Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour – Intro Video

See it on the Banff 2007 Tour of New Zealand

Black Sheep

I’ve seen the long-awaited ‘Black Sheep‘ the rural NZ horror comedy. It was quite funny in places but didn’t have a overall comedic depth that would make it a classic. It has special meaning for me, being a graduate of Massey University, traditionally an agricultural college. There seemed to be an endless supply of sheep jokes and indeed sheep. The Listener review commented on the ‘product placement’ of Michael King’s Penguin History of New Zealand (King’s son is the director of the film). But in a film where a central theme is the death and absence of the father it is surely more than a product placement (did Penguin pay for the screen time?).

Rating: 6.5/10

Shortbus

I saw the sexy film Shortbus on Sunday night. Set in NY it explores the interconnected sex lives and relationships of several people, both queer and straight. It is a sad and funny film – probably a deliberate commentary on the bittersweet nature of the subject matter.

It is sexually explicit but not really titillating. In this way it removes the sensuality from the sexual act to lay bare its meaning in relationship and as a way for people to connect. Sex stands in the film as a sacrament for something much deeper and profound.

The other spiritual motif is the “stalker” neighbour who has a god’s eye view of the central gay couple, along with saving James’s life and offering a omnipotent insight into how he is loved by Jamie.

Score: 7/10