Film Festivals 1990
This punter believes this was the best film festival ever to grace Christchurch's screens (in this case the old Regent Theatre). The entire line-up had absolutely no deadwood. A few of the great many highlights included Jane Campion's "An Angel At My Table" and "Sweetie", Akira Kurosawa's "Dreams", Hal Hartley's "The Unbelievable Truth" the acclaimed "Cinema Paradiso", the marvellous "Jesus of Montreal", from the Netherlands came the sleek psycho-chiller "The Vanishing" and from Mexico came Alex Jodorowsky's unforgettable "Santa Sangre" (right).
User Friendly (1990)
5.2/10
Director: Gregor Nicholas
Starring: Alison Bruce, David Letch, Judith Gibson, William Brandt
If a carved wooden dog with teeth like a shark followed you home...what would you do?! Augusta thinks the statue might be just what she needs, but ex-... Read more
The Handmaid's Tale (1990)
6/10
Director: Volker Schlondorff
Starring: Natasha Richardson, Aidan Quinn, Faye Dunaway, Robert Duvall
A stylish adaptation of Margaret Atwood's novel of the not-so-distant future where certain young women are used to bear 'pure' children for the milita... Read more
Akira Kurosawa's Dreams (1990)
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Starring: Akira Terao, Mieko Harada, Mitsuko Baisho
Eight mesmerising tableaus explore the subconscious at various stages of an elderly mans life in this visually stunning work from the master Japanese... Read more
Akira Kurosawa's Dreams (Blu-ray) (1990)
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Starring: Akira Terao, Mieko Harada, Mitsuko Baisho
Eight mesmerising tableaus explore the subconscious at various stages of an elderly mans life in this visually stunning work from the master Japanese... Read more
An Angel At My Table (1990)
7.6/10
Director: Jane Campion
Starring: Kerry Fox, Karen Fergusson, Alexia Keogh, Iris Churn
Jane Campion's remarkable award-winning film based on the autobiographical writing of Janet Frame is a portrait of a sweet-natured, imaginative, painf... Read more
Ruby and Rata (1990)
6/10
Director: Gaylene Preston
Starring: Vanessa Rare, Yvonne Lawley, Simon Barnett
The winning flick about Ruby, an elderly woman not yet ready for a retirement home and Rata, a would be rock singer and solo mother well practiced in... Read more
Tap (1989)
6.5/10
Director: Nick Castle
Starring: Gregory Hines, Joe Morton, Sammy Davis Jr, Suzzanne Douglas
Gregory Hines, Sammy Davis, Jr. and some legendary hoofers star in a rousing dance showcase about a second-generation tapper and parolled jewel thief... Read more
Rosalie Goes Shopping (1989)
6/10
Director: Percy Adlon
Starring: Alex Winter, Brad Davis, Judge Reinhold, Marianne Sagebrecht
Bavarian-born Marianne Sagebrecht ('Bagdad Cafe') has settled with American husband Brad Davis in Stuttgart, Arkansas. She's become obsessed with spen... Read more
Sweetie (1989)
6.9/10
Director: Jane Campion
Starring: Genevieve Lemon, Karen Colston, Tom Lycos
A true original, this darkly comic, shocking and sublime film from Jane Campion ('An Angel at my Table') tells the story of two very different sisters... Read more
UHF ( aka The Vidiot from UHF ) (1989)
7/10
Director: Jay Levey
Starring: Weird Al Yankovic, Kevin McCarthy, Michael Richards, David Bowe, Victoria Jackso...
Despite this being his only starring role, Yankovic plays it to the hilt in this quirky cult film from the 80's. Yankovic stars as George Newman, a ho... Read more