"I survived the Festival!"

As I removed my “I survived the film festival” from my aged limbs I realised how true Dorothy’s remark to her aunt was!

It was gratifying to receive so many comments regarding the future of a film festival at the Civic. Again, despite the dire predictions, the 41st International Film Festival in Auckland was an unqualified success. The range of films, venues, and options was a maze of delight. The Wintergarden lounge was a haven of respite from the rigours of watching films!. Added delights were the present of many of the film directors and producers, ranging from the delightful Thomas Grube and Florian Habisch to the erudite and modest Neil Brand. Highlights? Too difficult to single out any as it is always a matter of taste. The opportunity to see a film on the giant Civic screen, in an magnificent building expressly built for the cinematic enjoyment, was too rare a chance to forego. 3D films were screened a little out of the CBD and the boutique cinemas were filled for their screenings.

Climax of the festival was the traditional silent film,Charlie Chaplin's "Gold Rush". accompanied by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. The score was reconstructed by the conductor, Timothy Brock from the original Chaplin score and the films was the most comprehensive restored version to date. Recession? The word did not exist.

It is incredible the amount of planning and expertise that is required for any performance. It becomes regrettable when carelessness and lack of training impinge upon a cinematic presentation. whilst the industry is always developing there is no place for ignorance nor lack of training.

Why, you can even watch a film and have fish and chips served to you!

Directors still seem to be controlling opera presentation. in not trusting the music and artists to cast a spell on their audience. They must present a visual tableau that can be shocking and at often at a severe tangent to the composer’s intention. A recent ‘Barber of Seville” at Covent Garden supposed an earthquake in Seville - breaking the leg of the Rosina! A presentation of Verdi’s Requiem conducted by Barenboim concluded - as the last note faded into the stratosphere with fireworks and loud rock music through a wall loudspeakers.

Saudi Arabia has perhaps the right idea, cancelling a film festival in Jedda because the influence of cinema leads to “moral pollution”. Possibly Mr. Timpson is responsible for the state of affairs today?

Still, this is no justification for the hackers posting a chinese flag on the website of the Melbourne Film Festival ( screening over 300 films) which caused a slowing down of the web site and caused online tickets sales to suffer. the “offending film was 10 conditions of love , a documentary about Uighur activist Rebiya Kadeer by australian director Jeff Daniels.

Civic screenings terminating?

What a relief to get back into the dream palace. An escape from the folic acid in bread argument, murder trials etc. marriage break-ups. All I hear is “what flag for Waitangi Day” - what happened to Bastille Day? I especially wore my beret - it was cold out! Did I receive a brioche, a croissant, and complimentary glass of champagne? Pas de tout! Starks cafe still makes good coffee though (and has green chartreuse), but where are the remnants of Freda, let alone Regine’s original sketches for her costumes? Tried the antipasto, which was acceptable. Lusted after the fig and almond dolce.

A full house for Coco avant Chanel. Not one of the audience was carrying a Chanel handbag, and no haute couture that I could see. Nay a whim of Chanel No 5, 22, nor Bois de Isles. Rather more Canal number seven.

Loved the dame who used her phone during the film (a Twit?) and when told off swore in an English that would have been acceptable in the disreputable ports of Marseilles. She claimed she was an ex Chanel model. Yeah right. Possible a not so grande cocotte. Lovely protocol and procedure for the premiere of ‘The Strength of Water” A slight distraction was Florian’s pink pants.

The Civic was resplendent. The possibility of the Civic being denied the annual Film festival is too tragic to contemplate. This would be the type of decision that brought about the worst excesses of the French revolution. Whilst the current (Lord?) Mayor may not be culturally sensitive and the hierarchy must maintain their affluent lifestyle, a denial to the public, i.e. the owners of the Civic theatre, of being deprived of the only occasion they can view films below the star lit ceiling and view the historic curtain would certainly lead to Mrs. Patrick Campbell’s prediction of horror in the streets. Such a proclamation would be most inadvisable. The Film Festival is a non-profitable charitable trust - not a cash cow to support unfortunate theatrical decisions. Maybe if certain broadcasters paid for their tickets, rather than voraciously requesting complimentary tickets, there might be more money in the kitty. (I believe the olive harvest this year was not the most fecund).

The ‘Che” marathon was most rewarding, although not the longest film screened at the Civic. Remember the eight-hour film?

Ps. great to learn that Fanny Brawne eventually married and bore children.

Festival log 12/7

A quiet Sunday morning. weather cool but not too wet. Not many people interested in saving the Amazon forest, then the little ones, with their adult attachments streamed in for “Ponyo”, that delightful animated film. (Armed guards overseeing the posters). The theatre continuing to add to the enchantment of the movie experience. As usual the few wandering in to the wrong theatre and rushing to their scheduled venue. deja vu.

The same faces,jokes,moans - and even the same costumes. The disappointed patron who discovered that Warwick Thornton’s Australian ‘Samson and Deliah” was bereft of Hedy Lamar. It’s certainly the only game in town!

The Film festival began with a bang! A beautiful clear day, not a cloud in the sky but no real warmth in in the sun. The theatre looking resplendent as it began the 41st year of the International Film Festival in Auckland. The film? Jane Campion’s ‘Bright Star” the love story of Fanny Brawne and John Keats. Naturally tragic, expectantly fulfilled with beautifully details. Costumes, music,script, and photography all that is expected from this director.

Introductions from Tearapa Kahi telling us about the Maori New Year, Jeremy Dixon informing us about the benevolency of The Edge and cherub William modestly telling us about the wondrous films this year.

The audience. The usual melange of freebees, c grade celebs, “socialites” and film industry types. Were they ll really interested in the film. Not necessarily. Most only there as a means of promotion, - “I could do it better” - business, advertising, there simply to be seen. A plethora of texting during the screening. Twits? Little white lights popping up like a Waitomo Cave,competing with the stars overhead. This was confirmed by the eager and noisy rush as soon as the visuals had concluded, ignoring and drowning out the audio of Keat’s poetry over the credits. Down to the WIntergarden for the food and drinks!

I was amazing at the almost 98.9% attendance at ‘The September Affair” - the film of the bedding of an issue of Vogue magazine. was of the “weaker” sex. Is fashion the new religion this year? Has Rugby been displaced? The box office for ‘Coco before Chanel” and ‘Valentino” aussi would certainly lead one to belief this.

The Film festival is now less than a week away. For a fortnight I will be suspended in a time capsule,not quite À la recherche du temps perdu, but close.

Time has of course culled some wonderful people but there are always upcoming devotees of the darkened auditorium. John has spruced up Starks which becomes a focal point and the walls of the Wintergarden lounge are a barrier to that other world.

I have made -I think - a judicious selection of films to watch. It is unfortunate that the two screenings of Helen Mirren’s Phèdre clash with the festival and I will have to make a sacrifice. Thank le bon Dieu I have the 1968 film of Marie Bell’s excellent interpretation. "Voir Marie Bell dans Phèdre est une chance unique pour quiconque veut savoir ce qu'est le génie français." André Malraux

The Civic Theatre is looking resplendent and fully lives up to the title of ‘dream palace’ whilst the centre piece of the foyer is the restored frame and painting of the Indian wedding .The Festival is also an opportunity also to view the interior of this theatre as apart from performance times it is not open to the public. (I already have a tour booked for the opening morning!)

One of my highlights will be Steven Soderbergh's epic portrait of that revolutionary icon, Che . I am also looking forward to Stephen Frear’s Chéri with Michelle Pfeiffer as Léa but I do not hold great hopes that it will capture Colette. I hold no hopes for the Coco Chanel realisation but Chaplin’s The Gold Rush with the APO is a climax to the festival that cannot be ignored.

The fine weather we have been having must mean that the rains are storing up for the Festive weeks. That is traditional.

Dear old Ant has found on some dusty shelf fodder for his Incredibly Strange Films. This year will probably be the last of his 24 hours schlock films marathon. He is of course parent and inevitably maturing.