Author: Natalia Wikana

Alliance Française French Film Festival Review: The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir is indeed an extraordinary journey

If Love, Actually had a child with Around the World in Eighty Days, The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir would be that child. It throws its trickster and street magician protagonist Aja (Dhanush) into a chain of unexpected adventures. He meets a diverse group of people from a celebrity to mobster-like big guys to a swindling cab…

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SXSW Film Review: For Sama (Syria, 2019) is an emotionally gripping diary in film form

For Sama is an emotionally gripping diary filmed by journalist Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts. Kateab recorded her life during the Battle of Aleppo (2012-16) in Syria. She had a mission: to bring light on the injustices on Syrians under President Assad’s regime and the fight for freedom. Not only did she cover what was…

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Film Review: Dumplin’ (USA, 2018) is revolutionising the meaning of beauty

Standing up against the status quo has been a beloved, exciting trope, and in the new Netflix Original Dumplin’, it’s delightful and empowering. It’s a film that Insatiable and Sierra Burgess is a Big Loser wish they could be. The movie centres on Willowdean Dickson (Australia’s Danielle Macdonald), an overweight teen who loves Dolly Parton and…

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Film Review: Monsieur Chocolat (France, 2016) (France, 2016) is the less colourful counterpart to Moulin Rouge!

Breathtaking and magical, Monsieur Chocolat (directed by Roschdy Zem) is one to watch if you want to experience a Parisian night. Immerse yourself in the world of 19th-century French circus and follow the biopic story of Chocolat (Omar Sy). He journeys from a performer acting as the “cannibal” to a more respected position as a…

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AF French Film Festival Review: Monsieur Chocolat (France, 2016) is an emotional ride that leaves you in deep contemplation

Breathtaking and magical, Monsieur Chocolat (directed by Roschdy Zem) is one to watch if you want to experience a Parisian night. Immerse yourself in the world of 19th-century French circus and follow the biopic story of Chocolat (Omar Sy). He journeys from a performer acting as the “cannibal” to a more respected position as a…

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AF French Film Festival Review: Daguerrotype (France, Belgium, 2016) has its flaws, but creates the perfect eerie atmosphere

Best known for his contribution to Japanese horror, director Kiyoshi Kurosawa brings an interesting take on a ghost story. Daguerrotype (Le Secret de la Chambre Noire) follows a Parisian named Jean (Tahar Rahim) who is hired to be an assistant to the elusive photographer Stéphane (Olivier Gourmet). With Jean’s help, they create heart-stopping daguerreotypes, an old form of permanent…

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SXSW Film Review: Rat Film (USA, 2016) provides engaging commentary on the urban history of Baltimore

From writer, photographer and filmmaker Theo Anthony, Rat Film is a documentary that hooks you in and deserves a pedestal. The feature-length film focuses on rats and their lives as a way to explore Baltimore’s urban history and how humans interact with their world. It is clever yet confronting to see rats up close and…

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TV Review: In its pilot, BBC First’s The Moonstone re-invents the period drama

A diamond is a girl’s best friend, but according to The Moonstone, it’s a curse. If anything, it warns against steal any treasure, let alone a sacred one. The BBC have delivered another refreshing and breathtaking miniseries here, an adaptation of Wilkie Collins’ underrated classic, considered to be the first detective novel. The Moonstone follows…

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The Iris’ Weekly Australian TV Picks: 13 – 19 December

The festive season is approaching, so our picks for this week are a little festive, from a comedy to a classic, sit back and enjoy them. Tuesday, 13th December Jane the Virgin, Fox8, 8:30pm AEST Jane’s life spirals down when she discovers that Michael has been shot. Wednesday, 14th December The Yearly with Charlie Pickering,…

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The Iris’ Weekly Australian TV Picks: 6 – 12 December

From Lucifer to Vampires, fashion shows to great Australian comedies, this is a look ahead to your week on free-to-air and Foxtel: Tuesday, 6th December The A Word, BBC First, 8:30pm AEST The Hughes family reunite to celebrate Joe’s 5th birthday. But tension ensues when Eddie and Nicola point out that the boy has communication…

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The Iris’ Weekly Australian TV Picks: 29 November-5 December

We start to get into the Christmas spirit, hang out with some Vampires and return to the Wizarding World (again) in this week’s TV picks: Tuesday, 29th November Churchill’s Secret, BBC First, 9:05pm AEST During the post-war years, Winston Churchill suffers a stroke and is determined to keep it secret from the rest of the…

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Film Review: Your Name (Kimi no Na wa) (Japan, 2016) will leave you spellbound

The Japanese Anime genre has a long history of producing masterpieces. Makoto Shinkai‘s Your Name is no exception. Ahead of its release in Australia, the film has enjoyed rave reviews around the world – and deservedly so. The film centres on Mitsuha (Mone Kamishiraishi) and Taki (Ryunosuke Kamiki), two people with nothing in common except…

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The Iris’ Weekly Australian TV Picks: 22-28 November

From Wizards to Superheroes and Robots in the West, here are this week’s TV picks on Foxtel and Free-to-Air… Tuesday,  22nd November Kevin Can Wait, Ch 9, 8:00pm AEST A police officer retires and plans to spend time with his family, but soon finds out that’s his greatest challenge. Supergirl, Fox8, 8:45pm AEST Supergirl is…

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The Iris’ Weekly Australian TV Picks: 15 – 21 November

From Egyptian tombs to Wizards and Cowboys, here are this week’s picks for Free-To-Air TV and Foxtel: Tuesday, 15th November Hap and Leonard, Showcase, 8:30pm AEST Hap and Leonard try to survive and on a search for money, Hap discovers something life changing. Wednesday, 16th November  Tutankhamun, SBS, 8:30pm AEST Carter discovers the tomb but…

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The Iris’ Weekly Australian TV Picks: 8 – 14 November

There’s superheroes, Kings and vampires amongst our TV picks of the week. Read on: Tuesday, 8th November  Supergirl, Fox8, 8:45pm AEST Supergirl faces a gang that are connected to Camdus and has alien technology. Wednesday, 9th November Tutankhamun, SBS, 8:30pm AEST Carter resumes his search for the forgotten pharoah’s tomb. Along the way, he meets Lord Carnarvon’s…

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The Iris’ Weekly Australian TV Picks: 1 – 7 November

From Zombies to Hobbits, here are this week’s TV picks… Tuesday, 1st November Love, Nina, BBC First, 8:30pm AEST Upon moving to north London, Nina gets a job taking care of a single mother’s children. Wednesday, 2nd November Tutankhamun, SBS, 8:30pm AEST Howard Carter discovers evidence of an undiscovered tomb of a forgotten pharaoh, but…

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Film Review: The Light Between Oceans (M) (AUS/UK/USA, 2016) is an Oscar-worthy heartwarming but heartbreaking film

Based on the bestselling novel by Australian author M.L. Stedman, The Light Between Oceans, directed by Derek Cianfrance, is an Oscar-worthy heartwarming but heartbreaking film. It centres on Tom Sherbourne (Michael Fassbender) who retreats to a tiny town in Australia to forget the horrors of WWI. He gets a job as a lighthouse keeper on…

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The Iris’ Weekly Australian TV Picks: 25 – 31 October

From Mums (not to be confused with Moms), to Doctors and Queens, here are this week’s TV picks… Tuesday, 25th October Mum, BBC First, 8:30pm AEST Cathy attempts to run a New Year’s party smoothly but an argument erupts between Kelly and Jason, and there’s Michael to worry about. Wednesday, 26th October Doctor Doctor, Ch…

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The Iris’ Weekly Australian TV Picks: 18 – 24 October

From Superheroes to Gordon Ramsay and everything in between here are our TV picks for Foxtel and free-to-air in Australia for the week ahead… Tuesday, 18th October Supergirl, Fox8, 8:45pm AEST Supergirl gets seriously injured by a villain who’s powered by kryptonite. Cold Feet, Ch 7, 9:00pm AEST Adam returns and announces his upcoming wedding…without…

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The Iris’ Weekly Australian TV Picks: 11 – 17 October

Welcome to a brand new week. With more shows returning and starting, your week will be a TV-fest. Here are our picks… Tuesday, 11 October Supergirl, Fox8, 8:50pm AEST Our superheroine has a family reunion with her famous cousin but it’s not a typical reunion. Superman arrives to help her fight a new threat to…

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The Iris’ Weekly Australian TV Picks: 4 – 10 October

Here’s our TV picks for this week with the new hyped up series Westworld gracing our screens. Tuesday, 4th October Wentworth, Showcase, 7:35pm AEST After a riot, Will tempts Doreen into helping him, using Kaiya as leverage. 800 Words, Ch 7, 8:45pm AEST Everyone’s facing a relationship dilemma while George and the family pack off…

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The Iris’ Weekly Australian TV Picks: 27 September – 3 October

From the return of Marvel to new Aussie drama, here are seven shows and a movie you can’t miss on TV this week: Tuesday, 27th September Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, 7Flix, 8:30pm AEST Daisy is on a mission to solve a series of killings after she left S.H.I.E.L.D. Wednesday, 28th September Doctor Doctor, Ch 9, 8:40pm…

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The Iris’ Weekly Australian TV Picks: 20 – 26 September

From Poldark (Pictured) to Scream Queens and everything in between, here’s what you should be watching on Australian free-to-air TV and Foxtel this week: Tuesday The Case of: JonBenet Ramsey, Ch 9, 8:40pm AEST Approaching  20 years, the unsolved murder case of the child beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey is re-open. Wednesday Scream Queens, Ch 10,…

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Film Review: Bridget Jones’s Baby (M) (UK/USA, 2016) is a satisfying end to the story

Fans of Bridget Jones and those feeling nostalgic over 90s-early 2000s rom-coms won’t be disappointed by Bridget Jones’s Baby. The film follows Bridget (Renee Zellweger), now in her 40s, who’s back in square one. Single and bitter about it, but she tries to move on and parties. This leads to chance steamy encounters with a…

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Lavazza Italian Film Festival Review: The Confessions (Italy, 2016) is a refreshing suspense thriller

Directed by Roberto Andò, The Confessions (Le confessioni) is a refreshing suspense thriller. The film centres on a global summit where the world’s powerful and influential leaders attend. Among them is Salus (Toni Servillo), a monk, who is called over by Director of International Monetary Funds Daniel Roché (Daniel Auteuil) so he could make a…

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Lavazza Italian Film Festival Review: One Kiss (Italy, 2016) is one to watch

Italy’s answer to The Perks of Being a Wallflower, One Kiss (Un Bacio, directed by Ivan Cotroneo) centres on gay and proud Lorenzo (Rimau Grillo Ritzberger), Blu (Valentina Romani), who is shadowed by a traumatic past, and bullied basketball player Antonio (Leonardo Pazzagli). Their shared outsider status at school draws them together. But their friendship…

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The Iris’ Weekly Australian TV Picks: 6 – 12 September 2016

Here are this week’s TV picks… Wednesday Black-ish, 7Flix, 7:30pm AEST A refreshing comedy, a family man worries about kids losing touch of their culture. With help from his father (Laurence Fishburne), he tries to get his kids immerse into their roots. Thursday Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Ch7, 9:10pm AEST Just in time…

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The Iris’ Weekly Australian TV Picks: 30 August – 5 September 2016

From Australian Survivors to Pretty Little Liars and Knight’s Tales, here are our picks this week… Tuesday Australian Survivor, Ch10, 7:30pm AEST Things are heating up as the three tribes face the Immunity Challenge. Which one will survive the harsh environment? Wednesday Whitney, SoHo, 8:30pm AEST A heartwrenching biopic on the iconic singer Whitney Houston…

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The Iris’ Weekly Australian TV Picks: 23 – 29 August 2016

Now that the Olympics have returned to hibernation, new shows are premiering and promising ones at that. Here are our picks this week. Tuesday 800 Words, Ch7, 8:45pm AEST George and Jan seek relationship advice while George and Arlo try to find a way to bring Shay back. Hell on Wheels, FX, 8:30pm AEST Truckee…

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The Iris’ Weekly Australian TV Picks: 16 – 22 August 2016

Here’s this week’s TV picks that would give you a break from Rio. Tuesday Ballers, Showcase, 8:30pm AEST Spencer attempts to mentor Travis under his wings while avoiding his past that’s haunting him. Wednesday Gone Girl, Ch10, 9:00pm AEST Based on the bestselling thriller, Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) becomes entangled with the disappearance of his…

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