Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Leviathan tells the story of Kolia (Alexey Serebryakov), a man fighting to keep his property and family, that has been the brainchild of the well-known Russian film director for almost a decade. From the tragic story of the American…
When a Melburnian thinks of France they first think of: “Bonjour, du vin et du fromage merci!” Or if my experience of Aussie guys is anything it could also be: “t’as de beau yeux tu sais?” For a real dose of…
As the Russian Film Festival enters its 11th year, the need for cross-cultural understanding is as ever present. With international relations between Russia and Australia in constant focus of negative press, the film festival has the opportunity to create a…
The British Film Festival is upon us! Like every year, the selection is just remarkable. From high teas to movies with the Beatles, there’s something for all tastes. But what stands out the most are the new films coming out of the…
Jews and films go together almost as well as bagel and cream cheese, a romance dating all the way back to the first days of cinema, when Jews were among the first to embrace the new technology. This relationship has…
When Melbournians think Italian we think of the famed Lygon Street restaurant strip, tasty pizza, and great coffee — but little do we think of fantastic films. The Italian Film Festival 2014, which launches Wednesday, sets out to change all…
Spring is almost upon us, and whilst the flowers begin to bloom and weather warms it’s also a good time to remember our environmental impact. Luckily, the Environmental Film Festival Melbourne is showcasing a bunch of terrific films this September,…
For a real dose of Scandinavian culture, there’s no need to visit IKEA yet again. The Scandinavian Film Festival makes its inaugural visit to Melbourne, bringing a dose of cool Scandi culture to Melbourne’s winter. The Plus One’s Top 5…
Hola, amigos! That’s right — the Spanish Film Festival is coming to town, and The Plus Ones have the lowdown on all the must-see films. I was lucky to attend the media preview launch with a few friends, including two Spanish speakers….
Willkommen in Deutschland! Welcome to Germany! For 16 days, Melbourne gets a little piece of the Germanic world, with 60+ German-language films vying for attention. From live caberet bands celebrating the fall of the Berlin Wall, to Q&A sessions with…