Auckland International Film Club

We all see daily what is happening in Iran. However, over the years, our Meetup has shown films which open up the lives of Iranian people in far deeper depth than we can see on newsfeeds about the war.

Jafar Panahi must be one of the most remarkable film directors ever. No Bears was filmed secretly in Iran and then banned by the Iranian regime. It is true to reality but the title gives away a faint hope. "Bears" are a symbol of optimism: there will be a day when there are no "bears" in Iran. This film is a must-see. Some reviewers have written:

"Freedom or art? What if there’s no choice at all? Fearless Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi has endured both house arrest and prison in his tireless quest to tell stories that matter under duress". (Flicks, NZ, AU, UK)

In spite of travel bans, house arrests and actual imprisonment... Jafar Panahi has managed to create a body of work that movingly describes life in a censorious theocracy. Banned in Iran, No Bears is a subtle and tricky drama within a drama. (Irish Independent)

It’s deceptively simple: the more you think about it, the more layers there seem to be and the more you realise how much this film has to say about lives made small by restrictions that can, and do, result in tragedy. (Spectator UK)

In the author’s latest masterpiece, every moment is suffused with not just purpose, but captivating beauty. (Washington Post, USA)

Troubled by his classmate's unfortunate living situation, wealthy Oxford student Felix invites Oliver to stay at his estate, but a series of horrifying events soon engulf his eccentric family.

It depicts the often discussed questions about trying to fit into the English upper-class and failing.

You will probably love or hate this film, which is great reason to show it. I am rather expecting ratings from 1 to 9 in our post film discussion. We have had films lately that have been universally praised, It is time for one that caused a lot of different reactions! Come expecting that.

It is funny and witty, although extremely dark. You laugh at things you feel you shouldn't. It has for very good reason been called "a devilishly delightful film".

The RNZ reviewer wrote:
"Overall, I loved Saltburn and cannot wait to see it again. It’s not a feel-good film in the slightest, but it is one that leaves you thinking long after the credits roll. A few days after my screening I am still thinking about it and the longer away from it, the more I like it. It’s provocative and thought-provoking, with a fantastic performance from Barry Keoghan. So if you’re looking for a film that has more twists and turns than a roller coaster, Saltburn should be at the top of your list."

No Other Land is a documentary/drama about life in Palestine. This is the second in our films about Palestine. The intention here is to open up discussion based on the power of cinema to portray the lives of ordinary people in their struggles in the face of oppressive forces.

We know the debate about whether the films of Leni Riefenstahl in WW2 were propaganda or art. Great cinema paints a picture of people whose lives become real in front of our eyes. We are forced to make decisions as to to whom we relate and what we will do.

"A combination of hand-held footage and intimate scenes of ordinary Palestinian life among extraordinary instability are woven together at an artful pace. Not one of the 95 minutes feels wasted. Given the work that Adra and Abraham do during years of filming to record and share the truth, this is a film that asks, both out-loud and implicitly: if people knew, would things change? No Other Land is both an invitation and a wero, a generous offering that demands to be seen and discussed. — Nadia Abu-Shanab." (reviewer for the NZ International Film Festival)