2001: A Space Odyssey – a film that explores universal human desires and the relationship between people and technology
Stanley Kubrick “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968) One of the great crowning glories of 20th
Blackfish: a direct demonstration of corporate exploitation of humans and animals alike
Gabriela Cowperthwaite, “Blackfish” (2013) It’s as much advocacy journalism as documentary and makes no apologies
British Films | French and French-language Films | German and German-language Films
The Ghost Writer: a straightforward story that deals fleetingly with the nature of US-UK relations
Roman Polanski, “The Ghost Writer” (2009) Circumstances surrounding this film were peculiar enough in themselves:
Laputa, Castle in the Sky: a joyful adventure film with an earnest social responsibility message
Hayao Miyazaki, “Laputa, Castle in the Sky / Tenko no shiro Ryaputa” (1986) One of
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind: visually beautiful film with a strong but naive and woolly-brained ecological message
Hayao Miyazaki, “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind / Kaze no tani no Naushika”
Australian and New Zealand Films
The Big Blue: a wondrous mystery world of blue whales in the Southern Ocean
Jeni Clevers (producer), “The Big Blue” (2006) There’s an area in the Southern Ocean just
British Films | French and French-language Films
Mayerling: lavish visuals cannot hide workman-like script and direction, and wooden acting
Terence Young, “Mayerling” (1968) Better known perhaps for directing three James Bond films in the
Australian and New Zealand Films
Killers in Eden: an informative documentary on a unique relationship between humans and wild animals
Klaus Toft, “Killers in Eden” (2004) Made for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, this television documentary
The 47 Ronin (dir. Hiroshi Inagaki): a drawn-out epic about maintaining abstract ideals in a changing society
Hiroshi Inagaki, “The 47 Ronin / Chushingura: Hana no Maki, Yuki no Maki” (1962) The
Blancanieves: silent Gothic melodrama of a brief summer of shining innocence before a long winter of fascism
Pablo Berger, “Blancanieves” (2012) In the style of old 1920s expressionist silent films, Berger’s “Blancanieves”