinks by the likes of Cake Wines, Young Henrys and Love Can, too. While the event is open to the public, a suggested $20 (or more) donation is required for entry — and so is pre-registration over here. But 100 percent of the profits from entry and sale of the artworks will go directly to the charities. If you have the extra cash to splash, this is your (rare) chance to make one serious art investment while helping those in need. Home Bushfire Relief Art Auction Fundraiser runs from 7–10pm. Online bidding is now open at homebushfirerelief.com. Top images: 'Home' (2020) by Tony Albert and 'Insanity Magnet' (2009) by Hiromi Tango. Both photos by Hannah Sharpe.
In Stay of the Week, we explore some of the world's best and most unique accommodations — giving you a little inspiration for your next trip. In this instalment, we take you to the Manly Pacific on Sydney's Northern Beaches. We partnered with this lush hotel to give CP readers a special deal — a luxurious one-night stay — that can only be found on Concrete Playground Trips. WHAT'S SO SPECIAL? This boutique hotel serves up top luxury features alongside uninterrupted beach views, creating a relaxing city escape just 20 minutes from Sydney's CBD. THE ROOMS There are stacks of room and suite options at Manly Pacific. Some look out over the town and are minimal on inclusions — but still have that luxe calm feel thanks to the soft and neutral colour pallette used throughout. Then you have the ocean view rooms and suites that scream 'treat yourself'. The Sun Lounger rooms (where you'll stay when booking our luxury one-night stay) comes with a huge 100-square-metre sun terrace looking over the beach. The Coastal Suites come with a large living area, two bedrooms, two bathrooms and sliding doors that lead out onto a private balcony. And then there's The Infinity Residence. The 177-square-metre suite has one bedroom, large bathroom, living area, kitchen and a 100-square-metre terrace. Renowned Sydney design firm Coco Republic also gave this suite some extra love, featuring opulent marble surfaces throughout — elegantly complementing the striking black and white beach palette. FOOD AND DRINK Manly Pacific has three main drinking and dining spots. First, there's Bistro Manly. The French-inspired menu focuses on local seafood, bistro classics and seasonal produce — of course, paired with Australian and French wines. Tokyo Joe is Manly's latest Japanese restaurant helmed by ex-Nobu Sydney Chef, Marcelino Elamparo Papio Jr. It focuses on sushi, delicately cut sashimi, steamed buns and more traditional mains. You've also got to grab some cocktails from 55 North during your stay. Bartenders serve up all the classics as well as some of their own creations throughout the day and night. [caption id="attachment_892193" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Fabio Santo (Unsplash)[/caption] THE LOCAL AREA There are heaps of things to see and do in Sydney's beachside burb of Manly. You can either follow our extensive guide or just hit up some of the top spots. Walking along the Manly Scenic Walkway should be at the top of your agenda, heading in the direction of North Head to sneak in a swim at Shelly Beach. We also recommend grabbing some brekkie from Belgrave Cartel, downing afternoon drinks at Manly Wharf Hotel, having a spa and sauna sesh at Rimba Sweat and treating yourself to a few cocktails at The Steyne's hidden whisky bar. THE EXTRAS When you book The Infinity Residence, you'll get one totally unnecessary — but brilliantly extravagant — addition. A personal Beach Butler will be all yours for the entire duration of your stay. They'll do all the heavy lifting to and from the beach, even setting up umbrellas and towels before packing them up when you're done. Feeling hungry? The butler will set up the outdoor dining table on your massive balcony for a glam dinner or organise a luxurious picnic on one of the nearby beaches. It's over the top. But we are all for it. Feeling inspired to book a truly unique getaway? Head to Concrete Playground Trips to explore a range of holidays curated by our editorial team. We've teamed up with all the best providers of flights, stays and experiences to bring you a series of unforgettable trips in destinations all over the world.
If you've been saving your money the last couple months and are wondering where to spend it, head down to the Makers and Shakers Market on Saturday, October 6. Making its return to Sydney, it'll feature 60 high-quality stalls, so you'll definitely find something you like. The market provides an open platform for local makers to sell their handmade wares, gourmet foods and lifestyle products. Start your shopping at 10am with a kombucha from Mailer McGuire then wander to Clay Canoe for stunning ceramics and to Cardigan Threads for chunky, colourful jewellery. Finish up with a visit to Tiny Paradise to add a little plant life to your home — and that's just a taste of the goodies on offer. While you're wandering the stalls, tackle your post-shop hunger with some toasted sandwiches from Mister Toast, doughnuts from Nutie and Shortstop, plus many more delicious foods. The market will run from 9am–3pm, and tickets are $2 and kids under 12 are free. Image: Alana Dimou.
Sydney's Kent Street has a fancy new resident that's open for house-roasted coffees in the morning and wagyu and cocktails at night. Kuro is the new CBD restaurant, bar and cafe from Executive Chef and Co-Owner Taka Teramoto, who has spent time in the kitchens of Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris and Tokyo, including Restaurant Pages and Florilège. At Kuro, Teramoto is joined by Head Chef Nobu Maruyama (Bar H) and together they've created a menu fusing Aussie produce and Japanese techniques. For starters, expect wagyu tartare with jerusalem artichoke chips, Japanese meatballs with furikake (an umami-rich seasoning) and egg tofu with sea urchin. Larger plates feature the likes of aged duck breast with black garlic, bass grouper with glass noodles and braised beef tongue with miso red wine. Plus, a highly marbled cut of Rangers Valley beef is sure to please Sydney steak lovers and you can round out your meal with a matcha crème brûlée, perhaps, or some coconut mochi. While it's only serving up dinner at the moment, the restaurant will also launch lunch in the coming weeks. [caption id="attachment_748778" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Megann Evans[/caption] Alongside the 40-seat dining room, called Kuro Dining, is an eight-seat bar, where Tokyo bartenders Fumiaki Michishita and Yasushiro Kawakubo have created a Japanese-inspired (and absinthe-heavy) cocktail list. There's the Sober Experience (soba-infused Jameson and absinthe with kabosu and 'umami syrup') and the Green Hour (French gin, dry vermouth, absinthe, apple and champagne cordial). The Lava Flow of Mt. Fuji is a Japanese twist on a piña colada, made using brown sugar shochu and matcha, while The Last Wave pulls inspiration from Aussie beaches, combining Manly Spirits gin, Chartreuse and shrimp (yes, shrimp) and kombu bitters. The bar also features heaps of Japanese spirits — including whisky, gin, sake and shochu — draught beer and a 120-bottle wine list courtesy of sommelier Wanaka Teramoto (116 Pages, Paris). If you're need of caffeine instead, stop by the brew bar on weekdays from 8am for single origin, house-roasted coffee, teas, matcha lattes and breakfast pastries (including banana bread and chocolate brownies). [caption id="attachment_749049" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Megann Evans[/caption] Designed by Potts Point's Henderson & Co, the space itself is also impressive — and the lighting particularly so. Fifty-six American oak light 'portals' spread across the walls create an ever-changing ambiance throughout the day and into the night. Other design elements include a copper-tiled bar, sandstone and brick walls, polished stone and marble tables and a massive, blossom-shaped capiz chandelier. Cracks in the existing concrete floors have been filled with gold — a nod to the Japanese pottery-fixing technique of kintsugi — and soft fabric screens create semi-private dining spaces throughout. It may seem like Kuro already has a lot going on, but its most exciting offering is still to come later this year. Dubbed Teramoto by Kuro, it's a ten-person omakase personally served by chef Teramoto and sommelier Teramoto. You'll be seated at the kitchen-side counter, so you can watch the action while you feast. We'll keep you informed for when this portion of the restaurant opens. Find Kuro at 368 Kent Street, Sydney. The brew bar is open Monday–Friday 8am–3.30pm and 4.30pm–late. Kuro Dining is open Monday–Thursday 5.30pm–late and Saturday 5.30pm–late. Kuro Bar is open Monday–Saturday 4.30pm–late. Lunch service and Teramoto by Kuro will launch later this year. Images: Megann Evans
Who knows how many brilliant backup singers have never become household names. But Lisa Fischer is an exception to the rule. She's powered through duets with Mick Jagger, held her own alongside Tina Turner, added a whole new dimension to Nine Inch Nails, starred in Oscar-winning doco Twenty Feet From Stardom and measured up to the one-and-only Queen of Funk, Chaka Khan. And they're just a few of the big names to have enlisted her talent. Now, the mighty Ms Fischer is seizing her rightful place on centre stage. And you can get in on the soulful, soulful action when she hits the City Recital Hall on Wednesday, June 15. She'll be smashing out all the classics, from The Stones' 'Gimme Shelter' and 'It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It)', to legendary tunes by Led Zeppelin and Little Willie John. She'll also perform her very own, Grammy-winning original, 'How Can I Ease The Pain'. Taking care of the backing will be Grand Baton. The powerhouse trio consists of drummer Thierry Arpino, bassist Aidan Carroll and director by Jean-Christophe Maillard, who also plays guitar and SazBass, all while singing backing vocals. Image: Djeneba Aduayom.
In yet another major carbon-reduction move, London has just seen the completion of the world’s biggest solar bridge. The development follows plans to heat homes with the Underground and recycle sewer waste via a ‘fat plant’. Blackfriars Bridge has been covered with 4,400 photovoltaic panels, comprising 6,000 square metres. These will harness energy to power 50 percent of Blackfriars Station's needs, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 511 tonnes annually. That's equal to about 89,000 average trips in a car. In addition, the entire station has been revamped, acquiring four extra platforms and two new entrances, one providing access to South Bank and the other to New Bridge Street on the river's north side. The development is part of the US$10.7 billion Thameslink Programme, the goal of which is to increase the frequency and capacity of London's north-south railway line. "Our work at Blackfriars demonstrates two key benefits of solar," said Frans van den Heuvel, CEO of Solarcentury, the company that delivered the project. "First, it can be integrated into the architecture to create a stunning addition to London's skyline. Second, it can be integrated into the most complex of engineering projects; in this case being built above a construction site, over a rail track over a river. We are confident that future major infrastructure projects can and will benefit from solar.” The bridge was officially launched on January 22, 2014, with a massive hot beverage giveaway featuring Britain's biggest tea cup. Via gizmag.
In 2011 Marrickville jumped onto the Art Month bandwagon with the Marrickville Open Studio Trail (MOST), and 2012 saw Leichhardt jump in with the Leichhardt Open Studio Trail (LOST). Both got you close to artists in their natural habitat: galleries and studios. This year, both suburbs have opted in, which makes for two weekends of sanctioned, behind-the-scenes art nosiness. MOST will run tours over the weekend on every type of transport you set your foot to: pedal (Saturday andSunday), bus, foot, or expert, as Match Box Projects return to run their tours of local ARIs. Open spaces include eclectic warehouse space the Red Rattler, MEKanarky descendants Tortuga Studios and Salmagundi, and a new micro space, the Marrickville Garage. There will also be a citizens-meet-street-artists street art forum. LOST, meanwhile, gets in on the Art Cycling and opens the doors to spaces like Art Est, house-size Pseudo Space, the Mosaic Art School, School of Footwear, the Kinema space, and Higher Ground. MOST and LOST Open Studio Trails are part of Art Month 2013. Check out our guide to the festival's ten best events here.
When the National Gallery of Victoria hosts its annual Architecture Commission, almost anything can grace the venue's Melbourne grounds on St Kilda Road. Sometimes, that means a colourful mini Parthenon. Or, it might herald a bright pink pool to wade through. A bamboo garden with its own deck, the unforgettable pink carwash — they've each popped up, too; however, in the memorable stakes, a giant inflatable sphere that breathes might just have them beat. The 2023 structure, which'll debut on Sunday, December 3, then stick around until June 2024, is called (This is) Air. One of its aims: to make the invisible substance that's there in its name visible. Australian architect Nic Brunsdon has joined forces with ENESS — the art and technology company behind public artworks such as Sky Castle, Airship Orchestra, Cupid's Koi Garden, Lost Dogs' Disco and more — on a work that will expand with air, then release it. So, yes, it will inhale and exhale all day. Based on its concept images alone, (This is) Air is certain to make quite the sight. No one in the vicinity will be able to miss it, either, given that it'll span 14 metres in height when it's fully inflated. To get to that measurement, it'll use air as a building material. And when it breathes out, it'll do so by releasing gusts, forming different cloud-like shapes, then filling back to capacity again. Brunsdon and ENESS also want everyone taking in (This is) Air to think about humanity's need for and relationship to air. While you're peering at the commission, you'll see air in action and notice how essential it is. Also highlighted: how dependent we all are upon the element, how finite it is and how its quality is being impacted. "The idea for this project was conceived by the architect during the global pandemic, when the air we breathed was suddenly at the forefront of everyone's mind. Taking the form of a giant inflatable sphere, this living structure inhales and exhales before our eyes, giving presence to that omnipresent yet invisible element that connects us all," said Ewan McEoin, the NGV's Senior Curator, Contemporary Art, Design and Architecture. "Air can be understood as part of our global economic, social and ecological realities. And yet, the quality of air we breathe varies depending on where and how we live. Air is universal, yet clean air is not." As (This is) Air gets viewers pondering, it's also designed to be uplifting. As is always the case with the NGV's yearly commission, it'll provide a place for accompanying performances and other public programs in the NGV Garden, too. When the sphere is unveiled, it'll form part of this year's NGV Triennial exhibition, which will display from Sunday, December 3, 2023–Sunday, April 7, 2024. On the agenda: robot dogs, a room-sized ode to plants, Yoko Ono's work and more, with 75 works set to feature, including more than 25 world-premiere projects. The art showcase will respond to the themes magic, matter and memory, with (This is) Air fitting in with the matter strand. '(This is) Air' will be on display at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne from Sunday, December 3, 2023–June 2024 — head to the NGV website for further details. Images: Renders of (This is) Air by Nic Brunsdon, the 2023 NGV Architecture Commission on display at NGV International, Melbourne from 3 December 2023. Renders courtesy of Nic Brunsdon.
Luxe online fashion store The Undone is bringing its annual pop-up sale to Surry Hills this weekend, with up to 80 percent off its collection of designer threads. It's a rare chance to shop the brand IRL, and nab highly discounted pieces while you're at it. Expect high-end basics, wardrobe essentials and boutique jewellery from both local and international designers. Emerging Aussie labels to look out for include Anna Quan, Kacey Devlin, Elissa McGowan and Holly Ryan. More established local designers range from Christopher Esber and Michael Lo Sordo to Strateas Carlucci. You can score some premium denim from LA's J Brand and Frame Denim, too. Plus, shoppers will get an additional $50–150 off for total purchases of $500–1000 (respectively). And, if you get in early, the first ten people each day will receive a free branded water bottle and notebook. The shop will be open on Foveaux Street all weekend long until sold out; hours are Friday from 8am–6pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10am–4pm. Despite the discount, this still won't be a cheap shopping trip, but it is a chance to get some quality pieces at a relatively affordable price.
Since 2024, the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Awards doesn't just give out awards when its annual ceremony celebrating the best of the year's big- and small-screen output rolls around. When the accolades moved its night of nights to the Gold Coast, it turned the whole event into a festival, getting the folks behind — and starring in — Aussie movies and TV shows, plus homegrown talents enjoying success overseas, chatting at sessions open to the public. That's the AACTA Festival setup — and when the nation's screen academy promised that the fest would be bigger this year, it meant it. The lineup for the event from Wednesday, February 5–Sunday, February 9, 2025 has just expanded again, after the initial program details were revealed in November 2024, then more highlights were added in December. One impressive new inclusion is Oscar-winning Memoir of a Snail animator Adam Elliot talking about his work and career, including his latest delight (which, fingers crossed, could be an Academy Award-nominee by then, too). Another is the return of Talk to Me filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou after they were involved in 2024, this time with ONEFOUR to discuss challenging stereotypes via both horror and drill music. AACTA Festival is also hosting Actor on Actor talks, first teaming up Lee Tiger Halley from Boy Swallows Universe with Alyla Browne from Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and Sting, then getting Better Man and How to Make Gravy co-stars Kate Mulvany and Damon Herriman talking. [caption id="attachment_986977" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Jono Searle/Getty Images for AFI[/caption] If you're keen to find out more about Binge's upcoming The Last Anniversary, which is based on a novel from Big Little Lies author Liane Moriarty and stars Teresa Palmer (The Fall Guy), the latter will be in attendance with some of the show's team — including director John Polson (Law & Order: Organised Crime) — to dig into the adaptation. Heard about snake-movie remake The Anaconda with Jack Black (Dear Santa) and Paul Rudd (Only Murders in the Building) that's being shot in Queensland?. US film producers Brad Fuller and Andrew Form (A Quiet Place: Day One) are heading along to dive into it, and the topic of bringing making blockbuster films in general. Aussie acting icon Jack Thompson (Runt) is also on the lineup, with 1975 classic Sunday Too Far Away celebrating its 50th anniversary. Thomas Horton, the VFX producer/supervisor on House of the Dragon, will explore bringing Westeros to life as well. And, as part of the screening program — and giving some love to film and TV successes in general — Wicked is receiving a free outdoor showing. The current additions join already-revealed sessions with The Invisible Man and Wolf Man writer/director Leigh Whannell, Better Man and The Greatest Showman filmmaker Michael Gracey, a live How to Make Gravy concert featuring Paul Kelly, Colin and Cameron Cairnes talking Late Night with the Devil and a behind-the-scenes look at Netflix's ripped-from-the-headlines Aussie series Apple Cider Vinegar. In still-huge news, the Working Dog team, aka Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Jane Kennedy, Michael Hirsh and Rob Sitch, are coming together for an in-conversation session that's bound to touch upon everything from The Castle, Frontline, Thank God You're Here and Utopia to The Dish, The Hollowmen and Have You Been Paying Attention?. The Dish is also the screening program, and the Working Dog team will receive the prestigious AACTA Longford Lyell Award. Australian cinematographer Greig Fraser, who won an Oscar for Dune and is highly tipped for another one for Dune: Part Two, is another significant inclusion, chatting about his Hollywood work. Also in the same category: John Seale, who took home an Academy Award for The English Patient, and was nominated for Witness, Rain Man, Cold Mountain and Mad Max: Fury Road. Everyone can also look forward to authors Trent Dalton and Holly Ringland returning from 2024's lineup, talking about Boy Swallows Universe and The Lost Flowers of Alice on the small screen, respectively; a dive into the Heartbreak High soundtrack; a panel on queer storytelling with RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under season two winner Spankie Jackzon and Deadloch's Nina Oyama; and a session with First Nations filmmakers. And if you're keen to watch movies, Gettin' Square followup Spit will enjoy its Queensland premiere, complete with star David Wenham (Fake) diving into the feature's journey; Looney Tunes: The Day The Earth Blew Up will make its Australian debut, at Movie World, of course; and upcoming action film Homeward with Nathan Phillips (Kid Snow) and Jake Ryan (Territory) will take viewers behind the scenes. [caption id="attachment_926549" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Moshcam[/caption] [caption id="attachment_985262" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of Netflix © 2024[/caption] AACTA Festival will run from Wednesday, February 5–Sunday, February 9, 2025 at HOTA, Home of the Arts, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast. For further details, head to the fest's website.
Victoria's Hot Chocolate Festival is back again this August. And, like last year, it's also bringing the decadence to you. Whether you're a Melburnian who can't make it to one of the three venues outside of town, or you're located elsewhere and you really love hot chocolate, the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie, the Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie in Bellbrae and the Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie are churning out at-home kits filled with creative hot choccie flavours. Like this year's physical fest, there's a wild range of flavours — and whichever you choose, you'll receive couverture flavour-infused melts, a giant marshmallow and interactive elements to add to your choice of hot milk at home. Wondering which inventive flavours will tempt your tastebuds? The 2022 lineup is as OTT and indulgent as ever — and as tasty. Kicking things off: the Top Gun, which comes with red, white and blue marshmallow, as well as a jam-filled donut and dark choc moustache. Keeping things movie-themed, there's also a Hocus Pocus hot choc as well. Or, you can pick from salted caramel pretzel, honeycomb macadamia kronut, Iced Vovo and Milky Way hot chocolates — and vegan caramel surprise as well. The kits are available to order throughout August, and there's a flat-rate shipping fee of $15 to anywhere in Australia.
With the chill factor turned up to the max and our after-work hours firmly in the dark, it's a good thing Sydney Living Museums is dedicated to enlivening our nighttime exploits. The historic collective is back with another instalment of After Dark, the late-night series that welcomes live music and art to the Hyde Park Barracks. For one night this June, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed site will hold a spotlight to the creative genius of Daniel Crooks. The celebrated contemporary artist — who mostly works in photography, video and sculpting — created Boundary Conditions as the third piece in Sydney Living Museums' annual round of art commissions. Wander as you take in the immense video installation, suspended on a monolithic screen in the Barracks' forecourt. Then, grab a drink and settle in to hear the conceptual foundation and artistic process from the maker himself, as he delves into the work with Sydney Living Museums CEO Adam Lindsay. More good-time vibes will be served via performance pieces throughout the night. A lineup curated by Byron Scullin — the Boundary Conditions audio composer — will ensure attendees are in for a truly one-off night of creative festivities at the historic site. The music line-up is jam-packed with artists, Chris Abrahams from The Necks, Clare Cooper, Robbie Avenaim, Gail Priest, Alex White and Nina Buchanan, all to make an appearance. Worried about your mid-week endurance levels? Energy is sure to remain high with tasty bites from Nighthawk Diner and cocktails mixed by the beverage aficionados at Archie Rose. If you like to dive deep into creative form — and prefer to do so with a drink in hand and a killer soundtrack delivered live — the June After Dark offering is the winter warmer for you. And if you're a member of Sydney Living Museums (or you sign up at the checkout), you can score a sneaky discount on tickets too. After Dark will hit the Hyde Park Barracks from 5–9pm on Thursday, June 30. Head to the website to book your tickets. Top image: Joshua Morris
Across its five seasons to date, Black Mirror has dedicated 22 episodes to imagining dystopian futures — and while it makes for compelling viewing, none of the sci-fi anthology series' predictions are particularly pretty. But, for all of its prognosticating, the Charlie Brooker-created show didn't foresee 2020's chaos. And now we've all endured this hectic year and are about to see it come to an end, the team behind Black Mirror has something to say about it. At 6pm AEST on Sunday, December 27, just before 2020 fades away forever, Netflix will drop a new comedy special called Death to 2020 — which is made by the Black Mirror crew. The show will look back on the year via a documentary-style special that uses real-life archival footage from the past 12 months, as well as narration from fictitious characters played by the high-profile likes of Samuel L Jackson, Hugh Grant, Lisa Kudrow, Kumail Nanjiani, Tracey Ullman, Samson Kayo, Leslie Jones, Diane Morgan, Cristin Milioti and Joe Keery. Immediately keen to see more? After revealing a teaser trailer for Death to 2020 earlier in December — when it first announced that the project even existed — Netflix has now dropped a full sneak peek. Jackson's character gets snappy, Grant's wants to make sure that a drink is close at hand, and Jones' advises she'd say 2020 "was a trainwreck and a shit show, but that'd be unfair to trains and shit". Brooker has a history of looking back at events that have just passed, as Newswipe with Charlie Brooker and his end-of-year Wipe specials between 2010–16 have all demonstrated — so satirising and savaging the year's developments definitely falls into his wheelhouse. Brooker and Netflix also love releasing new material over the holiday period, with interactive Black Mirror special Bandersnatch dropping between Christmas and New Year's Eve back in 2018. So, true to form, they're giving everyone an extra festive — and grimly funny — present this year. Check out the full Death to 2020 trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veUqfcyZ_Bo Death to 2020 will hit Netflix at 6pm AEST on Sunday, December 27 . Images: Saeed Adyani/Keith Bernstein.
If you're in New South Wales – these bars and pubs are offering a complimentary Chandon Garden Spritz on arrival on Friday, February 28 to celebrate the last day of summer. From beachside pubs down in the 'gong to rooftop bars in the city, enjoy a complimentary Chandon Spritz and keep those summer vibes going. Chandon's Garden Spritz is a natural ready-to-serve blend of sparkling wine handcrafted with navel and blood oranges, dried orange peel and natural herbs and spices. All the way from the Yarra Valley, it's not too bitter, but not too sweet and has half the sugar of most spritzes thanks to its natural ingredients. For the perfect serve, just add ice and an orange slice and top with a sprig of rosemary if you're feeling fancy. Chandon Sydney Dunbar House Head to Dunbar House in Watsons Bay for a spritz against the backdrop of one of Sydney's most charming restaurants and bars. Housed within a historic beachfront building, this drinking hole has been serving locals and visitors alike since the 1830s. We suggest heading up the stairs to Palomas Bar, where you will be met with sunset views, an impressive cocktail list and just the right amount of fancy. East Village Hotel Once one of the lesser-known rooftops among Sydney locals, East Village Hotel in Darlinghurst is a Sydney institution. The buzzing three-level pub houses a bar, a cosy sports bar and a roof terrace. The best place to enjoy a cocktail has to be the rooftop. Spritz in hand, panoramic views of the city and sun on your face — we can't think of a better summer day. Pepe's on the Beach A rite of passage among uni students, we're still heading to this popular Wollongong pub and have no plans to stop anytime soon. With beach views, affordable drinks and a constant lineup of DJs, no Wollongong trip is complete without visiting Pepe's. If you're a local or planning a South Coast road trip, be sure to head to the buzzing beachside pub on Friday, February 28 for a Garden Spritz, paired with some tacos for the perfect summer night out. Helm Bar The ideal post-work pitstop on a Friday afternoon, Helm Bar is the Sydney CBD's answer to coastal summer vibes, without having to go to the beach. With stunning views across Darling Harbour, the slick eatery has it all, from fresh-shucked oysters to seafood baskets and pizza. Head into these venues around Australia on the last day of summer to receive a complimentary Chandon Spritz on arrival. First in best dressed and T&C's apply. Enjoy Chandon Responsibly. Images: Supplied.
Keen for some new, independent, contemporary, edgy, British and/or devised theatre perpetrated by young people? ABitOnTheSide Productions, an emerging theatre company formed by Sydney-based cool-kids Carolyn Eccles and Felicity Nicol, are launching themselves right now at the Pact Theatre in Erskineville with a double bill of Sarah Kane's Crave along with a new devised work based on the story of Lot's Wife. Crave is an ambitious work which strives to find hope in the darkest of corners. By taking our world and turning up the volume, Kane creates a cacophony which fearlessly shines light on all that is glorious and torturous about being human. Through the haze of this polluted world, Kane ultimately leaves us with a message of hope and comfort, for what we seek is closer than we think. At least half the theatre-inclined young people in Sydney are quietly yet desperately nursing secret drama-crushes on anything to do with Sarah Kane, even in spite of (and perhaps because of) her ability to paint the bleakest of worlds and leave you so depressed you'll want to tear your own eyes out like that guy in Event Horizon. And if a shot of hardcore + edgy is what you're after with your theatre, it doesn't get more hardcore than the Bible. I'm talking the Old Testament, not its more recent, nancy, love-preaching cousin. Watch Carolyn Eccles ride rough-shod all over it as she uses the story of Lot's Wife (Remember? The angels told her not to look back? But then she looked back and got turned into a pillar of salt?) to examine the very human experience of remaining trapped in the past. Eccles is keen to develop the tradition of devised theatre within the Sydney theatre scene, believing that the process of improvising and then refining leads to the creation of surprising images and ideas.
Ah, summer — the season of spontaneity. With the arrival of warm weather, balmy nights and extended hours of sunshine, it calls for more time spent exploring and adventuring. Luckily for us Sydneysiders, our city is filled with plenty of things to do in the great outdoors — whether it's reconnecting with nature outside the city limits or heading to a local park armed with a picnic rug and a bottle of wine. With the silly season kicking into full swing, there's never been a better time to explore all that Sydney has to offer. So, in partnership with Jacob's Creek, we've come up with a list of six thought-starters for the next time you have a free day and the weather forecast is ace. No need to pre-plan, these adventures are best enjoyed with a side of spontaneity. [caption id="attachment_656242" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimberley Low[/caption] PLAN A PUPPY PLAYDATE AT CAMPERDOWN MEMORIAL REST PARK Puppies, sunshine and booze-friendly picnics — need we say more? Head down to Camperdown Memorial Rest Park for a playdate with your favourite four-legged friends and enjoy the sights and sounds of this diverse inner west park. On any given day, you'll find the park packed with picnic-goers enjoying afternoon bevvies and dog walkers taking their furry friends for a stroll. Dust off your picnic rug, bring your pup and grab a bottle of Jacob's Creek Le Petit Rosé, then sit back and enjoy the parade of pooches passing you by. [caption id="attachment_794426" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Robert Montgomery via Flickr[/caption] GO ON A HIKE IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS Lace up your hiking boots and venture inland to the beautiful Blue Mountains. Only a couple of hours away by train or car, the Blue Mountains is home to a plethora of walking tracks, which range in difficulty and length. For a gentle walk, we suggest the Leura Cascades track. Those who are feeling more adventurous will be well sorted with the challenging Dardanelles Pass loop, which treats you to beautiful waterfall, rainforest and valley views. Reward yourself after with some local snacks. Grab a cup of specialty tea or coffee from local haunt Anonymous Cafe in Blackheath, or try one of the famous Mountain High Pies. [caption id="attachment_794427" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] PLAN A BARBECUE IN CENTENNIAL PARKLANDS There's nothing quite like the Centennial Parklands; a metropolitan oasis amid a bustling concrete jungle. Being Sydney's largest urban green space means that even on a busy Saturday when the weather's perfect, there's endless open space and plenty of shady picnic spots. Located just minutes from the city, the Parklands boasts a diverse range of landscapes and is home to over 120 bird species. Bring a bottle of Jacob's Creek Better by Half Rosé and some birdwatching binoculars if you feel so inclined, and enjoy a picnic with mates immersed in this natural wonderland. [caption id="attachment_794428" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] CONQUERING A DIFFERENT COASTAL TRACK For those keen to avoid snap-happy tourists and intimidatingly good-looking locals on the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, may we suggest the lesser-known but equally as picturesque Federation Cliff Walk? Spanning Dover Heights to Watsons Bay, this five-kilometre coastal walk boasts spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and passes the historic Macquarie Lighthouse. Better yet, the walk ends just shy of Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, so you've got the perfect excuse for a post-walk vino. Go on, you deserve it. [caption id="attachment_759160" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Destination NSW[/caption] SPEND A DAY AT ONE OF SYDNEY'S HIDDEN BEACHES Sydney is home to some of the most beautiful harbourside patches — you just have to know where to find them. One of these tucked-away spots is Parsley Bay Reserve in Vaucluse. Whether you're rounding the family up for an adventurous day out or catching up with old friends for cheese and wine, the calm, crystal turquoise-blue waters of Parsley Bay make for the perfect backdrop. And when you're done with snacking, there's also a 20-minute bushland walking circuit that treats you to a waterfall at the end. SAIL AROUND THE HARBOUR ON THIS LUXE FLOATING BAR No one does a harbour party quite like Seadeck does. Hop on this luxe bar on a superyacht docked in Sydney Harbour to experience a day in the life of the rich and famous. With its killer lineup of events and DJs, this exclusive sea oasis is one of Sydney's more unique venues. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Seadeck hosts dance parties where you can get your groove on — with a glass of Jacob's Creek in hand, of course. Reconnect with your friends and family this summer with a bottle of Jacob's Creek. Discover the Jacob's Creek range and purchase a bottle today from all good liquor retailers. Top image: Seadeck Please drink responsibly.
A fourth birthday celebration is usually populated with such delights as creaming soda, snakes and frogs, awkward family photos, at least one pair of skinned knees, and a Woman’s Day swimming pool cake. But we have a feeling that Oxford Art Factory will be in a decidedly more debaucherous mood for their Big Four. Since they opened their doors in 2008, the Oxford Art Factory has played host to a mess of memories - seeing the stage lit up with Neil Finn's Pajama Club, the first Falling Joys show in 15 years and a solo record launch from The Birthday Partys Mick Harvey, amongst others. And the Gallery Bar has had its walls brushed over with some incredible art more times than we can count. Entry is free on the night, with the drinks flowing freely until the last drop runs out (so you won’t have to chug a bottle of Passion Pop in the back alley beforehand). Then enjoy the massive lineup: Deep Sea Arcade, Step-Panther, Betty Airs, Peppercorn, Rockets, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Mother & Son, The James Manson Blues Band and The Faults, plus Friday I’m In Love and OAF Gallery Bar DJs. Put on your prettiest and enjoy the revelry – and remember, pics or it didn’t happen.
Kick off the weekend right with a Saturday morning trip to the Sydney Sustainable Markets, run weekly from 8am to 1pm. Inner-city dwellers have a rare opportunity to speak directly with the growers of their produce, as at this market there isn't a single reseller in sight. Every retailer is directly involved with the production of what they are selling in a hands-on way, and they are all certified organic. Embracing the slow food philosophy of good, clean and fair, every piece of fresh fruit or veg you get your hands on is free from the bad stuff — nothing genetically engineered and nothing covered in heavy chemicals — and has been grown, farmed, pickled, preserved, baked or smoked by the person you are handing your money to. This means you are minimising your environmental footprint, gaining access to real product knowledge and directly supporting local farmers. As well as selling everything you need to stock up for the week, there are also communal tables to sit, sip on a fresh OJ and read up on sustainable living. There are also regular mini-seminars and talks from those in the know aimed at helping increase urban sustainability. Hear from local chefs, foodies and farmers about how you can make your everyday life more sustainable. Don't forget your reusable bags and cups — it goes without saying that this market is a plastic-free zone. Unless you want to bring down your old plastic bags to be repurposed.
Acclaimed visual artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran has transformed Sullivan+Strumpf's Zetland gallery with a series of surreal sculptures for his new exhibition The Guardians. The Sydney-based Sri Lankan-born artist has created an array of ceramic and bronze statues depicting colourful figures which he's named The Guardians. Simultaneously beautiful and ghoulish, the figures have been crafted by Nithiyendran using building and glazing strategies. The figures vary significantly in shape and size, from mid-sized creatures to multi-coloured larger-than-life creations. According to Nithiyendran, "the figure's allusions to ideas around regeneration, renewal and even collapse are particularly pertinent in our current global climate defined by social, environmental and public health shifts/upheaval". The Guardians follow exhibitions from Nithiyendran at the Gold Coast's Home of the Arts, Tasmania's Dark MOFO and the Art Gallery of New South Wales including a 70-sculpture exhibition titled Avatar Towers as part of Archie Plus. You can catch the exhibition from Thursday, October 14 through until Saturday, November 13 and entry is free. The gallery is open 10am–5pm, Tuesday–Saturday. [caption id="attachment_828750" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran in his studio with Four headed seated figure, 2021, earthenware, approx 119 x 41 x 35cm. Photo courtesy the artist and Sullivan+Strumpf.[/caption]
It's been a rollercoaster couple of years for the Yours and Owls crew. The festival faced all of the industry-wide pandemic-related issues in 2020, but in 2021 it was the first NSW music festival to allow dancing after the first rounds of COVID-19 lockdowns. Then, following that victory, the festival was forced to cancel in 2022 when La Niña flooded Stuart Park. Talk about you win some, you lose some. Now, Yours and Owls is back, announcing the dates for its 2023 event in a brand-new home: the University of Wollongong (UOW) campus. Mark Saturday, October 14–Sunday, October 15 in your calendar. That's when the two-day gathering affectionately called Gong Christmas will return. You can expect stages to pop up across the expansive uni campus, with Yours and Owls promising to activate grounds, ovals and laneways across the space. UOW and the festival have inked a three-year partnership, with all-weather solutions available at the campus cited as one of the driving factors behind the team-up — plus the university's picturesque green spaces and a mutual commitment towards carbon-emission reduction. "We are delighted to be returning home to UOW to present Yours and Owls within the campus grounds," said Yours And Owls co-founder Ben Tillman, announcing the news. "We are excited to welcome patrons to experience the festival in the space where the initial idea was hatched all those years ago. Our team have been busy creating ways to bring the multitude of spaces available to us alive across the campus." The festival promises that the lineup is on its way and will be dropping "soon". The cancelled 2022 edition was set to be headlined by a slate of beloved locals including Hilltop Hoods, Benee, Bliss & Eso, Flight Facilities, The Jungle Giants, Peking Duk and Violent Soho. Interestingly, the festival now falls on the same weekend that SXSW Sydney's inaugural will kick off, with the first-ever iteration of the conference outside of Austin taking over the Harbour City between Sunday, October 15–Sunday, October 22. Yours and Owls 2023 will return from Saturday, October 14–Sunday, October 15 at its new home at the University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong. Top image: Yours and Owls 2021, Georgia Moloney.
Sydney's second extended lockdown has hit the city's hospitality scene hard, with venues forced to close their doors and rely entirely on takeaway and delivery trade for at least two weeks. That's seen a drop in income for a huge number of employees across the state, as the hours and shifts used to pay for essential bills are cut. While Sydney residents can apply for one-off Government assistance, it's a tough time for casual workers. Thankfully, some industry legends are coming to the rescue, lending a helping hand in the form of a few much-needed free feeds, no questions asked. Inner west pub The Oxford Tavern is offering a free meal to anyone who's lost work due to the lockdown. "Casual workers are the backbone of the hospitality industry, and are the first to be forgotten when restrictions intensify," it posted to Instagram. Similarly, The Oxford Tavern team's other inner west pub The Duke of Enmore is offering hospo workers that have lost shifts a free flatbread off its new menu and one of its signature pickleback shots. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Duke Of Enmore (@thedukeofenmore) Over in Darlinghurst, you can head into craft beer-haven The Taphouse and request a 'hospo meal' if you've been impacted by the lockdown, no questions asked. The pub's offering a free chicken schnitzel or a vegetarian pasta puttanesca as well as a shot of bourbon to commiserate the tough times. Darlinghurst residents who have been fortunate enough to keep employment can also be treated to The Taphouse's hearty meals as it's launched complimentary delivery on its entire menu for anyone within one kilometre of the venue, including its famed roast on Sundays. "We know what a hard time it is for our community and hospo workers are especially vulnerable right now. We wanted to give back to our local community, and recognise how invaluable hospo workers are to our industry," said Joshua Thorpe, Owner of The Taphouse said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Taphouse (@taphousedarlo) Chippendale's Sneaky Possum is still serving up its burgers and toasties for pickup or delivery, plus if you swing by you can grab beers and cocktails for the full at-home experience. It's also offering anyone who's lost work free meals to help them through this time. If you're doing it tough at the moment you can drop in for a chicken burger or a brekkie bowl on the house. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sneaky Possum (@sneakypossumbar) On Monday, July 5, anyone with an RSA can drop into Door Knock in the Sydney CBD for some lockdown care. The Pitt Street bar will be open from 1pm–5pm on Monday to supply care packages to hospitality workers. Or, venture across a couple blocks to Burrow Bar's new location on Clarence Street. The underground cocktail bar has a full takeaway menu on offer as well as delivery options for anyone in the CBD. Anyone struggling during the lockdown can hit up the bar for support in the form of a full belly. The bar has been collecting donations from other venues around the CBD and putting together care packages filled with meals, fruit and a couple of drinks with plans to distribute them a couple of days a week throughout the lockdown and for a couple weeks after as things slowly go back towards relative normality. If you're struggling for food during this time all you need to do is DM Burrow Bar on Facebook or Instagram, or email mitch@burrowbar.com.au. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Burrow Bar 🥃 (@burrow_bar) Continental Deli is also still operating out of both its Newtown and CBD digs, offering next-level deli treats and its signature tinned cocktails. All this weekend, from Friday, July 2 until Sunday, July 4, both stores will be offering discounted hospo meals. Anyone with an RSA can come in and present their card for one of Continental's deli meat-packed rolls and a three pack of Aperol spritzes for just $10. The deal is available each day until sold out. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Continental Deli Bar Bistro (@continentaldeli) Sydney's current restrictions are set to run until Friday, July 9. For a full list of restrictions and exposure sites, visit NSW Health.
After shuffling through cinemas for decades, the zombie genre has begun to resemble its flesh-eating undead antagonists. It seems that almost every new film takes a chunky bite out of its predecessors, whether nodding to George A Romero's seminal Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead and the rest of the Dead saga — as virtually everything does — or opting for more recent references like 28 Days Later. South Korea's Train to Busan franchise is no different, but it is willing to look far and wide for influences. Indeed, when the series first hit the big screen, it took a Snakes on a Plane-esque idea and changed it to zombies on a train, because who doesn't want to watch a speeding locomotive full of living, breathing humans battle brain-munching foes? Train to Busan not only made a top-notch action/horror-thriller flick in the process, too, but spawned an animated prequel in Seoul Station, which detailed the start of the zombie epidemic in another city. Now, series director Yeon Sang-ho expands upon his universe yet again with four-years-later sequel Peninsula. This time, via a bloody boat ride to Hong Kong and a glimpse of ex-pat life for South Koreans now stranded abroad — spoiler: parallels to COVID-19-era racism abound — Incheon is the franchise's new setting. And, in terms of taking his cues from a variety of sources, Yeon clearly adores another genre as well. Peninsula opts for decidedly dystopian Mad Max-meets-Fast and Furious-meets-World War Z heist flick setup, with a big heap of Escape from New York also thrown in. As with Train to Busan, it works. Peninsula doesn't quite reach its predecessor's heights or add anything new to the heaving undead genre. In fact, it also cribs liberally from the storyline that served the saga's first film so well, just with new characters and a different locale. Nonetheless, Yeon twists his familiar zombie and action elements into a frenetic thriller that's rarely less than thoroughly entertaining. If, prior to 2016, you'd ever wondered what might happen should zombies infest South Korea, this series has already provided a few answers. Now, if you've been pondering what could possibly occur next, Peninsula has plenty more thoughts. The less time spent thinking about the film's terrible English-language talk show clips, which spew exposition at viewers in a cringe-inducing fashion, the better — but they do provide some narrative context. Unsurprisingly, zombies have wholly overrun Peninsula's titular land mass, turning it into a wasteland. That said, they've curiously decided to respect the demilitarised zone and not venture into North Korea, a briefly mentioned development that seems designed to set up the next sequel. Initially lucky enough to flee, army Captain Jung-seok (Gang Dong-won) and his brother-in-law Chul-min (Kim Do-yoon) now get by however they can, with the former wracked with guilt for failing to help others on his way out of the country and the latter festering with grief over his own losses. They're subsequently prime targets for a mob of Hong Kong heavies who want to send them back to the abandoned and quarantined Incheon, where a truck filled with cash awaits. Zombies don't care about money, of course, so the city's valuables are there for the taking. But Incheon isn't completely empty. Min-jung (Lee Jung-hyun), her daughters Joon (Lee Re) and Yu-jin (Lee Ye-won), and her father (Kwon Hae-hyo) were never able to escape, so they've spent years evading the undead. Also roaming the streets is a brutal rogue militia group that calls itself Unit 631 and pits survivors against zombies Fight Club-style for sport. As co-scripted by Yeon and Train to Busan's Park Joo-Suk, Peninsula isn't a film about plot surprises — rather, it's a movie predicated upon setpieces and suspense. Splashing an ample array of eye-catching, unnervingly tense action scenes across the screen is the name of the game here, as well as keeping viewers on the edge of their seats while they're watching. The special effects don't always hold up, but Yeon otherwise achieves his aim with rip-roaring flair. Fresh from scoring an Oscar nomination for Parasite, editor Yang Jin-mo gets to show off his hefty skills, too, especially in the feature's big and small car chases (including the inventive use of lit-up remote-controlled cars to distract and shepherd Incheon's hordes). Predictable as it is, Peninsula's narrative still does what it needs to, providing the scaffolding for the movie's action onslaught. Even better, thanks to the film's engaging cast — especially the trio of Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Re and Lee Ye-won — it benefits from grounded performances that ensure that the audience is invested in the feature's characters. But the part of Peninsula that Yeon truly perfects is also its most obvious aspect: its commentary on humanity's savage nature when faced with anything beyond the status quo. Many a movie has sunk its teeth into the same subject before, including several of the aforementioned flicks that Peninsula owes an overt debt to, but this oh-so-timely exploration of barbarity, carnage and an every-person-for-themselves mindset during a life-changing contagious outbreak repeatedly chomps down hard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRvHl1dThlg
A village in Oxfordshire is about to become home to England's first hotel gardening school. From July 2017, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons — an extremely stately hotel with a two Michelin-starred restaurant — will open The Raymond Blanc Gardening School, giving guests the chance to green up their thumb in between luxe spa treatments and croquet matches. Belmond Le Manoir is already pretty well-known for its 30 acres of landscaped gardens, particularly its lush kitchen garden. There are two acres of edibles, including 90 veggies and 70 herbs. Head gardener Anne Marie Owens knows a thing or two about growing — she's been running the garden for more than 30 years. If you've ever wondered how to trick your tomatoes onto a trellis or pump up your pumpkins, she'd be the person to ask. Just some of the things that Anne Marie and her crew will be teaching include courses on understanding soil and growing organics, micro greens, mushrooms, seasonal veggies. On top of those, occasional classes will be run by special guests, covering more left-field topics, such as the medicinal properties of herbs and pruning fruit trees. You can attend for a half-day or a full day. Either way, you'll be learning in the Hartley Botanic Glasshouse, within the hotel's Heritage Garden. And of course, you could always book a night at the hotel — although, rooms sit at around a quite ludicrous £1000 a night. The school gets its name from hotelier and head chef Raymond Blanc OBE. Born in France, he's been running the Quat'Saisons restaurant since 1977 and the hotel since 1984. The Raymond Blanc Gardening School will launch in July 2017 at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Great Milton, Oxford, UK. For more info, visit their website.
Attention all bourbon enthusiasts and luxury seekers. We at Concrete Playground have teamed up with Basil Hayden Bourbon to offer you the chance to win tickets for yourself and two friends to an exclusive golden hour event aboard The Jackson, Sydney's biggest superyacht, as it sails across Sydney Harbour on Thursday, March 28, from 5.30-9pm. We've got 20 triple passes up for grabs — the lucky winner will get to bring two friends along with them — so the odds are in your favour. To be in with a shot of scoring one of them, simply fill out the form below. The competition closes on Sunday, March 17 2024 at 10pm. Picture yourself basking in the golden hour glow as the sun sets over the iconic Sydney skyline, all while sipping libations crafted with Basil Hayden's finest. Two signature cocktails will be served. First up is the Golden Hour — inspired by the fleeting time before sunset and made with Basil Hayden Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Lillet Blanc, and Aperol. Then there's the Basil Hayden Boulevardier — a refined twist on the classic with Basil Hayden Bourbon, Aperol and Dolin Rouge Sweet Vermouth. DJ beats and live saxophone jams will entertain guests aboard The Jackson as cocktails are sipped while you mingle with guests as the sun sets across the harbour. Come join us. [competition]944399[/competition]
While some of us appreciate the cosiness of winter, others can't wait until warmer weather returns. Now is your chance to become someone who loves the cold, as Tourism Tasmania has just opened its Winternship applications. With ten lucky participants heading to Tassie to undertake an internship experience that helps them become winter people, embracing the cold and damp could change your life. From caring for adorable local wildlife and maintaining historic chairlifts to foraging in tunnels for tasty mushrooms, there's every prospect you'll discover a new passion, while realising that perhaps spending your days on a windswept hillside isn't so bad after all. So, pull on your thickest socks and don your favourite beanie, as these Winternships are perfect for changing the pace of your daily life. For instance, the Sauna Skipper experience sees a Wintern keep the temperatures toasty at the woodfired Kuuma Nature Sauna — a floating relaxation adventure soaked in natural beauty. For something more upbeat, head to Penguin's Hideaway Farmlet, where the Goat Doofer Wintern is tasked with hosting a mini music festival for a vibe-seeking herd. Then, night owls are primed for the Devil Sitter position, as they'll babysit Tasmanian devils who love to shriek, screech and growl from dusk to dawn. If Tassie's burgeoning culinary scene is more your mood, Tunnel Hill Mushrooms is looking for recruits to grow, pick and prepare their award-winning mushrooms, cultivated inside an old railway tunnel. Meanwhile, McHenry Distillery — the southernmost distillery and brewery in the world — invites a spirit-loving Wintern to learn whisky's tricks of the trade from amid the remote Tasman Peninsula. With several more Winternships to explore, there's no shortage of ways to discover what's special about the cold. "Tasmanians are winter people at heart, so we don't just endure winter, we celebrate it," says Sarah Clark, Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Tasmania. "We're inviting Winterns to dive head-first into our winter culture that's probably a bit different to their home state. From babysitting Tasmanian devils to fragrance foraging, there's something for everyone in Tasmania this off-season. We guarantee you'll head home with some different skills and most importantly, a new take on winter." Ready to toss your woolly hat in the ring? Tourism Tasmania's Winternship applications are now open until Tuesday, June 17. To enter, simply write a short submission of fewer than 50 words, explaining why you want to become a winter person. If chosen, you'll have your travel covered and be guided by local experts throughout your stay. Plus, you'll return home with a selection of Tasmania's best seasonal produce and goods, handpicked by your hosts. Tourism Tasmania's Winternship applications are now open until Tuesday, June 17. Head to the website to learn more and submit your application.
The heritage-listed, iconic Bathers' Pavilion (parked up just next to one of the best beaches in New South Wales) has announced today that it's playing host to an exclusive residency from across the Pacific later this year. From Tuesday, July 28 to Sunday, August 23, Bathers will be hosting the flavours and recipes of SingleThread — regarded as one of the best, if not the best, restaurants on the US West Coast. Hailing from Sonoma wine country in Healdsburg, California, SingleThread is a three-star Michelin restaurant owned and operated by husband and wife duo Kyle and Katina Connaughton. Set on a 24-acres of farmland alongside greenhouses, heirloom orchards, beehives and an extensive floral program, SingleThread is defined by its surroundings. Before establishing the restaurant, Kyle Connaughton cut his teeth in kitchens across Los Angeles, Japan and the UK alongside culinary legends like Heston Blumenthal and Michel Bras. Taking those teachings into his own project, Connaughton has cultivated a strictly guest-first ethos, believing every detail of a restaurant exists in service of the diner. Across their four-week residency at Bathers', the SingleThread team will present a ten-course tasting menu that begins with their signature Hassun, a seasonal introductory dish inspired by Japan's traditional Kaiseki diners — up to ten individual, delicate bites that are typically harvested that very morning and presented on a bed of florals to set the tone for the courses to come. It's set to be an intimate experience, with each sitting hosting just 80 guests for $690 per guest (the same price charged back home in Healdsburg), served across lunch and dinner service from Tuesday to Sunday during the four-week residency. Bathers' last residency with L'Enclume in 2023 and 2025 saw waitlists climb into the thousands, and Bather's Managing Director, Jessica Shirvington, is proud to welcome such talent to Balmoral, saying, "To have the world's joint No.1 restaurant choose Balmoral for a four-week collaboration is something we are immensely proud of. We've demonstrated that we can deliver international residencies at a scale and standard not seen elsewhere in Australia." Bathers is already preparing the goods, with Executive Chef Aaron Ward beginning to grow vegetables and botanicals at Bathers' farm in the Southern Highlands, before travelling to Sonoma in April to develop the menu alongside the SingleThread team. And since its coming from Californian wine country, expect a wine menu that pairs Californian and Australian classics — plus some surprises from the restaurant's Japanese influences in the form of world-class sake. Kyle Connaughton spoke on the residency, saying, "SingleThread is about the dialogue between farm, kitchen and guest. Coming to Sydney allows us to explore that philosophy through Australia's extraordinary produce while maintaining the integrity of what defines us. We're excited to collaborate with Aaron Ward and the Bathers' team and create something that feels both true to Sonoma County and unique to Balmoral." Bookings for the SingleThread residency open on Thursday, March 12, at 10am AEST via the Bathers' website or by phone (02 9969 5050). An exclusive presale will be available for Bathers' subscribers.
What's that you can hear? It's the sound of Aussie music fans cheering at their computer screens, because Red Bull Sound Select has finally made it to Australia. Having already taken the US by storm, the artist development program designed to unearth and support new local talent launches in Sydney today, Tuesday, April 12. And it's perhaps the best response to the lockouts yet. Since its start in the States in 2012, Red Bull Sound Select has spread to Canada, New Zealand and now (finally) Australia. Along with their streaming site — where you can discover new songs and artists — the team throws gigs each month, working with the likes of Santa Monica's KCRW, San Francisco's Amoeba Music and NYC's BrooklynVegan to curate kickass, ahead-of-the-curve shows. It's all designed to make discovering new local music easy and affordable. Sydney has been chosen for the Australian launch of Sound Select, which will see a program of monthly gigs curated by massive local legends Johann Ponniah from I OH YOU and Laneway Festival's Travis Banko. Each show will take place on the last Friday of the month and feature a lineup of three acts, starting with two Red Bull Sound Select emerging artists — handpicked by Ponniah or Banko — and finishing up with one Aussie headliner. The first show will kick off this month on Friday, April 29 at the Chippendale Hotel. Presented by I OH YOU, Perth's Methyl Ethel will headline, with Melbourne up-and-comers Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever and Sydney's own Flowertruck opening, as well as surprise acts too. "As fans of what the program has been achieving internationally, we're incredibly excited to be a part of bringing [Red Bull Sound Select] to Australian shores," said I OH YOU's Johann Ponniah. "Just hoping we can keep pushing the envelope like other curators have been internationally and program some of the best up and coming talent that Australia has to offer." To attend the inaugural Sound Select Sydney show, just RSVP on their website. It costs $3 online or $10 on the door — but if you're buying one on the day, be sure to arrive early as the event will be capped. We couldn't be more psyched to see Australian artists get the recognition (and the opportunities) they deserve from such first rate international players.
Been spending the first half of 2021 pondering the future? Given how the past year has panned out, that's only natural. But in the early hours of Friday, June 25, you might want to look to the skies as well — and feast your eyes on this month's noteworthy lunar sight. For folks located Down Under, this is when you'll see this year's 'strawberry' full moon. According to NASA, it could also be considered a super full moons, with different publications split on the matter. If you choose to deem it a supermoon, you'll know that they aren't particularly rare — one occurred back in April, and then another took place in May — but there are still plenty of reasons to peer upwards this time around. If you're wondering what else you need to know, we've run through the details below. WHAT IS IT? If you're more familiar with The Mighty Boosh's take on the moon than actual lunar terms, here's what you need to know. June's full moon is called a strawberry moon not because it's pink or red — it isn't — but because that's when strawberries traditionally ripen in the northern hemisphere. Of course, it's currently winter in the southern hemisphere, but the name still sticks. And, if you're going with the supermoon school of thought, that name applies to a new moon or full moon that occurs when the moon reaches the closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit, making it particularly bright. Again, they're not all that uncommon — whether or not you want to claim this one as a supermoon. WHEN CAN I SEE IT? If you're keen to catch a glimpse, you'll want to peek outside on Friday, June 25. In Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, the moon will be full at 4.39am according to Timeanddate.com. In Adelaide, that time moves forward half an hour, so it'll take place at 4.09am — and in Perth, it'll be earlier still, at 2.39am. Those times refer to the exact full moon time. Of course, the moon will still be visible in the sky before then — and looking rather full, even if the exact minute hasn't arrived. So, if you'd prefer to take a gander at a more pleasant hour on Thursday, June 24 or even in the evening on Friday, June 25, that's understandable. WHERE CAN I SEE IT? You can take a gander from your backyard or balcony, but the standard advice regarding looking into the night sky always applies. So, city-dwellers will want to get as far away from light pollution as possible to get the absolute best view. If you can't get a clear vantage, The Virtual Telescope Project will be live-streaming from the skyline above Rome from 5am AEST on Friday, June 25 . The 'strawberry' full moon occur at 4.39am AEST on Friday, June 25 along Australia's east coast — although the moon itself will be visible in the sky all evening before that. For further information, including about timing, head to Timeanddate.com.
It looks like it's going to be a while longer yet before you can jet off on that next sunny holiday to the Greek islands. So why not let them come to you? A breezy new Greek meze bar has opened its doors in the heart of Bondi Beach, named and inspired by the tiny Aegean island of Ikaria. Here, husband-and-wife duo Joaquin Saez (Alberto's Lounge, Cho Cho San, co-owner of La Palma) and Emily Abay are bringing a taste of the Mediterranean coast to Sydney's own stretch of beachside paradise. You're invited to step through the door and embrace the Ikarian philosophy of life, centred around celebration, happiness and enjoyment. Fashion photographer Abay has helmed the design, creating a tranquil vision of archways, whitewashed walls and neutral-toned tiles, framed by sweeping views across the water. It's a holiday vibe, to be sure. Leading the kitchen is Head Chef Robert Young (Quay, Born by Tapavino, the UK's Restaurant Martin Wishart), who is turning out a share-focused menu peppered with plenty of Mediterranean flavours. You'll find the likes of an Ikarian-style taramasalata served with warm pita for dipping, saganaki finished with chestnut honey and crisp zucchini chips matched with herb aioli. Octopus is grilled, and teamed with lukanika (a type of sausage), radicchio and endives, while salsa verde finishes a dish of Greek-style lamb meatballs. Ikaria's wine offering is diverse for its size, featuring mostly European labels, alongside a handful of local beers and Greece's Mythos lager. But if you're really embracing those vacation feels, expect to be tempted by the cocktail list, which stars sips both classic and original. There's a riff on the martini, crafted with olive gin and rosemary thyme vermouth, and the striking Blue Zone — a fusion of tequila, blue curaçao, cucumber agave and rosemary smoke. What's more, from 3–5pm every Tuesday to Sunday, you can escape even further into the holiday fantasy during the bar's dedicated Aperitif Time, enjoying a series of happy hour drink specials. Find Ikaria at 70 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach. It's open from 3pm–late Tuesdays–Fridays, 12pm–late on Saturdays and 12pm–10pm on Sundays.
Another day, another way to treat your mum to a next-level Mother's Day this year – be it champagne and photo booths, lunch in one of these stunning restaurants, or an armful of unique creations from an artisans' market. The latest venue to get on board is Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre — and it's hosting Mum Cha. Book on Sunday, May 11, and you and your mum will be feasting on an array of delights. [caption id="attachment_848327" align="alignnone" width="1920"] The James Adams[/caption] Start with prawn crackers and cucumber salad, before moving onto dumplings – be they prawn, pork or veg – then fried bites such as salt and pepper tofu, crispy prawn wontons and prawn toast. Also on the menu is a bunch of specials, from the crab omelette to spicy dragon wings, and dessert in the form of mango pudding, ice cream or deep-fried Viennetta. To make your mum feel even more special, pre-order bubbles, flowers and Hawke's merch, which will be placed on the table before you get there. Three sittings are available, at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. [caption id="attachment_848331" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Nikki To[/caption]
Taking place over seven venues in Wollongong, Last Light is a new citywide festival making its home on Sydney's south coast neighbour. Wollongong locals and big-city visitors alike can enjoy a jam-packed night of live music as more than 30 acts pop-up at venues including Black Cockatoo, Five Barrel Brewing, Howling Wolf and the flavoured vodka-obsessed Red Square. Running from 12pm until midnight, the multi-venue festival will offer partygoers sets ranging from soft melancholic folk to dance floor-filling house. Last Light was created in the wake of harsh restrictions around large scale music festivals, with the hope of offering a festival-sized lineup to the public while bypassing the restrictions around mass gatherings. On the lineup, you'll find the likes of Cool Sounds, Flowertruck, Lex Deluxe, Debbie, Baby Beef, Ruben Neeson and Pyjama Sundayz. And best of all, entry is free. All you have to do is head to Oztix and RSVP. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eozrxHIAAVA
2018 was a great year for cinema. If you've been thinking otherwise, then maybe you just haven't had time to watch enough flicks or you haven't ventured out of your viewing comfort zone. Indeed, the past 12 months have served up a feast of films that show why we all love catching a movie, whether we're heading to our local picture palace or getting cosy on the couch. The very best films aren't just an artful, entertaining combination of sound and vision — they're a reminder that, even though this medium is more than a century old, it's still full of surprises. Don't worry — we have examples. There's Black Panther with its engaging embrace of its vivid on-screen world, all while carving out a new space in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There's the combination of dance and horror that made both Suspiria and Climax two of this year's highlights, all while doing something completely different from each other. Widows boasted smart heist thrills, packaged with an all-star cast and a stunning statement, while A Simple Favour offered a delightfully twisty time at the cinema. There's also First Reformed's soulful and provocative contemplation of faith, The Favourite's wickedly funny royal hijinks and Can You Ever Forgive Me?'s involving account of literary forgery too. Each offered up something unexpected — and they're all unlucky to make our best-of list. Throughout 2018, Concrete Playground's film critics watched all of the above and more, and reviewed over 120 films. Now, they've whittled down their favourites to the below ten movies. Maybe you saw them. Maybe you didn't. But that's another great thing about cinema — you can always rewatch the flicks that you loved and seek out the ones that you missed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQyDaGWQ43w YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE In Lynne Ramsay's long-waited fourth feature, an ex-soldier and former FBI agent grapples with his own trauma while trying to save others from theirs. Joe rescues children abducted and abused by pedophile rings — and if that sounds like an astonishing story, just wait, because You Were Never Really Here isn't done yet. Indeed, it's hard to pick what's more stunning here: Ramsay's empathetic and expressive direction, which keeps making unexpected choices to immerse viewers in Joe's headspace, or Joaquin Phoenix's internalised performance as the movie's protagonist, which won him the best actor prize at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. Call it a tie, and call this film an exceptional achievement that isn't easily forgotten after watching. — Sarah Ward Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSYHHLk12x8 COLD WAR After the Oscar-winning Ida, Polish filmmaker Pawel Pawlikowski plunges into a sweeping love story that's also a portrait of his post-war homeland. In fact, it's a personal tale inspired by his parents (and dedicated to them as well), with Wiktor (Tomasz Kot) and Zula (Joanna Kulig) their on-screen surrogates. As Poland adjusts to the titular period, the ups and downs of the intertwined duo's lives spill across the screen. A film of deep yearning as well as a clear-eyed understanding of the way that the world works, especially in times of conflict, every aspect of Cold War borders on flawless, from its intimate performances to its moving soundtrack to its Academy ratio, black-and-white images. — SW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3__y-uPwbe8 HEREDITARY In a banner year for the horror genre, no film provided a more anxious or uncomfortable viewing experience than Hereditary. Director Ari Aster takes his time, immersing viewers in the unsettled life of the Graham family, which teeters on the brink of collapse long before demonic forces take hold. It's a smart move, one that makes the film's eventual descent into madness that much more disturbing. Toni Collette gives a career best performance as a mother consumed by grief, while the recurring dollhouse motif further emphasises the feeling that the characters — and the audience as well — are merely the playthings of a far more powerful force. — Tom Clift Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp_i7cnOgbQ ROMA In a stellar year for excellent directors doing what they do best, Alfonso Cuarón sits at the top of the heap. And yes, Roma does showcase the Gravity filmmaker doing what he often does — that is, peering at someone who doesn't usually take pride of place on the screen. Taking inspiration from his own upbringing, the Mexican helmer tells the tale of housemaid Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), splicing together slices of her life working for a well-off family in the early 70s. Whether watching Cleo clean up after the family dog or delving into her problems beyond her job, every moment proves both emotionally intricate and visually sumptuous. Roma earned Cuarón the Golden Lion at this year's Venice Film Festival, and he's only going to keep picking up more trophies. — SW Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYKBG1znk4A SWEET COUNTRY When Sweet Country emerged victorious at this year's AACTA awards, it was truly a case of the best film winning. Warwick Thornton's Australian western is a sight to behold, with the Samson and Delilah filmmaker seeing every inch of the Northern Territory's outback landscape. The film also makes a firm statement, as becomes clear when an Indigenous stockman (Hamilton Morris) kills a white station owner in self-defence. He's forced to flee with his wife Lizzie (Natassia Gorey-Furber), but a local posse is soon on their trail. As Sweet Country decisively confronts this all-too-real situation, it also confronts the country's history of racial prejudice. The movie might be set in the 1920s, but Thornton purposefully, convincingly and heartbreakingly holds a mirror up to Aussie attitudes today. — SW Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqy27Bk0Vw0 A QUIET PLACE The dreadful quiet before the scare has always been a crucial of horror moviemaking. But with A Quiet Place, actor-turned-director John Krasinski weaves the idea into the very DNA of his story. Silence is the key to survival in this gripping creature feature, which makes the most of its brilliant premise and benefits from standout (and largely dialogue-free) performances from Krasinski, Emily Blunt and young newcomer Millicent Simmonds. And while the film suffers somewhat from the Jaws effect in that the monsters are scarier before you see them, A Quiet Place is nevertheless a masterclass of tension. — TC Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8mJT7wEtkA CUSTODY A marriage crumbles. A woman leaves and takes her children with her. After a difficult ordeal in court, life should go on, except that Miriam's (Léa Drucker) husband Antoine (Denis Ménochet) won't accept the new status quo. In weekend visits, he resorts to bullying his pre-teen son Julien (Thomas Gioria), who is now forced to flit between his parents. Forget action blockbusters and spooky thrillers — the seemingly routine events of Custody provide this year's most suspenseful viewing experience. The extraordinary debut of French writer/director Xavier Legrand, this is a bleak, tough, raw, involving and unforgettable film from start to finish. — SW Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpxJIWz8MNQ BLACKKKLANSMAN Director Spike Lee fires on cylinders with this funny, compelling and uncomfortably timely story about a black cop's mission to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan. Lee has never been an especially subtle filmmaker, and his allusions to contemporary American politics — and one politician in particular — are impossible to miss. But the approach works perfectly in this stranger-than-fiction true story, which delights in hammering home the overwhelming stupidity that drives so much prejudice and hate. With a perfect mix of outrageous comedy and sobering drama, BlacKkKlansman truly is the perfect film for these troubled times. — TC Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVkX1qAyMrY LEAVE NO TRACE In another world, it wouldn't have taken Debra Granik eight years to direct another feature after Winter's Bone. That's not the world that we're living in — but, thankfully, we do now have this affecting and sensitive portrait of a father and daughter trying to live their own way. Making an Oregon forest their home, military veteran Will (Ben Foster) and teenager Tom (Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie) try to avoid attention so that they can continue to do as they please — but life has other plans. Watching them adjust, and watching the wise-beyond-her-years Tom realise that her own path might be different from her dad's, Leave No Trace steeps viewers in an empathetic exploration of America's increasingly fractured society. — SW Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOOcpb48Oyo SHOPLIFTERS Few filmmakers are as adept at crafting intimate family dramas than Japan's Hirokazu Kore-eda. His latest effort, Shoplifters, won the prestigious Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival, and its hard to imagine a worthier recipient. Charting the highs and lows of an unconventional family unit living on the margins in Tokyo, the film shines a light on a side of Japanese society that's rarely seen, while tugging deftly at the heartstrings. There's no sense of emotional manipulation in Kore-eda's work, but audiences will invariably be in tears by the time all is said and done. — TC Read our full review. These are our favourite films of 2018, but we've also put together a list of the best films hardly anyone saw this year — y'know, the ones that sort of went in and out of cinemas without much fanfare but definitely deserve a watch.
In Contagion, the most prophetic film of the 21st century so far, filmmaker Steven Soderbergh didn't just chart the outbreak of a deadly pandemic or introduce everyone to the term 'social distancing'. His eerily accurate thriller also delved into the quest to find a vaccine, too, so that life could go back to normal. And, that's the reality the world has been facing since COVID-19 first emerged — with pharmaceutical companies and medical researchers around the globe working furiously to come up with a solution. One of those companies is UK-based drug outfit AstraZeneca, and Aussies are now going to want to keep a close eye on its progress. As announced today, Wednesday, August 19, the Australian Government has signed a letter of intent with the company to manufacture enough doses of its vaccine, called AZD1222, for everyone in the country. The catch, and it's a big one: the vaccine needs to work. At present, AZD1222 is in phase-three trials, with the vaccine co-invented by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, and also known 'the Oxford vaccine'. In interim data published last month, it has been deemed safe, and shown to generate a strong immune response as well. In a statement, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that "the Oxford vaccine is one of the most advanced and promising in world, and under this deal we have secured early access for every Australian". He further remarked, however, that this doesn't mean the vaccine will make it through trials. "There is no guarantee that this, or any other, vaccine will be successful, which is why we are continuing our discussions with many parties around the world while backing our own researchers at the same time to find a vaccine." Also worth noting: if the Oxford vaccine does work, it will be provided to every Aussie for free. Obviously, the government won't provide further details about how everyone will get vaccinated until a working vaccine actually exists. Speaking on radio station 3AW today, the Prime Minister did reveal that the vaccine will likely be compulsory, though. "I would expect it to be as mandatory as you can possibly make. There are always exemptions for any vaccine on medical grounds, but that should be the only basis. I mean, we're talking about a pandemic that has destroyed the global economy and taken the lives of hundreds of thousands all around the world and over 430 Australians here. So, you know, we need the most extensive and comprehensive response to this to get Australia back to normal," he commented. If you're keen to know more about AZD1222, science-wise, AstraZeneca's official rundown explains that it replicates viral vectors from chimpanzees based on a weakened version of a common cold virus. It also contains "the genetic material of the SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein", with SARS-CoV-2 the official name of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. "After vaccination, the surface spike protein is produced, priming the immune system to attack the SARS-CoV-2 virus if it later infects the body," the company says. As well as the arrangement to supply 25 million doses of the Oxford vaccine to Australia, AstraZeneca has also made a deal to roll out 400 million doses in the European Union — and has other deals in place with Russia, South Korea, Japan, China, Latin America and Brazil, which covers more than three billion doses of the vaccine in total. Of course, the world will still need to wait to see if the vaccine is successful. And, if it is, we'll need to wait for it to be rolled out from there. AstraZeneca expects its late-stage trial results later this year — but the timeline afterwards hasn't yet been advised. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Australia, visit the Australian Government Department of Health website.
Not only home to one of Sydney’s best weekly markets and the craft beer aficionados of The Little Guy and Mr Falcon's, Glebe showcases its eclectic bohemian culture on an annual basis at the beloved Glebe Street Fair. An unusual mix of belly dancers, bagpipers and stilted figures toting festively-dressed poodles, Sydney’s oldest street fair promises three stages of live music accompanied by buskers, street performers, and the Latin Dance Australia parade this year. The fair's entertainment will be paired with equally internationally-focused food options, like Hawaiian-style sushi, Mexican churros and German bangers. With 100 local businesses involved and over 200 stalls to choose from, all you'll need at this fair trade and homemade event is an empty stomach and your dancing shoes. Stalls for vintage eyewear, Turkish towels and terrifying t-shirts will stand alongside henna tattoo artists and glass blowers — you'll find something to blow your pocket money on.
Here's a secret from every bartender who's ever served you: you look absolutely ridiculous doing a shot. But, if we're being fair, so does everyone. The only people who can pull it off are cowboys shooting whiskey in old Westerns and even then, it was probably fake booze. Now, cheeky British photographer Tim Charles is revealing the true face of your tequila-soaked stupor; he's giving people snapshots of their face after a shot. The project, aptly titled Shot Face, features over 30 strangers in this alarming and unguarded moment. Inspired by the ridiculous grimace his girlfriend made one night after slamming a shot at the bar, he recruited people from his friends group, casting sites and Gumtree. They were then offered tequila, gin or sambuca, and the rest came naturally. "You start to appreciate some of the subtleties people display," Charles told the Daily Mail. "My original favourite is the one of Elena (in the pink and white top), I love the way her arm is up in the air, almost as if she's saying 'stop' or 'give me a minute', it always makes me laugh when I see it." In a way, the photographs remind us of the posters for Lars Von Trier's Nymphomaniac. Though they're very different in context, the same sense of immediacy and intimacy is still very much present. But... now that we've said that, we've ruined the series entirely. Good luck scrolling through these and keeping your mind out of the gutter. Either way, it's some definite food for thought next time you feel like a tequila slammer on a fancy night out. Via Petapixel and Daily Mail. All photos via Tim Charles.
Surry Hills' Los Angeles-inspired fitness centre Paramount Recreation Club is bringing its wellness kick to health food with a weekly Autumn Harvest Lunch. Every Sunday until the end of April, the venue's head chef David Rigby will create an organic feast for the masses — starting on March 3. All of the seasonal produce will be sourced by The Locals Market, which also runs a farmers stall on the rooftop every Saturday. For $55 a pop, expect a banquet featuring ethically sourced meat, organic salads and other sustainable produce — the meal will change weekly depending on what's available. For drinks, punters are encouraged to BYO whichever bevvy they prefer — including beer, wine and Champagne — with a $5 corkage fee per person. The two hour sittings will take place in the lush rooftop garden at 11.45am and 2pm each Sunday. There are limited tickets available each week, though, so be sure to book ahead. Updated March 23.
Sometimes Apple TV+ dives into real-life crimes, as miniseries Black Bird did. Sometimes it mines the whodunnit setup for laughs, which The Afterparty winningly achieved. The family feuds of Bad Sisters, Servant's domestic horrors, Hello Tomorrow!'s retrofuturistic dream, the titular take on work-life balance in Severance — they've all presented streaming audiences with puzzles, too, because this platform's original programming loves a mystery. So, of course The Big Door Prize, the service's new dramedy, is all about asking questions from the outset. Here, no one is wondering who killed who, why a baby has been resurrected or if a situation that sounds too good to be true unsurprisingly is. Rather, they're pondering a magical machine and what it tells them about themselves. That premise isn't merely a metaphor for existential musings, although everyone in The Big Door Prize does go down the "what does it all mean?" rabbit hole. When the Morpho pops up in the small town of Deerfield, it literally informs residents of their true potential — for $2, their palm prints and social security number. Adorned with a butterfly symbol and glowing with blue light, the contraption looks like an arcade game. There's nothing to play, though, unless it is playing everyone who sits in its booth. Participants receive an also-blue business card for their troubles, proclaiming what they're supposed to be doing with their life in bold white lettering. Is it a bit of fun? A modern-day clairvoyant game? A gag? Somehow spot-on? Also, where did the machine come from? Who brought it to the local grocery store? Can it be trusted? The longer that folks share their existence with the Morpho, the more queries arise. As seen in the first three episodes that dropped on Wednesday, March 29, with the story then continuing weekly for the show's ten-episode first season — a second has just been greenlit as well — not everyone in Deerfield is initially fascinated with the locale's new gadget. The series opens as high-school history teacher Dusty Hubbard (Chris O'Dowd, Slumberland) turns 40, marking the occasion with that many gifts from his wife Cass (Gabrielle Dennis, A Black Lady Sketch Show) and teenage daughter Trina (Djouliet Amara, Devil in Ohio). Some presents he likes, such as the scooter and helmet. Others he's perplexed by, including the theremin. He's also baffled by all the talk about the Morpho, the new reason to head to Mr Johnson's (Patrick Kerr, Search Party) store. As school principal Pat (Cocoa Brown, Never Have I Ever) embraces her inner biker because the machine said so, and charisma-dripping restaurateur Giorgio (Josh Segarra, Scream VI) revels in being told he's a superstar, Dusty claims he's happy not joining in. Lines sprawl down the street in a town that only really has a main street, and a high school, as Deerfield's inhabitants are drawn in by the Morpho's promise: "Discover Your Life Potential". For someone who keeps saying he's sitting it out, Dusty sure does love obsessing over why everyone else is upending their routines because 80s-esque technology spat out their destiny. His parents announce that they're splitting, for instance, with his dad (Jim Meskimen, American Auto) pursuing male modelling and his mother (Deirdre O'Connell, Outer Range) heading to Europe after the machine advised that she's a healer. When Dusty points that his mum is already a doctor, it falls on deaf ears. So goes the entire town, making snap decisions and grabbing the opportunity to reinvent themselves, mix up lives that didn't ever seem like they'd change and reassess what they truly want. The Big Door Prize itself hasn't appeared out of nowhere, adapting MO Walsh's book of the same name. On-screen, it boasts David West Read as its creator — a writer and producer who knows a thing or two about pursuing alternate storylines thanks to penning stage musical & Juliet, which gives Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet a revisionist twist and continuation, and is also well-versed in small-town hijinks after winning an Emmy for Schitt's Creek. He's in far less overtly comic territory than the latter here; The Big Door Prize is still amusing, but rarely laugh-a-minute, although The Other Two delight Segarra could walk straight out of this and into Read's past hit. Still, this is also about a family disrupted while navigating small-town life, the assorted people who populate such spots, the rituals and gathering points that communities congregate around, and the quest to find significance in the cards you've been dealt. Making the most of its strong ensemble cast, each of the show's first eight episodes focuses on a particular Deerfield citizen and their potential, while keeping Dusty, Cass and their marriage in view, plus Trina's grief over her boyfriend's recent death and his identical twin Jacob's (debutant Sammy Fourlas) efforts to cope. All four earn their own chapter, as does Cass' mother and town mayor Izzy (Crystal Fox, Big Little Lies), Jacob's western-loving dad Beau (Aaron Roman Weiner, Suspicion), aforementioned NHL star-turned-Italian eatery owner Giorgio and school chaplain Father Rueben (Damon Gupton, Your Honor). This approach helps The Big Door Prize get not just philosophical but universal, because the Morpho's fortune-telling means different things to different people, yet sparks ripples that flow over everyone. While only bartender Hana (Ally Maki, Hacks) genuinely opts out, there's a tale around that as well. From the get-go, the Morpho nabs viewers' intrigue — and so do the strange cobalt dots, matching the machine's chosen palette, that appear early on Dusty's rear. There's no shortage of small mysteries in Deerfield, just as there's no lack of quirks (see: the town's staycation spot, aka "the number one nautical-based hotel in Deerfield", plus the canal and gondola inside Giorgio's eponymous restaurant). But like The Twilight Zone-meets-The Box but lighter, with nods to Schitt's Creek and sharing Wes Anderson's love of visually magnifying the everyday, The Big Door Prize gets its audience ruminating over two main questions. The first, in classic Apple TV+ mystery-style: what's really going on? The second: if a machine could advise how to best spend your days, possibly shattering your long-held dreams but maybe confirming your deepest desires, what would you do? In lieu of physically slipping into Dusty and co's shoes, then facing The Big Door Prize's scenario themselves, viewers should watch. Wanting to solve the show's key mystery makes this addictive viewing — and if you start thinking about Lost, or even the theory that Schitt's Creek was happening in purgatory, that's understandable. As written so convincingly across O'Dowd's expressive face, though, The Big Door Prize isn't about delivering instant answers. The likeable The IT Crowd, Bridesmaids and Moone Boy star plays a man who has never actively sought any himself, but just complied with the done thing, a path that's beginning to unravel. Easy proclamations now surround him; however, alongside his fellow townsfolk, he's learning that life's mundanities and enigmas alike don't fit neatly and nicely into any one box — and nor does this engaging series. Check out the trailer for The Big Door Prize below: The Big Door Prize streams via Apple TV+.
Usually, when winter rolls around, Bondi becomes a hub of ferris wheel rides, art shows, live music, history walks and fringe events for the annual Winter Magic and Bondi Feast events. In 2020, because of COVID-19, those events were combined to create a mega-festival of art, food and soaring through the sky dubbed Bondi Festival. This year, Bondi Festival is back with a full suite of exciting pop-ups and activations throughout the beachside suburb. Setting up once more will be Bondi Vista, a mega wheel that'll send you soaring 22 metres above the sand. From Friday, July 1 through until Sunday July 17, you can go for a spin and feast your eyes on 360-degree views. On one side, you'll be gazing at wild waves, endless horizon and open sky. On the other, look out for glimpses of the city skyline. If you prefer to spin in circles on the ground, you can do just that at an ice-skating rink. And, walking tours and events for families will also be on the bill. Between rides on both circular attractions, you can check out an extravaganza of comedy and theatre, with shows popping up throughout the suburb. There will be a comedy and theatre mash-up from Randa Sayed and a comedic theatre seance from magician Harry Milas in a hidden Bondi location. Artist Joel Bray will also be transforming the Bondi Bowlo for a pub trivia night blended with contemporary dance, and award-winning performer Bron Batten will be presenting a theatre piece based on modern romance called Onstage Dating. "Playful, immersive and tailor-made, this year's program takes over Bondi for three weeks of art and playful audience experiences," Bondi Festival Director Rachel Chant said. "Go ice-skating by the beach or commune with the dead in a mysterious location, date an artist live on stage or take in a panoramic view of the coastline on the Bondi Vista Ferris Wheel."
Long before we were all forced to indulge our international wanderlust through a screen — and only though a screen — the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival was projecting France's wonders into Australian cinemas. For the past 31 years, the annual event has let Aussie movie buffs see the European nation's newest, best and brightest flicks. And when you're watching French features, you're often watching films set against Paris' busy streets, the country's greenery-filled countryside or along its scenic coastline. As it always does, the 2021 festival traverses plenty of France through its big-screen lineup. City-set dramas, suburban comedies, beachside romances: they're all on this year's bill. In total, 37 films are hitting cinemas Down Under throughout March and April, in a touring program that's making its way around the nation. Wondering what to check out? We've planned your movie-watching itinerary for you, all thanks to our ten must-see picks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYCyYJofeEE SUMMER OF 85 Nothing is ever simple in a film by François Ozon, as the likes of 8 Women, Swimming Pool, In the House and By the Grace of God has already made plain across his 19-feature resume. So, when Summer of 85 makes viewers swoon over its blossoming seaside love story — and makes teenager Alexis (Félix Lefebvre, School's Out) fall for the slightly older David (Benjamin Voisin, Moving On) when the latter rescues the former after capsizing in a sailboat — no one should get comfortable or cosy, or think that a complication-free romance will float easily and effortlessly across the screen. Alexis falls hard for his new friend, who is one of the only people he has connected with since moving to Normandy. But, unfolding across two timelines as the 16-year-old looks back on his time with David, this becomes a knotty tale of love, heartbreak and forging one's identity out of defining moments. Writing as well as directing, Ozon adapts Aidan Chambers' 1982 novel Dance on My Grave with his usual swelling mood and command of detail — and from the pitch-perfect period fashions to the coastal setting, Summer of 85 catches the eye as much as it demands the audience's emotional investment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7GvHwRzjz0 SKIES OF LEBANON Heartfelt and hauntingly evocative, Skies of Lebanon starts its story in the 50s, when Alice (Alba Rohrwacher, Happy as Lazzaro) departs Switzerland for Beirut. Never feeling as if she belongs in her homeland, she jumps at the chance to work abroad, where she quickly meets, falls for and starts a family with astrophysicist Joseph (Wajdi Mouawad, Still Burning). That part of the tale happens quickly, because this isn't the kind of romance where a couple simply lives happily ever after. Indeed, once the Lebanese Civil War begins, the ebbs and flows of Alice and Joseph's existence are wholly dictated by the combat, which instantly changes the mood of the entire city. Making a stunningly affecting feature debut, writer/director Chloé Mazlo plunges into the reality of having everything you hold dear touched by conflict, with her narrative drawn from her grandmother's recollections from the time. The always-exceptional Rohrwacher conveys Alice's internal struggle in a quietly expressive performance, while Mazlo's jumps into playful animation and striking use of stylised sets gives the film the air of a memory, helping an already moving feature to keep landing stirring blows. THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SKIN Back in 2017, when The Square clawed through the commercialisation and commodification of the art world, it won the Cannes Film Festival's coveted Palme d'Or for its efforts. Fellow satire The Man Who Sold His Skin doesn't have the same accolade to its name, but it's just as savagely entertaining as it rips into the same topic. The man of the movie's title is Sam Ali (Yahya Mahayni, Opium). A Syrian refugee in Lebanon, he accepts a strange offer from an acclaimed, controversy-provoking artist (Koen De Bouw, Torpedo) to have Europe's Schengen visa tattooed on his back. He'll also receive assistance to obtain the real thing, as long as he agrees to sit in art galleries as a living exhibition whenever he's asked. If that last part sounds familiar, Wim Delvoye's Tim, which is live-streaming at Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art, provided writer/director Kaouther Ben Hania (Beauty And The Dogs) with inspiration for The Man Who Sold His Skin. That said, this whip-smart and wild movie takes its own ride. The great Monica Bellucci (Twin Peaks) also pops up, but a film this vivid, clever and ferocious about art, money, freedom, borders and the way the world treats asylum seekers doesn't need a star to stand out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vM3J6INVpcw THE GODMOTHER With the inimitable Isabelle Huppert at its centre, and a premise that owes a debt to Weeds and Breaking Bad, The Godmother strikes a crafty balance between comedy, drama and thrills. The Greta and Happy End star (and Elle Oscar-nominee) plays Patience Portefeux, a translator who works with the Paris police on narcotics cases. During a routine job listening to wiretapped phones, she decides to prevent the big bust that'd make her boyfriend Philippe's (Hippolyte Girardot, Marseille) career, steal the enormous stash of hash after redirecting the cops' attention and take up a side hustle as a wholesaler to street-level dealers. Her motivation: money, with the long-widowed mother of two attempting to secure her financial future in a world that's hardly accommodating to single, middle-aged women. Adapted from Hannelore Cayre's book of the same name by the author with director Jean-Paul Salomé (Playing Dead, Female Agents), The Godmother is unsurprisingly lifted by Huppert, as everything she stars in is. Still, this lively and engaging crime caper is helmed with a light touch, as well as a keen awareness of the material's deeper moments. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Puzzh3wowd8 DELETE HISTORY Following three French suburbanites who are each intensely unimpressed with today's always-online times, Delete History is a satire for anyone that's ever felt tired of social media's hold on their lives; of the likes, favourites and ratings that now dictate much of human interaction; and of the fact that every word, text, video and action can last forever in the digital world. All residents of the same masterplanned community, the recently separated Marie (Blanche Gardin, #Iamhere) is being blackmailed over a sex tape she can't remember starring in, widower Bertrand (Denis Podalydes, La Belle Époque) keeps writing letters to Facebook over his teenage daughter's cyberbullying, and ride share driver Christine (Corinne Masiero, Invisibles) can't seem to amass more than a single star from her customers. Banding together in a film that's always purposefully odd and absurd, and yet also clearly grounded in relatable situations and emotions as well, this trio decide to take matters into their own hands in increasingly offbeat ways. Writer/director duo Benoit Delepine and Gustave Kervern (I Feel Good) don't deliver an earth-shattering insights about modern-day life, but in a quickly memorable movie, they do serve up a wealth of wry laughs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqEjJW059TA IBRAHIM An on-screen presence in everything from TV's Spiral and The Returned to films such as In the Name of the Land and The Transporter Refuelled, actor Samir Guesmi makes his feature directing and screenwriting debut with the sensitive and moving Ibrahim. He also co-stars, playing waiter and single father Ahmed Bougaoui; however, the movie's real point of focus is the titular teenager (Abdel Bendaher, How to Make Out), his character's son. After sliding into shoplifting with his friend Achille (Rabah Nait Oufella, Nocturama), getting caught and leaving his dad with a sizeable debt, Ibrahim is torn in two directions. He's determined to make things right for his already-struggling father, even if that means further flirting with crime. With Ahmed sternly condemning of Ibrahim's new direction, the latter is also a ball of pain, uncertainty and unhappiness. Both Guesmi and Bendaher turn in exquisitely layered performances as a father and son weighed down by life's disappointments but, despite their hurt and heated feelings, always tied together. And, as a filmmaker, Guesmi tackles the coming-of-age genre with naturalistic flair — visually, and in exploring his intricate characters. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuSlIPZZFRc CALAMITY, A CHILDHOOD OF MARTHA JANE CANNARY If you've ever watched Deadwood, as everyone should've, then you've already seen one version of Martha Jane Cannary on-screen. The American frontierswoman better known as Calamity Jane has been immortalised on television and in film many times, including in the 1950s Doris Day-starring musical that shares her nickname — but Calamity, A Childhood of Martha Jane Cannary steps back to the real-life figure's formative years. While telling her tale through gorgeous minimalistic animation filled with deep and vibrant blues, greens and purples (and with breathtaking renderings of America's sprawling landscape, too), this all-ages gem does't pretend to stick to the facts. Instead, it spins Cannary's youth into an 1860s-era adventure set on and around the Oregon Trail. Director and co-writer Rémi Chayé already has 2015's Long Way North to his name, and also worked on 2009's The Secret Life Of Kells, so he's no stranger to eye-catching animation. Here, he teams spectacular imagery with a spirited narrative, and the delightful end result won him the Best Feature Film award at the 2020 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z56cG1ULGi0 NIGHT SHIFT In Lupin, playing the titular master thief, Omar Sy continually skirts the law. In Night Shift, he stands on the other side, as one of three cops assigned to escort asylum-seeker Tohirov (Payman Maadi, The Night Of) to the airport — to be deported back to Tajikistan, where further torture and worse likely await. A tense drama that delves into topical subject matter, Night Shift splits its attention between Sy's Aristide and his fellow officers Virginie (Virginie Efira, Bye Bye Morons) and Erik (Grégory Gadebois, An Officer and a Spy). Each has their own story, took their own path to their present situation and deals with the demands of the job in their own fashion. With their current task, and the fate their prisoner is expected to face, each copes in their own way as well. Adapting Hugo Boris' novel Police, it's a testament to director and co-writer Anne Fontaine (The Innocents) that little here feels as straightforward as it sounds, even if it primarily remains in familiar territory. The top-notch cast assist considerably, with Efira pushed to the fore in a rare cop movie that noticeably values a female perspective. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij-SxVU5P3g MISS When Misbehaviour thrust beauty pageants into the cinematic spotlight in 2020, it recreated real-life events from 1970 to call attention to the fight for equality — a battle that became worldwide news half a century ago, as covered in the film, but still hasn't been won in the 21st century. Because movies on similar themes often arrive in pairs, Miss also explores the industry, this time pondering gender identity and the norms that society has long ascribed to femininity. Since childhood, Alex (Alexandre Wetter, Emily in Paris) has dreamed of becoming Miss France. Uttering that goal as a boy earned laughs, and pursuing it as a twentysomething requires navigating a wealth of expectations, preconceptions and judgement. Playing a character that's confident in their heart but still learning to show the same assurance externally, Wetter brings grace, poise, texture and complexity to the central part, while filmmaker Ruben Alves (The Gilded Cage) ensures that Miss is rousing, charming and never as by-the-numbers as its feel-good premise signals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRGs--e32Sc MANDIBLES In Mandibles, friends Manu (Grégoire Ludig, Bye Bye Morons) and Jean-Gab (David Marsais, The Nobodies) stumble across a giant fly. Freeing it from a car boot, they decide that they can train it, then profit. Yes, that's what this OTT film is about. Yes, it comes straight from the mind of Quentin Dupieux, because it really couldn't spring from anywhere else. The French filmmaker has already made movies about psychotic tyres and alluring jackets — in 2010's Rubber and 2019's Deerskin, respectively — so adding a big insect flick to his resume hardly comes as a surprise. His sense of humour is that absurd and distinctive and, if the film-viewing world is lucky, he'll keep reminding us of that fact with every new movie he makes. Dupieux's work isn't to everyone's taste, as you've either gathered by watching or just by reading the above right now; however, if you're on his out-there, surreal and often incredibly silly yet also disarmingly astute wavelength, it's a delight. And sure, multiple versions of The Fly already exist, but they're bound to look positively sensible compared to this. The Alliance Française French Film Festival tours Australia from March 2–April 22, screening at Sydney's Palace Central, Palace Verona, Palace Norton Street, Chauvel Cinema and Hayden Orpheum Cremorne from March 2–April 5; Melbourne's Palace Cinema Como, Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Westgarth, Astor Theatre, The Kino and Pentridge Cinema from March 3–April 5; Palace Raine Square, Luna Leederville, Windsor Cinema, Luna on SX and Camelot Outdoor Cinema from March 10–April 11; Brisbane's Palace Barracks and Palace James Street from March 17–April 15; and Adelaide's Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas and Palace Nova Prospect Cinemas from March 23–April 22. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the AFFFF website.
Singer-songwriter-model-actress-felon-general badass Sky Ferreira is back in the country for Splendour and ready to add to the substantial hype already surrounding the 21 year old. Only a few months on from her instantly sold out show at Oxford Art Factory, the indie starlet du jour is bringing her gritty rock-infused synth-pop to the Metro Theatre on Friday July 25. Fresh off the back of supporting Miley Cyrus' Bangerz Tour, Ferreira will no doubt relish the change of pace with the more intimate venue allowing her to showcase the raw vulnerability of her debut LP Night Time, My Time. Ever the boundary-pusher with a self-described destructive streak, let's just hope the pop powerhouse manages to not get arrested, hospitalized or injured before making her much awaited return. If the sales for her previous show are anything to go by, you'd want to get tickets now or else apply for a credit card and start honing your eBay skills. Though a word to the wise: this is all ages. https://youtube.com/watch?v=pWo7SC-tG4U
The warmer months are prime time for weekend markets, with Watsons Bay Summer Market offering a more scenic backdrop to enjoy the sun than most. Held at Robertson Park on Sunday, February 9, you're invited to explore over 150 stalls with Sydney Harbour stretching into the distance. Expect incredible cuisine, fascinating shopping and all-round good times. Food is an undeniable highlight, with an eclectic mix of international cuisine ensuring you can load up on beloved flavours from around the globe. Get down for a Turkish gozleme, a Spanish paella, Vietnamese street food or stacked American barbecue goodness. Don't worry, desserts haven't been overlooked, with Dutch pancakes, Portuguese tarts and handmade gelato just some sweet delights on offer. Between bites to eat, roam a curated collection of local artisans specialising in handcrafted jewellery, designer homewares and sustainable fashion. There's every chance you find the perfect trinket to display at home or an adorable toy to gift your pet. For the kids, there are also a multitude of activities to keep them occupied, from face-painting and sand art to bubble blowing and carnival rides. "Markets like this provide a chance to shop differently – to meet the people behind the products, discover handmade items, and enjoy a relaxed, community vibe," says Madelienne Anderson, founder of Cambridge Markets. "It's all about enjoying the best of Sydney in a way that's fun and meaningful." Images: Jessica Nash.
Have you been painstakingly catching Pokemon all over town, but undeniably disappointed you can't bloody well eat the damn things? Get that bib on. Sydney's Hashtag Burgers are cranking out Pokemon-inspired burgers from their Down-N-Out burger CBD pop-up for the next two weeks. And they're pretty well adorable. The crew will be be releasing a limited number every day for the next two weeks from their In-N-Out-inspired pop-up inside the Sir John Young Hotel on the corner of Liverpool Street and George Street. Each burger has been dreamt up by chef Seb (ex-Thirsty Bird and Mr Crackles) and corresponds to the different type of Pokemon it looks like. And because Pokemon are random little critters, you're not allowed to choose which Pokeburg you'll receive — it's completely by chance. Go catch 'em all from today until September 3. Hashtag Burgers' Down N' Out pop-up can be found at the Sir John Young Hotel on the corner of Liverpool Street and George Street, Sydney CBD.
If you don't spend the festive season floating around Darling Harbour in a Christmas-themed pedal boat while surrounded by buoyant Christmas baubles, then is it really the merriest time of the year? In Sydney, clearly not — because Cockle Bay's old-school pedal boats are making a comeback this summer, complete with a seasonal makeover. In the words of the festive song from Love Actually that you'll now have stuck in your head, Christmas will indeed be all around you when you take to the water in one of these floating vessels from Thursday, November 26. Sure, many of us have enjoyed a first date on a pedal boat, holding hands and having conversations about the weather (actually, if movies are to be believed, most of us fall into that category), but you can now you can relive the experience while getting festive. Until Sunday, January 30, the leg-powered vehicles can be hired from the Cockle Bay Marina for $35 a pop, which'll get you a whole 30 minutes on the water. If you think half-an-hour in the blistering Sydney sun sounds like a recipe for sunburn, you'd be right but, thankfully, the boats come equipped with a shade to keep you cool. The boats will be hitting the bay from 12–8pm on weekdays and 10am–8pm on weekends until Sunday, December 19, before extending their hours until 10am–8pm for the rest of the season. And, they seat two adults, so you can plan a date or bring a mate. If you have little ones in tow, you can also bring two kids along — but the four-person capacity still only covers a maximum of two adults. You do have to wear a life jacket while cruising on Darling Harbour, and you can book online in advance. Getting pedalling on the water isn't the only Christmassy thing you can do in Darling Harbour this festive season, either, thanks to a Christmas festival filled with free live tunes and DJs across the weekends of December 11–12 and 18–19, the return of the Christmas bauble at the Convention Centre Forecourt, and 12 days of free Christmas yoga. Or, while it isn't specifically festive, you can also wander through rainbow arches at Tumbalong Park thanks to ENESS' Sky Castle. Cockle Bay Wharf Pedal Boats return to Darling Harbour from Thursday, November 26–Sunday, January 30. For more information or to book, head to the Darling Harbour website.
UPDATE SATURDAY, MARCH 20: The final two nights of Summer in the Domain have been postponed due to extreme weather and will now take place on Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28. The below article has been updated to reflect this. Seeing a band at an intimate seated gig has been a nice way to ease back into the world of live music — but if you've been missing the big stage experience, The Domain has come to the table with a stacked multi-night set of shows. Set to take to the stage against the Sydney skyline is a string of Aussie favourites including Ball Park Music, Thelma Plum, Mallrat and Hayden James. Pop vocal powerhouse Vera Blue is bringing along the Sydney Symphony Orchestra for an exclusive collaborative performance, while Client Liaison, Confidence Man and Touch Sensitive will come together for a fun-filled night of dance beats, bass grooves and on-stage antics. While summer is officially wrapping up in February, Summer in the Domain will be extending the seasonal festivities into March, running from Thursday, March 18 until Sunday, March 28. Each group of attendees will be allocated their own 'pod' to ensure social distancing. Pods are available for groups of four or six and start at $82 per person. Tickets are on sale from 12pm, Monday, February 15 through Moshtix. SUMMER IN THE DOMAIN Ball Park Music and Thelma Plum — Thursday, March 18 Hayden James, Mallrat and Sycco — Friday, March 19 Client Liaison, Confidence Man and Touch Sensitive — Saturday, March 27 Vera Blue and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra — Sunday, March 28 Images: Cole Bennetts
In 2009 Warwick Thornton won the Camera D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival with his film Samson & Delilah. In 2010 he was the subject of Craig Ruddy's People's Choice Award-winning entry into the Archibald Prize, the fascinatingly backlit The Prince of Darkness - Warwick Thornton. With all these successes, all the gold and the irradiation, he is getting a certain glow. So how does he step up for 2011? Thornton's six-year-old self has the answer. "When I grow up I want to be just like Jesus," young Warwick is recalled by his older self to have said, and Stranded is the grown up take on that. His first venture at creating art for a gallery space, it sees the artist cast as a Christ figure affixed to a glowing lightbox cross. A Kaytej man whose lands lie to the north of Alice Springs, the Australian desert has a strong presence in Thornton's work and it is here that he situates this version of Golgotha. Crucifixes with skulls and bones near a watering hole, Stranded shows images of the figure from different angles and at different times of day. There are still-prints and a 3D film that adds sound and depth to the immensity of the plight depicted and the space in which it takes place. It's heavy symbolism, sure, but it manages to be ambiguous and troubling and beautiful.
UPDATE, Monday, March 1, 2021: The Trial of the Chicago 7 is available to stream via Netflix. If you were to start watching The Trial of the Chicago 7 without knowing who made it, it wouldn't take long to realise that it's an Aaron Sorkin film. The playwright, screenwriter and filmmaker's career has relied heavily upon the power of words — and so championing their power, especially in rousing speeches that sway emotions and heated conversations that ping clever opinions back and forth in rapid succession, sits at the heart of his work. It's there in his steely Academy Award-winning script for The Social Network, and in the baseball banter of Moneyball. It's evident in his three TV shows about TV shows, aka the entertaining Sports Night, the underrated Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and the overblown The Newsroom, too. And, it was apparent in the explosive courtroom theatrics of A Few Good Men and the frequent political walk-and-talks of The West Wing, both of which are clear precursors to his latest film. Combine A Few Good Men's setting with The West Wing's faith in democratic ideals, and that's where The Trial of the Chicago 7 lands. Thankfully, while Sorkin's work can veer from exceptional to frustrating, his second stint as a director (after 2017's Molly's Game) makes the very most of his usual traits. Given the true tale he's telling — a story of vocal dissent against unpopular government actions and latter's retaliation, spanning protests and violence on the streets involving both activists and police — that's hardly surprising. That Sorkin has amassed a typically top-notch cast to sling his words helps considerably, including Bridge of Spies Oscar-winner Mark Rylance, The Theory of Everything Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne and Watchmen Emmy-winner Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, plus everyone from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Michael Keaton to Sacha Baron Cohen and Succession's Jeremy Strong. In the summer of 1968, as the Democratic Party assembled in Chicago for its national convention to confirm the party's nominee for the presidential election, several activist groups decided to make their displeasure known. There was much to rally against: the Vietnam War was raging and American soldiers were dying, both Martin Luther King Jr and Robert F Kennedy had been assassinated in separate incidents months earlier, and civil unrest was mounting across the country. The Trial of the Chicago 7 first introduces six figures making plans for the day, then cuts to the commencement of legal proceedings for eight defendants, all charged by the US federal government the next year. By then, Richard Nixon is president and, as the scene that tasks Assistant US Attorney Richard Schultz (Gordon-Levitt) with going after a supposed all-star group makes plain, his administration was intent on prosecuting their opposition to make a statement. The government was also adamant that the police couldn't have started the riots that arose outside of the convention. If you've noticed that the numbers in the above paragraph don't add up, so has The Trial of the Chicago 7. When the court proceedings open, eight defendants do indeed sit before Judge Julius Hoffman (Frank Langella), who has clearly already made up his mind about their guilt from the second the trial begins. These men have been grouped together, but they're hardly a group. The clean-cut Tom Hayden (Redmayne) and Rennie Davis (Alex Sharp) hail from the Students for a Democratic Society, and believe in working within the system to change it, while long-haired radicals Abbie Hoffman (Baron Cohen) and Jerry Rubin (Strong) are members of the counterculture Youth International Party, the Yippies, who favour more revolutionary tactics. Boy Scout troop leader Dave Dellinger (John Carroll Lynch) is an avowed pacifist, and John Froines (Danny Flaherty) and Lee Weiner (Noah Robbins) don't even know why they're there. Then there's Black Panther Bobby Seale (Abdul-Mateen II), who hadn't met any of the others, was only in Chicago for mere hours on one day to give a speech, and ends up being literally bound and gagged by the court during the trial. Based on all of the above — and despite the best efforts of defence attorneys William Kunstler (Rylance) and Leonard Weinglass (Ben Shenkman) as the months roll by — this was never going to be a straightforward legal matter. It's also catnip for Sorkin, who unleashes his trademark flourishes on not only passionate speeches, but also infuriating courtroom incidents and the festering disagreement between codefendants, as well as in recreating the fateful protests. There's nothing unexpected about the way the filmmaker handles this story visually, narratively or thematically, but the end result proves a case of applying the right approach to the right tale. Everything about this chapter of history should resonate with importance and, given the blatant parallels to America today, still feel urgent and angry; however, Sorkin's showy, snappy knack for deploying potent words to distill crucial and complicated matters, and to stress the need to speak truth to power, constantly shines through. Among The Trial of the Chicago 7's sizeable cast, there are no weak links, especially when it comes to talking all that talk. But just try to tear your eyes away from Abdul-Mateen II's rightfully furious Seale, or from Kelvin Harrison Jr (Waves, The High Note) in a supporting role as fellow Black Panther Fred Hampton — or, in what amounts to far more than a stoner comedy double-act, to the witty and loose yet weighty and film-stealing work of Baron Cohen and Strong. Indeed, The Trial of the Chicago 7 is at its most compelling when it dissects the vastly different perspectives motivating its central figures, which is what arises in these performances. The film is gripping anyway, even as it plays out exactly as anyone could predict, whether you're familiar with the real-life facts or not. But perhaps most essential is how it doesn't merely wrap up a pivotal case in pithy words, timely comparisons and relatable ire, but in astute and affecting detail. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVb6EdKDBfU Top image: Niko Tavernise/Netflix © 2020
