Call Me By Your Name will play at the New Zealand International Film Festival 2017.
Call Me By Your Name will play at the New Zealand International Film Festival 2017.
By Pearl Little
The International NZ Film Festival is about to kick off, and the only thing better than indulging in world-class cinema is indulging in world-class food. Here are six of my top picks for the festival, paired with great nearby cuisine from the films' cultural origins that won't break the bank.
1 Winner of Sundance 2017's screenwriting award, Kristen Tan's surreal Pop Aye follows Thana, a disillusioned, ageing architect who by chance is reunited with his childhood pet elephant. The two embark on a long trek home through rural Thailand where Thana and the elephant confront colourful characters and home truths.
Restaurant: Krung Thep Thai Street Food, 305 K' Rd. Simple, affordable street style Thai food. Must try: pork spare ribs and pineapple fried rice.
2 Jean Stephane Bron's dazzling documentary The Paris Opera turns the tables and takes you behind the scenes of this infamous, prestigious opera house for a whole season. Watch the drama (from labour disputes to a live bull) play out before the curtain even comes up. A film almost as spectacular as the operas themselves.
Restaurant: Le Garde Manger, 466 Queen St. Well done, traditional French cuisine that won't burn a hole in your wallet. Must try: their fantastic crepes, either the classic lemon and sugar or, if you're feeling decadent, go for full-fledged poached pear and caramel sauce flambeed with brandy.
3Call Me by Your Name, is Luca Guadagnino's sun-kissed adaption of Andre Aciman's novel by the same name. It's a vibrant coming-of-age film that follows a 17-year-old living in 1980s Northern Italy who forms an intense relationship with a 24-year-old academic who comes to stay with his parents. Touching and empathetic, the movie also boasts an eclectic soundtrack helped in part by original songs recorded and written by Sufjan Stevens.
Restaurant: Coco's Cantina, 376 K' Rd. No nonsense simple Italian food. Must try: their $13 happy hour pasta pomodoro, served with oregano, parmesan, chilli and pangrattato shakers so you can adjust to your liking. Also can be catered to gluten free and vegan. Pair with a happy hour bubbles or beer and you're set.
4 Suitable for both adults and children (although parental guidance is recommended for minor violence) Ancien and the Magic Tablet is an anime drama about Morikawa Kokone, a high school senior who turns into a resilient sci-fi princess in her dreams. As reality takes a turn for the worse, her dreams serve as a surreal refuge, but she soon realises they may hold answers to the real world.
Restaurant: Acho's Japanese tapas bar, 183 K' Rd, in St Kevin's Arcade, open late. Emphasis on the tapas, not the place to go if you're looking for a filling meal, but the perfect in-between. Must try: donut chips, Acho's bun, Japanese fried chicken and their extensive drinks range (including sparkling sake).
Still from NZIFF film "The Untamed". Photo / Supplied
5The Untamed is a startling erotic sci-fi thriller from director Amat Escalante. Set in small town Mexico, a young couple go monotonously about life trapped in an unhappy marriage until a mysterious woman, Veronica, comes along. She convinces them that the solution to all their problems lies in a cabin in the countryside (warning sign right there). The "solution" turns out to be an extremely strange creature that causes any animal nearby to go into a sexual frenzy. Dripping in hyper-realism and some very odd scenes, this film is not for the faint-hearted.
Restaurant: Mexican Cafe, 67 Victoria St West. No-frills Mexican food right in the centre of the city. Warm atmosphere and great deals such as their $10 lunch. No shortage of choices either. Must try: prawn soft shell tacos.
6 When a man rolls up to recently widowed Marlina's house with a gang of six, threatens to assault and rob her and demands to be fed, the last thing he, or the audience expects, is what Marlina has in store for him. A feminist spin on the classic Western tale of murder and revenge, Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts is a stunning must-watch retribution adventure set in the breathtaking Indonesian country side.
Restaurant: Kuta Bali in Ponsonby Food Court, Ponsonby Rd. Vibrant Indonesian food, from stir fries (Oseng Klaten is a favourite) to curried meats and soups. Also sports an ample vegetarian range. Must try: corn fritters (don't forget the dipping sauce).
