The annual Sydney Film Festival kicked off last week. Over two weeks over 200 films handpicked by the Festival are screening at theatres all around Sydney. Overwhelming much? To help you narrow down the field we thought we’d share our recommendations of what to watch… 

The Runaways
This is probably one of the most commercial films of the festival, but we’ve been hearing good things about the coming of age biopic about ‘70s teenage band The Runaways. We’re excited to see Dakota Fanning all grown up as Cherie Currie and also curious to see whether Kirsten Stewart sporting that terrible black mullet through endless Twilight press junkets was actually worth it.

I Killed My Mother (J'ai tué ma mere, French with subtitles)
Most people have had this inclination at some stage of their teenage years (not me, I love you Mum). This film explores the mother-son relationship between a tortuous single mum and her 16-year-old gay son, set in suburban Montreal. It is the debut feature film from 19-year-old Xavier Dolan, who also wrote the script and plays the lead. The film screened at last year’s Cannes Film Festival where it received an eight-minute standing ovation, not bad.

Joan Rivers – A Piece of Work
Courtney’s reasoning behind this choice was that: “Joan Rivers is one crazy sack of surgery” and I can’t really put it any better than that. She really is one crazy sack of surgery, with an acid tongue and surprising level of self-awareness to boot. This documentary tracks the 75-year-old from her beginnings as stand-up comedian through to today as she fights to stay relevant.

We also recommend - Boy, Beautiful Darling, Daughters of Darkness, Henri-Georges Clouzot Inferno, Howl, Black Sunday (some of these may have already screened but we recommend tracking them down at an independent theatre or on DVD).

ANDREW AND BRI FROM SECRET SQUIRREL'S PICKS:

Exit Through the Gift Shop - because we love Banksy. His artwork is incredible and smart and funny.
Bill Cunningham New York (above) - because he's 81 and still rocking it! This would be great for the insight into him and his life and would be a feast for the eyes as well.
Rock Steady: The Roots of Reggae - we listen to a lot of reggae and this looks interesting
Oil City Confidential - who doesn't love a good rockumentary?!

VENICE FROM VENICE JEWELLERY'S PICKS:

Waste Land
Mammuth (above)
Honey
The Refuge

Posted by jenna ...

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