Film Festivals 2004
Another great year for documentary fans with the gripping 'Capturing the Friedmans', political offerings 'Control Room', Robert McNamara in 'Fog of War', and the disturbing psyche of 'The Corporation'. For music lovers there was the fascinating 'End of the Century: The Sory of the Ramones', 'The Mayor of Sunset Strip', 'Metallica: Some Kind of Monster' and 'Festival Express'. Hector Babenco broke a long absence from directing with the powerhouse 'Carandiru' while Zhang Yimou's lush 'Hero' made it to New Zealand screens along with 'Motorcycle Diaries', gut-wrenching Korean flick 'Old Boy', heart-tugger 'Osama' and the delightful 'Triplets of Belleville' to name just a few.
Osama (2003)
7.4/10
Director: Siddiq Barmak
Starring: Marina Golbahari, Arif Herati, Zubaida Sahar
The first feature film from post-Taliban Afghanistan, this award-winning drama is set during the radical Islamic regime's rule. With women forbidden t... Read more
Super Size Me (2004)
7.2/10
Director: Morgan Spurlock
Starring: Morgan Spurlock
What would happen if you were to eat only food from McDonald's for an entire month? That question is answered in this controversial - and wildly enter... Read more
Nobody Knows (2004)
8.1/10
Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda
Starring: Yuya Yagira, Ayu Kitaura, Hiei Kimura, Momoko Shimizu, Hanae Kim
Inspired by incredible true events, this is the story of 12-year-old Akira who one day finds a note from his mother saying she'll be gone for a while,... Read more
Kitchen Stories (2003)
7.3/10
Director: Bent Hamer
Starring: Joachim Calmeyer, Tomas Norstrom, Reine Brynolfsson, Bjorn Floberg
A Swedish researcher strikes up an unlikely friendship with a cranky Norwegian farmer in this splendidly low-key comedy of manners. It's the 1950s, an... Read more
Bon Voyage (2003)
6.9/10
Director: Jean-Paul Rappeneau
Starring: Isabelle Adjani, Gerard Depardieu, Virginie Ledoyen, Yvan Attal, Gregori Derange...
It is June 1940 and everyone who is anyone is hightailing it out of Paris to avoid the imminent Nazi occupation. Heading south, a motley group that in... Read more
Maria Full of Grace (2004)
7.5/10
Director: Joshua Marston
Starring: Catalina Sandino Moreno, Yenny Paola Vega, John Alex Toro, Guilied Lopez, Patric...
Director Joshua Marston's powerful tale introduces us to a determined young woman whose desire for a brighter future leads her into a world of unimagi... Read more
The Battle of Algiers (1966)
8.1/10
Director: Gillo Pontecorvo
Starring: Jean Martin, Saadi Yacef, Brahim Haggiag
Director Gillo Pontecorvo brilliantly recreated the street riots and other events that led up to Algeria's independence from France in this astonishin... Read more
The Barbarian Invasions (2003)
7.7/10
Director: Denys Arcand
Starring: Remy Girard, Stephane Rousseau, Marie-Josee Croze, Dorothee Berryman
Reuniting the characters first introduced in his 1986 "The Decline of the American Empire," director Denys Arcand's Oscar-winning (Best Foreign Langua... Read more
Travellers and Magicians (2003)
Director: Khyentse Norbu
Starring: Tshe Wang Dendup, Lhakpa Dorji, Sonam Kinga, Sonam Lhamo, Deki Yangzom
Dondup is sick of life in his small Himalayan village and is determined to make a go of it in the US. On the trek to the airport Dondup meets up with... Read more
The Fog of War (2003)
8.2/10
Director: Errol Morris
Starring: Robert S McNamara
Robert S. McNamara was one of the most controversial and influential political figures of the 20th century. As Secretary of Defence under Presidents K... Read more