Working overtime

Melbourne cinema screens will be working overtime between July 23 and August 11, when the 51st Melbourne International Film Festival hits town. The Festival is renowned for showcasing an extensive collection of the best independent films from around the world, and this year is no exception. Many of the films have won prizes at Cannes and other prominent film festivals this year, while others feature well-known actors and directors.

This year's event kicks off with Rolf de Heer's new film The Tracker. Starring David Gulpilil, Gary Sweet, and Grant Page, with newcomer, Damon Gameau, The Tracker is a slow-burning thriller that follows three mounted policemen hunting a fugitive across the Australian outback in 1922. The Tracker, a mysterious and enigmatic figure whose true character remains unknown, assists them in their quest. As they move deeper into the bush and further away from civilisation, paranoia and violence escalate and the party falls into disarray, stirring up questions of what is black and what is white and who is leading whom.

Opening night however promises something more than simply a new film from a significant Australian director. The screening will be held in Melbourne's Concert Hall will feature the film's soundtrack being performed live by none other than music legend Archie Roach and the Tracker Band. The black-tie event promises to be a unique experience.

From there the festival's highlights will include Korean film maker Im Kwon-Taek's Chihwaseon. Chihwaseon follows the creative life of a late 19th century Korean artist called Ohwon, and it scored a Best Director prize at Cannes. Also screened at Cannes was Michael Winterbottom's 24 Hour Party People, which takes a comical look at the Manchester music scene, and the birth of the world famous dance club, The Hacedina.

From Belgian filmmaking brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne (previous winners of the Palme d'Or for Rosetta) comes Le Fils, (The Son). The film features actor Olivier Gourmet who won a Best Actor prize at Cannes. It follows the story of a carpentry instructor who becomes intrigued with the history of a 16 year-old student.

International films are a major part of the festival, and many are notable for their unique themes and concepts, which often reveal something about the national identity of the filmmakers. For example, Dog Days from Austrian director Ulrich Seidl is set in Vienna's affluent suburbs, and examines the lives of six characters as they cast away their clothes and inhibitions. Paul Greengrass tackles very different and very difficult subject matter in Bloody Sunday, as he focuses on the shooting of 13 unarmed civilians by a British paratrooper, during a peace march in Northern Ireland. Bloody Sunday won the Golden Bear in Berlin this year. And popular Hollywood stars Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman will star in Tape, a digitally shot drama set in a cheap hotel room.

A number of Australian films will be screened, with many covering issues like heritage, national identity and reconciliation. One such film is Paul Goldman's Australian Rules, which focuses on the success of a small town football team, and their struggles to deal with racial tension. Secret Life of Us actor, Deborah Mailman, will appear in Black Chicks Talking, which looks at the lives of five Aboriginal women from differing backgrounds and social positions.

Documentaries are again prominent at this year's festival, and one to take note of is from acclaimed director, Martin Scorsese, who takes a look at Italian films and his Sicilian roots in Il Mio Viaggio in Italia (My Voyage to Italy). Football, Iranian Style is a documentary which combines issues of gender inequality, sport and infatuation. It focuses on a young Iranian woman who falls in love with a League player. However, as a woman in Iran, she is not allowed into the stadium, and he is completely inaccessible to her.

In addition to showcasing international and Australian films, the Festival also holds a short film competition, which has received approximately 800 entries. Of 100 selected finalists, the winner of the competition will be announced in the 10th of August.

In common with the Sydney and Brisbane film festivals, this year MIFF will have a FIPRESCI jury on board to award two prizes. The main FIPRESCI prize will be for the best film from an emerging (i.e. first to third film) Asian filmmaker. The jury will also award a special mention prize to an Australian film.

The Festival will be held at numerous venues throughout Melbourne, including Village Centre in Bourke St. and Greater Union cinemas in Russell St. It is offering a great selection of films, which are likely to be a fascinating change from commercial cinema, and will challenge viewers' expectations of filmmaking.

Melinda Oliver

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