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| Heat And Dust |
Heat And Dust, 12.55am, Film4, Wednesday, February 11
Back when the Raj was all the rage in UK TV and cinema, Merchant Ivory made this typically polished period piece which unfolds partially in India of the Twenties and partly in the Eighties – the contemporary period when it was made. Notable for being Greta Scacchi’s first English language role, she plays Olivia, a recently married newcomer to the India set – although the film begins with her scandalous departure. In the present, her great-niece Anne (Julie Christie) heads to the country to try to unravel the story. Offering commentary on colonialism and privilege through its impact on both eras, it also considers the cultural expectations of women. Nicely balanced between the old and the new, the film is, perhaps, even more interesting now as it offers a glimpse of Eighties attitudes to India that would have been less pronounced at the time.
The Practice, MUBI, streaming now
If the blues of February are setting in, this absurdist comedy, set in the warmth of Argentina, should help lift your mood. Yoga teacher Gustavo (Esteban Bigliardi) is aiming for a state of samadhi – or “joyful calm” – but it’s a big ask as he wearily attends therapy sessions with his estranged wife and tries to grapple with a torn knee meniscus, the sound effect for which provides that very specific type of cringe-laugh that it’s hard to pull off. Writer/director Martin Rejtman succeeds, however, as he twists his characters this way and that with potential romance while taking some gentle potshots at guru-led clean living as he goes. Sweetly unpredictable without becoming saccharine.
Free Solo, 11.55pm, BBC2, Thursday, February 12
If you're the sort of person who gets vertigo then you’d best approach Jimmy Chin, and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi's documentary with caution. They follow Alex Honnold's attempts to be the first to climb a 3000ft cliff in Yosemite Park solo and without the aid of safety ropes from close quarters. Even if you're not scared of heights, some of the footage of the sheer cliff face with Honnold clinging on is likely to have you holding your breath. The climbing footage here is incredible – and a testimony to directors who know their way around a rock face and where to put a camera so as not to distract Honnold – but the film also offers an interesting psychological profile of the climber himself, his motivations and the impact on his choice of career on those around him.
Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, 1.50am, Film4, Friday, February 13
Documentarian Anna Hints did a pretty good job of singing her way around awards ceremonies of the world, after her engrossing and intimate film about Estonian smoke saunas premiered at Sundance and took home the top prize in the World Documentary Competition. Her film, which puts a spotlight on the miraculous shifting and elemental nature of water, invites us to step into the steam confines of a cabin in the woods to share the secrets, hopes and traumas of the women who come together there. Beautifully shot and spiritually wholesome without ever feeling forced, the end result has primal heft while also reflecting modern emotions.
Moulin Rouge, 11pm, BBC2, Friday, February 13
Baz Luhrmann’s musical is big and brash but completely beguiling and, like the Spectacular Spectacular that the denizens of the Moulin Rouge are planning to stage, a "gargantuan bedazzlement". The plot, mirrored by the play within the film, involves a wet-behind-the-ears writer Ewan McGregor falling for star courtesan Satine (Nicole Kidman), who, in turn, is attempting to woo a rich and obnoxious duke (Richard Roxburgh, sporting a fine, twirlable moustache) so that he gives money to the establishment's impresario Zidler (Jim Broadbent). Essentially, it's show time and Luhrmann never lets us forget that right from its big blousy introduction to the establishment, which features a mash-up of Smells Like Teen Spirit and Lady Marmalade among other things. He finds the sweet spot of sparkle and sleaze so that even though it's incredible on one level, it still feels slightly sweaty and seedy. Hang on to your top hat and enjoy the ride.
Babylon, 11.45pm, Film4, Friday, February 13
It’s almost as if he took his cue from Luhrmann, as nothing and nobody is undersold in Damian Chazelle’s epic consideration of the stars and excesses of 1920s Hollywood. The cast includes Brad Pitt as the serial marrying/divorcing Jack Conrad, Margot Robbie as young starlet Nellie LaRoy and Diego Calva as Mexican immigrant Manny, who is also trying to get a start in the business. The parties and career machinations play out against the backdrop of studios’ moving from the silent to the sound era. Not everyone will be convinced by Chazelle’s hedonism or bust attitude and the sprawling plot but however manic it becomes, it’s fair to say it’s never dull.
The Taste Of Things, 9.35pm, BBC4, Saturday, February 14
If you're looking for a romantic film to tee up for Valentine's Day, they don't come much better than this and it's also a must for foodies. Trân Anh Hùng takes his time to explore the love, for each other and for cooking, shared by Eugénie (Juliette Binoche) and Dodin Bouffant (Benoît Magimel), a late 19th century gourmand and his cook. The pair of them pay exquisite attention to detail as they serve up incredible dish after dish at elaborate soirees, while Dodin also tries to persuade Eugénie to marry him. Taking his lead from the characters, Hùng delights in the details, not just of the central pairing but of the food they prepare, even as the light of their love gives way to some shadow. Speaking about being reunited onscreen with her former real-life partner Magimel, Binoche told us: “There were shared emotions, and we found again the happiness of just being together.” And speaking about the film's authenticity, Hùng said: "Usually in films fake food is used and it is ‘relooked’ as required but here everything was real." Make sure you've got plenty of snacks to hand because otherwise that reality is likely to make your stomach grumble throughout. I will never get over the fact they gave it this title in English when La passion de Dodin Bouffant would have been much more appropriate.
Our short selection this week is the award-winning An Avocado Pit, directed by Ary Zara. He is currently developing his first feature Sun In Saturn and you can read more about his work on his website.
