Katherine

Katherine Cinemas 3
20 First Street
Katherine NT 0850
Tel 08 8971 2522

The Women On The 6th Floor
FRI 3 FEB 7.30PM

Dir Philippe Le Guay | France | French & Spanish with English subtitles | 104 mins | PG

OFFICIAL SELECTION, BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL

Paris 1962, Jean-Louis (Fabrice Luchini), an uptight stockbroker with a pedantic desire for order and good manners, is married to Suzanne (Sandrine Kiberlain), a perfectly-presented socialite wife,. When their old maid quits, a friend recommends one of the many Spanish women floating around Paris, refugees of Franco's regime.

The new maid, the beautiful and charming Maria (Natalia Verbeke), introduces Jean-Louis to the crowd of lively Spanish maids (including Almodovar faves Carmen Maura and Lola Dueñas) living upstairs, with no hot water and a blocked toilet, but an enormous sense of community and fiery passion. As Jean-Louis becomes more involved in their welfare and joins their occasional raucous parties, he embarks on a new approach to life, a journey that is both heart-warming and hilarious.

Screens with short: Two Laps
FINALIST 2011 DENDY AWARDS, directed by Owen Trevor

Complimentary drinks prior to film screening.

Africa United
SAT 4 FEB 2.30PM

Dir Debs Paterson | UK, South Africa & Rwanda | English |
88 mins | M

OFFICIAL SELECTION, TORONTO & SYDNEY FILM FESTIVALS

Three Rwandan kids hit the road to soccer's World Cup in this energetic and enjoyable feature. When a FIFA representative offers budding soccer legend Fabrice the chance to audition for the opening celebrations of the 2010 Cup, his self-appointed manager, Dudu, convinces him to make the trip to Rwanda's capital. Accompanied by Dudu's little sister, the penniless trio take a wrong turn and before long the smooth-talking Dudu convinces them to make the 5,000 kilometre journey to South Africa. Along the way they meet up with a couple of new players, outwit the baddies and ricochet from crisis to calamity. Many of the problems that face the African continent, including child soldiers and HIV, are threaded into the story, giving this entertaining journey a thoughtful edge.

'Packed with action and handsomely photographed.' THE GUARDIAN

Screens with short: The Missing Key
FINALIST 2011 DENDY AWARDS, directed by Jonathan Nix

Medianeras
SAT 4 FEB 5.15PM

Dir Gustavo Taretto | Argentina, Germany, Spain | Spanish with English subtitles | 95 mins | M

OFFICIAL SELECTION, BERLIN & SYDNEY FILM FESTIVALS

Argentina's capital, with its hodgepodge of skyscrapers, colossal billboards and web of power lines, is the setting for this charming and original romance. Martin (Javier Drolas) and Mariana (multi-award winner Pilar Lopez de Ayala) are almost neighbours, however the chances of them meeting are slim. Martin rarely leaves his shoe-box apartment, preferring to connect with the world by internet and Mariana's fear of lifts is a distinct handicap in this high-rise world.

Medianeras can be translated as 'dividing walls' - in this case, obstacles on the path to romance. A wistful, witty homage to Buenos Aires as a twenty-first-century city.

'A smart, detailed and funny romance-in-waiting comedy.' SCREENCRAVE

'Fresh and immensely likable.' VARIETY

Screens with short: Tiong Bahru
Part of the Civic Life project, reflecting life in Singapore over the course of an afternoon. Directed by Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor.

www.civiclifetiongbahru.com

The Hunter
SAT 4 FEB 8PM

Dir Daniel Nettheim | Australia | English | 100 mins | M

NOMINATED FOR FIVE AACTA AWARDS INCLUDING BEST FILM

Australian director Daniel Nettheim's (The Secret Life of Us) debut feature, based on the acclaimed novel by Julia Leigh, features a plethora of local and international talent. Willem Dafoe (The English Patient, Platoon) stars as Martin, a mercenary sent from Europe to Tasmania to track down the supposedly extinct Tasmanian tiger. Martin has an abrupt introduction to the Apple Isle's rural community, confronted with animosity from local loggers and a unhinged mother, Lucy, played by Frances O'Connor (Mansfield Park). Against the backdrop of the majestic Tasmanian wilderness (shot by multi-award winner Robert Humphreys), suspicions arise surrounding the intentions of the anonymous bio-tech company who sent Martin on his quest. This powerful psychological drama premiered at the prestigious 2011 Toronto Film Festival.

'Compelling and beautifully made.' David Stratton, At The Movies

Senna
SUN 5 FEB 4PM

Dir Asif Kapadia | UK | English & Portuguese with English subtitles | 106 mins | M

AUDIENCE AWARD, SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

Buckle up for an adrenalin-fuelled ride in this documentary about three-time Formula One World Champion and Brazilian hero Ayrton Senna. Working exclusively with archival material, director Asif Kapadia (Far North, The Warrior) delivers a thrilling account of Senna's racing career, from his go-cart start in Brazil, through his intense professional rivalry with onetime teammate Alain Prost and his halcyon days with Williams Renault, to his tragic, untimely demise. This is a doco that goes way beyond armchair appreciation of racing. Senna's complex character - his faith, paranoias and prophesies, along with his clash with then-President of Formula One Jean-Marie Balestre, makes compelling drama and one that will leave you breathless - and gripping the sides of your seats!

'Absolutely compelling.' David Stratton, At The Movies

'Thrillingly places the viewer in Senna's lap.' VARIETY

Happy, Happy
SUN 5 FEB 6PM

Dir Anne Sewitsky | Norway | Norwegian, Danish & German with English subtitles | 88 mins | M

WINNER, GRAND JURY PRIZE, SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

A sexy comedy that takes delight in indiscretion and snowy romps. Kaja (Agnes Kittelsen) is endlessly chipper (think Poppy in Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky). Her somewhat dour husband, Eirik, and young son fail to share her enthusiasm when a new couple and their adopted son move in next door. The new neighbours, Elisabeth and Sigve are sophisticated, beautiful and they can sing - in short, they're everything Kaja would like to be or do. Dinner party conversations soon reveal the cracks in the facade and before you know it neigbours are bonking neighbours. A Greek chorus singing traditional American spirituals and hymns lightens the darker moments of Anne Sewitsky's effervescent debut.

'A winning comedy that gets good-natured fun out of characters behaving quite badly.' VARIETY