Young at Heart - SYDNEY PROGRAM

DENDY OPERA QUAYS SCHEDULE

Flashback: 1972
CABARET ^M
Dendy Opera Quays – Thursday 22 March – 10:00am

Dir: Bob Fosse, USA, 1972, 124 mins
Cast: Liza Minnelli, Michael York, Joel Grey

Liza Minnelli sings her heart out in this lavish, intelligent period musical.

Bob Fosse re-energised the musical with this riveting, socially conscious musical set in a decadent Weimar-era Berlin, as the Nazis rise to power. Liza Minnelli shines as the glamorous cabaret singer Sally Bowles, caught in a love triangle with an English expat and a wealthy German playboy. As revellers laugh, drink and party at the Kit Kat Club, they are oblivious to the impending threat of extremism. Combining dazzling musical numbers and powerful drama, Cabaret is an unforgettable cinematic experience.

“This viscerally powerful, deliriously inspired musical stands the test of time, and then some...” – The Guardian

Winner of eight Oscars incl. Best Actress

Premiere
THE OVER THE HILL BAND ^M
Dendy Opera Quays – Thursday 22 March – 12:30pm

Dir: Geoffrey Enthoven, Belgium, 2010, 88 mins, Dutch (English subtitles)
Cast: Marilou Mermans, Jan Van Looveren, Lea Couzin

3 grandmas learn that it’s never too late to dream in this crowd-pleasing coming-of-(old)-age story.

Upon the death of her husband, 70-year-old Claire decides to reconnect with her estranged, wayward son, down and out R&B musician Sid. She asks him to help her restart the girl group from the old days she used to sing in with two of her friends. He’s into hip-hop, the girls prefer Jacques Brel, but somehow the collaboration brings everyone closer. Gentle humour permeates this bittersweet look at how our dreams can often be tested by the passing of time.

“A life-affirming comedy with elements of Calendar Girls and Young at Heart… terrifically performed.” – The Hollywood Reporter

Official Selection, Montreal World Film Festival

Flashback: 1972
FRENZY ^M
Dendy Opera Quays – Thursday 22 March – 3:00pm

Dir: Alfred Hitchcock, UK, 1972, 110 mins
Cast: Jon Finch, Barry Foster, Anna Massey

The master of suspense returns to London for this intense, melodramatic thriller.

As the latest female victim of the "Necktie Murderer" is found raped and strangled in the Thames, the police narrow in on a suspect. Richard Blaney (Jon Finch) is a belligerent ex-Royal Air Force officer who has just lost his job. Trouble is, he’s entirely innocent. As Chief Inspector Oxford and his men tighten the noose around him, Richard goes on the run, desperate to prove his innocence. Tense, tightly plotted and masterfully executed, many critics consider Frenzy the last great Hitchcock film.

“Immensely entertaining. The best acted Hitchcock film since North by Northwest.” – The New York Times

Nominated for four Golden Globes including Best Film

Premiere
YOUNG AT HEART SHORT FILM AWARDS ^TBC
Dendy Opera Quays – Thursday 22 March – 6:00pm

Watch and vote for your favourite Australian short films with seniors in starring roles.

Discover new talent and meet guest filmmakers as we screen the finalists in our annual short film competition. Our esteemed jury of film industry professionals will be on hand, watching and rating these new films alongside the audience. It’s your chance to take part in a prestigious gala event and raise a glass to Australia’s up and coming acting talent, young and old!

Two awards will be bestowed on the night. Decided by an illustrious industry jury, the NSW Seniors Week Award for Best Senior Talent is presented by Ageing, Disability & Home Care, Department of Human Services NSW. The Audience Award will go to the Best Film, as voted by audiences state-wide.

Free welcome drink on arrival! - Meet the filmmakers!

Flashback: 1972
TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT ^M
Dendy Opera Quays – Friday 23 March – 10:00am

Dir: George Cukor, USA, 1972, 109 mins
Cast: Maggie Smith, Alec McCowen, Louis Gossett Jr.

Board the Orient Express for a fun caper filled with romance, adventure and glamour!

Adapted from Graham Greene's novel, George Cukor’s comedy describes the education of shy, bookish bank clerk Henry under the influence of his eccentric and flamboyant long-lost aunt Augusta. The bohemian diva, played with theatrical gusto by the great Maggie Smith, pries Henry away from his stale existence, taking him on a caper from Paris to Istanbul involving old love affairs, espionage, kidnappings, and a decadent lifestyle he could previously only dream of.

“Its great charm lies in its surprising emotional complexity… Full of privileged moments, lucid, controlled and graceful.” – The New York Times

Nominated for four Oscars incl. Best Actress

Premiere
THE RUNWAY ^TBC
Dendy Opera Quays – Friday 23 March – 12:30pm

Dir: Ian Power, Ireland, 2010, 101 mins
Cast: Damian Bichir, Kerry Condon, Jamie Kierans

A heartfelt Irish tale of unlikely friendship spiked with humour and adventure.

The Runway is inspired by the true story of a South American pilot who crashed his plane near Mallow in Ireland. Against all odds, residents came together to build a runway to get him home, briefly catching the imagination of the nation. This is the story of Paco, a young boy without a father but with limited Spanish, who befriends the pilot and convinces the town to welcome the stranger into their midst. Beautifully photographed, this is a bittersweet, charming portrait of a sleepy community woken up by the unlikeliest of events.

"Quirky, cheeky and full of heart… Prepare to be charmed!” – Sunday Independent

Best Irish Feature Film, Irish Film Fleadh 2010

Premiere
THE DEEP BLUE SEA ^TBC
Dendy Opera Quays – Friday 23 March – 3:00pm

Dir: Terence Davies, UK, 2011, 98 mins
Cast: Rachel Weisz, Tom Hiddleston, Simon Russell Beale

Rachel Weisz shines in this moving period melodrama from British master Terence Davies.

Hester Collyer leads a privileged life in 1950s London as the beautiful wife of a high court judge. To the shock of those around her, she walks out on her marriage to move in with young ex-RAF pilot Freddie Page, with whom she has fallen passionately in love. Set in a gorgeously re-created post-war London, this adaptation of Terence Rattigan’s classic play is a study of forbidden love, suppressed desire, and the fear of loneliness, featuring a poignant performance by Oscar-winner Rachel Weisz.

"In an age of hubbub, The Deep Blue Sea’s patient elegance is a rare thing we should nurture.” – Empire Magazine

Closing Night, London Film Festival 2011

Premiere
LE HAVRE ^PG
Dendy Opera Quays – Saturday 24 March – 10:00am

Dir: Aki Kaurismäki, France-Finland, 2011, 93 mins, French (English subtitles)
Cast: Jean-Pierre Darroussin, André Wilms, Kati Outinen

A deadpan, optimistic fairytale about the power of solidarity and community

In this warm-hearted portrait of the French harbour city that gives the film its name, fate throws young African refugee Idrissa into the path of well-spoken shoe-shiner Marcel Marx. With innate optimism and the unwavering support of his community, Marcel stands up to officials doggedly pursuing the boy for deportation. Uplifting but never schmaltzy, this political fairy tale exists somewhere between the reality of contemporary France and the whimsical cinema of Buster Keaton and Jacques Tati.

"Four stars! There is nothing cynical or cheap about it, it tells a good story with clear eyes and a level gaze, and it just plain makes you feel good." - Roger Ebert, The Chicago Sun-Times

International Critics Prize, Cannes Film Festival 2011

Premiere
LE QUATTRO VOLTE (THE FOUR TIMES) ^G
Dendy Opera Quays – Saturday 24 March – 12:30pm

Dir: Michelangelo Frammartino, Italy, 2010, 88 mins
Cast: Bruno Timpano, Giuseppe Fuda, Nazareno Timpan

A profound, original study of nature and humanity that brings cinema back to its observational roots.

In a small village perched high on the hills of Calabria, at the southernmost tip of Italy, a breathtaking and majestic journey slowly unfolds, following the passing of a soul through four elements: human; animal; plant and mineral. Set against magnificent natural scenery, the cycle of existence is celebrated in this tranquil and transcendent film, infused with unexpected humour and mystery. Le Quattro Volte is a poetic vision of the revolving cycles of life and nature, and the unbroken traditions of a timeless place.

"This delightful film has won hearts and minds everywhere it has been shown.” – The Guardian

Best European Film, Cannes Film Festival

Premiere
FIRST NIGHT ^TBC
Dendy Opera Quays – Saturday 24 March – 3:00pm

Dir: Chris Menaul, UK, 2011, 116 mins
Cast: Richard E. Grant, Sarah Brightman, Rosamund Pike

A light-hearted ensemble comedy about friendship, love and opera.

Rich industrialist Adam (Richard E. Grant) decides to stage an opera at his lavish country retreat. A troupe of sexy young singers are invited, along with Celia (Phantom of the Opera star Sarah Brightman), an opera director Adam has a serious crush on. In the lead up to the first night of Mozart’s Così fan tutte, the opera’s themes of love, rivalry and misunderstandings are hilariously mirrored in real life. The lively script, stunning location and glorious music make for delightful escapism.

"A lush operatic romp set against the elegant backdrop of a stunning Scottish country house; an engagingly breezy romantic comedy-drama.” - Screen Daily

Official Selection, Glasgow Film Festival 2011

Premiere
I AM ELEVEN ^TBC
Dendy Opera Quays – Sunday 25 March – 10:00am

Dir: Genevieve Bailey, Australia, 2011, 93 mins

11-year-olds in 15 countries share their views on the world we live in.

Four years in the making, I Am Eleven is a global snapshot of humanity at a crucial age. No longer children, not quite adults, 11-year-olds are inheriting a world changing as quickly and dramatically as they are. In this insightful documentary portrait, children speak articulately about family, religion, love, bullying, racism…their fears and aspirations. They have a lot to teach us, and Australian filmmaker Genevieve Bailey’s curious camera captures the sincerity, optimism and wisdom of the next generation. Like the 7’UP series, this makes for enthralling cinema.

"Gentle, funny and often affecting, a unique insight into both what unites us, and what sets us apart.” - Melbourne International Film Festival

Best Documentary, IF Awards 2011

Premiere
FOOTNOTE ^PG
Dendy Opera Quays – Sunday 25 March – 12:30pm

Dir: Joseph Cedar, Israel, 2011, 106 mins, Hebrew (English subtitles)
Cast: Lior Ashkenazi, Schlomo Bar-Aba, Alma Zack

This clever satire set in the cut-throat world of academia is also a witty look at father & son relationships.

Eliezer and Uriel Shkolnik are both eccentric professors, who have dedicated their lives to their work in Talmudic Studies. The father is a stubborn purist who has never been recognised for his work; his son is an up-and-coming star in the field. When the prestigious and coveted Israel Prize is announced, father and son are both candidates…and therefore rivals. Pride, ambition, filial duty and family dysfunction are brought to the fore in this wise and very subtle comedy of manners.

"Funny and smart, told with wild, inventive cinematic flourishes. Joseph Cedar pulls off a feat of intellectual and cinematic elegance." - Entertainment Weekly

Best Screenplay, Cannes Film Festival 2011

Premiere
PERFECT SENSE ^MA15+
Dendy Opera Quays – Sunday 25 March – 3:00pm

Dir: David Mackenzie, UK, 2011, 92 mins
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Eva Green, Stephen Dillane

A haunting, tense and moving sci-fi drama about what it means to love and be human.

In Glasgow, a chef (Ewan McGregor) and an epidemiologist (Eva Green) find themselves falling in love. Their fear of commitment and relationship issues are put into perspective when the world falls prey to an unnamed epidemic. Around them, victims of the virus begin to lose their sensory perceptions. In a world that is losing its ability to feel, their love story becomes a powerful parable. Far from the clichés and special effects of apocalyptic blockbusters, this engaging original drama about the end of the world offers intimate, uplifting insights.

“A serious and powerful musing on what makes us human. Thrillingly ambitious, ecstatically romantic, utterly unexpected.” – Time Out London

Best New British Film, Edinburgh International Film Festival