The Melbourne International Film Festival runs from Thursday 1st to Sunday 18th August 2019, with 259 feature films, 123 shorts and 16 virtual reality experiences, this year's MIFF is sure to be an entertaining experience. The SWITCH team has sat down to check out the best of the best of the festival to make sure you catch the best films in this whirlwind two weeks, so check out SWITCH's reviews from this year's Melbourne International Film Festival below - and keep checking back throughout as we add even more!
An intriguing snapshot of PJ Harvey’s creative process, but little else. It's less of a portrait of an artist or a travelogue and more of an outline of the relationship between poetry and imagery
Gritty but not too gritty, the film voyeuristically observes the modern right of passage of identity, resilience and the hard choices we have to make.
A film for people who laugh when they see somebody walk into a glass door, then laugh even harder when they notice that the person got a bloody nose. A delightful and unexpected highlight.
Filled with oodles of style, colour and imagination, there is a wonderful retro feel with nostalgic and a mysterious spookiness for those so inclined.
Part fairytale and part black comedy, the film is a period story with a message that’s vital to current society. Writer and director Mirrah Foulkes is an exciting young Australian storyteller.
A luxuriously paced, wittily gory zombie comedy, it’s part social commentary, part homage to cinema, and all ridiculous. You’d be dead right to want to check it out.
This is not an easy film to watch and certainly not one to expect to come out of feeling terrific. But it will make you will feel something, which is a rare thing for a film to be able to do today.
This film epitomises the risk that filmmakers take with adapting a long-running or ongoing manga - a vast amount of material has to be peeled back to the core essentials..
An entertaining - if not uncomfortable - film, this family has more secrets and infighting than an episode of 'Keeping up with the Kardashians', so sit back and watch the drama unfold.
Mystery hangs in the air for the duration of ‘Retrospekt’. It’s by no means an easy watch, but it’s a film with a lot to say and a creative way of saying it.
Prepare yourselves for a way of life we never knew existed - caught between the old and the new, culture and duty versus what you want, we see it all via the subjects of this documentary.
The film does leave it up to audience to decide how they feel about the whole story, but is worth checking out to start a conversation about these issues and whether a racist can really be changed.
An incredibly enjoyable 95-minute exercise in escapism, love, and the unprecedented pleasures life can bring, with an incredibly charming performance from Matthew McConaughey.
This film is a horrible legacy of a dying man, and a disappointment for fans hoping to see a favourite one last time. But if you're looking for a film that subverts all expectations, this is for you.
Everyone across the board brings their A-game to bring this really fresh and heartwarming comedy to life. Put on your joggers and sweatpants to run out and see this one.
Moments of suspense are abound but not abundant. This isn't a traditional "submarine movie", but the themes of bureaucratic interference and media manipulation are more relevant than ever today.
A film that creates portraits in time, taking time to find the beauty in the normalcy of life.
Watch this documentary and talk about it. We need to re-evaluate how we acted during this extremely recent period of our history, and forge a better way forward.
While it has a mix of untapped potential and a stretched plot, ‘Sword of Trust’ is still a fun indie movie.
This could have been a really powerful film, but due to many lengthy scenes that drain it sadly fails. While the cast gives their all, the filmmakers needed to sit in the edit suite a little longer.
This documentary exudes compassion for its subjects and finds a few glimmers of hopefulness among the debris. It’s hard not to become attached to these “scheme birds” as they spread their wings.
This film is a mood, an aesthetic, an idea; a sensory cinematic experience more than a story.
It's not the first coming of age film and certainly won’t be the last, but by looking at a lesser-explored side of the genre with its unique aesthetic, it is able to carve out its own place.
Watch from start to finish, then think back to the first two minutes of the film. Can you still see what’s to come? Is the sparkle still there? Or has the filter been deleted?
A documentary that looks past the beauty of Iceland to see the life of one extraordinary environmentalist and her struggle against the mindless wheels of bureaucracy under the Northern Lights.
The movie isn’t for everyone, but it’s a fun ride back to the past with fantastic performances, hilarious comedy and beautiful aesthetics. It’s about time we got something in cinemas that's original.
A comprehensive look at the three men who created 'Alien' and the influences which bled together into a masterpiece.
At its best, the film is alive with light humour and a clumsy romance. But it's too uneven - with a wonky tone, hit-and-miss jokes and annoying acting - to be anything more than merely ordinary.
There’s no doubt that we’re witnessing something deeply personal, and some moments are shattering in their honesty, while other aspects seem to lack an objective understanding for its viewers.
It might not be the smoothest directorial debut, but the cast and crew show massive potential. They both also show some real promise as new Australian talent.
There’s just an inherent "something" missing here that could be blamed on a number of factors, all of which stem from behind the camera.
While never takes its scathing satire to its limits, it’s an enjoyable romp that’s sure to divide audiences as much as it makes them laugh.
This is a tender love story beautifully told, made with such love and care, sincerity and grace, showcasing everything that makes Xavier Dolan such an arresting filmmaker.
There’s a tremendous amount of promise in the film from Jayden Stevens, and while it’s certainly an ambitious undertaking, never comes together in the end.
An exceptionally gentle exploration of death, trauma and simple human kindness (as well as Japanese culture) that's charming and effective at pleasing its young audience.
A film worth investing your time in, with strong performances and high emotions, but it suffers from being afraid to commit to the musical genre.
It may be dour, but it's also vital, edgy and progressive. This drama crackles with angry energy, and reflects how grim life really was and still can be for large parts of the population.
A portrait of an artist entering the last act of their lives, looking back at what they have created and the battlefield left in their wake, and facing the fear of never creating again.
As the film trots along, more evidence is wheeled out, causing your opinion to flop minute to minute. There’s drag queens, a satirical musical, more boobs than you could possibly imagine!
Levan Akin has made a remarkable film, a passionate dance for love, for country, for tradition, for art and for survival. This will easily go down as an LBGTIQ+ classic.
A truly funny, dark experience that will polarise audiences, hopefully leaving most of them satisfied. Just try not to think about it too much.
The protagonist’s myth-like search into his physical and metaphysical past is a feat of filmmaking that's as impressive as it is vital, where dream and fantasy and longing flow together.
The documentary excels in never sensationalising any aspect of Dujuan's story for dramatic effect; simply capturing Dujuan's daily life is enough to make blood boil and tears fall.
Running at a lean 75 minutes and offering a bounty of gore, atmosphere and thought-provoking stories, it's a rare horror anthology that moves from strength to strength and never overstays its welcome.
Darkly elegant cinematography, expert utilisation of colour and excellent performances by the two leads ensure ‘Slam’ is never less than compelling and through-provoking viewing.
