Newsletter No. 2: The Shape of Juice to Come
Greetings juicers,
2024 is over, it is long dead. In most regards it was a cavalcade of horrors, but for moviejuice the year was a good one. 12 screenings, many new friends, many more shared good times. But now the time has come to speak of other things, and 2025 promises to be an exciting one for all fans of the survival of an alternative cinema. Peruse a preview of the many delights that await:
UPCOMING SCREENINGS
A RIVER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SKY
In collaboration with Dogmilk Films
February 8th
Doors 6 pm @ Union Cinema
We are very excited to be starting the year with the SA premiere of A RIVER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SKY, a meditative and diaristic documentary focusing on the work of Torajan videographer Victor Konda. A collaborative production between Australia and South Sulawesi, Indonesia, the film explores mortality and collective memory through years of Konda's footage, capturing both moments from Konda's personal life and the significant cultural practices of Tana Toraja.
Thanks to our friends at Dogmilk, the film comes accompanied by co-directors Chris Cochrane-Friedrich and Wahyu Al Mardhani, and co-writer/videographer Victor Konda himself, who will present the film and participate in a post-screening Q&A.
MALLS
February 20th
7 pm at the Mercury Cinema
Serious accusations of nepotism and shameless self-promotion dog this premiere screening of Daniel Tune’s debut feature film. But I, the impartial Moviejuice Mouse, swear on my life that MALLS is good and interesting. It is a film for anyone who has spent a lot of time in the CBD and felt some disturbing combination of sad, lonely, horny, and hungry. But don't take my word for it - just look what the people are saying:
“McBeautiful. McHypnotic” - Jordy Pollock
“A dazzling slow-cinema study of consumerism and alienation… mesmerising” - Bill Mousoulis
“A film of carnal pleasures” - Josh Bulman
“Vomit inducing” - Adelaide Sherry
“Tune deeply understands the how and the why of the long take on tender pain; the whole frame is alive with geometry and movement” - Kai Perrignon
“I think it's good” - Dr. Nicholas Godfrey
The screening will be followed by an afterparty at Ancient World, with live music from beloved and soon-to-be-beloved local acts PASSION POP MUSIC and PLATINUM GENTILES.
BOOGIE BOBBIE
Featuring live score by War Room
March 29th
7pm at The Mercury
PARIS FUNERAL, 1972 and WRITE A LETTER director Adam C. Briggs returns to Tarntanya to present his latest work BOOGIE BOBBIE. As fans of the aforementioned movie might have come to expect, the film is an alternatingly warm and unsettling study of friendship, social decay, and the disappointments that come with time’s brutal onslaught. It is also very funny.
SYNOPSIS: Bobby goes on a final drinking bout with his only friend Steve, before he flies home to Canada. The last lonely teardrop of a friendship.
Accompanied by a raucous live score by post-punk partisans War Room, as well as Adam and Robert “Bobbie Bot” Vagg in person for a Q and A, the evening promises an intoxicating/intoxicated combination of ecstasy, abjection, and perhaps just a little grace. Mark your calendars.
OTHER THINGS WITH UNCONFIRMED DATES
NEO-INTIMACIES
THIS IS STILL HAPPENING WE PROMISE.
‘METAMORPHOSIS’ ANIMATION PROGRAM
With our best bud and animation scholar Idris Kellerman Williams we will be presenting a four film program of underseen animated films on the theme of metamorphosis. The program will consist of SON OF THE WHITE MARE, THE GIRL WITHOUT HANDS, POM POKO, and THE WOLF HOUSE. Dates to be confirmed but it will likely run roughly from mid-April to mid-May. Get excited!
And many other delights cook away beyond the scope of the stack - stay tuned.
Keep cool but care,
moviejuice