WE ARE VERY LUCKY to live in Wellington where we have a terrific video store - Aro Street Video. It is a Wellington institution and holds, in our view, the best collection of independent and arthouse films in New Zealand. Most of our favourite films can be found at there. Membership is free. (link to Aro Street Video). And they courier DVDs all around New Zealand!

 

The films listed are ones that have been important to both of us at various times in our lives, and despite the range of countries they come from, regardless of whether they are old or new, they are all concerned with telling compelling stories and creating compelling characters. We have high-lighted the favourites of our favourites!

Adding some stunning new films to our list.

Click on poster to watch trailer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do watch the Belgian Dardenne Brothers latest film  - Two Days
One Night - a terrific and deceptively simple film with the wonderful
Marion Cotillard in the lead. Captures the current mind-set of the
modern western working-class - divided and desperate. Really
worth taking the time to watch.

 

5 Broken Cameras - doco in the 2012 Wellington Film Festival.
This is the first film that has given us real insight into the daily
lives of Palestinians living under continual Israeli incursions on
their land. The filmmaker bought a home movie camera to
document the life the his youngest son, then a baby - the same
day that Israeli surveyers take his land for new Jewish
settlements. He films it all: the battles, the deaths, his son over
a period of five years.The title? It refers to the cameras that were
destroyed by the Isreali Army over these years.

The Guardian review

 

We have just rewatched Yugoslav director Emir Kusturica's 1985 film When Father was away on Business. Over twenty years since we first saw it, and we were completely blown away by it. Moving, funny, with deeply flawed but extremely likeable characters, terrific music, exquisite composition and scene construction - we were in the hands of a master story-teller as we watched this film.

 

The Band's Visit is our family favourite. We have all watched it many times and still find it utterly
enchanting. More Jarmusch than Jim Jarmusch in its aesthetic, and filled with quiet compassion
and humanity, this is a marvellous, low-key film that is touching, deeply humane and provides an
unusual insight into Israeli/Arab relations that does not fit the usual paradigm. Exquisite
performances and direction. One of the very best.