TOP 5 LOTTERYWEST FILMS
The selection of Lotterywest Festival Films is so varied that deciding what to see can be a production in itself. We ask PIAF's Emma Poletti for her top picks so you can leave the drama to the movies. As usual, the films are screened under the towering Norfolk pines at Somerville in Nedlands and its sister cinema, Joondalup Pines.
1. Maps to the Stars
Julianne Moore will either win an Oscar for her role in this biting satire, or get burned at the stake in Hollywood. She already took out Best Actress at Cannes as aging Hollywood actress Havana whose insular world is disrupted with the arrival of mysterious burns victim Agatha (played by waif-like Australian actress Mia Wasikowsa). Somerville, December 8-14; Joondalup Pines, December 16-21.
2. Winter Sleep
Need we say more than it won the Palme d'Or at Cannes? The Turkish film subtly documents the unravelling of a marriage between a retired actor and his younger wife. The quiet, stirring drama has already been touted as a modern classic. Somerville, February 2-8.
3. Love Is Strange
Marriage was a long time coming for gay couple Ben and George, who finally tie
the knot after 39 years together. But in an ironic twist of fate, they are forced to live separately when George loses his job and they must sell their apartment. "It's a joyful portrait of love in all its forms," says Emma. Somerville, February 9-15; Joondalup Pines, February 17-22.
4. The Salt of the Earth
A moving ode to the great Brazilian photojournalist Sebastiao Salgado, this film follows his journeys across war-torn countries, showcasing his iconic images and incredible humanity. Somerville, February 16-22; Joondalup Pines, February 24-March 1.
5. Breathe
French actress Melanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds) turns to directing in this rich drama that shows such confidence and flair you wouldn't know it was her debut. Shy Charlie strikes up a friendship with charming new-girl Sarah but their close bond veers into dangerous territory. Joondalup Pines, March 10-15.