Arts & Culture

Details: Written by: Greg Letts; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 23 November 2023

On a balmy Wednesday night my partner and I headed to the State Theatre Centre of WA to see Dirty Birds, a new Australian stage play from the McElhinney sisters (Hayley and Mandy). Described as a comedy that blurs the lines between truth and fiction, past and present, real and absurd, Dirty Birds is a little different from your average production, as the cardboard walls of the set indicate as you take your seat and peruse the stage.

I often like to avoid reading the program for a play before watching it, with the idea of getting as fresh a point of view about proceedings as possible. For Dirty Birds this caused me a little confusion at first, since the absurdist nature of the story doesn't lend itself to an immediate idea of what is going on. But with time and further watching the themes began to unfold.

Two sisters forced to leave home and face a hostile world, where even nature itself seems to be against them.

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 18 November 2023

The weather is sunny, the beach looks enticing, and the outdoor festivals out and around Perth are off and running.

It’s time to get out and about to enjoy summer in Perth.

Here is our wrap of favourite things to do in Perth this summer:

Scarborough Sunset Markets

A beautiful spot to check out market stalls and grab a bite to eat whilst watching the sunset at Scarborough Beach, the Scarborough Sunset Markets run every Thursday evening from 5pm to 9pm. Boasting a plethora of scrumptious food, arts and craft stalls, and live music, it’s the place to be on Thursday evenings. It’s also dog friendly which is a plus!

Perth Festival Lotterywest Films

The Perth Festival Lotterywest films are just around the corner with opening night on 20 November.

Details: Written by: Greg Letts; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 10 November 2023

On a mild Monday night my partner and I headed down to Luna Leederville to watch a similarly mellow movie – The Tasting. Set in modern-day France, The Tasting tells the story of Jacques (Bernard Campan), a wine store owner on the verge of bankruptcy and with ailing health, and Hortense (Isabelle Carré), a midwife with an overbearing mother who wants more out of life.

Hortense visits Jacques' shop in search of a wine to serve to the homeless group she volunteers for, and right from the start the pair have a natural chemistry. But movies being what they are, there are of course a number of twists, turns and obstacles in the way of true love. With an unlikely cupid in the form of Jacques' new intern, the audience is treated to their travels towards a final destination – but will it be together or apart?

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 12 October 2023

My partner and I headed towards Luna Leederville looking forward to watching the French movie Lie with Me (Arrête avec tes mensonges)

Lie with Me toggles seamlessly between the present and past. A famous writer Stéphane Belcourt (Guillaume de Tonquédec) returns back to his home town in Cognac to participate in a literary PR event for Baussony Cognac, who are celebrating their bicentennial.

It has been 35 years since he last went home to the little town that he came from, only to find that some things have changed and some things haven’t.

By an unexpected coincidence, he meets young Lucas Andrieu (Victor Belmondo), who is helping to organise the bicentennial, unbeknowst to him that Lucas is actually the son of his former gay lover (Thomas) from school days when he was age 17.

Lie with Me is an exceptionally beautiful movie about love and love lost, the unreconciled twists and turns in relationships, and the complexities of whether to come out or stay in the closet.

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 27 September 2023

Three Chords and the Truth is an Australian Indie movie about singer/songwriter Angie (Jackie Marshall) who was once slightly famous – now living in the burbs and trying to finish off her last album whilst struggling to make ends meet.

Heading towards the end of her life due to a terminal illness, she strikes up an unexpected and unlikely friendship with young teenager Ruby (Maisie Owens) who has run away from home due to difficult family circumstances.

The movie hits a familiar chord across a few fronts covering themes such as the poignancy of love associated with your family, and the beautiful connections made with people along the way during your life.

Based on the real-life story of singer/songwriter Jackie Marshall (with the character of Angie acted by Jackie Marshall herself), Three Chords and the Truth is a touching movie that explores the topic of what matters in life including being true to oneself.

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 21 September 2023

My partner and I headed to Palace Cinemas in Raine Square on a Monday evening to watch The Eight Mountains (Las Ocho Montañas)– one of the movies that will be featuring in the upcoming Italian Film Festival that screens across Australia.

Set in the mountains of Italy, it is about a special friendship that begins between 2 young boys, Pietro and Bruno, and continues through to adulthood, spanning over three decades.

A lot of things happen during their lifetimes as they see each other meet the challenges of adulthood head on – whilst supporting each other as friends.

This epic movie at 2.5 hours is a monumental piece created by Director / Writer couple Felix van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch.

It is a unique movie that explores deeply the many facets of human relationships – in particular friendships between men, the love that binds families and the influence of our parents as role models.

Details: Written by: Nita Teoh; Category: Arts & Culture; Published: 31 May 2023

On a coolish Monday evening, my partner and I headed to Luna Leederville on Oxford Street to watch the much awaited movie One Fine Morning (Un Beau Batin) starring Léa Seydoux (as Sandra).

The plot follows the story of Sandra’s life – holding a career as a translator, a single Mum with a young daughter and visiting her ailing elderly father Georg (Pascal Greggory) on a regular basis. Her love life is non existent until she reconnects with old friend Clément (Melvil Poupaud) and a passionate affair blossoms, with the added complication that he is married with a young son.

Director Mia Hansen-Løve’s semi-autobiographical movie is reflective, portraying the fragilities of life and the passage of the generations through the cycle of birth and death.

Léa Seydoux is effervescent in this role

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Dirty Birds by Black Swan State Theatre Company

Fun Things to do in Perth this Summer

The Tasting (La Dégustation) at Luna

Lie with Me at Luna

Three Chords and the Truth at Luna

The Eight Mountains at the Italian Film Festival at Luna

One Fine Morning at Luna